He waited 3 years for this "once-in-a-lifetime shot": after 200 hours patiently watching, 17-year-old photographer finally captured it and won top prize in a popular wildlife competition
The wildlife photographer calls it his "dream shot", capturing a hobby with its talons poised to pounce on a dragonfly over the water in eastern England
Every photographer dreams of capturing the perfect shot – but the right moment often eludes them. For 17-year-old Maksym Breus, three years of relentless observation finally paid off when he managed to freeze an elusive moment at Redgrave and Lopham Fen in the UK. The exceptional image has now triumphed in the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's 2026 Nature Photography Competition, earning him the title of overall winner for his "Hobby chasing a dragonfly."
The image has been hailed as a "once-in-a-lifetime shot" by the judges due to the bird's incredible speed in horizontal flight, making the hunting sequence incredibly difficult to photograph. Maksym captured the fleeting encounter with remarkable sharpness at 1/6400sec using a Canon EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera and a 150-600mm super telephoto lens.
This lens not only boasts the super-telephoto reach necessary for such a task but is also significantly more affordable and lighter than competing options, such as the Sigma 150-600mm Sports lens, which is almost a kilogram heavier (Image credit: Future).
Maksym's enthusiasm for the achievement is evident as he shared, "For three years, I have attempted to capture a legendary shot of a hobby chasing a dragonfly. After more than 200 hours spent observing, the delight of achieving my dream shot was absolutely indescribable!" For Maksym, wildlife photography is about more than just showcasing animals – it's about revealing their behavior, stories, and the fleeting moments that make each encounter unique.
The Norfolk Wildlife Trust's 2026 Nature Photography Competition celebrated the best images of Norfolk's diverse wildlife, from birds, mammals, and marine life to bugs, plants, fungi, and landscapes. The competition aimed to feature winning images in the 2027 calendar and exhibitions around the county, giving photographers a platform to showcase their talent and dedication. You can explore more winning images on the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's website.
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