Woke up at 5am, traveled for two hours, surveyed the ambience, composed on a tree root, made a shot and realized that I'm never a fan of good light. Waited for a gloomy atmosphere and it came as predicted. Now imagine the late Cretaceous and Deinocheirus foraging in the background.

Dream of Deinocheirus. The name is inspired by a therapod that lived 70 MYA during the Cretaceous period. Deinocheirus is believed to skim for fishes on the water surface of swamps and lakes, just like modern storks. Now imagine this behemoth, standing five meters tall, ten meters long and weighing approximately two tonnes, inhabiting an environment very much similar to the Okavango Delta today. Shot on Yashica Electro 35 GSN with Kodak 400 TMAX. Scan adjusted in Lightroom.

I've just sorted a new batch of my favourite photographic subject, the milky stork. But until I reveal more, let's go back to the late Cretaceous period, some 70 million years ago and talk about an unusual ornithomimosaur, Deinocheirus. What's interesting is that this ancient animal shared one thing in common with modern storks, foraging and skimming on the water surface to snatch unfortunate prey. They are also believed to swallow any land mammals or other birds that would fit their throat in whole. The theory is supported by findings of skeletal remains of prey with their fossil. This habit is associated with shoebills in Africa that are known for a fearsome appetite. Birds, they have a dark and haunting alter ego yet to be explored.