Countryfile Photo Comp, Ethical pic??
 

I'd like to hear what other members feel about the photograph of the three dormice which was picked as one of the finalists in the photo competition on Sundays program, surely these sleeping/hibernating dormice must have been removed from their nests to take this photo? I don't think a photo that shows animals that have been disturbed in this way should be allowed.

Countryfile - Photo Competition
 

I watched Countryfile yesterday to see the finallists that they had picked for the Photo Competition. I must say I was quite disapointed on most of them that they had chosen.

I am not sure if it is me being over critical, but I have seen far better in Birdforums Competitions and in the Gallery. An example of this is the Insect ones they chose, quite a few of our entries from our recent comp. far outshone what they had decided on.

I think this shows what a high standard of pictures and photographers that we have in BF !

Here is a link to the ones they have decided on.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/environm...omp_2004.shtml

There's an old saying for any competition - 'If you don't enter, you can't win!'

I wonder if any BF members have actually entered the BBC competition?

They can only choose the finalists from those that have entered. I've not looked at the link above, yet, but often they will be looking for something else in a competition other than a proficient shot.

We may admire a sharp, well exposed shot that shows all the features of a particular species, whereas the judges may just see the subject as more or less incidental to the overall composition (A couple of rules for any photo comp: read the rules carefully and find out all you can about the judge's preferences!).

Muscardinus avellanarius is one of Britain's most endangered mammals. Action described above is illegal.

Appendix
Seen that picture now. Looks like a case of animal pedophilia to me.

Plus the Parus montanus there http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/environm...omp_2004.shtml is not montanus but palustris.

Marmot, have you had a look at this ongoing thread below? I assume it's discussing the same comp as you are?

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=24719

Regards

The link won't give me access to anything. Or is it in ruffled feathers which I am not subscribed to.

ahh yes, it's in the Ruffled Feathers forum.

"* Dormice are protected in the UK. Steven Robinson had a licence to handle these three." - from the bottom of the finalists page.

This is not enough of an excuse to show this photo as part of an open competition - this may cause a few 'loonies' to try to emulate this shot for their own 'collection'.

Tut, tut, BBC - not very responsible, methinks!

Andy.

The websirte notes that they are protected an a special licence was required to handle them. There was also a Bill Oddie program where they went about opening nest boxes looking for dormice too.

I've emailed Countryfile with my comments, I suggest that others do the same if they are unhappy with this being published. Details are on their website.

Andy.

I also had my doubts about the shot.
I've moved this thread to the main forums as it's totally on-topic and deserves a better airing.

It seems that the Countryfile email address has a bad redirect - I've had 'bounces' from it. If anyone feels the need to contact them, I suggest using the form at http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/feedback/fee...omp_2004.shtml

Andy.

I thought that no matter how "cute" they may have looked this picture should not be allowed even if it encourages one person to do the same, it is still one too many .
As Andrew quite correctly said "This is not enough of an excuse to show this photo as part of an open competition - this may cause a few 'loonies' to try to emulate this shot for their own 'collection'."
I don't think they actually mentioned about the licence when the programme was getting transmitted, but I may be wrong.

Just going slightly off at a tangent but I started a thread this morning on the overall standard of the photos that reached the final http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=24727

Try http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=24719 Andy Bright thought it too good to keep "hidden".

Andy.

I've now merged the threads into this one, which makes it look a bit odd in places but it simplifies things to an extent

Photographing those little dormice is akin to being to close to nesting birds.Nothing is sacred from unscrupulous people.But when I was watching Countryfile yesterday,and there were glimpses of the photos ,I am sure I recognised a few.The Robin on a log,the Kingfisher,did anyone from BF enter the comp?.

Thanks for the link,Andrew.I have suggested they ask the photographer exactly how he obtained his shot.

I'm pleased to see it wasn't only me who thought these pics are in poor taste, I watched the programme from beginning to end and don't remember anything being said about the photographer having a licence/permit to photograph these dormice. and as already stated it could encourage others to actively search out dormice to try similar shots.

Not exactly the same but similar from Sunday. I saw an article http://www.people.co.uk/petsandpeople/ and it listed animals that had moved into the urban environment. Usual things foxes, badgers etc. But it also included Sparrowhawks, there wasn't much detail in the whole article just a basic list, but the thing that aggravated me was under a picture of a sparrowhawk was the caption "Can be vicious". It made me think what some else who knew little about them would interpret that to mean, i.e. could attack people, children, pets!

I think I know what they were getting at but at the same time they have not thought through the consquences, just like the dormice.

Just received a reply from the Countryfile director....

"Thank you for your concerns regarding the picture of the three dormice
in our photographic competition. The photographer does hold a dormice
licence to monitor dormice and we were assured at the time of judging
that the mice would have been temporarily removed from their nest as
part of a scientific project which ultimately could increase numbers of
dormice and help protect the species. It was with these assurances that
we were happy to put the picture through to the final twelve. We have
made this point on our website and should the picture win the
competition, the circumstances under which the picture was taken will be
made very clear to the viewers in the programme."

...which seems to indicate that the issue was not mentioned during the broadcast.

Perhaps it's time to contact English Nature and ask their opinion?

Andy.

Hmmm... methinks it might still be worth expressing one's discomfiture.

I don't have a problem with Countryfile, but this seems like an attempt to skirt the issue.

Anyone who sees this photo, but does not see any associated explanation, may be unaware of the licence requirements, and may disturb dormice to obtain a similar photo.

That's the main point surely... although as a slightly more trivial aside, no matter how good the photo might be, I hope it doesn't win the competition, as it is simply unfair for a general competition to reward someone with special access to the subject at the expense of the other entrants not afforded this privilege.

As this is, presumably, a Countryfile viewers' competition, should it win, it raises the possibility of the programme having to say, "All of you 'ordinary' viewers are not allowed to take a shot like this!" - or "You're all equal, but some are more equal than others."

Just recieved exactly the same reply, does't exactly answer the point that this photo being shown in an open comp could lead to a loonie doing exactly the same "because it was shown on contryfile"
Unless they have updated the website all it stated last night was that the photographer held a licience to handle dormice,even this was in vary small type at the bottom, nothing about any assurances given to the judges that they had been disturbed as part of a scientific project which ultimately could increase numbers of
dormice and help protect the species, strikes me as strange that photo's taken for this reason suddenly appear in the final of this comp and will now be plastered all over the country in the calender

Exactly my thoughts. I wonder how many would vote for it if they knew the circumstances.
Personally, I liked the shot of the Swans and hope that wins... but I have a feeling the Dormice will win it for the 'cute' factor alone.

My reaction, upon seeing the dormice, was similar. I really don't know what was going through the judges' minds when they decided that this was a good candidate. Regardless of handling/photography license, the act of moving the 3 mice from nest site on to a patch of cold damp moss for the sake of a photo is certainly, to my mind, ethically questionable.