Bird Photo Competition 4 2021 : Entry Number 40

Judges Comment

In many branches of photography (news, sport, street, wedding, nature, etc.), photographers strive to capture images that tell a story. Bird photography has been late to this party, but competition success increasingly depends on being able to do more than simply 'depict' birds. Storytelling is difficult in bird photography, but one obvious narrative is the encroachment of humans on natural habitats. This image is a fantastic example of how it can be done: the cold, sinister development sprawling across both the landscape and the frame, pushing the ptarmigans into a diminishing 'corner'. Even the tracks in the snow suggest the pair have walked to the limit of their remaining environment and their poses make them look like they're surveying the scene with dismay.