Suggestions please

[Gruditch]

Before I stat a poll in March, are there any suggestions for the 2011/2012 out of season competition categories.

Regards Gruditch

[Zonda]

British Birds,,,,, or Birds that like Caterpillars.

[Charles Nicol]

How about a competition where dSLR cameras are banned ?

Charles

[Lee Hurrell]

British Birds,,,,, or Birds that like Caterpillars.

Got that in the bag then Zonda

Cheers

Lee

[celery]

How about butterfly habitats/sites?

A chance to display a few scenic shots which capture the mood of some of lovely places we visit... what d'ya reckon?

[JohnR]

How about the naffest butterfly shot, only showing the waist up or with its head cut off thanks to the lack of skill of the photographer?

[millerd]

How about the naffest butterfly shot

Too easy - I have rather too many of the type where the butterfly simply wasn't there by the time I pressed the shutter...

As a category, how about "Posing with People"?

Dave

[Lee Hurrell]

I liked the camouflage, more than one, caught in flight and moths categories the best this year.

The one I'd add that didn't make it is 'OAP' (most knackered).

Cheers

Lee

[Denise]

What about favourite shot of the year, Behaviour or Comedy Caption.
Or perhaps by colour, browns, blues etc or by family groups, frits, skippers, blues etc.
Just a thought

Denise

[Rogerdodge]

I think I can echo a part of Denise's suggestion.
Many butterflies are notable by their absence or low coverage in the competitions - the whites in general, and some of the commoer butterflies - so perhaps a category that was species/family specific would be interesting...

[NickB]

How about a competition where dSLR cameras are banned ?

Charles

Sure -
but shouldn't they all be printed out at A3 size to be judged?
Seriously though - a good idea despite my irreverence!
I also like the "species" idea and "habitat" as alternatives...
N

[Pete Eeles]

I strongly agree with having the different families being used. Although there aren't many Swallowtails!

Most of the other suggestions seem to pander to member's personal photo albums. I think "photos taken by someone called Pete who lives in Berkshire" would be an excellent category

Cheers,

- Berkshire Pete

[NickB]

Although there aren't many Swallowtails!
- Berkshire Pete

As a Fen boy I think Swallowtail is an excellent choice for our East Anglian members....

[Zonda]

I think "photos taken by someone called Pete who lives in Berkshire" would be an excellent category

Could i enter this in the camouflage category?

[NickB]

..that's the best picture I've seen of you, Zonda.......

[Paul Wetton]

We've never met before but now I know why Zonda.

[Charles Nicol]

is that a Sigma in your camouflage suit or are you pleased to see me ?

charles

[Matsukaze]

Nice camouflage, though on closer inspection it looks suspiciously like pre-1975 curtain fabric to me!

[Zonda]

Turns a few heads in Tescos.

[Piers]

As a non photographer you could view my opinion in one of two ways; either utterly impartial, or not entitled to an opinion at all so go away.

However, I do take a great degree of pleasure in looking at the photographs on this website so here's my two penneth:

Close-Up, Camouflage, and Early Stages are excellent categories that have produced some lovely shots.

I can't stand the 'Butterflies & People' type categories! A photograph of a butterfly perched upon someone's thumb just says (to me anyway) 'human intrusion' which, from what I can gather, goes against the general ethos of the site. The juxtaposition of infinitely beautiful butterfly and chapped thumb with fungal infection of the nail-bed is grim. This category must die..!

Bird photographs are catered for on a plethora of other sites. This is 'UK Butterflies', not 'UK Butterflies & Birds'.

Habitat shots. I don't know. It would be difficult to determine habitat shots from general landscape photography. Almost all landscapes are habitats.

A family limited category has great potential (eg: Skippers, Whites, etc.).

'Caught in Flight' I imagine will possibly test peoples skills to the limit, and has to potential to produce some stunning shots.

'Moths' is surely a must. I know that this is 'UKB' but we should embrace moths also, and they do present a fresh set of challenges. Especially if the photograph is to be of an active specimen, rather than a roosting one, or some half charred blighter in the bottom of an MV trap.

'Courtship & Mating' would also give the photographers here a new challenge, and again produce some great images; particularly if people look further than just the usual resting pair of copulating blues.

'Ovipositing' would also be a challenge and require good macro skills, as well as a degree of field craft.

In July, how about banning 'Butterflies on dog turds'?

Felix.