Birds in Urban Enviroments

As the author said, the position of the building in the background effectively draws attention to the swan in the middle distance, and the subjects are further effectively framed by the reeds creeping in from the edges of the picture. The shadowing added to the photo also emphasizes the contrast between the pure white of the swan and the building with the strong blue of the gates in the middle of the picture, and the whole is neatly capped off by the way the swan and the building reflect onto the water at the bottom of the picture.

The photo is an excellent example of the main theme of the contest, showing a seagull seamlessly mingling with everyday urban life. The composition is a simple, but fitting showcase of daily life and the camera settings do a great job of capturing the natural lighting of the moment. The cherry on top is the seagull's piercing glare.

The picture tells a story of a simple everyday scene; a bird standing on a granite sett, deciding what to do. The composition is natural, the main motif placed slightly off-center and emphasized by its own shadow. There's a color contrast between the bird and the background of the picture, with the dark gray of the granite matching the gull's wings, and the yellow remains of the road markings matching the gull's beak and feet; drawing attention to the clear white of the gull's body