Red Grouse in flight

Wonderful image, Ron. Clear, detailed, beautiful color combination, great background. The bird itself looks really strange to me: maybe it does to the non-wildlife judges too. It's not a beautiful bird but it sure is interesting. Maybe if you told the judges more about it in a figure caption it would help.

Welcome to NPN Ron (geez, another Ron ).

This image instantly brought a smile to my face. I can almost hear the bird, thinking about how many times flushed grouse have seriously startled me. I really like the sharpness, flight pose, open beak and blurred background but I especially appreciate the sense of speed here. I think I "get it" and for me it's a wonderful image.

Very cool action shot!

Welcome to NPN Ron. Very nice light and exposure on this. The detail is very nice as well. If I had a small nit, I might suggest a slightly less centered comp would take this over the top. Nice work!

Hey Ron,

As a wildlife guy, I like this one a lot, and can appreciate how much time and patience it took to get it, and it should do well in any wildlife-oriented contest. But I wouldn't even bother entering it in a non-wildlife-oriented contest, whose judges are likely to think this is just a flying chicken that you took in your barnyard coop (the setting notwithstanding).

I might also add that how well a photo does in a photo contest often has little bearing on the merits of the photo. What's most important is how you feel about the photo. A lot of my own favorite photos wouldn't get a second glance from a photo contest judge, and that's ok with me.

Welcome to NPN Ron, I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work.

Love the action in your image, the open bill, background and the light.

I don't think it is your expectations about the image that is at issue. But nature images won't rank high if the judges are more interested in portraiture images, architecture or any field outside of nature.

If this were mine I might consider cropping some off of either the top or bottom as the grouse feels a touch centered to me top to bottom.

Still a fine image as presented.

Welcome Ron, I think it's a great image. Wonderful action, a difficult capture and an uncommon image. The only thing critique wise would be Kurt's advice on the composition.

As regards photo competitions, I would just say this - there are a lot of great wildlife photos out there now, so if this is winning awards part of the time I would consider that a success if it were mine.

It's usually good to include your techs (iso, f-stop, shutter speed) and equipment to help us understand how you took your shot - it will help photographers learn and possibly might aid us in critiquing a photo. I hope to see more of your work here.

Ron, I think this is great and as a professional wildlife biologist I defineately "get it." However, I go along with Mike Ds thinking when it comes to contests. In the end, it is all based on the particular judge you get looking at your image. They all have different preferences. Heck, my favorite images never seem to be the ones others like the most. That is because our images are just that, our images, and only we know what it took to get the image and our own memories and interests make the image special to us, but not necessarily to others. I would be happy with just the satisfaction of capturing such a fine image.

Awesome flight shot, Ron; works for me!

Welcome to NPN, Ron. Heck of a first post. I don't think that I have ever seen a photo of a grouse in flight posted here before........ Your setting a pretty high standard.

Love the action and background Ron, that's one determined bird - great shot. Ditto previous comments re composition.

cheers
Rob

add my name to the list of those extremely impressed to see a shot of a grouse in flight. good work--and a great example of how studying your target's behavior can lead to a great shot. I agree that the composition is a little centered, but quite an impressive shot. I'll look forward to seeing more of your work.

Amazing action. The excellent detail in the bird shows up nicely in the larger version.
Welcome to NPN. Looking forward to more great shots.
May

Amazing action shot Ron, I can just feel the speed here! Technically this is spot on. As to your question why it may not do well with non-wildlife judges, my guess would be the composition is rather simple, centered (lower right corner would be more dynamic), and beyond a bird being in flight, and clearly in distress (your caption adds a little more... but isn't directly apparent from the photo), it doesn't necessarily evoke an emotional story. It's more a testament to your luck and skill in getting such a cool action shot than a photograph that is breaking new ground, or will evoke an emotional response to the general public. Ask yourself, do you see the average appreciator of nature hanging this on their living room wall? In most cases, I would guess no. I hope you appreciate the straightforward feedback - it seems that's what you were asking for. Don't get me wrong, it's a cracking good wildlife action photo!

Ron, it is a great photo. shows a combination of skill and timing. Hope to see more of your work. Would liked to have seen your tech. data.

Thanks everyone for you constructive comments. I was nervous about entering this but I'm glad I did. I'm looking forward to the next one

Many thanks

Ron

Well, WE appreciate it!
This is an excellent BIF shot.
Congrats on the EP!

Sandy r

What a great action capture! I can almost hear him squawking at you! Congrats on the EP