Eagle shot wins drone photography competition

11 July 2014 Last updated at 11:22

The arrival of cheap drone technology - and small, light high-quality cameras - has given rise to a new genre of beautiful aerial photography and film-making.

A new competition, sponsored by National Geographic, has highlighted some stunning examples of drone photographs taken in the past year.

The winner of the competition was a stunning view of an eagle soaring high above a national park in Indonesia.

More photographs can be seen on Dronestagram, a site dedicated to the images taken in mid-air.

The site's founder Eric Dupin told the BBC drone photography quite literally offers a whole new perspective.

"It depicts a new vision of the world, with stunning images taken from low altitude, near field," he said.

Continued

RSPB photography competition launched

It's time to get snapping for the launch of the RSPB and British Wildlife Photography Awards 2013 competition.

Aspiring young wildlife photographers across Berkshire are being urged to dig out their cameras for a chance of winning this year's WildPix competition.

Pictures can be of any nature scene or creature with entries open until May 4.

The winning picture will be announced in September.

RSPB head of youth and education, Suzanne Welch, said: "The WildPix competition is a great way for young people to get close to the nature around them, in their gardens, local park or nature reserve.

"Don’t forget our town and city centres have a wealth of wildlife that might surprise people too.

Youngsters can compete in two age categories; under 12's and 12-18.

Winning images will be published in this year's 'British Wildlife Photography Awards:Collection 4', as well as the RSPB youth magazines.

Visit bwpawards.co.uk to get involved.

Their work will also feature in a travelling exhibition.

Visit www.bwpawards.co.uk

http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/Lifestyle/Homes-and-Gardens/Gardening/RSPB-photography-competition-launched-07022013.htm

Photographer’s book chronicles vanishing prairie birds

Wildlife photographer Noppadol Paothong arrived at 2 a.m. to set up his photo blind. About an hour later, the birds made their entrance.

“My heart was pumping,” Paothong said.

Of course it was. It had taken five years of back-and-forth to secure permission to be there to photograph one of the 10 most endangered bird species in the world.

“I had my lens trained on one bird,” Paothong said. “He was very close.”

Paothong crouched inside the camouflage blind and waited for the light. After several numbing hours, the temperature persistent at minus-6, the sun slowly rose, first illuminating the Colorado peaks nearby.

His Gunnison sage-grouse, akin to prairie chickens, had not yet begun that fancy dance so alluring to females: fanning his tail feathers and strutting about, puffing up his yellow eye combs, throwing out his white chest and filling two plump air sacs to make its pop-pop percolator call.

The sun was up. The timing just right. And …

“A golden eagle came in,” said Paothong, the vexation still in his voice about the predatory interloper, “and my bird left.”

A vicious spring snowstorm then blew in, and it would be three days before he had another chance.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/11/04/3900560/photographer-chronicles-vanishing.html#storylink=cpy