Bird Photo Competition 2 2018 : Results
- Competition Winner : First Prize
- $638.00
- Judges Comment
- In these days of media saturation, it's difficult to create an image that stands out, especially when images are first viewed at a small size, such as on a webpage of thumbnails or on the screen of your phone. Many excellent images never get viewed full size simply because they failed to generate sufficient interest at thumbnail size. One solution is to create an image that's as simple and bold as possible - which photographers often refer to as 'graphic'. This silhouette of Ostriches on a skyline is a great example of the approach, the line of 50-or-so birds being the only thing that stops the frame being roughly half black and half white. With such images, the concept of 'intrusion' can be used to great effect, namely where one colour zone 'bleeds' into the other to form a focal point or subject, as the Ostriches do here. This image will definitely have more appeal for photographers-who-do-birds than for birders-who-do-photos, but there's something about it that can be appreciated by anyone.
- Photographers Comment
- In March 2017, I joined the charity African Initiatives to photograph a story on the Maasai women of Northern Tanzania. Our journey to reach Loliondo District at the tip of northern Tanzania started early in Arusha where we were greeted by two Maasai guides with a Land Cruiser. To my delight, they had decided our 8-hour route would take us directly across the plains of the Serengeti. After 5-hours of driving, with the light dimming and still very much in a land of endless horizons, we found ourselves navigating through a bumpy dip in the terrain where our driver stopped for a convenience break. As we got out to stretch our legs, I spotted a flock of Ostriches springing across the brow of the hill above. Fortunately, my Nikon D810 with with Sigma 150-600 lens was in hand, and I was able to quickly boost my ISO up 1250 and capture this long range shot (at 330mm, f10, 1/1250sec) before the flock disappeared 30 seconds later.
- https://www.instagram.com/philipfieldphoto
- Mark Of Excellence
- Judges Comment
- This bird's attempt to catch an insect in flight would have made for an interesting photo in any case, but the bushfire adds a spectacular backdrop to the scene
- Mark Of Excellence
- Judges Comment
- Great tonal detail and a real sense of speed
- Mark Of Excellence
- Judges Comment
- Great eye contact between this heron and its intended prey
- Photographers Comment
- My name is Tyler McClure (a.ka. fawlingfeatherz), and I took this photo in southwestern Washington, USA at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. I noticed this heron hunting in a grassy field and figured I would wait for it to wander close and possibly snag a shot of it feeding on a small mammal. The bird noticed something, aimed, and struck. I was surprised when it came up with this garter snake and also with how ferociously the snake fought back. I managed to capture this split second stare-down before the chaos ensued using a Canon 5D Mark iii equipped with a Canon 600mm f/4 lense with settings set at ISO 700 and shutter speed at 2000
- fawlingfeatherz.com
- Mark Of Excellence
- Judges Comment
- A rich natural setting provides a studio-style backdrop for this Crested Tit portrait
- Photographers Comment
- Name: Crested tit Location: Silkeborg DK Camera: Canon 5D mark III Linse: Canon 300mm f2,8 IS USM Eksponering: 1/400 sek, F4 , ISO 400
- rolandjensen.dk
- Mark Of Excellence
- Judges Comment
- A delightful capture of courting Stilts, mirrored and entwined
- Photographers Comment
- Thank you so much for the honor! One of my favorite birds to photograph are the Black-necked Stilts. Their mating ritual ends with this few second "dance" and I was glad I was able to capture it. Thank you for selecting my photo for this mention. The photo was taken in Irvine CA at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary.
- www.KSNaturePhotography.com