Griffon picnic - Juan Manuel Hernández López - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2007

2007 Animal Portraits - Highly Commended

Juan Manuel Hernández López Click to enlarge Griffon picnic

Juan Manuel Hernández López (Spain)

Griffon picnic

'I wanted to photograph dinnertime from the vulture's perspective. I set up an infrared beam device at a special feeding station in Segovia, Spain. That way the vultures took their own portraits. It took a long time and many attempts before I got the picture I wanted, with the vulture in frame gripping the food in its claws.' Vultures are scavengers, feeding on dead animals. They are easily recognised by their bald heads. The survival of Spanish griffon vultures was once threatened in Spain. After the devastation of BSE (mad-cow disease), the traditional way of disposing of dead farm animals at special dumps was banned. Now reopened with certain regulations, these food sources help boost the region's birds of prey.

Nikon D70s + 18-35mm lens; 1/500 sec at f8; infrared beam and cable.