Bird Photo Competition 2 2015 : Results
- Competition Winner : First Prize
- $213.60 plus a Leica C worth $700
- Judges Comment
- These days, bird photography - and wildlife photography in general - is used for many purposes, including decorative, commercial, editorial, conservational and so on. Originally, though, its primary purpose was the scientific recording of species and their lifestyles. This image is a great example of this original documentary style. As amazing as it may seem, birds such as honey buzzards have evolved to feed on the larvae and nests of wasps, making use of both physical and chemical defences against stings. The fact that this behavioral image would surprise and inform most viewers shows that this genre still has an important role to play in today's media-saturated society.
- Mark Of Excellence
- Judges Comment
- When you think you've seen every possible image of a particular species (a kingfisher in this case), an incredibly creative shot like this one can really take your breath away
- Photographers Comment
- I planned to take picture of my favorite bird with a 16mm lens in a little river near my home in Belgium. I don't know why this kingfisher stop on the hood of the lens!!!
- https://500px.com/lemarcost
- Mark Of Excellence
- Judges Comment
- The harsh reality of the food chain is summed up here, especially by the meeting of the eyes of predator and prey
- Photographers Comment
- Thank you to Mike Atkinson for selecting my image for this contest and congratulations to all the other photographers in this category. The image of this great blue heron was shot with a Nikon D7100 and the Nikkor 70-300mm lens. I spend a lot of time observing and photographing birds and wildlife. Each day for them is a matter of survival and the continued cycle of the food chain between predator and prey. I am delighted that this was exactly what the judge saw when he viewed this photograph!
- www.fraida-gutovich.artistwebsites.com
- Mark Of Excellence
- Judges Comment
- It's difficult to take a pigeon photo that stands out from the crowd, but placing this one within a cityscape gives a great perspective
- Photographers Comment
- Thank you so much. I took this shot from the Empire State Building back in 2008, with some post processing. I used a Samsung KENOX S730 camera. My first digital camera.
- nina-bradica.artistwebsites.com
- Mark Of Excellence
- Judges Comment
- This image is the perfect advertisement for shooting towards the sun: beautiful rim lighting picking out the feathers, bill and droplets and providing an atmospheric feel. The shapes and curves of the bird and water arc are also an aesthetic delight.
- Photographers Comment
- The photo was taken in Hungary at Bence's hide. It was taken while this bird was trying to fish.
- https://500px.com/lemarcost
- Mark Of Excellence
- Judges Comment
- The head sticking out of the nesthole in the background transforms this image from a pleasing shot of a single bird in its environment into an image that tells the life story of this species
- Photographers Comment
- Thank you so much. I took this shot in Pennsylvania and did some post processing in Photoshop CS3. I used a Canon SX50 camera.
- nina-bradica.artistwebsites.com
- Mark Of Excellence
- Judges Comment
- It's normally a good rule of thumb to make sure birds are looking either towards the camera or sideways on, but this arresting image of a heron looking straight out to sea can't fail to make us wonder what it's thinking
- Mark Of Excellence
- Judges Comment
- Budgerigars are so often seen in cages that it's refreshing to see an image that reminds us that all captive species have a real home in the natural world