The master-fisher - Jordi Bas Casas - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2007

2007: Urban Wildlife - Runner-up

Jordi Bas Casas Enlarge image The master-fisher

Jordi Bas Casas (Spain)

The master-fisher

'This image took a lot of planning. I put a large aquarium beside a pond, and put my camera (upside down) under the aquarium, linked to my laptop. I then waited for the grey heron I knew fished in the pond. When it arrived, I took the shot using a remote-control. It took days to get it right.' A familiar waterside predator, grey herons are the largest European herons. They usually catch fish, frogs and small mammals, standing silently at the water's edge, waiting to spike their prey. This large bird is bold enough to pluck ornamental fish from garden ponds and fish farms, and has even been seen killing and eating smaller birds, including ducklings.

Nikon D200 + 12–24mm lens at 18mm; 1/250 sec at f8; two flashes in synch; remote-control cable; laptop.