Golden catch

‘I wanted to capture this splendid bird at the most beautiful time of day,’ says Thomas. After digging a buried hide at the pond’s edge, he waited each morning at dawn. On day four, conditions were perfect – ‘it looked as though the pond had been set on fire,’ says Thomas, and a great egret about to toss and swallow its crayfish catch obliged. Great egrets hunt mostly at dawn or dusk. The distinctive s-shaped curve in their neck is due to a neat adaptation – the sixth vertebra is modified, allowing them to angle their upper neck back to harpoon prey with their dagger-like bill.

Photograph Details

Finalist 2015

15–17 Years Old

Thomas Villet, France

Golden catch

‘I wanted to capture this splendid bird at the most beautiful time of day,’ says Thomas. After digging a buried hide at the pond’s edge, he waited each morning at dawn. On day four, conditions were perfect – ‘it looked as though the pond had been set on fire,’ says Thomas, and a great egret about to toss and swallow its crayfish catch obliged. Great egrets hunt mostly at dawn or dusk. The distinctive s-shaped curve in their neck is due to a neat adaptation – the sixth vertebra is modified, allowing them to angle their upper neck back to harpoon prey with their dagger-like bill.

Technical specification

Canon EOS 7D + 300mm f2.8 lens; 1/4000 sec at f2.8 (-1.7 e/v); ISO 100; Manfrotto tripod; hide.

Saulzais-le-Potier, France

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Thomas Villet, France

Thomas grew up on a farm in the middle of the countryside , surrounded by a rich natural environment. He enjoys watching animals in their natural environment without disturbing them, and is keen to raise awareness of nature.