You Be the Judge: Behavior
The judging for the BIRDS AS ART 1st International Bird Photography Competition has been complete for some time. All of the judges including me were stunned by the quality of the images. We have been and will continue to be posting all of the images that were sent to the judges category by category. Each of you will have a chance to judge each category. Please read the directions below carefully. Your votes will not determine the winning images but it has been and will continue to be fun to see how everyone’s votes compare to the votes of the judges. So far the top pick of the public vote has matched the top pick of the judge’s panel in three of four categories. The images in the Behavior category are so incredibly strong overall that I suspect that that will not be the case here…. In retrospect there are a dozen or more images here that would have been worthy first place choices.
This was a hugely popular category. We began with 754 images. Getting down to the 18 images that were sent to the five judges was a difficult and excruciating task that took many hours. Here is another big time thank you to Darrell, Chris, Julie, and Tim. And a big time thanks also to Peter Kes and Denise Ippolito for pitching in during the first rounds of image selection. We worked very hard for nearly three full days to get from more than 5500 images down to the final 163.
The Behavior category was designed for images that exhibited interesting avian behavior. The entrants outdid themselves by a wide margin.
Before you vote, please sure to click on each image so that you can view it at full size. Then pick your five favorites and vote them 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 with 5 being your very favorite. Like this:
Red-crowned Cranes calling in snow: 5
Prairie Chicken displaying: 4
Black-necked (Eared) Grebes mating: 3
Great-crested Grebes mating: 2
Grey Heron with fish: 1
The “Sample Vote” above is for illustrative purposes only. Please do not let the sample vote, the votes of others, or the names assigned to the images influence your vote. Please put each of your five favorites on its own line by hitting “enter” after each one. No ties; please assign a single digit, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 to each of your five favorites. As you will see there are a great many beautiful, interesting, and even thought-provoking images here.
If you wish to comment on any or all of the images, please do so below your five voting lines; this will make tallying the votes easier. Votes cast by those who fail to follow the formatting directions will be relegated to the Trash Bin.
The voting will be closed at 8am eastern time on Monday, June The actual winning images for this category will be posted on Monday, June 25. A tally of the public vote along with my analysis and comments will follow soon thereafter.
Thanks for voting and please remember to breathe deeply and have fun.
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Thrush with caterpillar |
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African Jacana on the run with chicks |
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Emperor Penguin Familiy |
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Laysan Albatross feeding chick |
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Red-crowned Cranes calling in snow |
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Prairie Chicken displaying |
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Black-necked (Eared) Grebes mating |
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Great-crested Grebes mating |
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Grey Heron with fish |
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Gymnogene (African Harrier-Hawk) |
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Common Kingfisher with fish |
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Scissor-tailed Flycatcher with beetle |
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Gull with stolen chick |
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Great White Egret chicks |
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Long Eared Owl threat display |
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Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying |
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Marbled Godwit with sand crab |
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African Fish-Eagle capture |
Nickerson Beach/JBWR Photo-Tour August 15-17, 2012
If you missed the announcement for this exciting trip click here for details (along with 25 pretty nice images). And click here to see a great collection of co-leader Denise Ippolito’s “Blasts from the Past” Nickerson Beach images.
5. Gymnogene (African Harrier Hawk)
4. Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying
3. Laysan Albatros feeding chick
2. Prairie Chicken Displaying
1. Great Crested Grebes mating
Wow! I am blown away. They are ALL fantastic! So if I have to choose, the ones above “popped” out at me.
Laysan Albatross feeding chick: 5
Grey Heron with fish: 4
Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying: 3
Emperor Penguin Family: 2
Long Eared Owl threat display: 1
5-Long Eared Owl threat display
4-Emperor Penguin Family
3-Grey Heron with fish
2-Red Crown Cranes calling in snow
1-Prairie Chicken
Great work by all.
5. Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying
4. Grey Heron with fish
3. Great-crested Grebes mating
2. African Fish-Eagle capture
1. Laysan Albatross feeding chick
African Jacana on the run with chicks-5
Gymnogene (African Harrier-Hawk) -4
Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying-3
Great-crested Grebes mating-2
Grey Heron with fish-1
Tough.. Very tough… Do you go with the more Interesting Behavior, even if it isn’t photographed perfectly?
Or… The more mundane behavior that is a stunning photograph?? hmmmm???
Yes, very tough. I think that all of them are very close to technically perfect. And all of them fit the category. So I guess that the deciding factors are impact and beauty… You be the judge! Heck, you were.
Grey Heron with fish: 5
Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying: 4
Marbled Godwit with sand crab: 3
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher with beetle: 2
Laysan Albatross feeding chick: 1
Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying: 5
Gymnogene: 4
Red-crowned Cranes calling in snow: 3
African Fish-Eagle capture: 2
Great White Egret chicks: 1
African Jacana on the run with chicks: 5
Grey Heron with fish: 4
Gull with stolen chick: 3
Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying: 2
Red-crowned Cranes calling in snow: 1
Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying: 5
Emperor Penguin Familiy: 4
Grey Heron with fish: 3
Thrush with caterpillar: 2
Common Kingfisher with fish: 1
#5 Grey Heron With fish
#4 Long Eared owl Threat Display
#3 Spectacled Spider-Hunter Displaying
#2 African Jacana On The Run With Chicks
#1 Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher With Beatle
Spectacled Spider Hunter Displaying-5
Grey Heron With fish-4
Lasan Albatross Feeding Chick-3
African Jacana on the run with chicks-2
Common Kinfisher with fish-1
IMO my 3,4,5 could all be first. My hat is off to all 18 of these, they are all fantastic!
There are 20!
Common Kingfisher with fish: 5
African Fish-Eagle Capture: 4
Great-crested Grebes mating: 3
Red-crowned Cranes calling in snow: 2
Prairie Chicken displaying: 1
5.) Black-necked (Eared) Grebes Mating
4.) Prairie Chicken displaying
3.) Gull with stolen chick
2.) Grey Heron with fish
1.) African Jacana on the run with chicks
5- African Fish-Eagle capture
4- Red-crowned Cranes calling in snow
3- African Jacana on the run with chicks
2- Common Kingfisher with fish
1- Black-necked (Eared) Grebes mating
ALL of these pictures are GREAT!!! It has been a VERY hard choice! Taking bird photographies on aregular basis since 5 years now I chose the shots according two main criterias : the degree of difficulty in taking the shot (which I know is sometimes hard to evaluate) and the aesthetical beauty of the shot. But WOW! WHAT a GREAT crop of shots! BIG BIG congrats to all of those who took them! This is REAL GREAT work!
5 – Spectacled Spider-hunter dispaying
4 – Long Eared Owl threat display
3 – Gray Heron with fish
2 – African Fish-Eagle capture
1 – Gymnogene (African Harrier-Hawk)
Outstanding work photographers, all are a visual treat.
5 – Red-Crowned Cranes
4 – Long-eared owl threat display
3 – Spectacled Spider Hunter
2 – Grey Heron with Fish
1 – Eared Grebes Mating
This is one slick set of images. The red-crowned cranes really stand out; the picture is a subtle and beautiful piece of art! It doesn’t strike me as a “behavioral” image in the way some of the others do, but that’s neither here nor there. I found it easy and fun to pick my top five!
African Jacana on the run with chicks: 5
Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying: 4
Laysan Albatross feeding chick: 3
African Fish-Eagle capture: 2
Gymnogene (African Harrier-Hawk): 1
Grey Heron with fish: 5
Common Kingfisher with fish: 4
Great White Egret chicks: 3
Gymnogene (African Harrier-Hawk): 2
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher with beetle: 1
Grey Heron with fish: 5
Common Kingfisher with fish: 4
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher with beetle: 3
Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying: 2
Great White Egret chicks: 1
But now it’s getting really harder and harder to make a pick. With the exception of my two top picks, that for me really popped out, most of the other images could quality for places 3-5. Excellent stuff really.
