A photographer from Pulborough won the 2020 Sussex Wildlife Trust "Into the Wild" photography competition with a stunning photo of two Kingfishers in flight. The image was captured at Warnham Nature Reserve, near Horsham.
The incredible shot, titled "Kingfisher Confrontation," made the top 12 cut, guaranteeing Michael a slot on the Trust’s 2021 calendar. Once voting opened to the public, his photograph quickly topped the list, and was declared the winner.
The online competition received over 680 entries this year, and judges from the Sussex Wildlife Trust selected the top 12.
“I took the photograph at Warnham Nature Reserve, near Horsham,” he said. “I’d been a regular visitor, seeking to photograph this stunning bird. On this occasion, I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time, when one male kingfisher aggressively confronted another, who had been quietly watching the water.”
The Sussex Wildlife Trust will feature all 12 finalists’ photographs in their 2021 online calendar, which they plan to launch this month. The Trust will also feature photographs on social media and in their member magazine.
As the lead finalist, Michael was offered an opportunity to do a week-long Instagram takeover of the Trust’s Instagram account.
He added that birds in flight are one of the most challenging subjects to photograph, and that he’s practiced extensively photographing barn owls and other birds as they soar through the air.
Michael hopes that his photography will generate greater appreciation for nature, raise awareness for wildlife conservation efforts, and lead people to support conservation organizations.
“I offer my images to a number of conservation-based organizations,” he said. “I have often taken photos of wildlife in India, as I have a particular interest in tiger conservation. Some of my photos have been used to support wildlife there—on posters for a campaign against poaching, mainly tigers, which were used in all the major airports.”
