From the precinct of the passionate heart arose a dream to shoot at the stars. The aim was high, the challenge was daunting and the reward not slight. The distance was great but the dream pressed on relentlessly, blissfully blind to the light-years in between, and fuelled by the motto that to pit oneself against the best is the ultimate quest for glory, and a tryst with the most coveted is to the human spirit of thought, endeavour and creation, befitting as an honour of the highest order.

So in the wake of this charged setting of superlatives, I entered some of my modest work to that which is considered the most prestigious wildlife photography competition on the planet – one that touches, moves and moulds with the unthinkable standards of excellence it inspires and showcases. Considered thoughtfully for their merit by the acumen of the most august imaging and natural history folk of our time, nine of my products halted their charge in the second round, earning the posthumous title thereby of ‘Semi-finalist’, and leaving in the gusty winds of scrutiny the hopes of a flowering pinned on a sole seed.