Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Suspended Animation

I spotted this great egret while out walking along the Ottawa River in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It stood in shallow water for quite some time, diligently preening itself. I waited patiently and was able to anticipate the moment when it was about to take flight. Using a 200-500mm telephoto lens and fast shutter speed, I captured this image as it soared away across the water.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Ottawa, Canada
Camera: NIKON D850
Copyright: © Sierra Slogar