Bird Photo Competition 1 2016 : Entry Number 159

Although many modern art forms have evolved to become more 'challenging' than 'pleasing', bird photography is still firmly dominated by the depiction of beauty and the capture of action. It's refreshing, therefore, to see a well-executed image that so many people would reject as 'unpleasant'. Like other scavengers, vultures perform a hugely valuable role in maintaining a healthy environment. Here, a couple of black vultures are dealing with a dead turtle that has been washed up on a beach. The low-key, monochrome treatment of the image makes a feature of the perceived 'darkness' of the subject matter and helps to create an almost prehistoric feel. Sometimes, it pays to look beyond the pretty and the wow to find scenes with interest and impact.

Name: Ioseba Mirena Location: Cumuruxatiba, Bahia Camera model: 6D Post: Lr I shoot this picture on my holidays. It took me more than 20 minutes to shoot the picture because I was with a fixed lens. I crawled slowly up to one meter of the vultures. Many thanks for the prize! Cheers.