This adorable baby tortoise appears to be in a good mood as it emerges from its egg.
It was a perfect moment when this tiny tortoise poked its head out of its eggshell and appeared to grin as it saw the outside world for the first time.
Alessio Caria, a photographer in Italy, was ecstatic to have witnessed such a historic occasion two weeks ago after spending several months monitoring the eggs he’d discovered in his courtyard.
After spending so much time in the wild, he discovered he had inadvertently adopted a pair of slow-footed tortoises. He named his tortoise Piccola Magia, which means little magic.
“I have these tortoises in the back, and I feel almost like I’m raising and nurturing all of them because I keep an eye on them.” — Alessio from Sardinia, Italy.
“I believe the picture is unique since I don’t think many people have ever witnessed a tortoise emerging from its egg – it’s a stunning sight.”
“I’m overjoyed with the picture since it appears to be resonating with many people. The entire globe has given me feedback on it, which is pretty incredible.
“From an aesthetic point of view, it’s not the best as it’s not a large field or mountain or an optical illusion, but it’s just nature in its purest form.
“I could have taken a better photograph from a technical standpoint, but I believe the image conveys powerful emotions, making it an effective photo.
“To me, the photograph is basic and flawed, yet it captures the birth of life directly, which makes it quite moving in that respect. It’s the magic of life.”
The government employee has spent roughly £4,000 on photography since acquiring his first camera in 2013. He has no regrets because it allows him to engage with his lifelong interest in nature.
“I decided to become a photographer late in life, but I’ve always admired photographs of nature and thought I’d like to make the same exciting and emotional images.
“I take pictures for a laugh with the little I have. I’m nowhere close to a professional.
“I spent about 10 minutes fumbling around and figuring out the depth of focus. It’s all a learning experience, though.
“You can just take one shot in 10 hours of waiting or a hundred photos in a few minutes. Nothing is sure in nature photography; it’s all adventure.