Grey Heron with fish: 5
Spectacled spider hunter: 4
Red-crowned Cranes calling in snow: 3
Emperor Penguin Family: 2
Great White Egret chicks: 1
Grey Heron with fish: 5
African Fish-Eagle capture: 4
Emperor Penguin Family: 3
Laysan Albatross feeding chick: 2
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher with beetle: 1
5 Spectacled Spider Hunter
4 Common Kingfisher
3 Emperor Penguin
2 Grey Heron
1 Black-necked Grebe
5 – Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying
4 – Emperor Penguin Family
3 – Great White Egret chicks
2 – African Jacana on the run with chicks
1 – Prairie Chicken displaying
Stunning images!
Great White Egret Chicks-5
Laysan Albatross feeding chick-4
Emperor Penguin Family-3
Great-Crested Grebes Mating-2
Grey Heron with fish-1
Black necked grebes mating 5
Long eared owl threat display 4
Prairie chicken display 3
Great crested grebes mating 2
Blue heron with fish 1
spectacled spider-hunter displaying: 5
grey heron with fish: 4
black-necked grebes mating: 3
prairie chicken displaying: 2
gull with stolen chick: 1
Wow! They are all amazing!
5. Spectacled Spider Hunter – very artistic
4. Gymnagene – the most unique behavior of all but not as beautiful a capture
3. Albatross feeding – stunning details
2. Black-necked Grebes mating
1. Long-eared Owl
This was tough…definitely the strongest category so far. Although I loved the African Jacana with chicks and would not have known there were any chicks without the benefit of the title, the dark spots in the upper left corner detracted. For this contest, they could have been removed. Unfortunately the flycatcher, although stunning, had quite a bit of noise in the background. The penguin capture is gorgeous but I feel doesn’t reflect behavior as much as some of the others.
5- Layson Albetross feeding Chick
4- Black Necked Grebes mating
3- Spectacal Spider Hunter Display
2- African Harrier Hawk
1- Long Eared Owl
Tough competition. Great images here and congratulations to all entries. I did my voting based on what portrayed actual behavior rather than it being an great image. This was a tough one. Good luck to all entries.
5- Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying
4- Common Kingfisher with fish
3- Red-crowned Cranes calling in snow
2- Black-necked (Eared) Grebes mating
1- Long Eared Owl threat display
5: Scissor-tailed flycatcher
4: Grey heron
3: Long-eared owl
2: Spectacled spider hunter
1: Prairie chicken
Gymnogene (African Harrier-Hawk): 5
Red-crowned Cranes calling in snow: 4
African Jacana on the run with chicks: 3
African Fish-Eagle capture: 2
Emperor Penguin Familiy: 1
Easily the strongest group of images so far…it’s going to take a while with these…:)
5 Spectacled Spider-Hunter Displaying
4 Layson Albatross Feeding Chick
3 Great White Egret Chicks
2 Common Kingfisher with Chick
1 Grey Hreon with Fish
This is the best group so far! Very difficult to choose.
Spectacled Spider-hunter: 5
Red-crowned Cranes: 4
Thrush with caterpillar: 3
African Jacana: 2
Great White Egret chicks: 1
Congratulations to all! Phenomenal shots!
Red crowned cranes: 5
Common kingfisher with fish: 4
Grey heron with fish: 3
Long eared owl: 2
gull with stolen chick; 1
Spectacled Spider-hunter: 5
Prairie Chicken displaying: 4
Grey Heron with fish: 3
Black-necked(Eared) Grebes mating: 2
Red-crowned Cranes calling in snow: 1
African Jacana On The Run With Chicks: 5
Common Kingfisher With Fish: 4
Gull With Stolen Chick: 3
Gymnogene (African Harrier-Hawk) :2
Black-Necked (Eared) Grebes Mating: 1
5 Red-crowned Cranes calling in snow
4 African Fish-Eagle capture
3 Long Eared Owl threat display
2 Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying
1 Laysan Albatross feeding chick
Wow the standard is phenomenal, well done to everybody. I certainly don’t feel worthy of even trying to score these, but I did!
