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Archive 2015 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

Imagemaster
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

After viewing all 100, my conclusion is that I see many better images posted here, and that sharpness is certainly not a main criteria in many of these shots.

http://www.audubon.org/news/2015-audubon-photography-awards-top-100

Apr 28, 2015 at 12:24 PM

eyelaser
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

Agreed Tony! Mine not withstanding

Eric

Apr 28, 2015 at 12:45 PM

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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

There are some great images there, but nothing that the members here can't do!

Apr 28, 2015 at 01:24 PM

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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

Looks like they're going for action and artistic form. Nothing to do with technical prowess. The first thing I would have done with the line of black skimmers shot (nice by the way) is to remove that OOF communications tower in the background. Such touch-ups might not have been allowed, so I wouldn't have entered it if it was mine. Nice work there for sure, but nothing we haven't seen as good or better right here.

Fred

Apr 28, 2015 at 05:31 PM

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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

This is a wonderful set of images and a delight to view. Sharpness is a part of the palate that can be used to create a photo. So is blur, color, contrast, movement. A few made me chuckle and others have a wow factor.

Morris

Apr 28, 2015 at 05:58 PM

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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

I have to say that top 100 was actually a very good selection. Lots of good stuff in there. You have to go to a different page to actually see the winners (they aren't in the top 100 set). Not sure why a shot of a flamingo in a zoo would be selected as a winner with all those other quality entries from actual wild birds.

Apr 28, 2015 at 06:38 PM

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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

arbitrage wrote:
Not sure why a shot of a flamingo in a zoo would be selected as a winner with all those other quality entries from actual wild birds.

More than likely because in the judges' opinions the image is more important than whether or not the bird is wild or captive.

Apr 28, 2015 at 06:50 PM

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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

There were a few really great images but I was not blown away by the collection as a whole. I see much better shots here and on similar boards. I can't really take any wildlife photo contest that accepts entries of birds on hand railings and captive birds that seriously.

Apr 28, 2015 at 09:42 PM

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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

From the technical and the level of difficulty aspects of an image, I totally disagree with the Grand Prize winner selection of this year's contest. The other images are more deserving than the simple preening Great Egret shot. Congratulations to all winners in each category.

Apr 28, 2015 at 10:03 PM

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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

I agree with 100% with Troy.

Apr 28, 2015 at 10:07 PM

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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

Clearly, they disqualified some participants by passing judgment on their entries without knowing the subject matters
“When something’s too perfect, that’s when I have to question it,” Audubon creative director Kevin Fisher said, offering an owl-in-flight example from this year’s Audubon photo contest. “Something seemed off. But a lot of times we just don’t know. We have to trust our contributors. And we are going to make mistakes.”

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/ufiles/23/1127723.jpg

Apr 28, 2015 at 10:13 PM

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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

Imagemaster wrote:
More than likely because in the judges' opinions the image is more important than whether or not the bird is wild or captive.

True. IMO the judges need reminding of what WILDlife photography is. Just my opinion of course.

H

Apr 28, 2015 at 10:29 PM

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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

Plain and simple:
If you didn't submit any photos to the Audubon Society, that would be why they didn't make it.

I must have sent my photos to the wrong place, 'cause they ended up on road signs along some German highways.

P.S. that was an Autobahn joke.

Apr 29, 2015 at 01:08 PM

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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

DiPace wrote:
Plain and simple:
If you didn't submit any photos to the Audubon Society, that would be why they didn't make it.

I must have sent my photos to the wrong place, 'cause they ended up on road signs along some German highways.

P.S. that was an Autobahn joke.

That actually quite funny

but I wish you didn't have to actually explain it

ERic

Apr 29, 2015 at 01:52 PM

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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

I enjoyed viewing the 100 images... though, indeed.... The photography I have seen posted here is world class!

FM is an incredibly inspiring place to hang out and observe.

On a side note to Audubon ...... Last year I got encouraged by a chance to participate in a hummingbird survey done by Audubon. It was interactive , with a map of North America showing all the sightings and numbers, with daily and hourly entries. What fun , I thought!!!
I managed to download the software and enthusiastically prepared to participate in this program. Oddly ... the map showed very vague north of the 49th paralel. hmmm

When I tried to add my stats , nothing happened.........
My email inquiry to Audubon said. "Sorry ,but this survey is only funded for US states and does not include Canada. (But they do send daily requests for donations) I couldn't believe they would omit a very relevant part of the N A information....

sheesh!

LuckyT

Apr 29, 2015 at 01:53 PM

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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

This does not necessarily apply to the Audubon site, but one should always consider the motives of the organization that holds a photo contest.

One major motive is to acquire the rights (exclusive, or otherwise) to a number of high quality images without having to pay one cent to the owners of those images. They can make this process even more lucrative by charging an entry fee for each image.

In most cases, the money they save in copyright fees can be far less than any prizes they offer.

Apr 29, 2015 at 02:38 PM

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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

I really enjoyed this set, but as a long time reader of N&W, I often wonder if we are overly concerned with sharpness and resolving power. That being said, I have seen some truly amazing and truly wonderful photos, especially BIF, on this board.

Apr 29, 2015 at 03:14 PM

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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

dorian wrote:
There were a few really great images but I was not blown away by the collection as a whole. I see much better shots here and on similar boards. I can't really take any wildlife photo contest that accepts entries of birds on hand railings and captive birds that seriously.

Just like Audubon is ok promoting using feeders in backyard to attract songbirds, yet they crucify those people that use food for bird of prey. I don't quite get the logic here. It is ok to use feeder to attract songbirds to get your images, while putting the in jeopardy because concentration of songbirds might also attract bird of prey like Hawks, Owls, etc. Feeding them bird seeds from mass produced is safe and ok?

Apr 29, 2015 at 09:03 PM

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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

I think that at the National level the Audubon Society is coming increasingly under the leadership and influence of activists who learned everything they know about nature from watching Disney movies.

Apr 29, 2015 at 09:17 PM

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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · 2015 Audubon Photography Awards Top 100

Yep. Many better or same quality mages on this FM forum. Question is, were any submitted? A few Top 100 had noise that could have easily been corrected which tells me the photographer has not mastered basic photography techniques. IMO the pelican from the zoo should not have been selected as a winner.

Two of the 100 are mine (Bruno Struck, 18 and 27). I submitted ten pictures taken in 2014. The two pictures selected as Top 100 were not my top picks. Nevertheless these two had already been exhibited in two local nature photography competitions so a completely different group of judges determined they were my best. The Audubon judges seen to be consistent with other judges.

Audubon is trying to increase the relevance of it's photography contest so I expect more competition next year.

Apr 29, 2015 at 11:40 PM

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