Sunlit Silhouette: A Cormorant’s Morning Ritual

Wildlife

Shot by KGK Deepak

Visakhapatnam

Company Name: Novartis Healthcare

Vote 80

This shot was taken during the early days of my photography journey. Back then, I often visited the beach to capture sunrises, and that day felt like any other. As the sun began to heat up, I wandered among the nearby rocks, searching for crabs and birds.

That is when I spotted a bird perched on the rocks—larger than the usual sandpipers or the familiar egrets. Curious, I slowly approached and got a clearer view: it was a little cormorant, engaged in preening and basking in the morning sun. Surprisingly, it seemed completely unfazed by my presence, giving me the freedom to explore my creativity.

I managed to get a few shots, though the backlighting from the sun made it difficult to capture clear portraits. So, I shifted my focus, aiming for silhouettes with the dazzling bokeh in the background. As I experimented, the cormorant graciously posed—beak open, head perfectly angled—allowing me to capture this striking image. A day well spent and worth.

EXIF: 1/3200 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Gear: Hand-held shot using Canon 200D paired with a 55–250mm lens