Make a donation
The Museum is a charity and we rely on your support.
Make a donation today and support our 350 scientists who are working to build resilient habitats, protect vulnerable species and secure a sustainable future for our planet.
Joshua Burch's Image
The heron stared down at Joshua, eyes bulging.
For a second Joshua stared right back. Looking up at the bird, it was easy for him to imagine what it might be like to be a fish, waiting for that deadly beak to strike. It was one of those truly serendipitous moments. Joshua had wandered down to Pen Ponds in Richmond Park, London, which is home to a handful of grey herons. A scuffle had just broken out between two males. Joshua watched as one heron chased the other around the lake, driving it off the water and into the tree he was standing under. Seizing the moment, Joshua lifted his camera and lens off the tripod and shot up through the branches, catching the moment the heron turned its attention to him. To Joshua, it was ‘amazing to see such a common bird in a completely new way’.
Behind the lens
Joshua Burch
United Kingdom
Already an award-winning photographer, Joshua loves capturing local wildlife on camera to show his family and friends the amazing nature that is on their doorsteps. He has recently embarked on his first serious photography projects close to home, working with the foxes in his garden to earn their trust and understand their behaviour.
Image details
- Canon EOS 7D
- 400mm f2.8 lens
- 1/1600 sec at f4
- Richmond, UK
Copyright in WPY competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.
More images from Joshua Burch
View all
Support our important work
Help us harness the power of photography to advance scientific knowledge, spread awareness of important issues and nurture a global love for nature.