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Wildlife photographer of the year stripped of his award

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Hi,
Riccardo Polini said:
rlopes said:
Hi Riccardo,
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Hi Renato
Riccardo Polini said:
It is worth winning a contest, The Wildlife Photojournalist of the year, which is a > new category created for this year's competition...But not the overall prize winner...
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Riccardo Polini said:
My opinion is different.
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Sure...
Riccardo Polini said:
Paolo Fioratti was the overall winner of a contest organized by the Natural History > Museum of New York. The contest was organized to celebrate the 90th anniversary of > the Museum.

The Fioratti winning image was taken with an Hasselblad and camera trap. The > picture showed a kingfisher in the moment of fish capture. It was the first time (at > that time) that this moment was captured by a camera (many others, having learnt > the technique formerly developed by Fioratti) could take similar pictures in the > following years. However, the didn't win a prestigious contest as Fioratti did.
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Sure, great form from a documentary point of view...
Riccardo Polini said:
Riccardo Polini said:
This is a category created for documentary photography and that will recognise all the effort, planning, preparation etc by photographers who work very hard at documenting a species...
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I applaud the introduction of this new category.

However, as I wrote in my reply to Marco, we cannot decide the value of an image > and its eligibility in a contest only on the basis of the "technique". It would be a > rather illiberal decision to select winning pictures on a "used technique" criterion.
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My issue as I have written in this thread, has nothing to do with the technique used... I am looking at it from a strictly non-direct reaction/interaction from the photographer with the moment the picture was taken...

You set up your equipment, however technical and unique it may be, and go to sleep?... Nah...Sorry...Not worthy...

Luckily the organisers of the WPOTY have addressed this issue... Everyone will be happy...

Regards

--
Renato

http://www.renato-lopes.com
http://www.renatolopesblog.com
 
rlopes said:
Sure, great form from a documentary point of view...
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Nature photography is documentation.
Like reportage.

This doesn't mean that a documentary picture cannot be pleasant, inspiring and/or evoke a sense of awe.
Have you seen the winning pictures of previous WPYC editions ?

We are speaking about the most important Nature Photography contest, where winners must provide raw files or original slides after being appointed. No PP is allowed (unless minor cropping and levels/curves adjustments). Rules are very strict.
Do you know Canaletto paintings? Is that art or not?
 
Hi,
Riccardo Polini said:
rlopes said:
Sure, great form from a documentary point of view...
Click to expand...
Nature photography is documentation.
Like reportage.
Click to expand...
Sorry...But I disagree with you on this one as well... Documenting and reportage to me means telling a story.

If you look at the criteria for the newly created category, Wildlife Photojournalist of the year, there is one very specific requirement: the submission of six pictures that tell a memorable story...

Now...Not all single nature photographs tell a story. Look for example at the "In Praise of plants" category on the WPOTY... I look at those beautiful photos and see no story at all...
Riccardo Polini said:
This doesn't mean that a documentary picture cannot be pleasant, inspiring and/or > evoke a sense of awe.
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They are!... Never said that...That is why I welcome the new category...Im in awe of the snow Leopard pictures... Love em... But they tell me nothing about how the photographer directly reacted to the subject and his emotions at the time... That split second, the decision to take the photo...
Riccardo Polini said:
Have you seen the winning pictures of previous WPYC editions ?
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No I haven't, but will look it up...
Riccardo Polini said:
We are speaking about the most important Nature Photography contest, where > winners must provide raw files or original slides after being appointed. No PP is > allowed (unless minor cropping and levels/curves adjustments). Rules are very strict.
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Rules are very strict for the WPOTY award as well... Still there was some major fooling around this year, with expereinced judges being totally tricked...
Riccardo Polini said:
Do you know Canaletto paintings? Is that art or not?
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No, I am not familiar but will also lok it up...

