NHM: Arch and ceiling panel gilt

Experimental angle... Probably better in large.
I had to reach rather rakishly to get this: I wanted to get symmetrical composition about the arch, but the arch led up from the thick stone balustrade which separates the second floor mezzanine from the very large drop on the other side...

Anyway, I almost didn't get an NHM picture at all today because I went out in the middle of the afternoon for a photo-amble and the light had already gone!? I couldn't believe how dark it was at 4PM; how did that happen so suddenly? I suppose the museum's lighting is quite extreme because of the high windows...

I am out of photo-choosing energy after spending a while earlier trying to choose two photographs for a wildlife photography competition. I narrowed it down by limiting myself to recent photographs, and I'd decided to use my heron, but couldn't decide between a gosling (...) or a dragonfly. Guess which one I chose?

p.s. This somehow reminds me of H.R.Giger's style of design for Alien, although rather more innocent...

p.p.s. I was unable to check on the fledgling(s) today, but have heard (via a spy) that although the entangled fledgling is still in trouble, the Egyptian Goose fan club (which seems, spontaneously, to have formed around the goose family) has hatched a variety of rescue plans. The RSPCA apparently visited earlier today but didn't achieve much, so (other) local people are going to take matters into their own hands in a concerted way with nets and a few experts. Fingers crossed; I'll check on it tomorrow.