This reads like a poem

For anyone curious, the competition rules are here:

https://www.birdpoty.com/rules

"With the exception of HDR, stitched panoramas, focus stacking, and in-camera multiple exposures, composited images or AI-generated images are not permitted in any category. Sky swapping or removal of objects through cloning, for example, is not permitted."

Thanks for sharing, can't imagine how bird photographers devote weeks to plan for a single shot - may seem extreme. Being in the right location at the right time is the key. Wow!

This skill is often underrated. World is moving faster than ever. Another underrated skill is quick-decision making.

Wow, the photo burst was insane...

Stunning image.

Although, having experienced a solar eclipse and the associated hysteria around protective glasses, I wonder how risky it was for his eyesight to look through a magnifying lens.

Cool to see that kind of effort rewarded in a space often dominated by post-processing tricks

Funny that the print version has been photoshopped to move the vapour closer to the beak.

Yep, wildlife photographers are just outdoorsy wizards with cameras instead of wands

I take wildlife shots but mainly for the record, which I post on iNaturalist. On occasion, I do need to see 'slightly into the future' for some shots, like predicting where birds and flying insects might be when I'm tracking them for shots. (This can be hard for pollinating insects flying from flower to flower.)

I've done a lot of street photography, and yeah I think the fundamental skill is scanning the environment, then predicting what will happen in order to snap the perfect shot. For example, you might see a fence making an interesting shadow, then figure out how to position yourself such that passers-by fit into the scene.

In practice, you end up standing around and waiting a lot. Moving quickly through a city is almost guaranteed to result in missing some great shots. (Saying this from experience.)

Bresson is from a time where you had 38 shots maximum, before you need to reload your camera. It takes an immense amount of attention, but also you’re statistically unlikely to take the kind of photo that you can get today (eg most of these bird images).

My current camera takes 20 photos per second sustained AND comes with a pre-buffer that captures 2s of images before you press the trigger. It’s wild!

(I don’t take photos anywhere near Bresson’s but still, it helps)

I'm sure there's a talent to it, but practice helps a ton. I'm certainly not comparing myself to Cartier-Bresson, but in the very specific type of photography I regularly shoot (youth sports) you learn the rhythm and patterns and what to look out for. I'd imagine street or wildlife photography is much the same. Patience, practice, and accepting that 99% of the picture you make will be crap.

Title is correct for about half the entries. Half are men.

(joke only works in UK slang)

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