Cassowary Blue Neck in Rio Evening Light

Honeyed orange light cuts through the dense canopy, striking the vivid azure skin of a cassowary standing in wet foliage. The bird's dark, glossy feathers contrast with the bright blue of its neck and head, while a rigid black casque rises above its eyes. Raindrops rest on the broad green leaves surrounding the subject, reflecting the low-angle sun that stretches long shadows across the forest floor. Moisture sheens on the bird's skin and saturates the greens of the undergrowth. A wet leaf rests on the cassowary's back, its edge glistening. The bird stands motionless, its posture rigid against the tangled jungle background.