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Bald eagle catching fish: Bald eagles, though a symbol of natural power and grace, are, like most birds of prey, pretty lazy. They do just enough to get by and no more. That makes for a lot of photographs of bald eagles looking cool, but still. This is a supreme example of a bald eagle at its best. If they can manage to maintain charisma when perched, then they are positively explosive when hunting. Thomas is a master of wildlife action photography, and his considerable skills are on display here at their finest. Taken in Kachemak Bay in south-eastern Alaska, where the birds both winter and nest, it is sn example of the drama created by the blurred areas where the motion is at its greatest and the benefits of soft lighting with a high-contrast subject. Photographer: Thomas D Mangelsen (USA). Runner-up at the BBC Photo Contest 1998