Pelican Time The Entrance Waterfront, Central Coast NSW Description “Pelican Time” is a character-filled portrait of one of Australia’s most recognisable coastal birds, photographed at a place where pelicans have become part of the identity of The Entrance. Sitting quietly beside the deep blue waters of Tuggerah Lake, the Australian Pelican is isolated against a wonderfully simple background. Its brilliant white plumage and black wing feathers contrast beautifully with the water, while the soft pink bill and distinctive yellow eye provide the finer details that reward a closer look. Rather than showing the pelican in action, this photograph celebrates its form, colour and personality — a familiar Central Coast resident enjoying a quiet moment beside the water. The Story Behind the Shot Pelicans and The Entrance have a long association, and photographing them around the waterfront provides an endless supply of opportunities. There is usually plenty happening. Birds arrive, wings spread, bills clash and attention quickly turns towards wherever the next feed might be coming from. It can be wonderfully chaotic. But amongst all that activity, I noticed this one doing absolutely nothing. And that was exactly what interested me. Sitting alone beside the water, it seemed completely detached from everything happening around it. The clean background immediately gave me the opportunity to create something different — not an action photograph, but a proper wildlife portrait. I concentrated on the details: the curve of the neck, layered feathers, enormous bill and particularly that unmistakable yellow eye. The result is a much quieter interpretation of Pelican Time at The Entrance. Sometimes the photograph isn't in the action. It is the subject sitting off to the side while everyone else is watching the action. Why It Matters For many people, the Australian Pelican is inseparable from memories of The Entrance and the Central Coast. Locals see them as part of everyday life around Tuggerah Lake. Visitors photograph them, children remember them and generations of families have associated a trip to The Entrance with seeing the pelicans along the waterfront. That gives “Pelican Time” another layer beyond being a wildlife portrait. It is a distinctly local photograph. For me as Central Coast photographer Jeff Walsh, images such as this are about documenting the character of the place I call home — not only its beaches, lakes and landscapes, but also the wildlife that helps give those places their identity. There is also something appealingly peaceful about this particular bird. In a location famous for pelican activity, this one simply chose to sit and watch. Perhaps it had the right idea. Acrylic Presentation “Pelican Time” is produced using museum-grade metallic gloss paper and archival Epson inks, then professionally face-mounted to premium acrylic. The combination is particularly effective for this photograph. The acrylic enhances the rich blues of the water while allowing the white plumage, subtle pinks of the bill and intricate feather detail to stand out with exceptional clarity and depth. The contemporary frameless presentation keeps attention firmly on the photograph and is completed with a premium backing system, ready to hang. If The Entrance means pelicans to you, this one might already feel familiar. Come and meet “Pelican Time” at Scapes of Art Gallery, The Entrance, and see the depth and detail of the acrylic presentation in person. You can also discover more Central Coast photography by Jeff Walsh through the artist link on this page.
