Argentine Quickstep

Darío Podestá's Image

Surveying the scene, Darío was captivated by ‘the fragility of the chick’ as it used its oversized legs to scurry after its parents. After an uncomfortable crawl through a salt field in the rain and mud, Darío trained his lens on the speckled fluff of the chick, framing it against the dramatic background of salt and sky.

Two-banded plover chicks will leave their nests almost immediately after they hatch, relying on their stilt-like legs to keep pace with their parents and to evade potential predators. Their long legs also keep their soft down away from the wet ground. After four or five weeks, they will grow large enough to fly away from the care of their mother and father.


Behind the lens

Darío Podestá

Darío Podestá

Argentina

Darío is a biologist - his work in the field also allows him to photograph wildlife. His images have been published in many books, calendars and magazines, as well as for conservation projects. Through his photography, he hopes to raise awareness of the need to protect the planet and its species for future generations.

Image details

  • Canon EOS-1D X
  • 300mm f2.8 lens
  • 1/1600 sec at f5.6 (+1.3 e/v)  •   ISO 1000
  • Valdes Peninsula, Patagonia, Argentina
Copyright in WPY competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.

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