Category Winner in Birds As Art 2012
Selected from more than 5,500 images, I am delighted to let you know that my image Wagtail and Brown Bear was awarded Category Winner in Birds AS Art 1st International Bird Photography Competition.
This competition is hosted by BIRDS AS ART / Arthur Morris based in Florida, U.S. The Jugde panel set up for this competition was Darrel Gulin, Tim Laman, Arthur Morris, Chris van Rooyen, Andy Rouse and Julie Zickefoose.
The contest is open for both amatuers and professional photographers world wide, and focus only on bird photography. Totally there are 11 different categories, were my image won the “Small in the frame” category. I feel both humble and proud to receive such a prize.
About the situation
During the past few years I have spent more than 600 hours in hides in the wilderness on the Finish-Russian border in Kuhmo photographing Brown Bears and Wolves. At this special moment the Brown Bear was eating a carcass and the Wagtails were flying around trying to get some scraps of meat. The bear seemed to be irritated by the birds but they were too fast for it. I made many photos of the Wagtails but the birds were hard for me to catch as well. Finally I got this image showing the small Wagtail on his tiny wings just in front of the Brown Bear’s big head. The huge difference in size and power combined with the Brown Bear’s irritating glance is fascinating. And for the Wagtail this is what I would call a tough match…
The Jury’s statement
“There is a lot that makes this image very special. First and most importantly, you could not have placed the bird in a better spot, right in front of the huge, hulking bear’s face with a lovely background of yellow grasses. Though only small details, the bird’s raised wings and hanging feet and the bear’s open jaw and his seemingly evil glare all add immensely to the image. The soft light allowed for a perfect exposure that reveals all the detail in the bear’s coat. The out-of-focus tree trunks in the upper right balance nicely with the delicate bush in the lower left. Add the perfect framing and you surely have a winner.”
Husker godt situasjonen, som vanlig fikk du mer ut av den enn meg !! Gratulerer. Du begynner å få endel på CV`n din etterhvert.
Congratulations Arnfinn Great capture and well deserved award, love the expression on the bears face.
Arnfinn,
this is a wonderful feeling. But I guess this photograph must have been so difficult to execute, for it is just so insignificantly small in comparison with the bear that most would simply lose the sense of distance. you hit the aoerture just the right moment. Congratualtion. Keep it up. God bless.
Cheers again,and again!!
Realy a great shoot Arnfinn. This small bird made this picture worth a pris! Well done young man!! All the best for the summer.See you soon.Ole M
Hey Arnfinn
Many congratulations. That is indeed a great photograph and certainly deserved to be ranked as the best photograph.
Keep it up.
With best wishes for many more such awards
Sanjay Ojha
Fantastic shot, well deserved award Arnfinn!
Hey
That’s a great news congratulatuion
Congrats. Do try to leave some awards for lesser mortals like us 🙂
Congratulations Arnfinn. Great capture. Just back from a trip to Hungary! You can check out the results at http://www.shootingscenes.co.uk. Under Galleries. Keep in touch
Kind regards
Royston Packer