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April 2006 theme challenge – voting booth - 'Birds and Water' (1 Viewer)

Select your favourite 'Birds and Water' photo!

  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/89337/sort/2/cat/533/page/1]Taking off[

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/89336/sort/2/cat/533/page/1]Split secon

    Votes: 14 8.9%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/89270/sort/2/cat/533/page/1]Birds and W

    Votes: 7 4.5%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/89269/sort/2/cat/533/page/1]making a sp

    Votes: 5 3.2%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/89260/sort/2/cat/533/page/1]Gotcha![/ur

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/89115/sort/2/cat/533/page/1]Common Guil

    Votes: 2 1.3%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/88981/sort/2/cat/533/page/1]morning bat

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/88880/sort/2/cat/533/page/1]purple gall

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/88829/sort/2/cat/533/page/1]I Got It[/u

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/88782/sort/2/cat/533/page/2]Excuse me..

    Votes: 18 11.5%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/88753/sort/2/cat/533/page/2]resting[/ur

    Votes: 2 1.3%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/88742/sort/2/cat/533/page/2]Mandarin Du

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/88600/sort/2/cat/533/page/2]Pink all ov

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/88472/sort/2/cat/533/page/2]Feeding[/ur

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/88293/sort/2/cat/533/page/2]"Come on in

    Votes: 2 1.3%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/88292/sort/2/cat/533/page/2]So much wat

    Votes: 2 1.3%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/88092/sort/2/cat/533/page/2]Egret Fishi

    Votes: 4 2.5%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=87961&nocache=1]Reflection[/url]

    Votes: 5 3.2%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/87947/sort/2/cat/533/page/2]Dinner on t

    Votes: 2 1.3%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/87804/sort/2/cat/533/page/3]Coming home

    Votes: 8 5.1%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/87509/sort/2/cat/533/page/3]Egret Fishi

    Votes: 17 10.8%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/87417/sort/2/cat/533/page/3]Rock sparro

    Votes: 2 1.3%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/87408/sort/2/cat/533/page/3]Fishing[/ur

    Votes: 15 9.6%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/87405/sort/2/cat/533/page/3]Kentish plo

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/87392/sort/2/cat/533/page/3]What waterf

    Votes: 10 6.4%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/87389/sort/2/cat/533/page/3]Atacama Lun

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/87374/sort/2/cat/533/page/3]Cinnamon Te

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/87364/sort/2/cat/533/page/3]Mallard Juv

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/87224/sort/2/cat/533/page/3]American Av

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • [url=http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/86944/sort/2/cat/533/page/3]Fresh Catch

    Votes: 36 22.9%

  • Total voters
    157
  • Poll closed .

IanF

Moderator
The competition theme for April 2006 is 'Birds and Water'.

We had 76 entries this month - from which 30 have been selected for the voting booth on the basis of photgraphic quality and interpretation of the theme.

Please select your favourite entry and cast your vote :t:

The booth will remain open for the next seven days after which the winner will be announced.

The entries can be viewed as -

1. Slideshow
2. Thumbnails

Best of luck everyone :t:

For this months rules/guidelines see here

2006 competition themes see here
 
Wow, that was one of the hardest choices yet for me! Beautiful pictures everyone!
I just wanted to mention, though, that there are two photos named "Egrets Fishing," which might cause some confusion when voting. Just thought I'd point that out. |=)|
 
Wan2caTanager said:
Wow, that was one of the hardest choices yet for me! Beautiful pictures everyone!
I just wanted to mention, though, that there are two photos named "Egrets Fishing," which might cause some confusion when voting. Just thought I'd point that out. |=)|
Good point :t:

Now amended.
 
Thanks so much suleesia, I think your shot is absolutely superb and thoroughly deserves to win, if it doesn't you've been robbed, top drawer..

All the best,

Alister
 
Am I missing something here. Out of all the entries there is only one digiscoped image. The other images were all taken by DSLR and in some cases very expensive pieces of equipment. That being the case how can anyone say that this competition is open and fair. I wonder in respect of previous competitions what the ratio of DSLR and Digiscoped images was!

It is somewhat akin to being in a motor race, one is in a ford focus the rest in ferraris, so which will win?

I think this monthly comp needs an overhaul. There should be separate comps, one for DSLR and the other for Digiscoping. As it is at the moment I will never enter any photo in this comp in it's existing format.

I feel that there are many members out there who may have similar feelings.
 
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Robert L Jarvis said:
Am I missing something here. Out of all the entries there is only one digiscoped image. The other images were all taken by DSLR and in some cases very expensive pieces of equipment. That being the case how can anyone say that this competition is open and fair. I wonder in respect of previous competitions what the ratio of DSLR and Digiscoped images was!

It is somewhat akin to being in a motor race, one is in a ford focus the rest in ferraris, so which will win?

I think this monthly comp needs an overhaul. There should be separate comps, one for DSLR and the other for Digiscoping. As it is at the moment I will never enter any photo in this comp in it's existing format.

I feel that there are many members out there who may have similar feelings.


Although not shorlisted my photo was take with a basic compact digital camera, which I also use for digiscoping. I would be nice to separate compact cameras from DSLR.
 
difficult choice as always. Could've cast my vote for 5 pictures which were hard to seperate. Eventually went with the one bird I hadnt seen before. Congrats to all. I would just like to add to the camera debate. How about having a digiscope only pic competition one month Ian. :smoke:
 
incredible standard of photos, really difficult to choose one, but just about managed it!

yeah, my 400th post :-O
 
Robert L Jarvis said:
Am I missing something here. Out of all the entries there is only one digiscoped image. The other images were all taken by DSLR and in some cases very expensive pieces of equipment. That being the case how can anyone say that this competition is open and fair. I wonder in respect of previous competitions what the ratio of DSLR and Digiscoped images was!

