Harkness utilizes the square orientation to anchor the vastness of the Anawhata landscape, focusing on the dialogue between the soaring bird and the restless water below. The oil medium allows for rich, fluid shapes that define the crashing waves and the shifting atmosphere of this coastal stretch north of Piha. By placing the viewer at an elevated vantage point, the composition emphasizes the immense scale of the natural world, where the gull serves as a silent navigator through the salt spray and wind.

The color palette highlights vibrant contrasts, pitting the deep, cool tones of the ocean against the pale, sweeping light of the sky-scape. There is a sense of profound freedom in the bird’s flight, a brief stillness found amidst the dynamic wave patterns that characterize the shoreline. Harkness avoids a static representation of the beach, instead favoring a style that suggests the visceral movement of the elements, making the environment feel alive and unyielding.