The links to the articles below speak for themselves. Fortunately, those of us who do Africain Wildlife photography have no need for animal actors.
good thing I didn't enter my "Organ Grinder Monkey" shots. It is sad however, that some talanted photographer will miss out on this important award. The Judges together with the Museum of Natural History, feel that they cannot go back and pick an alternate first place winner.

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/...t-us/whats-o.../statement.jsp

http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk...ws_294010.html
nted photographer will miss out on this important award. The Judges together with the Museum of Natural History feel that they cannot go back and pick an alternate.

Cheers-Chuck

Try the two following links instead.

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-.../statement.jsp

http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk...ws_294010.html

Thanks Chuck, very interesting. Was it not last year that the winning photo (this same contest or another prestigious?) of a snow leopard caused much controversy? Because it was taken by the leopard tripping preset electronic camera trigger.

Here I think they should go back and chose another winner. The judges had another photo or two, or few, that they scored/discussed/voted on. Pick one of those, even if by coin flip. I'm sure it would be excellent.

regards - tom

Tom, As I recall you are right about the Snow Leopard. I have to agree with you on awarding the prize to another photographer. These awards are very prestigious and it would provide some hardwrking deserving photographer a big professional boost. Having such an award goes a long way in establishing professional credibility and status. Dosen't seem fair to me to rob the previously determined second place winner of the honor. Also, to my mind, it would further disgrace José Luis Rodríguez, as it should. Heck, I could have entered my Organ Grinder Monkey shots, little guy had a cool hat, pants and an accordian. Probably those clever judges would have figured out that it wasn't a wild monkey.
Cheers-Chuck

If I recall correctly there isn't a "second place". There are several finalists, one for each category. A winner is chosen from these finalists. The rest are all equal after that winner, I think.

Perhaps it would be fairest to leave it as it is.

Very sad for the reputation of the industry and other professionals.

I think that they should have taken a specialist advice before awarding the picture; they had sufficient time, closing date for entries was end of March. There was indeed controversy with the snow leopard picture and some years ago they awarded a picture of Jonathan Scott's wife. Everyone knows that Jonathan Scott is working for the BBC (Big Cats' Diary).

Mike

I'm not sure why a photographer (Angela Scott) should be excluded because they work on a particular programme... this competition is very much NOT restricted to amateurs but is entered by professional wildlife photographers around the world - many of whom spend their entire lives in the wildlife habitats they capture...

I work very hard to get my shots. They may not be expert quality but they are decent. It saddens me that if I am competing in contests that I may be up against set up shots. I am sure it is not the norm, but it is disconcerting. I do hope they give the award to whomever came in "2nd". They earned it.

Mike

Indeed a photographer should not be excluded because he or she works for a special programme, except perhaps if the programme itself is broadcasted by a company or institution which is linked to the or one of the promotors, in this case BBC Wildlife, co-promotor with NHM, is a division of BBC Worldwide which is the commercial arm of the BBC. The quality of the picture and of the photographer is not questionned in the circumstances. I just try to say that it was and is not recommended to award someone like Angela Scott or anyone in a similar position because it creates suspicion on the genuineness of the competition, nothing more, nothing less.
From this year, it will be very much restricted to professional photographers. Indeed, at the final stage they will only accept RAW and no more genuine JPEG, but perhaps also because the last 2 years they received too many entries.

It is very sad indeed.The biggest damage is for his own reputation but this is no good for wildlife photography in the eyes of general public.

If the judges had suspicions before the selection,the easiest decision would have been to choose another overall winner.

This photographer,probably the most famous wildlife photographer in Spain,it is also the most polemic among fellow photographers.As soon as the prize was announced,various Spanish photography forums started to debate about the regular use of this photographer with captive animals.Even the name of the wolf and the place where the picture was taken 3 years ago where mentioned in these forums months ago.

He has recived a lifetime ban by WPOTY contest.He tried to deceive the more prestigious contest of photography in the world and this is very serious. Perhaps the ban had to become extensive to other contests.


Also I felt very disappointed with the election of the judges like better photo in the category of URBAN AND GARDEN WILDLIFE:

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-...gory=9&group=1


The category rule says:

8. Urban Wildlife
Pictures must show wild plants or animals in an obviously urban or suburban environment.

How can a photo taken in a Nature Reserve in Kamchatka be consider Urban and Garden??
Where is the obviously urban or suburban environmen in this picture??

I don´t think this is serious.I believe that they must be more rigorous, otherwise the prestige of this event every year will be smaller.

By the way a year ago I was in London and I went to The Natural History Museum to see the exhibition. Really it is worth the visit, the photos were incredible and in addition, the African nature was very well represented.

Paco.

Walrus,

I have met one of the judges in the competition and they absolutely, genuinely judge the images entered on an anonymous basis. Thus working on Big Cat Diary confers no benefit at all OTHER than great access to wildlife, which many, many professionals and others also have. And, I believe that Angela's winning image (back in 2002) was taken in Zambia, not in Kenya, so really not connected to Big Cat Diary or BBC or even Kenya!!

