The moment before it slapped me

There’s a younger Dalmatian Pelican on the prow of our small boat. I’m in prime position to photograph it. It’s beautiful light, the light is behind me, it’s close, I have a wide-angle lens and I’m getting great shots.

It appears a long way away, yet I’m only feet away because of the wide field of view. I’m concentrating on getting the best composition I can when another Pelican flies across in front of me and between us.

The gap isn’t big enough and its wing smacks me in the face and swipes the camera, leaving it full of water.

Luckily it’s only feathers.