When landscape photographer and YouTuber, Paulo Olivier Hanshing, was exploring the coast around the fishing community of Talcaruca in Chile, he captured an image that he refers to as "a happy accident."
Now Hanshing's dreamy shot, showcasing a Neotropic Cormorant perching on the rock in atmospheric sunlight, has received an Honorable Mention in the 2026 Audubon Photography Awards.
"I was drawn to the rocky outcrops, where the combination of wind, low-angled sunlight and backlit surf spray created a beautiful tonal gradient," he explains.
"I loved the setting, but I was missing my main character." Eventually, Hanshing found the spot where everything lined up. "I saw the Neotropic Cormorant perched on the rock. It all clicked."
Hanshing used a Nikon Df, a retro-styled full-frame DSLR. He says, "The bird’s small presence gave a sense of scale to the impressive landscape, and I made sure to capture the bird’s silhouette against the sky so it stood out.
"I hope this image does a little justice to the common birds that we often overlook in favor of rare sightings."
Honorable Mention: Birds In Landscape, Chile
Contest: Chile and Colombia
Species: Neotropic Cormorant
Location: Caleta Talcaruca, Coquimbo, Chile
Gear: Nikon Df + Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
Exposure: 1/3200 sec, f/8, ISO200
Bird Lore
Most of South America’s half-dozen cormorant species are restricted to coastal and offshore waters. The Neotropic Cormorant, by contrast, is adapted to almost every kind of aquatic habitat. It lives along the Amazon and its tributaries, thrives in lowland freshwater marshes and swamps, and even frequents lakes high in the Andes.
Within a broad range from the southern tip of South America to the central United States, it forages like other cormorants, swimming underwater to capture small fishes, crustaceans and other prey.
Judge’s Take (Sebastian Herzog)
"In this striking image, strange coastal rock formations bathed in a mystical mist catch the eye, and the birds – perched as if they were tiny ornaments on the cliffs – are only noticeable upon closer inspection.
"It is a highly original shot, captured at just the right moment at sunset and against the light, resulting in a variety of warm tones that create a deep three-dimensional effect."
The Audubon Photography Awards is a competition celebrating photographers who use their skills to highlight the beauty, challenges and threats facing birds across Chile, Colombia, Canada and the United States. You can explore all 2026 winning images here.
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