David Craik Surrey United Kingdom 2nd Place

The only restriction on a photographer is the photographer s own imagination according to David Craik. This philosophy shines through in his photo of Starlings that had come to snatch the crumbs off his table at a coastal caf? in the United Kingdom. While a photo of birds may seem ordinary the compelling image Craik created is astonishingly unique. After the first bird landed and I saw the shadow on the white wall behind it he explained I knew this was a great image to be captured. Now it was just a case of operating the iPhone properly and finding the best composition. Craik s experience as a wildlife photographer showed him that you can rarely force a photo to happen. Patience is key and can pay off in enormously rewarding ways. Some may think I m mad he said but one of the most exciting things about wildlife photography is the waiting. His inspiration often comes from compositions shapes colors emotions and subjects he hasn t experienced before. He s also inspired by the work of other photographers. For him it s not about re creating the same images but rather imagining an entirely different photo that conveys the feeling he just experienced.