Weekly Competition #217 - Perfect timing Competition

Some really impressive entries this time and some show, how important it can be to just get the right moment. Here my feelings about your pictures.

Find your own stash.......................... by TOZZA27
A great moment of two competitors fighting for the same portion of food.
Technically perfect (sharpness, colors, crop) but for whatever reason I can't open the big version. The only limiting
factor of this picture is the slightly artificial scenario. On food places, many such animal moments can be observed - there were some entries this time, that were taken under even more difficult circumstances.


Take Off!! by darkskies
what makes this shot so great is the artistic crop and composition. Even if the latter is the result of a coincident, it is such a great composition of the individual birds to an overall artwork. I like the bright sky that lets these birds appear like flying in the off....The color range is also very harmonic - great shot


Five card stud by sandinsta
It is perhaps almost a snapshot and also a lucky moment - however - the way you processed this picture is amazing - this has so much style and looks so authentic vintage style - it is like one of these great portraits of former actors as they were made in the 50-60ties. The DOF is simply perfect and the slight grain perfectly supports the vintage look


Wihgs by nipper
definitely a shot that freezes a move but a bit like with the first entry - in such a set-up, moments like this are not that rare so I think there are entries this week, where the circumstances were a bit harder. More bad luck then a fault is the fact that bird and branches have very similar colors and therefore slightly merge.


No papparazzi! by dannyh
A great catch of a very special moment. I like the position of his hand and fingers (tried to copy it - actually not that easy and I guess the boy made this pose without even thinking of it. It is also great how the freeze shows the guys mood -
I really felt how he had enough of photo shooting this day ....


Approaching the Bridge by mudge
I can imagine how difficult it was to catch this moment completely unprepared but due to the really not ideal view angle, the raft that somehow does not fit to the scene composition and the poor sharpness it has a bit of a snapshot style (might also be, because it was not a Pentax DSLR but an Optio camera. I think, I would have cropped it without the riverside - just the water. The stairs and concrete walls do not look that nice and disturb a bit the water sport scene.


Before The Plunge by RPLSF
This is definitely a nice timed shot as one now expects the big splash. My initial thought was, why B&W but I more and more thought that this picture works very well in BW. The dynamic of this scene would be even bigger, when your and your camera's position would have been deeper to show a bit bigger gap between jumper and water surface (in this position it almost looks like they slide over the surface instead of jumping into the water).


Run by puma
fantastic colors and a picture that really freezes the moment at a perfect time. Also very sharp and nice details (wave and boys). However - a bit like with the "Before the Plunge" picture - you should have kneed down or even put the camera close to the ground - imagine this shot without the sea and horizon behind - just the two boys, a blue sky and this amazing blue wall in front of them..... But I know how it is - it is always so easy to say this later on, sitting in front of the PC - it is a total other story, to do this in the real scenario - but still a great picture.


Yoga Jumper by JudithAnn
Had to smile when I saw this photo - you really managed to make a nice persiflage - also reminded me a bit of these "flying yoga men" that are actually not really flying but kind of jump in the lotus sitting position). The background is a bit distracting from this "spiritual" scene - but it would be a really hard job to get rid of it. At least, I would have cropped a bit more at the bottom line so that the dark part of the trampoline would have been the lower end of the picture.


Where is my mummy by arrondee
Yes this is a great sample of timing. this photo has so much humor and I love the composition. Also amazing how many bags you managed to fix to this little buggy . These guys are often the target of photo attacks but your image with the nosy small boy sticks out of these kind of pictures. Really made me smile..... Viewing it large it seems to show some over-sharpening and also some noise, but this is not a big issue considering the great scene


Boy In The Bubble by Dr Orloff
This is so much what I had in mind when I made this picture. You just hit the
moment and by this, you created this amazing effect of the water, looking like a skin that covers your boy. Not just a great timing - also great technical quality of sharpnes and dynamics - and I love the colors. One of my favorites.


In step by davidtrout
What a perfect timing - so much in sync with the statue - it looks like a posed picture but I fully believe you, that this was just your perfect feeling for the right moment. Also the B&W works as well as it eliminates possible color differences between lady and statue.


Looking in the eye by Dorothea
This is an amazing picture - the colors are so vibrant with a nice contrast to the pale wooden ground. The sharpness of the head is perfect and the DOF adds so much dynamic to this shot. From my own experience I know how tricky it can be to capture these kind of animals - a bit to close and they run away. With this pano-proportion of the picture one recommendation - instead of adding a complete white frame to it, you might want to try to just add a white line on top and bottom but leave the sides unframed. This supports the pano style and might look even more stylish.

