A Little Help?
Three pelicans rest on a sea wall in Boca Ciega Bay near Upham Beach in St. Pete Beach, Florida. One pelican has a fishing line protruding from an area behind his leg.
The guy on the right kept turning to me, like he had something to say. I was clueless to it, trying to hold my balance on the rocks and focus on his eyes. My wife knew right away, of course, telling me as she spotted me on the rocks and approached.
All three flew away shortly after I captured this image, so I never saw it until I edited the photo in full resolution. Look closely - he's got a leader protruding from just behind his left leg, with a swivel and a bit of line dangling from it. I can't tell if there's a hook involved, but that feels like a reasonable assumption to me.
Before I knew about his predicament, I loved this photograph because it gave me a sense of technical satisfaction - three in a row, perfectly spaced, and nobody's pruning themself! And, bonus, that gaze!
Now it makes me a little sad every time I look at it.
I still love it though, because it reminds me of things that are important to me - wildlife and the environment - and the challenges they face.
A Little Help?
Three pelicans rest on a sea wall in Boca Ciega Bay near Upham Beach in St. Pete Beach, Florida. One pelican has a fishing line protruding from an area behind his leg.
The guy on the right kept turning to me, like he had something to say. I was clueless to it, trying to hold my balance on the rocks and focus on his eyes. My wife knew right away, of course, telling me as she spotted me on the rocks and approached.
All three flew away shortly after I captured this image, so I never saw it until I edited the photo in full resolution. Look closely - he's got a leader protruding from just behind his left leg, with a swivel and a bit of line dangling from it. I can't tell if there's a hook involved, but that feels like a reasonable assumption to me.
Before I knew about his predicament, I loved this photograph because it gave me a sense of technical satisfaction - three in a row, perfectly spaced, and nobody's pruning themself! And, bonus, that gaze!
Now it makes me a little sad every time I look at it.
I still love it though, because it reminds me of things that are important to me - wildlife and the environment - and the challenges they face.