Where: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa
By: Prelena Soma Owen, General manager
Settings: Canon EOS 1D X Mk I, Canon EF 600mm f/4L ll USM @ 600mm, 1/1250 sec @ f/9, ISO 1600
Photographer's story: As I was about to leave the park, I was distracted by some red-billed queleas congregating into a single flock at a waterhole.
I followed the cacophony of chirps and saw the small birds descend and ascend en masse at the edge of the waterhole. It was quite a spectacle to behold. The challenge was getting the right exposure. Even at 8:30am, at 36°C, the light was already very harsh.
Judges' comments: So much detail. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle. You can look at it for ages.