Ultra Sound timing by coker
This photo has enviously a very poor image quality but looking at the motive, that doesn't count at all. This is so great that you managed to capture this moment - it must have been nearly dark and everything we see on this picture normaly happens sooo fast that I wonder how you managed to capture it. Really such an impressive nature shot.

about to land by By: jeeess1967
really a special moment these 0.1 seconds before touchdown - also amazing which kind of landing slope the seagull selected - a bit like a ski jumpers. Lighting is a bit strange, as sharpness and noise - feels a bit like a 3D image - no idea why. Find the level of noise a bit too distracting.

Caught in the headlights by Dr. Mhuni
I can only say - wow... this is such a special - almost surreal scene and a great B&W. First impression is very dark but the level of dark shades and details and structures is amazing. The idea of catching the two in the lights of a passing car is so good as it captured such a temporary moment that never comes back (feels a bit like the two would not be there anymore when the next car illuminates the scene.

Elena and Paul by gartmore
what an emotional image with such a lovely atmosphere. The bride looks beautiful and so happy - the groom looks so caught by the situation and the priest adds the depth to the whole scene. This is one of the best wedding shots I have ever seen - almost too perfect to be real, I am sure the two were very thankful for your artwork.

Dynamic Shooting (IPSC) by alexfilipov
I have to admit it is a perfect timed shot and technically very good but I can't help myself - I never understood why people trivialize shooting by making a sport out of it (especially nowadays as guys like Tim K. from Winnenden or Anders Breivik showed us the black side of being fascinated by weapons). So sorry Alex that I can't ignore my negative feelings with this scene - hope you can understand this.

Crossing the TCH by darlene
Hi darlene - I can only say one thing - I was 4 times in Norway and Sweden and only once I saw a moose crossing the street like on your picture and until I grabbed my camera he was already gone. So a great capture and very peaceful as well.

3 Go Splash AndrewA
For sure a nice timing. Kind of interesting to not see, what causes the splash (although - having the kids on it just before they went under the water and seeing their faces and probably totally different mimics would also have been very interesting.

Fight or Flight by Frankie
Truly a dramatic story as it typically happen in nature - the shot itself however doesn't show it that clearly - could also be a "normal shot of two seagulls and also the not really nice surrounding prevents a bit that this is not such an eye catcher for me (would have been worth trying to eliminate the two cables - due to the slim shape, it should not been that much effort)

Hovering by Dodge69
Wow Wow Wow - what a macro. So amazing how you achieved this sharpness and DOF with f/3.... I know how tricky it is to capture such small, moving objects but you managed this in free space without any stable point - you really got the perfect photo out of it. For me the best Macro I have ever seen in PU. Honestly, I would recommend to send this picture to a big nature photography contest.

Soft Boiled by VonBatCat
OMG - I hope you do not get any cholesterol problems after having eating all these eggs This photo definately deserves the effort price. I like the black background that the close-up flash did produce - a bit poor sharpness but still a very dynamic image.

Lighthouse by guy
Great moment in a lovely scenery - I like how the water column somehow mirrors the lighthouse. The limited range of colors is a great color composition. Very authentic shot

Timekeeper stands up by stevepresto
A very good musician photograph with good sharpness and nice warm tone. seeing a bit more of the drum would be good and I also miss a bit the special timing criteria.... If he is actually jumping that would be a good timing but it looks more like he just stood up??

Nature's flashgun by aliengrove
an amazing Armageddon-like picture. The two different light colors make it very special and the shape of the upper cloud has something apocalyptical - looks almost like the cloud of a nuclear explosion. All of us who experienced in capturing lightnings know how difficult it is to hit the right moment and to get a good quality in Sharpness and light. This photo is superb.

Wings by johnriley
The wings are really impressive and pin sharp. Was a bit surprised to see the high level of noise - although it was captured with ISO 6400 from the K5 tests I thought that the camera shows nearly no noise at this ISO setting?. also a bit of a shame that the head is missing.

Stones Throw by timcx500e
amazing how the stone looks almost melted in this exposure - also special that the stone has so much motion blur while boy and water are quite sharp - seems that sometimes it needs only small differences in motion speed to make a bit difference in motion blur. For a real eye catching action shot, I think that the boy's position is a bit too static.

