Ouch!

What an interesting theme.
Unexpectedly it became a personal exploration of the heart.
I hope you like it. Good luck to my opponent and all other contestants.

Good luck to my dear opponent in our second h2h this tournament.

And you know about the red and the compression, right?

The booms, pops, crackles, and whistles filled the night air with sound, while the oohs and aahs from the spectators joined in.

Above us, explosions of color and streaks of light shot across the black sky.

I was supposed to be capturing it all on film, a physical representation of our memories of that night. However, the specticle, the beauty, the profound sentiments of the moment swept me up, and carried me away. My shutter clicked less often than it should have, but this image was one of the few I was able to capture.

The red-tailed hawk is common in my neck of the woods and is most often seen soaring far above the fields or perched high in a tree. To see one up close is a rare treat.

The noble Bald Eagle is a beautiful creature. Whether perched or in flight, it commands attention and inspires awe. It is powerful enough to carry more than its own weight, yet agile enough to soar on the gentlest of breezes without stirring a feather.

Throughout history, it has been both feared and loved -- both worshiped and hunted. I consider it a privilege to have seen one so close.

If I was to choose to be any other creature than a human, it would be the Peregrine Falcon. Incredibly majestic, it is the fastest animal on the planet, clocked at speeds in excess of 240 miles per hour (390 kph).

Thank you to my competitor for this fun contest!