Birds
Ulrike Unterbruner

Birds

September 2019

Crowd
winner

Now that's a mouthful! Atlantic Puffins are amazing seabirds and even more amazing is the amount of small fish they can pack in their bills. Without question, this vertical capture demonstrates that behavior very well. I like the fact you can see the contrast in expression between the Puffin and the fish, obviously due to the current circumstances.

Entry 4489784
70th
529

Meet the expert judge

2,074 Images entered

Entry 4504889
1215th
3

The leading lines, reflections, and centered composition give this shot such great potential in my opinion. It's extremely unique and something every bird photographer would love to come across. That said, the bird or main subject is rather dark overall and a bit soft in terms of focus. A bit more brightness and sharpness on the bird would make this shot a real winner.

What a capture! Each one of the Great Horned Owlets display a unique expression and personality in this image. While open to interpretation, I see indifference, curiosity, surprise, and and perhaps some suspicion. The curvature or positioning of the owlets balances well and anchors the weight of the tree from a composition standpoint.

Entry 4530695
32nd
351
Entry 4617875
65th
304
Entry 4673482
696th
64
Entry 4673483
225th
30
Expert
winner

This scene immediately catches the eye as it portrays some intense interaction in a dramatic low key setting. The water droplets accentuate the action between both of the herons while further emphasizing motion. I also love the usage of artificial lighting in this scene. You can feel the energy when viewing this photo!

672 Photographers

73,690 Ratings

Entry 4781665
1922nd
36
Entry 4792744
1677th
9

It's always interesting to see shots that prioritize an attention to detail and give the viewer an up close look to something they wouldn't have be able to appreciate from a distance. The subtle blue tones and scaled textures of this Swam's foot give reference to its Jurassic ancestors from millions of years past.

Entry 4800570
12th
68
Entry 4807935
353rd
117
Entry 4812384
159th
113
Entry 4812404
1093rd
158

Brief

See more contest details

***This contest is open to subscribers (members on the Challenger, Pro and Master subscription tiers). However if you're not a paying subscriber you can still purchase entries for £2 (GBP) per image.*** Birds are evasive, fast moving subjects that spend most of their time either high up in trees or soaring through the skies – places we humans have only limited access to! To make things worse, the closer you get to them, the more likely they are to disappear. So how are you supposed to get a decent shot? The answer lies in patience, equipment and research.

Entry 4488320
46th
174
Entry 4489787
26th
1
1032
Entry 4491751
44th
128
Entry 4496443
48th
130
Entry 4498953
29th
35
Entry 4500199
37th
66
Entry 4502311
43rd
44
Entry 4506106
53rd
227
Entry 4530693
23rd
2
332
Entry 4530694
81st
212

I really liked this image from the moment I came across it as it's a very tender moment between the Kittiwake parent and chick. You can feel the compassion of the adult and the vulnerability of the chick when staring at this scene. The capture also include great eye contact between the subjects.

Entry 4539732
13th
1007
Entry 4614670
64th
326
Entry 4617874
506th
47
Entry 4619191
51st
43
Entry 4650701
302nd
31
Entry 4673480
22nd
631
Entry 4673481
132nd
62
Entry 4755317
123rd
44
Entry 4776920
459th
21
Entry 4785780
39th
182
Entry 4799823
33rd
1
141
Entry 4812771
66th
87