Isabel Ma, The Pied Cormorant (ANIMAL & NATURE 2024)

These four images capture the dynamic balance between the elegance and liveliness of pied cormorants. In image 1, the bird's piercing gaze locks onto the camera, creating a powerful connection. Its contrasting black and white feathers are richly detailed, with its extended wing adding a sense of grace in the background. Images 2 and 4 showcase the cormorant in its striking breeding plumage as it preens, displaying the mesmerising bluish-green hue around its eyes, which adds a vibrant touch of colour to the scenes. In image 3, the cormorant's playful side is revealed, with its beak wide open in a moment full of character and humour. Across the images, the cormorants' captivating blue eye serves as a connecting focal point, creating a sense of continuity for the series.

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