By
Jon Jayes
Secretary Photographic Committee
It seemed like a slow start to the competition with hardly a handful of entrants to either the members' or the open category but a couple of weeks before the close of the Spring quarter the packages came flooding in.
There was over a hundred pictures to look at - a record for any of our quarterly events - and the judges were pleased to see some of the familiar names appearing but also many new competitors both in the members' section and in the open category which illustrates that there are a lot of photographers out there interested in deer even if they are not Society members.
Competition was very close with a handful of points separating many of the entries and positions could easily change during the rest of the year. Deer was obviously the most popular category with a few thoughtful entries in Deer Country but only one entrant submitted to Stalking Connections.
Entries were varied. Some were imaginative, others sensitive, some artistic and others just extremely skilfully obtained and excellently observed and executed. The judges were particularly looking for animals 'doing something' and not just posing. Illustrative shots of deer activity or behaviour came higher on the scoring chart and also consideration was given to the difficulty and sensitivity involved in obtaining particular pictures.
The winner of the Spring Open category who will receive £30 and a pack of Canon inkjet printing paper from the London Camera Exchange (Salisbury) was Graeme Purdy with a superb picture of Fallow Bucks fighting. One of the animals has been frozen with its feet off the ground and the sense of power and struggle can be seen in the arched back of the buck on the right of the scene. The picture was taken on a Canon 1D Mkll with a 300mm lens plus 1.4 converter.
Taking second slot and receiving £25 was William David Thomas with a humorous picture of a stag with a bracken crown. Perhaps camouflaged in an attempt to get closer to the photographer. The camera used was a Canon EOS 1Ds Mk11
Every entrant in the Open category has had their entries scored and their points will be carried forward each quarter to decide the overall winner of the Canon 400D SLR with 18-55mm at the end of the year.
In the members section, regular competitor George Trebinski took first place with a picture called 'Grooming in the Rain'. A delicate and sensitive picture of a female Sika and calf engaged in intimate and relaxed behaviour. This was taken in Dorset on Canon EOS 5D with a 100-400mm lens mounted on a tripod. George wins £30 and a pack of Canon inkjet printing paper from the London Camera Exchange (Salisbury) .
Second was new competitor Paul Holmes with a shot of an animal attempting to reach an annoying itch. The picture was very sharp and well exposed and Paul wins £25.
Kevin Messenger came 3rd and wins £20 with a shot of an animal just making its getaway. Movement can be seen in the blurring of the leg and whilst the face is not seen those photographers who regularly watch and photograph deer will recognise the situation and view of the animal. A picture just caught before it disappears into the undergrowth.
In 4th place and winning £15 was last years winner Matthew Peaster with a Deer Country picture of a neatly composed pair of Common Blue Butterflies taken with a Canon EOS 20D and a 300mm lens with an extension tube all mounted on a tripod.
Highly commended certificates were award to those entrants in both sections of the competition who just missed out on prize placing. There is no reason to despair if you didn't receive a prize or a Highly Commended certificate as the pointing system means that anyone still stands a chance of winning the overall prize with three quarterly competitions still remaining.
Points in the members category will be carried forward to decide the end of year winner of the Canon Pixma printer.
Don't forget, pictures showing the subjects doing something - activity and behaviour - and the pictures that stand the best chance are those that are sharp, well graded, colour balanced and correctly exposed and composed. If you send a CD please don't forget to send prints too.
If you haven't entered yet there is still time. The next closing date is 1st May 2007. Only three of the four quarters will be judged for the overall prize at the end of the year and even if you only enter one or two of the quarters you still have a chance to win one of the cash prizes and printing paper each month in either the members' or open categories.
Rules can be found on the web site www.bds.org.uk where winning and highly commended pictures will be displayed throughout the year.
To everyone entering please remember to check size AND weight of your entries as some entries did attract excess payment on delivery. Also, if you wish to have the pictures returned please included return postage and packing.
Thank you to all those who took part in the first quarter. The judges and members look forward to seeing further entries throughout the year.
