But a very nice shot. I agree that removing this bag doesn't change the substance of the image. I think it's just an instance of the rules and reality mot matching very well. Sorry!
Well, first of all it stinks to have the win and then lose it. BUT, the rules are the rules and they were published ahead of time. Contrary to the opinion above I do not think it to be a case of rules and reality not matching very well. The second he took the bag out, reality was removed. As he stated in the story the editors told him the bag didn't matter one way or the other. If the bag bothered him so much he should have simply cropped different.
In the end...as hard as it might have been...I applaud NatGeo for doing the right thing.
I actually think that both the photographer and the magazine handled things very well. The photographer is particularly to be commended for his attitude at the end.
And yes, in reality that bag may not have mattered, and for other uses removing the bag would not have been a problem. But this was a contest, and the rules should indeed be strict in order to be fair.
!!