35mmfilm_user
Senior Member
Hi Everyone,
I just wrapped up my portfolio submission, and I've mixed feelings about some of them, but such is life. Several classes I had a LOT of good images but cannot go past 3 in that class (see rules). Other classes either just one two good images, or sometimes none. Sometimes I had nothing of note for the whole day. The good thing is that I concentrated on the Wading and Shore Birds early on - after my second trip, they had moved on to other places...
The area came off a 7 month drought (no rain) until one hard rainfall the day I left on my third trip, and returned 2 weeks later (no rain since then). It's started raining a little more often since I finished.... Most days were mid-90's, and 105F with the heat index. In the blind, it was easily felt like 110F to 115F.
Total prize list is $100,000 - your winnings are split with the ranch owner. Winning photos are published in a coffee table sized book, and calendar, plus some excellent exposure.
That exposure is in the form of three judges from:
1. National Geographic Kids Editor
2. National Wildlife Federation Editor
3. Stock photo agency owner
Rules - please read them carefully - there are a lot of restrictions:
1. 50 classes, comprised within 5 Divisions: Birds, Mammals, Invertebrates, Reptiles & Amphibians, and Miscellaneous (Landscapes, Sunrise/Sunset, Ranch Operations, etc. – no wildlife required in last division).
2. Must take place on assigned property.
3. No animals can be brought in.
4. If the animal is restrained, it must be declared as such - only specific classes are allowed.
5. If the judges deem the animal appears stressed (as opposed to natural behavior), it can be disqualified.
6. You must shoot in RAW format.
7. Maximum 3 images per class - 50 images is the total allowed.
8. Image color space will be RGB (RAW and TIFF), or sRGB (for JPEG).
9. All formats are 400 DPI.
10. NO CROPPING - FULL IMAGE ONLY.
11. NO dodging, NO burning.
12. Only global exposure changes are allowed.
13. NO blurring of background.
14. NO addition or removal of anything in the image (except noise and dust on the sensor).
15. No enhancement of a highlight (eg. in the animals’ eye) is allowed.
16. Removal of unwanted elements (dirt, grass) on the subject is NOT allowed.
17. Correcting Red-Eye is NOT allowed.
18. Similar images are NOT allowed (same subject, different lighting, angle, etc. is allowed).
19. Poor digital optimization (over saturation or over sharpening) will result in the loss of points. Sharpening is ONLY allowed in the JPEG (for judging).
20. Incorrectly named files will be automatically disqualified. The filenames must match in each other in the JPEG, TIFF and RAW formats.
21. JPEG CD for judging – max. 1200 pixels on long side.
22. TIFF and RAW images on DVD – required to confirm all rules are met.
23. Contact sheet of all JPEG images to be printed and submitted in envelope with CD and DVD.
24. You agree to a Polygraph test if deemed necessary.
Not all classes were submitted in – eg. Water Birds (ducks, geese), since there are specialists in those areas. This is where the psychology of the judging becomes important. Others I have no usable images – Owls, Coyotes, or Bobcats.
Any images with IGP or IMG in the filename is a Pentax photo. IGP = K10D, IMG = K20D. All others are with Canon - that Sigma 500mm was very, very useful. I've never done birding photography before, so bear that in mind. All contact sheets show my name and the ranch owner name.
Contact Sheet #1 is Birds, and the start of Mammals:
Contact Sheet #2 is Mammals (including exotics), Invertebrates, and Reptiles & Amphibians:
Contact Sheet #3 is Reptiles & Amphibians, and the Miscellaneous (Landscape, Sunrise/Sunset, Cacti, Flowering Plants, The Brush, and Farm & Ranch Operations):
I'll post larger images once the competition judging is done. Generally speaking, the clarity and detail of these images at 100% (in TIFF or RAW) is exceptional. A couple might be a bit soft, but that's where the sharpening is done in the JPEG and used for judging. I'd just like to break even on my costs!
