One the BWPA didn't like

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by pressld2

I'll be patient! Mine is a speckled bush-cricket nymph taken in my back garden. Sometimes the best images are right on your doorstep. It looks like TBR's was shot close to home too.

Dave P.

You're quite right I think Dave.
Firstly, one has more time to get to know the subject, its habits and behaviour (overlooked by many that (really getting to know your subject, deliberately without a camera at first - but its so important I think).

Also one has more time to plan or set up the shot - from background to time of day and light strength/source. (I think light is half the battle in photographs and again overlooked often, because its tempting to purely concentrate on subject).

Its always nice to try and take half-decent photographs on the hoof (so to speak) but in many cases you're just as likely to succeed in your local patch - be that a window box, your attic, a garden pond (if you're lucky), a bush or tree in the front garden or maybe a copse at the end of the road.

I think thats half the beauty of BWPA (rather than the more "safari" IPOTY competition). Its always wonderful to see British wildlife in competitions or on tv, rather than another polar bear, tiger, penguin, cheetah.
Give me a common British toad or a pretty British moth any day! Well, thats my rather biased opinion...

As for my photo this year, well light wasn't important, nor was background and I certainly didnt plan or set up the shot (heaven forbid in that case!)

But I am very chuffed to have been commended again, but do realise my photo will probably divide popular opinion. Nothing wrong with that though.

I'll definitely be getting the book and will of course see your photo in there.

That said, it'll be exhibited anyway won't it? My butterfly face was exhibited all last year but was not "commended".

Ta.

TBR

[Fourwings]

Nice to see you on here again Doug and well done on the image pal.

Tobyh - I think its a great image mate, and if thats not behaviour then I dont know what is!

I didn't bother with entering any competitions this year for two reasons:

1 - I have been concentrating the majority of my spare time on Aviation photography.
2 - I put considerable effort into specifically taking images to enter into the Countryfile photo competition last year and was then very disappointed to see what the "so called" judges selected as winners
And surprise surprisethey did exactly the same again this year with perhaps two notable exceptions.

Perhaps we should all concetrate our efforts away from taking sharp detailed images of stunning wildlfe and focus on getting images of blurred flowers, rosettes on sticks and over-exposed ladybirds on grass

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit

That said, it'll be exhibited anyway won't it? My butterfly face was exhibited all last year but was not "commended".

I'm really not sure Doug. Last year my commended toadpole was in the exhibition but not my hornet robber-fly even though that was also in the book. I'll have to go along and see.

Dave P.

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Nice to see you on here again Doug and well done on the image pal.

Thanks Steve.

[NicolaB]

Congrats to everyone who got HC's and managed to make it into the book! Will definitely be ordering my copy soon

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by NicolaB

Congrats to everyone who got HC's and managed to make it into the book! Will definitely be ordering my copy soon

Im going to pour wine on Dave's copy so I can get a free one again

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

Im going to pour wine on Dave's copy so I can get a free one again

My copy arrived today and is locked in a wine proof cabinet. Although that's more to protect it from me than from Neil.

Found your 2-spot ladybird Rachel - lovely!

I may have only got one shot in but they've done me proud. A double page spread and they've also used a cropped version alongside Nick Baker's introduction. I'm happy!

My only disappointment is that there are three or four images in the book that are extraordinarily similar to ones that I've got ear-marked for entering next year. Oh well...

Dave P.

[nutmeg]

Thanks Dave I cringed when I read what I'd written to accompany it though!

I love yours! Those colours are just brilliant. And a double page spread too

Some really good images in the book and it's given me a better idea of how the categories work (I couldn't decide what would fit where when I entered).