Bird Photographer of The Year Winner - For Good Reason
Northern Gannets Dive Underwater at speeds of up to 86 km/h (about 53 mph)
The Bird Photographer of the Year 2026 competition has just unveiled its winners and one image topped them all - a northern gannet diving underwater like a torpedo, its streamlined body illuminated by the sunlight filtering through the water above. Captured just after the bird breaks through the ocean’s surface, the dramatic underwater photograph exemplifies how fierce these birds truly are. Though they may appear graceful while nesting and flying overhead, they become formidable hunters when searching for food. “When fish are spotted, the gannets fly into the wind and stretch out their wings as brakes, precisely adjusting their position in relation to their quarry,” British photographer Henley Spiers explains. Once ready to dive, the bird tucks in its wings and transforms into what he' describes as a “pointed torpedo,” capable of entering the water at speeds of up to 86 km/h (about 53 mph).
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Comments
What an amazing shot. How did he do that? How do you time when it's coming in? Brilliant!
Sometimes Google Gemini can be helpful. If the response is accurate, and I think it seems so - although limited, it's actually really interesting...
GOOGLE GEMINI: Several online publications and photography sites—including Digital Camera World, The Guardian, My Modern Met, and the official Bird Photographer of the Year website—have shared details about how Henley Spiers captured "Sunball Rocket." Articles covering his grand prize win outline the exact setup and technique he used:
- Location: Captured in the waters off Shetland, Scotland, where northern gannets regularly plunge into the ocean after prey.
- Camera & Gear: He used a Nikon Z8 full-frame mirrorless camera paired with a Nikon AF-S 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED Fisheye lens, housed inside a Nauticam NA-Z8 underwater housing.
- Settings: The shot was taken at 1/200 sec, f/11, and ISO 500.
- Technique: Spiers shot from an underwater perspective as the gannet shattered the surface of the dark water. The dramatic lighting was achieved by timing the shot against the sun as its rays pierced directly down through the water, framing the bird like a rocket launching through a glowing orb of light.
Thanks - Great info.
It really is incredible. I'm thinking he must have burst mode on, and maybe someone above water radioing when a bird is diving. Or maybe a remote camera mounted on something and he's above water. Either way, obviously pretty talented.
Definitely burst mode. If not, then he’s beyond lucky.
Awesome shot! My guess is studying their actions then being in the right place at the right time for a luck of the draw shot. I am curious how long it took him to get this shot.
Yes. Unfortunately, that's not mentioned. They talk about equipment used etc, but not how long he was down there, and how many shots were deleted. I imagine many. I imagine there was more patience than luck though.
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