Just as Degas painted ballerinas in the throes of movement and in the interlude of focused stillness preceding and following the dance, these images seek to capture the grace and beauty of the Japanese crane’s hypnotic performance – once witnessed, never forgotten.

I first encountered this mesmerising courtship display as a child, courtesy of Sir David Attenborough and I knew in that moment that one day I would go there, I would stand before these majestic creatures to bear my own witness.

They did not disappoint.