Regards
--
Renato

http://www.renato-lopes.com
http://www.renatolopesblog.com
 
rlopes said:
Hi,

You as a hunter would know best no to fire a gun if a human walks in front of it... Unless you are after a criminal record... : )

Camera trap photography is very neat indeed... That is why the organisers of the competition have created a new award where it fits in: Wildlife Photojournalist of the year...

Regards
--
Renato

http://www.renato-lopes.com
http://www.renatolopesblog.com
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Absolutely! LOL. And I thought of that.

A similar discussion began a few years ago amongst military "pilots". Those that actually sat in a cockpit and flew a mission took exception with those who sat in a command post hundreds of miles away flying a Remotely Piloted Vehicle being called "Military Pilots".

They both have skills, they both have a mission, they both accomplish a task. The rest is all word mincing.

Take Some Pictures and Enjoy It!
--
Dave
 
rlopes said:
Steve Bingham said:
I can't believe the judges didn't see this as a staged shot in the beginning. It is so > obvious for many reasons! Man, talk about stupid.
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I wouldn't go as far as calling them stupid, but certainly surprised, when you see Jim Brandenburg and Vincent Munier as part of the judging panel... These guys have a lot of experience...
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But they certainly didn't use it. Trapped shots are one thing. Trapped shots with perfect stagging, lighting, and composition are quite another. Here is one of Jim's wolf shots. Probably a trapped shot, but a good one - minus the perfect lighting and composition. I remember, long ago, when a famous wildlife photographer took his stuffed animals with him. He made a ton of money in stock and assignment photos - with elk (or deer) magically posing on the perfect rock watching the sun go down. And a few famous landscape photographers that brought their wild flowers with them.
http://www.jimbrandenburg.com/gallery/shows/limited/3.html
rlopes said:
Regards

--
Renato

http://www.renato-lopes.com
http://www.renatolopesblog.com
Click to expand...
--
Steve Bingham
http://www.dustylens.com
http://www.ghost-town-photography.com
 
Hi,
Steve Bingham said:
rlopes said:
Steve Bingham said:
I can't believe the judges didn't see this as a staged shot in the beginning.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
It is so > obvious for many reasons! Man, talk about stupid.
Steve Bingham said:
I wouldn't go as far as calling them stupid, but certainly surprised, when you see > Jim Brandenburg and Vincent Munier as part of the judging panel... These guys have > a lot of experience...
Click to expand...
But they certainly didn't use it.
Click to expand...
You are right...The exact reason why I am so surprised... Jim as a lot of experience with Wolves... See the number of books he has published on it...
Steve Bingham said:
Trapped shots are one thing. Trapped shots with perfect stagging, lighting, and > composition are quite another. Here is one of Jim's wolf shots. Probably a trapped > shot, but a good one - minus the perfect lighting and composition. I remember, long > ago, when a famous wildlife photographer took his stuffed animals with him. He > made a ton of money in stock and assignment photos - with elk (or deer) magically > posing on the perfect rock watching the sun go down. And a few famous landscape > photographers that brought their wild flowers with them.
http://www.jimbrandenburg.com/gallery/shows/limited/3.html
Click to expand...
The light is the exact reason why I like this photo so much...

Regards
--
Renato

http://www.renato-lopes.com
http://www.renatolopesblog.com
 
Riccardo Polini said:
Marco,

I replied to your post not to offend you, but to make clear the opinions of a nature photographer like me.
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Ok, no offense taken then.
Riccardo Polini said:
The way I gave my opinions was hard, because I felt (due to my 20+ years experience as a Nature photographer) that some people spoke without knowing what they spoke about.
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I hear you Riccardo and I apologize myself because I highly respect your work and sometimes it's so easy to discuss photography only because we amateurs own and (think to) know how to use photo gear... which is just not the important factor in photography work.

I actually feel embarassed just to discuss with you about something you do know 100 times better than me!

I recall those images by Calvani and even if I didn't have the luck to see a slideshows of them, I do remember an article in an italian magazine and I wowed at their technical quality. Still, I'm much more astounded, to say, by some not technically great images taken by Lanting.

