Broad-Bodied Chaser

Broad-Bodied Chaser
Wing Mosaic (Broad-bodied Chaser): Winner, Nikon In-Frame Competition August 2010

Cormorant

Cormorant
Cormorant: Winner, Attention to Detail, Bird Photographer of the Year 2017

Thursday 30 November 2017

My Winning Image in the Bird Photographer of the Year 2017 Competition

This is my winning image from the Bird Photographer of The Year 2017 - 'Wing Formation' in the Attention to Detail category:



This Cormorant was fishing in dark light under a bridge on a lake.  It emerged from the water onto a rock to spread its wings in typical Cormorant fashion. The bird was close which meant I was able to capture the formation of the wing feathers and the wonderful colours that are found in the detail - blues and purples, which are normally invisible at distance.  The bird somehow manages to separate each feather, presumably to allow air to pass through. I included the bill in the composition to show that it is a Great Cormorant.
Taken with Nikon D7100, 300mm f2.8 lens, 2 x Converter. Focal Length 600mm; 1/800 second; f5.6; ISO 1,600

Presenter Chris Packham's comments can be seen in the awards presentation here (21m 10s in..):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-Uc9NNkK8

The image appears in the book 'Bird Photographer of the Year 2' which can be bought here:
https://www.bto.org/research-data-services/publications/bto-books-and-guides/2017/bird-photographer-year-2017

Three other images of mine appear in the book:


Lesser Black-backed Gull


Jackdaw & Red Deer

Oystercatcher & Knot


Some press of the competition can be found here:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2017/aug/31/bird-photographer-of-the-year-2017-in-pictures 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4809210/Bird-Photographer-Year-awards-2017.html

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4393955/bird-photographer-of-the-year-2017-entries-winners-pictures/

http://www.discoverwildlife.com/gallery/bird-photographer-year-2017


Thanks for looking!