It is somewhat akin to being in a motor race, one is in a ford focus the rest in ferraris, so which will win?

I think this monthly comp needs an overhaul. There should be separate comps, one for DSLR and the other for Digiscoping. As it is at the moment I will never enter any photo in this comp in it's existing format.

I feel that there are many members out there who may have similar feelings.
I've just checked all 76 entries for this month the breakdown being -

DSLR - 59
Digiscoped - 4
Compact - 8
Not stated - 5

I'd say if considering equipment used over quality of image was paramount then a digiscoped image making it to the final 30 is quite an achievement! Many very good entries whatever the equipment didn't make the final 30, for factors other than equipment used.

Perhaps more bird photographers are swapping to DSLRs? Perhaps this months theme was more suited to use of DSLR? Perhaps there are other reasons.

Using this month as a basis though the arguement doesn't hold 'water' ;). What use is a competition with just 4 entries?

If I have time over the next few days, though most likely not until the weekend, I'll have a look at the entries over the last 12 months to see how they compare.

I'm not convinced of your assessment of DSLR v Digiscoping. DSLR's may out perform for closer birds but more distant ones are more suitable for digiscoping - though there is quite a bit of overlap. I dabble in both and can still take better digiscoped shots than with the DSLR in certain circumstances - usually the more distant birds - but then I don't own a very very long lens.

Limeybirder said:
.....about having a digiscope only pic competition one month Ian. :smoke:
Certainly something to consider as it could be run alongside the main competition as a trial.
 
Ian,
just for the record - not a gripe - my entry was shot on a film camera! The only only one I think. Perhaps we can have a comp for film and then I would win :-O
 
nelly said:
Ian,
just for the record - not a gripe - my entry was shot on a film camera! The only only one I think. Perhaps we can have a comp for film and then I would win :-O
Lol! I counted it as a DSLR it looked so good :t:

We used to have several film entries but they've tailed off over time. Just shows the quality you can achieve though.
 
Vote cast.I feel very guilty as I had not submitted an image(living by the sea!!!).Yes,I see the point re slr's with 500-600 lenses,and compact cams and digiscopes pics.I see the same problem when submitting images to the Gallery.The standards are so high.But if one is happy with ones image,no matter how it was taken re equipment,then surely that is all that counts.
 
Well i have voted and hope the best photo wins-theme- bird and water-so guys and girls i picked the pics that was closest to the theme.Now can any one tell me-why the debate of cameras-i believe the photographer makes the shot not the equipment-that is what i believe and how close your pics relates to the theme.Cheers may the best man or women win.As for the make up on pics(i call it make up)-the Judges are wise enough to know who has enhanced their pics.But come to think -isnt the competition for FUN :'D not for gaining a name for oneself-So lets have fun-.Regards to all who agree or dont agree. :t: Oh i voted for split second timing(heeee) :t:
 
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A pro DSLR setup with a high-end 500mm or 600mm prime still requires a small fortune. However, it is possible to buy a very good entry level DSLR (e.g. 350D) and a decent 500mm zoom lens (Sigma, Tamron) for less than the price of a good spotting scope. With the 1.6x crop factor, this gives you a 800mm effective focal length. Probably one of the reasons for popularity of entries from DSLR owners.
 
macshark said:
A pro DSLR setup with a high-end 500mm or 600mm prime still requires a small fortune. However, it is possible to buy a very good entry level DSLR (e.g. 350D) and a decent 500mm zoom lens (Sigma, Tamron) for less than the price of a good spotting scope. With the 1.6x crop factor, this gives you a 800mm effective focal length. Probably one of the reasons for popularity of entries from DSLR owners.

Very true :brains:

See how close I work using only a 300mm prime. Range to bird about 12 feet, a foot and a half further than the minimum focusing distance of my old and trusty AF 300mm f2.8 (though manual focus used mostly). Bird (Shrike) still perched on tree 8-P.

An '84 Honda tin can with front passenger car seat removed (we are on the right side of the road in case some of you are wondering 8-P), lightweight manfrotto 190D/486RC ballhead, remote cable release (a godsent), nothing fancy. That's about it, I think very affordable for many and an f2.8 tele lens is not required if working at such close distance. A decent quality tele-zoom like the Sigma 50-500 or 100-300 is more than adequate.

Lastly, I like to add that the photos 'fishing' by anonymous_guy, 'split-second timing' by DOC and 'egret fishing' by alibenn are more deserving of your votes. The level of difficulty in capturing those magical moments are simply too mind-boggling to comprehend. Please do your part and give them your full support.
Rgds
T H Su
 

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Suleesia, have to agree with you about the quality of photographs......... these days the bar is constantly being raised.
RE: equipment. FYI, I'm using a D70s with 300mm F/4. The lens has been kindly loaned to me by Neil coz I dropped my 200mm in the water. However is a 14yr old lens that takes an age to focus. Whilst I have to say I'm looking forward to upgrading to a 70-200mm, feel the quality, whilst not the best is still adequate & in better hands than mine can produce good results.
My point.......... DSLR & an old lens can probably be picked up quite cheaply......, & when you look at the digiscoping gear of Neil for example using a Swazorski, eyepiece & Olympus 7mp (I think) at a greater cost don't see where the argument lies. Incidentally, the quality of image he's achieving these days is comparable to DSLR etc & from far greater distances.
He has difficulty when it comes to moving birds, but then at 50-100mtrs, they're not really in the habit of fleeing.

Anyway....... disregard all of the above & vote for Anonymous Guy
 
IanF said:
Certainly something to consider as it could be run alongside the main competition as a trial.
Artists only get the one shot at the comps per year! (The 'holiday card' in December).

Idea for friendly 'competition' perhaps?

Woody
 
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