Tara Winkler, My Pandemic Friend (Single Shot 2021)

I returned home to Sydney Australia at the start of the pandemic after living 14 years abroad. One of the first nights in my new home, I heard the soft, deep hoot of a tawny frogmouth. I woke to find her roosting in the angel trumpet tree outside my bedroom window. Her deep auburn eyes peering out from the sea of flowers was rare and striking sight to behold. When I took her photo, she looked straight down the barrel of the camera and in that moment I felt inexplicably connected to this beautiful, wordless creature of the night. I thanked her for letting me take her portrait and she closed her eyes and went to sleep. She has since returned every day and has kept me company through these extended lockdowns.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.