©Valeria Falabella
January 10, 2025
Art in Nature
- as seen by -
Valeria Falabella
There is no better artist than nature, the evidence is in the colors and textures of every landscape and species on Earth. I was dazzled by the orange brushstrokes on the neck feathers of this king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) in Gold Harbour, South Georgia Islands, Argentina.
The king penguin is the second largest penguin species, standing at just over three feet (one meter) tall. During the 19th and 20th centuries, they were heavily hunted, primarily for their oil and blubber. However, after the hunting ceased, the population recovered rapidly and is now estimated to be around 1.6 million pairs. The king penguin’s conservation status is classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Despite this, there are growing concerns about the species’ future due to the effects of climate change on sea surface temperatures and ocean productivity.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This photo was chosen as one of the top submissions for Wild View’s Spots and Stripes assignment. Congratulations! Check out our current assignment Art in Nature.
Canon D60
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