I won too...
Sep 19, 2017 15:51:13 #
A huge congratulations to you, James, on a well-deserved win, but I think yours certainly deserved first place instead of third! 
Sep 19, 2017 17:33:13 #
Congratulations!!!!! I don't have the courage to enter in our fair. All the thousands of photos are crammed in a little room sometimes even covering each other. You're pics are worthy of high regard. Good going!!!
Sep 19, 2017 17:33:48 #
James56 wrote:
Thanks everyone...I also thought my screech owl in the hollow log was a sure 1st place winner and maybe even a 2nd. One thing I've learned about competitions over the years...is you never can guess how the judges think. Still, it's fun to enter. Thanks again for your gracious comments.
I've been entering county and state fairs in Arizona off and on for the past 10 years and have won first place, Best of Class, and Best of Show ribbons. Through trial and error I've figured out that judges are either VERY into the TECHNICAL aspect of a photo (such as your owl...clean, crisp, and vibrant in color/texture) OR more slanted towards CREATIVE side. Owl in a tree is NOT creative. First place winner...more creative vs technical. If I were the judge, I would have chosen your photo over the 1st place one.
Therefore, I enter at least one of each (technical and creative photos) and my wins have increased as a result of it. Last year I entered this photo under Architecture category (House on Fire Ruin in Blanding, UT) figuring I was being creative since people tend to think of traditional buildings for architecture. It won 3rd place in pro photography category. The second photo also won 3rd place in Scenic/non AZ category which to me slants more towards the technical/traditional vs. creative side (Sunset at Bryce Canyon).
Sep 19, 2017 17:39:41 #
James56 wrote:
Well almost..., but got a 3rd place ribbon. Woo H... (show quote)
Beautiful screech owl James.
Sep 19, 2017 17:52:17 #
blacks2 wrote:
Congratulation James. If you asked me, your image beats the first place by far, the structure in that image distracts from the main subject in my opinion.
I agree 100%. I like your photo much better!
Sep 19, 2017 18:07:24 #
Sep 19, 2017 21:09:54 #
Congratulations! (There's always next year to take home the blue ribbon ...)
Sep 19, 2017 22:07:16 #
James56 wrote:
Well almost..., but got a 3rd place ribbon. Woo H... (show quote)
Well Done James Congratulations a 3rd at the State Level, is far better than a First at County level..The Judge was Blind anyway Your Owl is a Much better Composition in my humble opinion, The First Place shot has the distraction of the structure competing with the main subject.
Sep 19, 2017 22:11:23 #
DesRose wrote:
I've been entering county and state fairs in Arizo... (show quote)
Sound advice DesRose, those shots that took third look like the should have been 1st's to me.
Sep 19, 2017 23:08:58 #
DesRose wrote:
I've been entering county and state fairs in Arizo... (show quote)
Great photos and thanks for the good advice for me and everybody. I certainly appreciate a seasoned veterans point of view. I'm not one bit dissolutioned or upset. However, I was surprised at my lower than expected showing in this category. I know that most award winning bird photographers go to great lengths to make sure that no man-made objects are in their photos. That was my thought when I shot this little fella, and my thinking going into the competition.
Sep 19, 2017 23:10:48 #
Thanks again everyone...great comments an advice. Can't wait till next year but we have this thing called Winter coming...so I'll have to deal with that in the coming months.
Sep 20, 2017 00:07:24 #
Sep 20, 2017 03:26:01 #
Ed Greding
Loc: Texas
That's a fine photo (#1). The others are good also, but I like best photos of animals in their habitats----or at least as close as one can get to thir natural environment.
Sep 20, 2017 08:58:38 #
Herbie1924
Loc: Woodbury, MN
Congrats - & agree with the comments made by several other Hoggers re: Buzzard shot. Would have preferred a vertical pic of your owl.
Sep 20, 2017 15:35:30 #
DesRose wrote:
I've been entering county and state fairs in Arizo... (show quote)
DesRose ... the Bryce Canyon shot is pretty straight-forward, although, quite impressive ....
The House on Fire in Blanding, Utah - is not (straight-forward) however ... would you like to fill us in a little?
How did you obtain that effect?
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