The Firebird
U.S.A. Santa Barbara Zoo 2015
The curve and flow of the brilliantly colored feathers brought the Russian Fairytale about the Firebird to my mind.
I tried to use Photoshop brushes to add to the ethereal effect, but I am hopeless. After a few attempts, I resorted to one of my plug-ins to add what I wanted. I like the way the software smeared the flamingoes in the background into brush strokes resembling flames. And it softened the subject into a silky glow.
I used Topaz Impression for this effect. You can download a trial version at www.topazlabs.com