Very interesting group, and thanks.
5. Cranes dancing in snow.
4. Gray heron with fish.
3. Gymnogene.
2. Great white egret chicks.
1. Long eared owl threat display.
I was influenced by composition, color, and overall pleasingness of the images as well as the action involved, All are outstanding. The African fish eagle capture also is particularly remarkable, as is the prairie chicken. The gull with the stolen chick also is remarkable but I find it difficult to look at, not through any photographic flaw.
David
I entered a couple photos in this category and I can see why none was picked but also I’m encouraged; I’m not ashamed of my entries.
Jacana running with chicks 5
Kingfisher with fish 4
Grey Heron with fish 3
Spectacled spider hunter 2
Scissor tailed fly catcher 1
Holy Cow! These images all deserve to win! Congrats to all!
African Jacana on the run with chicks:5
Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying:4
Red-crowned Cranes calling in snow: 3
Grey Heron with fish:2
Common Kingfisher with fish:1
What a choice! Beautiful shots all round.
Either of my first and second choice could be #1
5: Common Kingfisher with fish
4: Laysan Albatross feeding chick
3: African Jacana on the run with chicks
2: Long eared Owl threat display
1: Grey Heron with fish
This was extremely hard. Excellent pictures. Had a hard time eliminating the Fish-Eagle, Scissor Tailed Flycatcher, and Thrush. I really liked those, too. Congratulations to all who made the finals.
Spectacled spider-hunter displaying: 5
Grey heron with fish: 4
African Jacana on the run with chicks: 3
Great-crested Brebes mating: 2
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher with beetle: 1
Very well done all!
Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying: 5
Red-crowned cranes calling in snow: 4
Scissor-tailed flycatcher with beetle: 3
Emperor Penguin Family: 2
African Jacana on the run with chicks: 1
Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying -5
African Fish-Eagle capture – 4
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher with beetle -3
Gymnogene (African Harrier-Hawk) -2
Prairie Chicken displaying – 1
A tough choice indeed. These are all excellent shots and the differences between on and the other minute. Congrats to everyone – the judges too for making the choice.
Cheers,
Bernie
African Fish Eagle – 5
Gymnogene – 4
Great White Egret chicks – 3
Scissor Tailed flycatcher – 2
Grey Heron – 1
5 – Spectacled Spider-hunter displaying
4 – African Jacana on the run with chicks
3 – Emperor Penguin Family
2 – Laysan Albatross feeding chick
1 – Red-crowned Cranes calling in snow
All the photos in this group are great. For me, 2-5 were all tough calls. For whatever reason, I really connected with the spider-hunter picture the most. Its just spectacular – the exultant posture combined with the ethereal lighting/colors just makes it very special for me. I also especially love the Jacana – what fun seeing all those feet hanging out… Again, though, all of the entries shown are really fabulous. Its been so much fun seeing them all…
Long Eared Owl threat display: 5
Grey Heron with fish: 4
Gull with stolen chick: 3
Marbled Godwit with sand crab: 2
Laysan Albatross feeding chick: 1
Long Eared Owl threat display: 5 Beautiful symmetrical composition with the big semicircle of feathers. Leveling would be even better.
Grey Heron with fish: 4 Light, sharpness, lifted foot, and head angles all great
Gull with stolen chick: 3 amazing
Marbled Godwit with sand crab: 2 great light and spread wings are awesome
Laysan Albatross feeding chick: 1 great behavior. Just wishing for a little more color
I rejected several I liked very much (and would have been first choices) only because I couldn’t see eyes. The absolutely beautiful Prarie Chicken had some dark spots at lower edge of frame
Grey Heron with fish: 5
Common Kingfisher with fish: 4
Red-crowned Cranes calling in snow: 3
Emperor Penguin Family: 2
Laysan Albatross feeding chick: 1
This is a tough collection! I’m submitting my ever so feeble list only as a sign of appreciation for the work done by photographers, initial screeners and judges.
wow wow wow…will come back later with votes.