Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Martin Eisenhawer (Germany)

Crane snow flight

The endangered red-crowned crane is found only in north-eastern Asia and is resident only in Japan, chiefly on the northern island of Hokkaido. Here the population numbers about 900 birds - up from just 20 in the early part of the past century, thanks to the establishment of feeding sites. Martin watched the cranes at a winter feeding ground. As dusk fell, they would leave for a safe roosting area nearby. "Most of the time, they went off in troops," says Martin, "but what I wanted was a solo flight, and I spent days waiting for snow and a grey sky as a setting for the crane's beautiful plumage." The bonus for his patience was the background pattern of outstretched tree branches, "adding to the sense of mystery I wanted to create."

Canon 1D mark II with Canon 500mm f4 IS lens; 1/250 sec at f7.1; 320 ISO; fluid-head tripod.