I need help!

Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
edited September 23, 2011 in Other Cool Shots
Well, here we are. I have a competition coming up with the topic "Natural history" and it is a colour print competition. I THOUGHT I had my two entries decided, and then I went and shot some more images. Now I am in trouble, because I just can't decide what to do...

Basically, I need 2 images that show either animals or plants in their natural environment, not influenced by man. I will put my "shortlist" here, and will accept all critique and, if you'd be kind enough, your reasons for choosing a particular image over another. I KNOW I should be the one to choose, but I like ALL of them for one reason or another and I am tied!

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Barn Owl 1 by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

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Mallard Shaking Down by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

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Mallard Coming in to Land by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

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Southern Hawker Dragonfly 5 by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

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Emerald Damselfly by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

Comments

  • fredjclausfredjclaus Registered Users Posts: 759 Major grins
    edited September 19, 2011
    My number 1 choice would be Mallard skating down. The first image you have I don't think fits the criteria. That post under the bird may be taken as "influenced by man". Being from an island town, I like the last three as well. I'd say the duck is my number 2 but the dragon flies might fit better. I don't know. I've never entered these types of contests. Definitely not the first image though.
    Fred J Claus
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  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited September 19, 2011
    fredjclaus wrote: »
    My number 1 choice would be Mallard skating down. The first image you have I don't think fits the criteria. That post under the bird may be taken as "influenced by man". Being from an island town, I like the last three as well. I'd say the duck is my number 2 but the dragon flies might fit better. I don't know. I've never entered these types of contests. Definitely not the first image though.

    Thanks. Yes the post...it is the annoying thing...I don't think it is showing the influence of man on the bird, but it seems to be what people pick up on. Some in my club MAY pick up on it and score down accordingly.

    Thanks for your input, appreciate it. :)
  • fredjclausfredjclaus Registered Users Posts: 759 Major grins
    edited September 19, 2011
    I'm in a club here in Buffalo, NY and they would pick all over that if I submitted it. The shot is great, I love the position of the bird. You captured it wonderfully, but they wouldn't say all that. They would just pick apart the post.
    Fred J Claus
    Commercial Photographer
    http://www.FredJClaus.com
    http://www.Fredjclaus.com/originals

    Save on your own SmugMug account. Just enter Coupon code i2J0HIOcEElwI at checkout
  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited September 19, 2011
    fredjclaus wrote: »
    I'm in a club here in Buffalo, NY and they would pick all over that if I submitted it. The shot is great, I love the position of the bird. You captured it wonderfully, but they wouldn't say all that. They would just pick apart the post.

    Yeah, we have a few like that here. :)

    Thanks. :)
  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited September 22, 2011
    Any thoughts on a cloned and cropped version?

    6173321078_97ae8a2ae3_b.jpg
    Barn Owl no sign crop by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr
  • evanlavineevanlavine Registered Users Posts: 72 Big grins
    edited September 22, 2011
    I like the original version much better (my opinion) - It doesn't fit the theme of your contest but it works stronger as a photo. I guess composition-wise, it just breathes much better for me and I like the environmental portrait aspect to it. The cropped version is ok, but looks unbalanced to me (maybe because I like the original so much more).
  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited September 22, 2011
    evanlavine wrote: »
    I like the original version much better (my opinion) - It doesn't fit the theme of your contest but it works stronger as a photo. I guess composition-wise, it just breathes much better for me and I like the environmental portrait aspect to it. The cropped version is ok, but looks unbalanced to me (maybe because I like the original so much more).

    yeah, I think you're right. I am about 80% to scrapping this one for this competition. I will keep it behind and it may come in an Open topic competition next year.

    Cheers
  • SamSam Registered Users Posts: 7,419 Major grins
    edited September 22, 2011
    There is no choice here. Number one is it!!! Don't clone the sign out, the owl is looking at as though reading it or getting his location. It adds perspective to the image.

    While the duck is indeed very nice, I have seen tons of stupid duck photos......:cry........:cry........:cry.........

    The owl is it!!!

    Sam
    www.samlinvillephotography.com
  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited September 23, 2011
    Thanks Sam...you know, I wish people on the forums I frequent were judging my shots! The guys at my club would argue black was white if it were not explicitly stated in the club constitution that it was otherwise! I just KNOW that the sign will get picked on, and I'll be sad when they mark my favourite shot down. :(

    Thanks for the input. :)
  • david-lowdavid-low Registered Users Posts: 754 Major grins
    edited September 23, 2011
    Its #1 and #2 for me (not in any order) from your short lists. Ideally for #1, the owl should be flying “into” the frame, not “out” of the frame. But since the head was turning back, its a bit tricky here. Photo as such, judges will nit pick. #3 is ordinary.

    I took quite a fair bit of competition and somehow judges shun dragonflies as compare to birds. Don't know the real reason, perhaps it got to be really really beautifully taken. Your dragonflies shots are not competition bound.

    Hope it helps.
    My gallery: http://david-low.smugmug.com
  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited September 23, 2011
    david-low wrote: »
    Its #1 and #2 for me (not in any order) from your short lists. Ideally for #1, the owl should be flying “into” the frame, not “out” of the frame. But since the head was turning back, its a bit tricky here. Photo as such, judges will nit pick. #3 is ordinary.

    I took quite a fair bit of competition and somehow judges shun dragonflies as compare to birds. Don't know the real reason, perhaps it got to be really really beautifully taken. Your dragonflies shots are not competition bound.

    Hope it helps.

    Thanks for your input. I know about the bird flying out of shot, but he is following the sign, either in obeyance, or flying in disobayance to the sign to walk. :)

    As it stands now, I want to enter the owl. Ask me in an hour and it will be different! By 4pm today, I will have been to my mate with this A3+ printer, made my decision, and printed. Then it'll be up to the judging on Wednesday evening. I will be sure to let you all know how I went on. :)

    Cheers
  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,979 moderator
    edited September 23, 2011
    #1 is a marvelous shot; the cropped version is just another bird in flight. Birds of a different feather, so to speak. The hell with the competition--the original is a true winner and you should be proud of it.
    My Pics
  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited September 23, 2011
    Richard wrote: »
    #1 is a marvelous shot; the cropped version is just another bird in flight. Birds of a different feather, so to speak. The hell with the competition--the original is a true winner and you should be proud of it.

    Oh, I am. It graces my wall at home, my dad's wall, and also the wall of my classroom. It is also going on the Camera Club's calendar for 2012. :)
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