#Repost @juliusspeyton ・・・ Never have I photographed a species where the line between genders was so beautifully juxtapose. The eyes of the female were as angry as a storm when they first alighted on me. Her hood flared up and the crimson highlights of the feathers there gave the fleeting illusion that she was covered in blood. When the male merganser saw me, his eyes were fearful and violent as his brilliantly white hood flared. He made a beeline for his mate, not afraid to turn his back to me if it meant that he could keep her from my sight. She realized I would not pursue first, and her eyes became as soft as any woman’s as she watched her mate move in next to her. The fear faded from him but retained that permanently attentive look. As I look back the pictures of these admirably beautiful water fowl I can see many of the traits that people value in their own appearance and go out of their way to highlight. The soft eyes of the female call to mind eyeshadow, her long neck calls to mind chokers and the many styles of dress that women use to augment and show off the length of their neck. The white breast of the male call to mind the pectoral muscles that are so desired among men, his hooked beak reminds me of the warrior-like traits that men need to attract those most desired and his attentive eyes reflect the attentiveness men must display if they wish to stay with their women. This photo was taken on 4-20-2018 #juliusspeytonphotography #hoodedmerganser #merganser #feminine #masculine #divinefeminine #divinemasculine #birds #waterfowl #ducks #duckfamily #photography #naturephotography #birdphotography #naturelover #microcosmmacrocosm #microcosm #macrocosm #juxtapose #nature #intuition #spiritual (at New Hampshire)