sleepy time for pelican (original photo of the day)

This pelican was enjoying a quiet nap in Pairi Daiza, a nature park built on the grounds of a 12th century Cistercian abbey.

Canon EOS 40D 1/500 second F/4.0 ISO 320 280 mm

I really like the way the darkened water and sky make a nearly seamless background, bringing attention to the delicate features and pose of the pelican.

It was actually taken in bright daylight, but the way the sun illuminated the bird, I was able to expose for the highlights and darken out everything else.