Moments decide everything! by ArsenAl
What a great sport photo - this has all - the dramatic look of the red guy, fascinating colors (as so many sports are quite colorful), perfect sharpness - amazing details like the sand, that flies through the air after the right player did hit the ball.... Really well done.

This time it was not so difficult to select the winning sht - however - all other results were difficult to decide as some shots were really close together.
so here my subjective judging:

Place 1: Hovering by Dodge69 - it might be a lucky punch (as we sometimes see in heavy weight box fights) to get such a picture with the second photograph - However - I think you must have lots of experience to get such a great macro. This picture impressed me most
Place 2: Caught in the headlights by Dr. Mhuni. It is mainly the extreme special atmosphere why i think that this is a very special shot.
Place 3: Boy In The Bubble by DrOrloff very good time and amazing picture quality

Effort Award: Soft Boiled by VonBatCat as you really made such a great effort and achieved an good timed picture.

HR: Elena and Paul by gartmore; Ultrasound Timing by coker; Looking in the eye by Dorothea; Five card stud by sandinista

Good choice of subject Axel and it attracted some first class images. I wouldn't argue with any of your selections for the podium.
Congratulations to Sean, and also to Andrew and Adrian. The hoverfly is stunning.
David

Many thanks for the good choice of subject, the timely judging and the much-coveted second Axel. Liked your comment about the figures having disappeared by the time the next car came!

Congrats to Dodge69 for the striking winner.

Congratulations Dodge69, excellent capture and a worthy winner! Congrats also to the two Docs on their podium places, and to the HC's.

Thanks Axel for an interesting comp, which attracted some excellent entries, and for the insightful comments.

This was the first photography competition I have ever entered so thanks for being such a diplomatic and constructive judge. I hope I will be able to take shots as good as those in the competition some day.
Frankie

Well done Sean, that was pretty special, and well done Doc M and Doc O for placings. Thanks for the HC Axel and congrats to all other HCs and entrants. Great comp and theme Axel and excellent judging/critique.

Yep, nice idea for a competition and some great results. I do like your winner!

Well done Dodge for a great winning shot! Thanks for another fantastic comp Axel and for my Effort award. Final score was two quiches, 9 small egg custards and a bread and butter pudding..... bring it on!

Thanks for such an effort put into perceptive judging.

You remarked of mine "I am sure the two were very thankful for your artwork". I don't think they've seen it yet, it was taken the day before I posted it. One of the most technically challenging scenes I've ever come across in a wedding, f22 outside and f4 inside but it demonstrates the brilliant performance of Pentax's SMC coating.

I am sure they will want to have this picture in poster size once they have seen it ....

Congratulations to Sean, those things are damn tricky. Thanks Axel for a really good subject which attracted a good and varied entry, the excellent judging and place. I loved Mhuni's shot.

I was not sure if it was the sort of timing you were after, but glad I'm entered now!

Well set competition subject and judging, thoroughly enjoyed all the entries (Nature's flashgun by aliengrove is just nuts!).
It was recently remarked on the forum how entering the competitions generates some of the best critique and I think there is some great thoughtful tips and opinion for us to take away.

Thank you Axel for your very, very kind words. I certainly hold them in high regard as your work is some of my favourite stuff on here.

Well done, Sean. I have several shots just like yours.....er, but not in focus!

Well done to the other placings. Good comp, Axel!

Thanks for the comments Axel - I`m not quite sure what to make of the "slightly artificial scenario" - it`s my back garden and it really is real !
Well done to Sean - beautifully done

Some cracking entries too - well done all

Tony

Congratulations to Sean, and what a shot it really is a Fabulous shot! Well done and Thank you to Axel for the judging it was a very good competition and for the comments that was great.

Hi Tony - sorry when my English was a bit confusing - what I wanted to say is, that when shooting wild animals a man-made feeding spot it is a different stopry compared to a real wild environment. On such spots it is far more likely to get wild animals in front of the camera... I have no problems with that - it is just that for the topic "Timing" it is a little drop of the score....

Nice photo Sean...I pick it as one of my favorites.

Thank you to the Judge for your detailed adjudications. I could have had a ton of fun with that Photo...but I really wanted to leave it as was, because it really did catch a moment in time...frozen just as it was! It made me smile too!

Now, do not forget to enter the new monthly comp so I can return the favor....of judging that is

As Ever;
JA

Thanks for the clarification Axel - point is taken and I concur with the comment.

Tony