Image of the year - 2006

Goldfinch hovering over teasels

Taken 5.01.06 in Kent.
1/640 @ f5.6 +1.5 exposure value. Canon 1DmkII with
100-400 IS lens, Gitzo 1540 tripod and Kirk ball head.

I chose this image because of it's simplicity, it shows the behaviour of this beautiful bird, plus it is technically very difficult to achieve. Small birds fly about incredibly fast, and this image I feel captures a brief moment in time that is too fast for the human eye to appreciate fully without the aid of a camera.Even at this high shutter speed, the wingtips are blurred, which I feel gives the image a sense of movement.

December - Grey seals fighting in surf - Donna Nook, Lincolnshire

November - Short-eared owl - Surrey

October - Red deer stag calling for does - Surrey