Diving Rocket.. Stunning Shot of a Bird Diving Underwater Wins Bird Photographer Competition

- The Northern gannet can dive into the water at speeds exceeding 80 kilometers per hour, a speed that surpasses that of an Olympic diver jumping from a 10-meter platform. British photographer Henley Spears managed to document the moment one of these birds pierced the surface of the ocean in the Shetland Islands of Scotland, which earned him the title of "Bird Photographer of the Year 2026."

Spears told Afaq News: "Even during the summer, sunshine cannot be guaranteed in this remote British archipelago. So I began to feel inspired when the sunball became visible from underwater.

I imagined a shot of the gannet diving directly into the rays of the sun, and I dedicated the entire diving process to capturing that shot." He added: "The birds were diving all around me, but I refused to let myself be distracted and kept the camera aimed at the sun.

After a long wait, one of the birds finally dove in the perfect spot, and I faced the bird as it surged beneath the surface of the sea. The winners in 8 different categories of this year's competition were also announced, including the "Young Bird Photographer of the Year" category, which was won by 16-year-old Barham Bourahmad from the United States for a photo he took of a great horned owl during a full moon.

Competition director Will Nichols stated in a statement that "in a world where AI-generated images are becoming increasingly common, this year's winners serve as a powerful reminder of the value of authenticity." He then added: "Each image in the competition represents a real moment in the wild, achieved through patience, dedication, and a genuine connection to nature."

He continued: "People will always appreciate true stories told by real people, and this year's exceptional images celebrate the beauty, magnificence, and authenticity of our natural world." The competition, in its 11th edition, honors the best bird photographs from around the globe and supports efforts to conserve the environment and wildlife.

This year, the competition donated over £5,000 (approximately $6,700) to the charity "Birds on the Brink," which provides grants to support grassroots and local initiatives for bird conservation worldwide. While speaking with Afaq News, Nichols stated that impactful images, along with financial support, play a vital role in protecting birds by raising awareness, noting that "conservation efforts often fail in the absence of public support."

According to him, the competition works to "promote birds by introducing people to the immense diversity of bird life on our planet and providing them with an opportunity to build a real connection with the natural world." All winning images will be included in a photo book published by Graffeg Publishing.