Prepare to be blown away by the best sports photographs of the year so far

Being a sports photographer is a tough job.

You need plenty of patience as you wait for the right moment. But when that moment arrives the perfect sports photo requires speed of thought, imagination and flair to capture the moment. But most of all you need talent. Here are a selection of some of the best sports photos of the year so far. They are pretty spectacular. The only way is down Gary Hunt competes in the Men's 27m High Diving Final at the World Championships in Russia in August. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) You wouldn't want to have a fear of heights Austria's Stefan Kraft takes off during the Ski Jumping World Cup in January. (Photo by Stanko Gruden/Agence Zoom/Getty Images). You get his head, I'll get his neck Luke Charteris of Wales in action during the RBS Six Nations match between Italy and Wales. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) Walk this way Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood throws his jacket in celebration against QPR in April. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images,) Jamie Vardy celebrates scoring against West Brom during Leicester's miraculous escape from relegation. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Adam Federici of Reading stretches for the ball as he fails to stop a shot by Alexis Sanchez during the FA Cup semi final. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) Ginger Huber of the USA dives from a 20 metre cliff in Portugal during the first round of the fifth stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. (Photo by Dean Treml/Red Bull via Getty Images) Irish amateur Paul Dunne plays out of a bunker at the Open Championship in St Andrew's en route to announcing himself to the world. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) Comedian Simon Brodkin (not pictured) throws dollar bills at FIFA President Sepp Blatter. (Photo by Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images)   Usain Bolt talks with Justin Gatlin after beating him in the 200m final of the IAAF World Athletics Championships. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Ballydavid Blueberry ridden by Anna Dangerfield misbehaves at the end of the Connemara Performance Hunter Championship. (Photo by INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan) Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis' trademark celebration captured brilliantly. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) Sara Errani serves during the US Open. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Canada sing their national anthem before the pre-Rugby World Cup International Friendly match with Fiji. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images) Tommy Bowe gets to grips with Mike Brown at Twickenham. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) Runners and riders compete at the Laytown races during the one day annual meet on September 10. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers gets his pass away against the Jaguars. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)     Conor McGregor takes Jose Aldo's belt in Dublin. (Photo by INPHO/Cathal Noonan)     Barbarians take on Ireland XV at Thomond. (Photo by INPHO/Billy Stickland)   Just Roy Keane. (Photo by INPHO/Donall Farmer)   Cork City's Kevin O'Connor and Karl Sheppard collide. (Photo by INPHO/Donall Farmer) Picturesque view of Leinster v Moseley in a pre-season friendly in Donnybrook. (Photo by INPHO/Dan Sheridan)