February 2009 - Marko's choice - Image of the month

[Marko]

Hi members,

This is a new suggestion from a thread by Mad Aussie (http://www.photography.ca/Forums/showthread.php?t=1925) (Thanks!:highfive:)
where the Admin (me) chooses one excellent photo each month from the Show forum, the critique forum and the assignment forum to talk about and suggest why it is good as a learning tool. Feel free to add comments about this suggestion in the link above.

I have started sifting though the many many many pages of images. I'll post my winner this week.

For next month I'll start my judging early, as it represents a good few hours of work (that I enjoy:))

Thanks everyone!
Marko

[Marko]

Ok then - I have chosen a winner. The winner for this month is the following image by kentw from this thread Eagles on the Mississippi (http://www.photography.ca/Forums/showthread.php?t=2004).

This month was much harder than last month for me and I suspect future months will be even harder. I chose this image because it is simply awesome. The composition is amazing, the eagle's eye is in sharp focus, the timing to get a shot like this was BANG ON. Talk about a decisive moment. Just look at that wingspan, so cool. The level of skill involved to get this shot is also really high. If I have one nit about the shot, the sky could be more interesting...but the eagle rocks too hard to make this anything but a spectacular shot.

Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That's cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

I think I will add 2 or three honourable mentions as there were also another bunch of shots that came soooo close. I'll likely post them in the blog but add a link to them in this thread.

Congrats again kentw! - Awesome shot.:highfive:

[kat]

Yay! Great choice! I love this photo.

I agree..it's going to get harder and harder for you and the nominated one!

[tomorrowstreasures]

fantastic choice! Congrats to kentw !!!

[casil403]

That's a stunning photo......congrats!!! :)

[GregL]

An amazing shot. The sharpness, on what is obviously a moving target is simply great. Well done kentw

[JAS_Photo]

Great choice!

[kentw]

Thanks, Marko, for selecting my photo. I guess this goes to show that if a person just keeps shooting, one is bound to get a decent image.

I try to follow the advice a teacher of mine gives:

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." That, as Marko surely knows, comes from Wayne Gretske (not my teacher, but often quoted by my teacher).

I don't know what else to say except Thank You Marko and thank you all for the generous remarks about my photo.

The encouragement certainly helps.

[kiley9806]

fantastic shot kentw - great choice marko!
and what a great quote to move from hockey to photograghy as well!

[Marko]

I have also included 3 honourable mentions along with the winning photo that i posted on our blog here http://www.photography.ca/blog/?p=230

Thanks everyone!!!!!!
Marko

[Mad Aussie]

I Loved that photo from the start. Never seen a bird of prey in that position before except in a fleeting moment in a video.

Good job Kent!!