"Floating Through Space" - Like ethereal shooting stars, water droplets fly from a female Common Merganser. These heavenly droplets are illuminated in spectacular natural back light, making her appear as if she is gracefully floating through space. She just shook after diving in the Snake River (Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming). Getting the shot entailed using a technique to capture 'Rembrandt Light' where the exposure value was lowered several stops darker as the bird swam through the morning's first light ray.
- There was heavy smoke from a nearby forest fire blotting out most of the Tetons that morning, and I was doing recon for alternative shots as I had tour clients coming in the next day. I went to a favorite secret bend on the snake river before dawn to seek otters, when I saw this scene unfolding.