Cheers,
Marc
--
35mmfilm_user
http://www.marclangille.com
I just wrapped up my portfolio submission, and I've mixed feelings about some of them, but such is life. Several classes I had a LOT of good images but cannot go past 3 in that class (see rules). Other classes either just one two good images, or sometimes none. Sometimes I had nothing of note for the whole day. The good thing is that I concentrated on the Wading and Shore Birds early on - after my second trip, they had moved on to other places...
The area came off a 7 month drought (no rain) until one hard rainfall the day I left on my third trip, and returned 2 weeks later (no rain since then). It's started raining a little more often since I finished.... Most days were mid-90's, and 105F with the heat index. In the blind, it was easily felt like 110F to 115F.
Total prize list is $100,000 - your winnings are split with the ranch owner. Winning photos are published in a coffee table sized book, and calendar, plus some excellent exposure.
That exposure is in the form of three judges from:
1. National Geographic Kids Editor
2. National Wildlife Federation Editor
3. Stock photo agency owner
Rules - please read them carefully - there are a lot of restrictions:
1. 50 classes, comprised within 5 Divisions: Birds, Mammals, Invertebrates, Reptiles & Amphibians, and Miscellaneous (Landscapes, Sunrise/Sunset, Ranch Operations, etc. – no wildlife required in last division).
2. Must take place on assigned property.
3. No animals can be brought in.
4. If the animal is restrained, it must be declared as such - only specific classes are allowed.
5. If the judges deem the animal appears stressed (as opposed to natural behavior), it can be disqualified.
6. You must shoot in RAW format.
7. Maximum 3 images per class - 50 images is the total allowed.
8. Image color space will be RGB (RAW and TIFF), or sRGB (for JPEG).
9. All formats are 400 DPI.
10. NO CROPPING - FULL IMAGE ONLY.
11. NO dodging, NO burning.
12. Only global exposure changes are allowed.
13. NO blurring of background.
14. NO addition or removal of anything in the image (except noise and dust on the sensor).
15. No enhancement of a highlight (eg. in the animals’ eye) is allowed.
16. Removal of unwanted elements (dirt, grass) on the subject is NOT allowed.
17. Correcting Red-Eye is NOT allowed.
18. Similar images are NOT allowed (same subject, different lighting, angle, etc. is allowed).
19. Poor digital optimization (over saturation or over sharpening) will result in the loss of points. Sharpening is ONLY allowed in the JPEG (for judging).
20. Incorrectly named files will be automatically disqualified. The filenames must match in each other in the JPEG, TIFF and RAW formats.
21. JPEG CD for judging – max. 1200 pixels on long side.
22. TIFF and RAW images on DVD – required to confirm all rules are met.
23. Contact sheet of all JPEG images to be printed and submitted in envelope with CD and DVD.
24. You agree to a Polygraph test if deemed necessary.
Not all classes were submitted in – eg. Water Birds (ducks, geese), since there are specialists in those areas. This is where the psychology of the judging becomes important. Others I have no usable images – Owls, Coyotes, or Bobcats.
Any images with IGP or IMG in the filename is a Pentax photo. IGP = K10D, IMG = K20D. All others are with Canon - that Sigma 500mm was very, very useful. I've never done birding photography before, so bear that in mind. All contact sheets show my name and the ranch owner name.
Contact Sheet #1 is Birds, and the start of Mammals:
Contact Sheet #2 is Mammals (including exotics), Invertebrates, and Reptiles & Amphibians:
Contact Sheet #3 is Reptiles & Amphibians, and the Miscellaneous (Landscape, Sunrise/Sunset, Cacti, Flowering Plants, The Brush, and Farm & Ranch Operations):
I'll post larger images once the competition judging is done. Generally speaking, the clarity and detail of these images at 100% (in TIFF or RAW) is exceptional. A couple might be a bit soft, but that's where the sharpening is done in the JPEG and used for judging. I'd just like to break even on my costs!
Cheers,
Marc
--
35mmfilm_user
http://www.marclangille.com
