Sacred Kingfisher ARTastic June 2016

When I first saw this inspiration I really didn't think I could do anything with it. Black, white and one other colour? If I changed a photo to black and white, that reduced the colour in the whole layout. If I left the photo in colour - then that added too many colours to counter the challenge. Eventually I decided on spotlighting just the bird in the photo an turning the background to a high contrast black and white. That seemed to work.

I went for the orange in the bird rather than the blue. I use blue all the time. I wanted to make it a bit more challenging for myself.

I'm really happy with the results!

I love bird watching, and although the Sacred Kingfisher is not endangered, its not a normal backyard bird. It prefers creek beds or rivers and nests in the banks. Its a tiny bird and difficult to see when its darker back is turned towards you (because it blends in with the clay bank or branches). I usually here the tiny 'plink' noise first; the sound of the bird going down to the water either for a drink or a quick go at an insect. It does just the one and then goes back to its perch. Then it waits and does it again. There can be days where I spend half an hour waiting to spot one that I never find, whereas other days I spot them over and over again.

Sacred Kingfisher June 2016 digi layout

ARTastic inspiration JUNE 2016 - black and white plus one colour