Great Greay Owl
Maker: Kelly Retzlaff… -- 39 points 1st Place Judge's comments: Great background. Eye is very sharp. Snow adds to photo. Maker's comments: Taken Sax Zim Bog Northern Minnesota. It was cold 15 below zero. The challenge to get a clean background and to have enough room in the photo when owl was flying. This GGO is diving for its prey and the background is clean but there wasn't a lot of room left. I have one where the owl is almost entering the snow, Prior to arriving I had watched videos on GGO behavior so that I could be prepared when the owl would fly and hunt. Processed in lightroom. Canon 7dii canon 500 mm.
Who are you
Maker: John Zoerb -- 36 points 2nd Place Judge's comments: Great eyes. Nice and close. Nothing to distract. Maker's comments:
Walrus In Svalbard
Maker: Hans Madland -- 35 points 3rd Place Judge's comments: Whiskers very sharp. Maker's comments: In summer these ivory-tusked walruses gather in Svalbard to mate.
Pileated Woodpecker
Maker: Al Sheldon -- 33 points Hon. Mention Judge's comments: Perfect composition. Branch in back distracts a little. Maker's comments: The Pileated Woodpecker was photographed in Trempealeau, WI.
Heron on the Hunt
Maker: Hans Madland -- 33 points Hon. Mention Judge's comments: Great pose. Great legs. Maker's comments:
Mating Plumage & Green Lore Of Breeding Egret
Maker: Sonja Haske -- 32 points Voted Acc. Judge's comments: Feathers are fantastic. Sharp. Nice pose. Could use to see a little more of the feathers. Maker's comments:
Hawk Fight
Maker: Mike Hanson -- 32 points Hon. Mention Judge's comments: Great action. Background detracts. Could use more separation. Tree and faces are very sharp. Maker's comments:
Wary Pelican
Maker: Al Sheldon -- 31 points Voted Acc. Judge's comments: Great hairdo. Extremely sharp. Nice pose. Nice details in most of the white. Possibly a little over exposed. Maker's comments:
UP Fall Splendor
Maker: Wanda Finn -- 31 points Judge's comments: Nice framing. Nice smooth water. Maker's comments:
Tastes Like Chicken?
Maker: Rachel Teske -- 31 points Judge's comments: Good action shot. Sharp. Trees in back a little bright. Maker's comments: I used my burst mode to catch birds moving in the trees. The this robin was up several branches, so I cropped the image to improve the composition.
Jelly Fish
Maker: Brandon Wanke -- 31 points Judge's comments: Interesting shot. Well lit. Nice composition. Nice twisty white. Maker's comments:
Beautiful Butterfly
Maker: Tia Gray -- 28 points Judge's comments: Nice background separation. Nice composition and arrangement. Beautiful flower. Maker's comments:
Blue Fly
Maker: Jerry Weigel -- 25 points Judge's comments: Great colors. Tail not in focus. Maker's comments:
Silent Snow
Maker: Eileen Roesler -- 25 points Judge's comments: Cliff makes a nice separation from the white. Sharp. Nice angle. Move tree more to the third line. Maker's comments:
Nuthatch
Maker: Shirley Gates -- 25 points Judge's comments: Background is nice. Snow is nice. Would be better to see both eyes. Maker's comments:
Beautiful Butterfly
Maker: Bob Mueller -- 23 points Judge's comments: Nice color. Not sharp. Nice complementary colors with orange and green. Dandlion distracts. Butterfly could use more space. Maker's comments: