Israeli photographer Yaron Schmid claimed second place in the "Black and White" category of the International Bird Photographer of the Year competition for 2023 winners.
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Speaking to Ynet, he described how he captured his winning image in northern Kenya, in the Samburu Reserve. "It's a reserve through which a river runs and most of the wildlife congregates around the river. The reason I and many others visit is because it's an excellent place to see leopards and other big cats, numerous elephants, unique animals that live only there, and breathtaking landscapes."
"One of the unique things about this area is the Doum palms, which have branches that split into two like the English letter 'Y'. When I saw a vulture perched on one of the branches, contrary to my usual nature photography, I decided to capture it from a distance, so its silhouette would stand out amidst the palm branches. I converted the image to black and white due to the relatively harsh lighting and to simplify the image so the vulture would stand out more," Schmid explained.
American photographer Jack Zhi claimed first place overall in the competition with his image titled "Grab the Bull by the Horns," capturing a female bullfinch attacking a much larger rival in mid-air.
"For four years, I tried to capture the rare sight of a female bullfinch attacking a much larger rival in mid-flight. I love the expression in the rival's eyes – surprised and frightened. The action was very fast, but I will remember this moment forever," Zhi said. HE received a £5,000 prize for winning the competition.
More than 20,000 photographs from around the world were submitted to the competition. Photographers competed in various categories, including Best Portrait, Birds in the Environment, Attention to Detail, Black and White, Bird Behavior, Birds in Flight and Urban Birds.
