GDT Nature photographer of the year 2018, overall winner and first place in the birds category: Maximilian Hornisch (Germany) - Golden eagle, the Alps. ‘Temperatures are rising, the snow melts and water slowly cuts its way down into the valley ... The golden eagle floats in through the retreating veil looking for winter’s leftovers. Numerous avalanches in the mountains have taken their toll, offering the golden eagles a generous supply of food after the snow has gone ... Two days later there was going to be new snow, heavily restricting the golden eagles’ food supply once more.’

Photograph: Maximilian Hornisch/GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2018