I agree pete, its all healthy debate, i took no offence (well, maybe a little ). No its all good here.Pete Eeles wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:56 pm This healthy debate (and thanks for all the input - it's much appreciated!) is EXACTLY why we have a panel of judges, rather than one opinion!
Without any parameters, all judges have always made their own individual assessment of what criteria they should apply. Some focus on technical execution. For others, art. Other, something in context - including behaviour, a butterfly within its environment, etc.
I wish there were an algorithm that could be applied, but there isn't, and, while there's been no blood shed during the judging, it's quite clear that the judges come to their assessment from different perspectives, and apply different criteria.
As many have said, there is no 'right' or 'wrong' here - and a different panel may come to a different conclusion when it comes to judging.
Not sure if this helps, but it may provide some context. One subtle but important distinction that I think needs to be made moving forward, is that this is a Nature Photography competition, and not just a Photography competition.
Cheers,
- Pete
I think i was trying make a couple of points, those being - you dont need high end, expensive, top of the range camera gear/editing skills, to take half decent butterfly images, an i think ive gone some way to proving this.
My other point was - although i am guilty of having quite a few images that are "Butterfly on a stick" material...i also have butterfly images, that do show the butterfly acting/behaving naturally, and behind some of those natural images, there is certainly a story to tell. Its not all sterile/lifeless images with me.
Now for a couple of less natural, an more arty farty images to finish.
A butterfly on a stick!!! No editing at all for this shot, SOOC (straight out of camera).
Clouded Yellow Butterfly (male). No cropping. by Tort Man, on Flickr
Not a stick, but a flower.
Clouded Yellow Butterflies (males). No cropping. by Tort Man, on Flickr