Cormorant lifting off the lake

Cormorants launch off the water with an awkward, running push before they get airborne, feet slapping the surface and throwing spray in every direction. Caught right at that moment, it’s a very different bird than the sleek, low-slung shape they hold once they’re actually flying.

Why it matters

Unlike ducks, cormorants lack fully waterproof feathers, which is why they’re often seen perched with wings spread to dry — but it also means their feathers get waterlogged enough to help them dive efficiently for fish, a tradeoff most other waterbirds don’t make.

Getting the shot

1/2000s froze the water droplets in the air without turning them into an indistinguishable blur. The lake’s green reflection made an unusually saturated, almost monochromatic background that let the bird’s motion read clearly.