As a child, Bill was obsessed with the northern pintail. While they do show up in the upper Midwest, they are on the more rare side. Growing up he would go hunting for them, but never had luck finding them. Nor could he spot them in his early years as a photographer.

That changed on day on Salt Lake in South Dakota. Bill was thrilled when one male swam right up to him and took flight, leaving a trail of water droplets behind which Bill was able to capture with clarity. It was that moment Bill knew his fate was sealed - he would be a wildlife photographer for life.

Fortune shown on Bill and his camera for the 15 years that followed; the pintail continues to be a favorite, including this courtship flight captured in 2017.