Mateusz Piesiak's Image

Mateusz Piesiak (Poland) carefully considered camera angles to produce a series of intimate photographs exploring the behaviour of birds.

When he arrived at the sunflower field near his home in western Poland, Mateusz didn't spot the mass of bramblings on the snowy ground - their plumage blending so perfectly with the forest of dead sunflowers.

Mateusz used his wireless remote to capture the flock feasting on the scattered sunflower seeds - a flood had prevented the farmer from harvesting the crop, leaving a bonanza for birds.

Before long, a brambling perched on the camera and started to split seeds, dropping the husks so that soon they piled up in front of his lens. Just before his lens was buried completely, Mateusz managed to take a few shots, including this winning image.