Calm Drift

Taken on the Coorong, near the mouth of the Lower Murray River, this photograph was made in the early morning as pelicans glided in to feed. We were staying right on the water, and each day began quietly — coffee in hand, light still soft, the river barely moving.

What struck me was the calm confidence of these birds. They move with weight and grace at the same time, cutting clean lines through the water and leaving only the faintest disturbance behind them. The muted tones and gentle reflections keep the image restrained, allowing the form of the pelican and the rhythm of the wake to do the work.

This piece works beautifully in a bedroom, study, or calm living space — somewhere quiet — where its soft colour palette and slow sense of motion can bring a feeling of ease and morning light into the room.