The Art of Feather-Care

Arthur Goulart's Image

Perched on a wooden post, an anhinga bird twists its long, slender neck to preen and clean its feathers. Using a telephoto lens to isolate the bird, Arthur framed his shot tightly. He captured the anhinga using its strong, dagger-shaped bill to secrete oil from its preen gland, spreading it onto its feathers, making them water-repellent.

Each of their feathers has a special structure that enables water to easily pass through, making the anhingas less buoyant. This allows them to submerge their whole body under water when they dive. The way they stealthily use their snake-like head above the surface to search for fish before they dive earns them the nickname ‘snakebird’.


Behind the lens

Arthur Goulart

Arthur started taking photos when he was around 12 years old. His journey through the world of photography has led him to awesome places such as Patagonia, the Pantanal, the Amazon and the Atlantic rainforest, which have brought him many intense but always rewarding experiences.

Image details

  • Nikon D7100
  • 80–400mm f5.6 lens at 400mm
  • 1/640 sec at f5.6  •   ISO 360
  • Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil
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