It is that time of year again. Did you capture something amzing this year...........

Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008 Entries

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

Best of Luck

Shell! (rolls eyes)

I'm going to enter. I've been telling myself I would for ages but I keep chickening out as there are so many truly incredible wildlife photographers out there I figure I don't stand a chance! But I'm going to give it a shot anyway!

Kavey,

Not to be too nosey, though I was wondering what category you were entering etc. IT seems very difficult to place some photos when they can be in numerous categories. I have the benefit of being able to enter the Eric Hoskins award.............though I still yet to decide on my plan of action.

Goodness, haven't a clue yet! Haven't even looked through my photos and decided which ones might be worth entering!

I should pray this thread sinks though! If some of our top Fodorite photographers (Bill_H and his lady wife, Andy Biggs, Skimmer and others) enter I'll definitely not have a chance in h***!

Was it just me or was anyone else slightly underwhelmed by this year's overall winner?

I like the shot a lot but, I confess, not as much as I've liked previous winners nor as much as some of the other entries (such as the wild dog photo and the underwater Asian elephant, both in the Gerald Durrell section and Angie Scott's Antarctica image which I saw in a recent slide show by the Scotts and the porpoising penguin with reflection, the jackal catch taken at Etosha, the meerkat portrait of adult and baby mesmerised by a flying insect)

I'm with Kavey. There are many many super wildlife photographers. Winning is just luck.

regards - tom

Tom,

I don't agree. It's not just luck. To win a competition like that the photo has to be original in some way...simply entering a standard animal portrait (no matter how technically good) simply wouldn't stand a chance.

It's also no coincidence that most of the winners are professional photographers and not enthusiastic amateurs. Maybe they should have a n amateur category.

Personally the winner didn't make me stop and think 'Wow!'. Pictures like Swan Lake, Stoat Sandwich and Meerkat Moment did that.

Of course even to be considered the photos have to be great. And a portrait of a yawning lion is not going to win. Ok, so why did the winner win? Maybe just lucky? How else would you explain it?

regards - tom

Tom,

I think that getting an original shot is key to success. Is it a case of luck, I would say no. Most of these photographers plan and have a rough idea of what image they are aiming for.

As an amateur photog, it depends what emphasis you place on your holiday. Taking a private vehicle and patience are key. There are some serious amateurs who are willing to sit for hours in the same location, whilst others snap what they can on a general drive. From my experience, if you spend 3/4 hours waiting for your subject, then you will be rewarded with excellent opportunities.

It then comes down to the skill and imagination of the photographer to capture the five minutes of action that you see. I noticed that you tend to sit behind and handhold you your camera. If I compare this to some serious amateur/pros that I have guided. They lay under the vehicle, have the back flap down and lay eye level with lions from the back or try and photograph on foot or by remote control.

Is it luck to win overall, ofcourse, because all art related productions are subjective.

The winner is this case won because of the unusual viewpoint and the use of slow shutter speed.

One of the judges comments on the winning picture:

"The temptation to use the camera in the most literal and 'accurate' way is usually strong and proper, but in the hands of a daring and skilled photographer, magic like this can be created.'

The photographer staked out this specific waterhole in Chobe for three weeks.

As shumba says most pro photographers try different and original viewpoints to make their pictures stand out from the rest. They have have weeks to get a handful of shots. Most of us only have days and that makes you less likely to experiment...even if your guide would let you get out the vehicle and crawl under it to take eye level pictures of lions!

I should clear up, that with the flap down, we created a small hide with material. Combined with that was the fact the person concerned has a 1200mm made a massive difference.

You will find, that often these amazing action shots can occur un-intentionally. The slower shutter sometimes more a case of poor ISO selection than deliberate.