Results: January 2012 Monthly Competition

[Colin Southern]

Hi Folks,

It seems that every month we end up with just a single vote (or maybe 2) seperating several - with voting going right down to the wire - and this month was ...

... a bit like that (kinda), but ...

In first place - on 126 points (I think that's a record!) - we have Mark with ...



In second place - on 51 points - we have Reima with ...



And scraping in by just 1 vote from a couple of other contenders - on 21 points - we have me with ...



A couple of notes ...

- Thanks to everyone who voted - there were a lot of you!

- I've disqualified a number of votes this time around (it wouldn't have changed the result this time, but next time it might) - we had 2 people who tried to vote for several images at once - we had (I think) 5 people who tried to vote two or more times (some for the same image, some for different images) - and we've had 3 (so far) who's votes arrived after the cutoff time (with more expected during the coming week!). Please folks, just read the instructions - and if you change you mind - or are not sure - just PM me and ask; in the interests of fairness, I'm needing to get stricter about this.

[Donald]

Well done to to everybody.

The overall quality of the work in the January challenge was outstanding.

I think the sheer uniqueness of Mark's image (coupled with the highly accomplished skills in capturing and creating the final product), made it the 'stand-out'. I'm quite sure that image would have high commercial value amongst the specialist bird/ornithology publications - magazines etc. It would take quite an image to beat it is a specialist bird photography competition.

[Splatsworth]

Having gained a passion for photography through my love of birds - the feathered kind I thought Marks image was one of the best captures of swallows that i've ever seen and couldn't see any other image winning, stunning capture mark and well done for winning and congrats to the runners up to

[Wendy Stanford]

Wonderful image Mark, well deserved winner, congratulations also to Reima and Colin, very worthy runners up

[dje]

Wonderful image Mark, well deserved winner, congratulations also to Reima and Colin, very worthy runners up

Ditto from me. Great stuff.

Dave

[RockNGoalStar]

Three wonderful images. Well done to all

[MikeH]

Excellent work people!!

[andrewaxford]

An inspirational winning shot, easy winner for me and has really got me thinking. Thank you

[ddp4me]

I just want to add that many of the images could have won this one! It was very hard to choose the winners. The quality of the winning images should be encouragement to all of us to keep up the great work.

[Markvetnz]

Thank you all so much for the comments. Now that I've got that monkey off my back ......... Just kidding - well done to everybody. I was really just lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

[Colin Southern]

Thank you all so much for the comments. Now that I've got that monkey off my back ......... Just kidding - well done to everybody. I was really just lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

Yeah - was a royal PITA counting all those bl**dy votes for that image!

[fortune64]

Definitely a winning shot Mark,I voted for it.....congratulations!

[reima000]

Thanks for the comments from me too, and congratulations Mark for the victory. It's a great photo, impeccable timing! I'm surprised how many votes my photo raised, there was a lot of great images in the competition - though i'm not complaining

[Crovean]

Awesome Image Mark! Congrats!!!

[Kris V]

..... - well done to everybody. I was really just lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

You're just too modest! It's a well deserved win!

[Bobobird]

Anyone of that series you posted was going to be a winner.

Congrats Mark and the others.

[jprzybyla]

Fantastic Mark, I looked for the beak on the mother bird before I realized it was inside the babies mouth. Congradulations to all three places, all images I wish I had shot. Well done.

[WJT]

Classic shot Mark, I wish I took it, perfect composition, timing and everything else too, well done. So many wonderful shots, it's time to get busy and try harder to win the monthly.

[Donald]

Now that I've got that monkey off my back .........

You've got a monkey off your back!!!???

I've been trying for 3 b....... years, mate. And still can't do it!!

[Nat]

Congratulations! Wonderful images. Yes, there were a lot that were contenders...I was narrowing it down, and then missed out on the vote...
Sorry.