This is what I find saddest of all, that one cheat is now causing doubt to be cast on the integrity of other aspects.

Kavey,

I understand and deeply respect your opinion. I know that the jury is judging the pictures on an anonymous basis. I really consider that the Scott and their colleagues are doing a great job. Where the picture was taken is not relevant. If you read me well you will notice that I am just emphasizing a fact that created and will always created doubt and suspicion even if there was no cheat in it. On the other hand, this opinion is mine since 2002 and was not caused by the actual cheat.
I mentioned this just to say that the actual cheat was not the first blunder made by NHM/BBC wildlife in the last 10 years.

Cheers

Mike

Mike
<i>"I think that they should have taken a specialist advice before awarding the picture; they had sufficient time..."</i>

competition judge Jim Brandenburg can be considered an expert on wolf photography. see some exaples:
http://www.jimbrandenburg.com/galler...s/01_brow.html

However, only those who know the specific wolf (i think i've read somewhere that some Spanish photographers raised the suspicion) can maybe raise the doubts...

aby

Mike
Aah, ok I understand what you are saying. But I'm not sure there is a solution. It would be completely unforgiveable to stop specific individuals entering the competition not because of any real problem but purely for reasons of how some might perceive things. As long as the reality is that there is no bias for or against specific individuals, I think that is fair! One can never control completely what others think!

Aby,
I think you are right, that whilst one can have some suspicions, it's also true that there are often incredible images that are genuinely captured in the wild and yet seem to show animal behaviour that is not at all typical. I assume this is why they gave benefit of the doubt. It was only afterwards with hindsight of collected and submitted evidence (including images of the tame wolf in question and of the location itself) that it was evident that this was a case of cheating. So, whilst it's deeply unfortunate, I don't think it's fair to castigate the judges (and I am not saying this because I have met one of them) for not being omniscient here! How much worse to exclude an image they genuinely thought incredible, and for it to be legitimate!

Lot of discussion of this on my fav camera site, dpreview-
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=34322704

Several comments - The wolf jumping over the crude gate should have alarmed the judges, a wolf would much more likely crawl under/thru the gate, not jump (like a trained animal). This also brings into question the wildlife qualifications of the judges.

regards - tom

Tom, I honestly don't understand why the fence gate didn't set off some alarm. What continues to bother me most is the loss of a prestigeous prize to some worthy photographer. It is difficult to build a reputation in the wildlife photography profession and the lack of a winner for this years award, means that someone will not have the advantage of the award. In fact, the entire profession is hurt.

On another note, I have finally started to post some of my stuff on Fred Miranda.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/859758/0#8045594

I had planned to wait until I could set up a new computer but Apple seems to be having issues with the machine I wanted. Anyway, I got tired of waiting so I've begun processing and will post on that site regularly.
Regards-Chuck

Tom
From one of the articles I read, the issue of the wolf jumping over the gate was the reason they contacted the photographer at the time, to ask some questions. But I guess, whilst it would not be normal behaviour, we come across wild animals behaving in ways that are not typical all the time!

Chuck
I agree, it's very sad that this cheat has stripped someone else of the chance of such a prestigious prize. I think I understand why they are not now awarding it though. A) They make all the judgements anonymously and now they would have to do so with all the information about the photographers, having met them, heard their stories and so on. It would be hard to be objective between them. B) The winner would not get the same exposure as a winner in other years... although, to be honest, I'd be willing to accept that cost if I were the one upped to winner status!!!!!

Kavey.

" although, to be honest, I'd be willing to accept that cost if I were the one upped to winner status!!!!! "

Yes, so would I.

Chuck

I read that the judge(s) asked where the gate is and to be shown it. This would likely have answered the question. Without knowing this I don't think they should have considered the photo. On that dpreview thread poster maverick01 half way down re-did it this time with the wolf jumping through a flaming ring!!!! (dpreview allows post imbedded photos, no link to it required).

Chuck - that leopard shot is great!!! Noting like a big cat looking at you, you just know they are trying to mind-meld with you!!! Great composition, looking back, color, background, etc. Also, most cameras would have auto-focused on the tail and the eyes would not have been sharp. You got the eyes right on with enough depth of field for the whole body to be sharp. Your "picture frame" is also very nice. This photo from you last trip to Botswana, which camp? Please let us know when you put up more. Does Fred Miranda sponsor a gallery area for posters?

regards - tom

Thanks Tom, I closed the lens down (f/3.5) I hoped just enough to keep the leopard sharp but the background blurred. Because I was shooting a cropped body (Canon 40D) there was a bit of extra depth of field and it all worked out. This leopard was from Chitabe, a Wilderness Camp. I have just started posting on FM so there is a lot I don't know yet. I believe they do host galleries as well and I will probably use them. Lots of good wildlife phtographers on that Forum so a great place for critical interaction. Great place to waste some time.
Chuck