Before Christmas, I went to the new Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition

My favorite this year is a picture of a corn bunting (it’s a bird) singing on a cold day. The bird is adorable, but you can see the puffs of its breath in the cold air, as if the notes were flying off… And there’s a lovely spiderweb to round up the picture.

(click on the image for a larger version)

I couldn’t find a website for the photographer, although his pictures of birds appear here and there over the net.

There were a few more film cameras again than last year (mostly in macro and underwater), and also more “prosumer” cameras (i.e >£1000 kit). The cameras were also on average older, which is because of course pros are not susceptible to fall for the pixel inflation.

The other thing that strikes me every time is how these images are always a mixture of huge preparation and patience, and then a bit of luck… I don’t think I am made for that kind of nature photography.