Roller catch - Mateusz Kowalski - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2006

2006: 15-17 Years - Specially Commended

Mateusz Kowalski Enlarge image Roller catch

Mateusz Kowalski (Poland)

Roller catch

Sporting such beautiful plumage, rollers are always a treat to photograph. Mateusz located this roller's nest-hole in an old willow in Biebrzanski National Park, northern Poland. And as it returned with a bush cricket in its bill for the chicks, Mateusz was there to capture the moment. 'Photography was tricky because of the dense light,' he says. 'Also I didn't want to disturb such a hard-working bird by using flash at the nest-hole.' So he opted to take the picture as it was in flight - a good decision, as there was enough light to illuminate the iridescent plumage and create a sensational picture.

Canon EOS 1D with 300mm f2.8 IS lens; 1/2500 sec at f2.8; 500 ISO; 2x teleconverter.