What are the key elements of successful wildlife photography?
"To be a part of nature and really get to know the subject you're photographing. You need to try to get close, not just physically, but also by learning the animal's behaviour. Spend time trying to tell their story. For me, it's about the individual bird I'm photographing, not the species, because they can all be so different."
What's the biggest challenge when photographing birds?
"You need enough time to become a part of that bird's world. If you can spend time with your subject, you can get the shot. Sometimes it happens suddenly, but most of my pictures take so much time and preparation, and those are the ones that I remember."
Where did you draw inspiration from for your Night Hunter shot?
"One of my first wildlife encounters was with a great grey owl. I was so passionate about that bird as it's captivating to watch and has amazing hunting skills. I spent every morning and night trying to learn its behaviour and hunting routines. That can change from one owl to another, so you just need to watch them closely. By the end, I could set an alarm on my phone and know what the owl was going to be doing."
What's next for you? Which ambitions remain unfulfilled?
"I have so many ambitions! The great grey owl picture was part of a wider project, which I'm still working on. In one way, it's a lifelong project because I won't ever stop photographing birds – they're so cool! Some photographers have pictures of hundreds of different species, but that's not what drives me. I like to find a strong character that inspires me to tell its story. That could be king penguins in the Falklands or another species of owl – it's all about finding birds that have stories to tell."