Bizarre Countryfile finalists

[eeyore]

yep it looks like photoshop cloning to me - he probably just tidied up and didnt do the best ever job on it - ive met matt and he doesnt strike me as someone who'd cheat

[marvin]

hi

i think it's worth remembering that the pictures have to have broad commercial appeal and there may be an element of going for the lowest common denominator with some of them. it is also an annual competition and i think they use some of the same judges each year. kingfishers and damselflies may have won in other years so perhaps they're going for something different. i don't know that for a fact as i've never seen the comp before, just a thought.

anyway, as fudgey says, congratulations to everyone who made it on to the calender.

tim

[hank]

2 or 3 were certainly only 'ordinary' and I don't think the whole set is as good as last years. But judges are judges ! After viewing several thousand photos I bet they lost track of reality!

[Chas]

I have read all the above with some slight amusement.
My opinion below.

1.It must have been an incredibly difficult job to pick 12 from 56000.
2. I think the commercial merit of the finished calendar is probably the main factor. However I wouldn't buy it.
3.If you enter a competition you have to be prepared not to win.
4. If thats a problem, then don't enter.
5. I didn't enter for the reason in (4).
6. Loved the Kingfisher as well, and I know how hard that shot must have been.
7. If you look on Birdguides Gallery there are at least 100 photos posted every week that are better than the Blue Tit.
8. Art and that includes photography of course, is subjective...... one man's meat is another man's poison as they say.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Chas

1.It must have been an incredibly difficult job to pick 12 from 56000.

~<SNIP>~

8. Art and that includes photography of course, is subjective...... one man's meat is another man's poison as they say.

1). I doubt that it was easy, but I'm pretty sure that it would have been very easy to substatially reduce the number that needed to be considered by quickly discarding all those that didn't have the "wow" factor (unless none did -which would explain why so many of those who have comented seem to think that it is lacking from these images).

8). 100% relevant . It really doesn't matter what anyone thinks except for the judges - and if their idea of what makes a truly stunning shot is different from the views of 99.99% of the population, then the shots that fit their view will still be the ones that are selected.


..and on point 5): I didn't enter this because I don't watch Countryfile (and because I haven't bothered entering any photo competitions for years!), but if I had I would be well aware that a shot I may have entered could be considered better than the winnners by most people but still not be chosen (for the above reason).

[matt_xyz]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

The fox is nice but may well be captive, presumably not a problem as long as that was declared.

Originally Posted by RoyW

As for the fox photo, I can't see any reason whatsoever to even consider that this might not be of a wild animal.

it was just a hunch

A lot of images are possible in the wild but are a heck of a lot easier, and as a result more common, using captive subjects. That, and the fact that a Google search on the photographer suggested that he worked at the British Wildlife Centre

Matt

[Inachis io]

Like most people here I stopped watching Countryfile years ago, as with most television programmes there seemed to be an element of 'dumbing down' going on. Had a quick look at the finalists and am glad to see 3 photographs that are stunning at least. Shame about the Blue Tit really when you think of all the hard work put in by other photographers, but each to their own, maybe they thought that the people who watch Countryfile now were unlikely to identify anything other than a Blue Tit?

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Inachis io

maybe they thought that the people who watch Countryfile now were unlikely to identify anything other than a Blue Tit?

Well most people who watch it should now be able to identify a Tit everytime Adam Henson attempts to do anything on his farm.

[hank]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Well most people who watch it should now be able to identify a Tit everytime Adam Henson attempts to do anything on his farm.

Ouch !!!!!!!

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

That, and the fact that a Google search on the photographer suggested that he worked at the British Wildlife Centre

Now that could be a reason for suspicion!