NBPA: Birds of Africa

WINNER: Lanner falcons fighting for a sandgrouse, by Christophe Jobic Photograph taken: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Botswana “I had been photographing a pride of lions in the light of the rising sun at a waterhole in Mpayathutlwa. As soon as the cats left, hundreds of sandgrouse flew in amid much noise to drink. I did not even see the first Lanner falcon catch his daily meal but caught sight of it for the first time as it was killing its prey on the ground. But when I saw his fellow raptor getting closer and bearing down to him, I knew something was about to happen. So I was ready with my 840mm lens, follow-focus setting and high-speed shutter. Indeed, the fight was as rough as it was brief and the story ended like a traditional homily: the evil agent had been routed and the symbol of good got the meal for himself.” Technical details: Canon EOS-1DX / 840mm / ISO 400 / f5.6 / 1/4000s / E 0.0