Kristeen Baggetto, Seaside Strut (ANIMALS 2024)

I was lucky enough to be able to accompany this White-faced Heron early one morning at Hervey Bay, Queensland, while it walked along the shore at low tide searching for its breakfast. Most of the time its head was down and it was scanning the sand. But then, all of a sudden, it stood upright and looked up and out towards the ocean. It was at that second that I was able to capture this "gazing out to sea" moment.

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