Photo Competition for August - THE RESULT

[Donald]

Another very high quality entry, reflected in the fact that votes were spread across a number of images.

However, there had to be winners.

In 3rd place ........

Wendy Stanford

with

In 2nd place

Wm C Boyer (chauncey)

with

AND - In 1st place

Bobo (Bobobird)

with

Congratulations to them and to everyone else for the quality of entries. If you want to view them all, then please go here.

To enter the September Challenge, go here.

[John 2]

Three superb images Congrats all round.

[dje]

Congratulations to all three winners. Very well done.

Dave

[Jeff S]

Congratulations to all three. Excellent images.

[Brownbear]

Congratulations to all! All stunning images...

Bobobird, it is just amazing how you captured the hawk with the fish so beautifully!

[Polar01]

Three really great images.

Cheers:

Allan

[teokf]

Congrats to all three winners of these beautiful images. Well done.

[WJT]

Well done Bobo, a cracking shot, congratulations to Chauncey and Wendy too.

[Mike Buckley]

I wasn't available to vote but I sure am happy for all three winners. Well done!

[chauncey]

For those that voted for my egret...you humble me with your adulations, thank you!

Bobobird...that is one helluva image.

[Brownbear]

Chauncey... that is one helluva image! Truly I hope to be able to photograph an image, just like yours one day..

And Wendy's too, but landscapes are a ways in my future.

All three are images are truly incredible.

For those that voted for my egret...you humble me with your adulations, thank you!

Bobobird...that is one helluva image.

[nimitzbenedicto]

Congratulations!

Wow, these kinda shots really need tons of patience, determination and luck.

Of course, with the corresponding experience/energy, familiarity/knowledge of the wildlife/terrain/ weather, skill/knowledge with the camera.

Thanks

[Bobobird]

Oh wow! Was never expecting that as I thought chauncey's egrets were the best bet.

Thanks for all the kind words and to all those who voted.

@chauncey - if you have the time can you explain how your shot was taken? Thanks.

[chauncey]

Bobo, that's a story to tell...six years ago and only about two years into photography I had just my 1Ds markIII when I noticed a Great Blue Heron feeding in the pond off our back deck. As my 70-200mm lens wasn't long enough I got a 300 f/2.8 and started taking pictures...then trying to follow him as he left the pond, soon after I managed to get ten images, all in focus, as he traversed that pond.

I posted all ten on my NAPP website and a cohort suggested photo-merging them together, almost worked like a charm. PS dropped a lot of the birds in the merging process and I had to go back and add them, in the proper position.

To my knowledge that was the first time an action sequence like that was accomplished with anything...nowadays it's not an unusual technique at all, but I've never seen anyone else do it with BIF. Since that time I've only once captured another series with all ten in perfect focus and those were egrets. Inexplicably, most of the time, I will miss focus on one or two of the images in the series.

Fortunately every apartment complex in our county has one of those birds feeding in their pond and I'm able to get a lot of practice in the shooting aspect and the photomerge process in PS. The tricky part is making sure to include the reflections whenever possible.

The key is within Photoshop and the standard photomerge process, then going back and blend in the birds that the process deleted...it's really is no big deal, provided they're in focus and in sequence. Also I've learned that for proper "balance", one should have them flying from left to right (the way the eye travels across the print) and include only an odd number of birds.

I hope that answered your question.

[Bobobird]

Thanks Chauncey, that is a good explanation of the technique. Of course, some of the newer cameras like the 5D3 allow that taking of a sequence of shots for exactly this kind of effect though I have yet to try it out.

[FlyingSquirrel]

Congrats to the winners. Really excellent work.

[Wendy Stanford]

What a surprise,
i feel honoured, wonderful images bobo and chauncey,
thankyou for the votes and kind comments.

[jprzybyla]

Good work all, great images.

[Pstearns]

Excellent shots!! Congratulations.