I realize it's my ignorance about wildlife, because I tend to treat images more on aesthetic/artistic vision than documentaristic one, while every nature photographer (even those whose artistic images I love) surely much appreciates the work involved to obtain a great visual documentation of a particular behaviour.
Riccardo Polini said:
I hope my thoughts are clearer now: we cannot decide the value of an image and its eligibility in a contest only on the basis of the "technique".
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Absolutely agreed.

Btw, Nichols' tiger is just great IMO, so I'm not really sure if all I wrote makes sense now...! :)

Best to you.

Marco
 
Give the judges some leeway. Hindsight is always 20/20. They assumed the photographer is honest. Otherwise they will have to assume that anything which looks "too good" is staged which is hardly better. This will put a limit on how good a photo can be to pass the judges.
 
How is it a better photograph if the wolf is wild rather than tame? To me, it's about the end result, not whether it was engineered.

However, if the rules stated that no staging is allowed, and he did, then they rightly stripped him of his titie.
 
Serves him right IMO. If it's a tame&trained wolf that he brought up to take the shots, heck even I can take that shot, all I need to do is get the tame wolf to jump and retry until I got the best shot of the bunch. Shame.
 
I see. IMO the whole merit of the picture (when judged) was based on the difficulty (or luck) level of achieving what seems to be once in a lifetime shot (if it's a wild wolf).

Since it's staged, I think it's pretty much as impressive as my next door neighbour Bob taking a picture of his Pomeranian jumping over the gate. Or Miss Sally taking picture of her daughter jumping mid air while having fun with the trampoline. Shameless photographer...
 
Hello Tony my friend!

Andy's is a fantastic image for sure!

I personally like Danny Greens image here;

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/temporary-exhibitions/wpy/photo.do?photo=2518&category=49&group=1

Danny and his wife sat with my wife and I when I was at the awards in 2007. He is a terrific photographer and a real nice guy. We still keep in contact, trying to get him & his wife to come to NY one day.

Bottom line is, because the guy cheated a well deserving person, whoever it may have been, lost 10 grand and a giant title! :(

--
George DeCamp
http://www.decamp.net
 
Hi George
good to hear from you.

I was perhaps playing devils advocate regarding Andy's Tiger shot, I just think it sums up wildlife to me and the detail was outstanding for what was probably over in mere seconds.
The starling shot was also pretty special!
Entries close for the 2011 competition in March, hope to see you up there again.

Best wishes
Tony
 
If you debunk, disqualify, or disrespect trap shots due to the fact that the photographer is not physically present at the camera, you might as well also disrespect all sports photography in Sports Illustrated, because a gigantic proportion of what they publish is taken from remote cameras that are most likely gang fired by remote. Some of those photographers set up more cameras than a multi-max has channels.... And in terms of nature photography, NG photographers have been using the best trickery forever. Look at how they did the portrait of the giant redwood a few months ago--they built a motorized remote control cable trolley, then stitched. I suppose you would dis' that as well.

It's obvious that the best photographers have always had (relative to their time) high tech tricks up their sleeve to help them out, and to dis' remote cameras, etc, seems ridiculous to me. When the photographer sets up the remote camera, there are a lot of creative choices being made that are particular to that photographer, and there is still skill involved. The subject crossing the frame is just the final touch. I think you're being naive if you don't respect this category of photo.

That being said, of course I think that hiring a tame animal is cheating in such a contest.

--
David Hill
http://www.sfbayweddingphotographer.com
San Francisco, CA | Austin, TX
Certified Wedding Photography Junky™
 
You´re a little late to the party :)
That´s been cleared up a couple of days ago.

BTW, in my earlier posts I forgot to mention that I don´t think it´s a good pic however it was created. If it had been a genuin wild wolf it could pass as documentary, but artistically I find it uninteresting.

Put a common dog or cat there instead, and the pic is nothing to write home about.
IMO.
 
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