I have been looking forward to the ninth edition of Bird Photographer of the Year, as have many of you I suspect, birder and photographer alike.
Let me point out right away, lest I forget, that a portion of the profits from the book goes to Birds on the Brink, a charity that supports bird conservation around the world. Not only will you derive great pleasure from the book, you will equally experience that warm glow of satisfaction knowing that you are helping nature rebound a little.
Tens of thousands of pictures are submitted each year, and it falls to a panel of distinguished judges to declare the winners in various categories. The wisdom of Solomon pales by comparison!
If there is a common denominator in all of this, it is that expensive, sophisticated equipment is a prerequisite to success. You will not find images snapped with your smartphone here!
The photographer provides a brief synopsis of the conditions under which the picture was taken, and his or her approach to capturing the image before you. The judges then offer their reaction to the picture and the reasons for their selection.
There is a good deal of subjectivity involved, of course, but that's inescapable in a contest of this nature. One has to wonder - if the winner is a perfect 10 - how many pictures were worthy of 9.99999? The selection at times must be that close.
It's great that you can be an armchair judge at home and impose your own discriminating choice on the selections of the judges. For example, I find the very dramatic image of dead birds killed by collisions with buildings in Toronto, staggering in its impact, yet far from earning my imprimatur as Gold Award Winner of the Year.
But I am not a judge!
The constant throughout is that one is treated to photography as an art form, not simply a means of recording reality. The skill of the artist (aka photographer), combined with intimate knowledge of the equipment, the willingness to devote the hours involved to finding the subject, and understanding it well, and the vision of what the end result might be, all combine to present the magnificent image you have in front of you.
No doubt the final editing process on the computer plays its part too.
On a personal note, I was overjoyed to see that my young friend, Matthew Kwan, from Hong Kong, was one of the artists; his picture of a Ural Owl entitled Midwinter Nap was commended.
The book is remarkable in so many ways. If it helps to reinforce the value of nature, and to marshall the collective resolve of people of good will determined to save it, it will have done its job.
Bird Photographer of the Year - Princeton University Press
Hardcover - $35.00 USD - ISBN: 9780691263595
256 pages - 11.25 x 9 inches (28.125 x 22.5 cm)
Publication date: 24 September, 2024
I'm sure it's a great book, David. It's probably on your bookshelf already! It's almost only the imagination that sets the limits to what fantastic photos can be taken. The technology is absolutely incredible today.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
Hello. There are certainly some wonderful and thought-provoking photographs in that book.
ReplyDeleteThe book looks wonderful, I am sure all the photos are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI am not crazy over the photo of the dead birds, it is a sad sight.
Happy Sunday, have a wonderful week!
I agree with you, but it does very graphically illustrate what happens in major cities across the continent every night during migration. The death toll is staggering.
DeleteIt looks like a very interesting book and I'd enjoy seeing all the photos. Congratulations to your friend :-D
ReplyDeleteAnother question would have been useful. I saw an exhibition with animals from Africa and the mention of how many photos each coach took of a certain animal - lion, elephant, monkey, etc. Some had over 50,000 images, from which they chose one, and others had several hundred thousand photos of the same animal! ps - the man on the street takes pets to recycling.
ReplyDeleteSounds really wonderful...that cover alone would have got me to buy the book :-)) So much better than AI generated...
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteA delicious edition which, as you say, appeals to the artist as much as the birder! YAM xx
First I've ever heard of such a book. Do you ever enter any of your photos?
ReplyDeleteNo, this is a whole class above anything we achieve, and we are not competitive photographers anyway.
DeleteThe perfect book for birders !
ReplyDeleteYou should do one David...
Have a nice week !
Anna
Such a beautiful book. I find the pink winter image especially attractive. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to know also about the structure of the book. The judges' work must be really hard. Personally, I sometimes find the winning photos even too artistic. Technically they are amazing.
That is a book that I MUST have, thanks for introducing it here! Hugs, Valerie xxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDelete...art with a camera.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a beautiful book. So sad about the dead birds during migration, though.
ReplyDeleteGracias por todo lo que compartes aquí y a la vez aprendemos algo más de las aves. Felicidades a Matthew Kwan por su cuadro del buho.
ReplyDeleteOs deseo un buen domingo amigos.
Un abrazo.
Such beautiful photos. Care, patience, skill, luck and artistry combine to create these.
ReplyDeleteEl saber no ocupa lugar y no hay nada más que hacer que leer ese libro, para estar informado del mundo de las aves.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
El saber no cupa lugar. Nada mejor que leer ese libro, para estar informado sobre el mundo de las aves.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
Wow David. Just the photos you shared are amazing. I love the variety of types of photos you shared and as someone who tries to take bird photos, it's hard to get a good picture. Have you ever entered either yours or Miriam's photos? Happy new week. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteOur pictures are not of this standard, Erika, and we are not competitive anyway. But thanks for even thinking that they might be worthy. 😁
DeleteOh my. Oh my, oh my. I do not envy the judges and am very sure I would spend hours poring over this book.
ReplyDeleteI know from experience as a judge in the wood carving championships it is not easy, Sue.
DeleteA book of beautiful bird photos and how they were taken sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to hear that some of the proceeds go to Birds on the Brink. A lovely collection of artwork.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a wonderful book. Kudos to Matthew. How exciting. Have a grand one.
ReplyDeleteLooks and sounds a very good book and that's so good that a portion of the profits from the book goes to Birds on the Brink.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I guess this could be considered a sport of the rich. It would think it takes a considerable amount of money, time, patience, and endurance to create a photo for competition or money, and I find it interesting what the best ones are. I'm sure it is a thought provoking look at birds through the eyes of an artist. Often people want to live in a fantasy world of nothing dies or is killed. I think it all belongs. It is the real part of life.
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful book David.
ReplyDeleteThe photos are great especially the ones on the front.
Greetings Irma
How wonderful to be chosen to have photo in that book - well done to your friend.
ReplyDeleteLooks as if it would be interesting also.
If you want to see a generous selection of images (around 60 shots plus some videos) then try here:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.birdpoty.com/2024-winners
where you can also buy the book.
I suppose you can only judge a photo by deciding whether it achieves what the photographer set out to achieve. I was particularly impressed by the level of expertise exhibited by the youngest photographers.
Thanks for the link, John. I will go and check it out.
Deletethe cover photo is awesome, a book I would love to browse just for the photos. agree 100 percent it takes expensive cameras and someone with serious skills to use them, to get these type photos. cell phones in no way compare to REAL cameras. I just saw the headlines of Cuba's power grid that has collasped as Oscar is slamming them Like Milton did us. prayers for your friends there.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for your good wishes for Cuba, Sandra. It is especially appreciated given what you are going through yourself.
DeleteNo wonder you were waiting for it.
ReplyDeleteWhat you say about teams is reality. To reach these levels, no matter how good you are, you must have the best equipment.
Enjoy it
Un abrazo
Wow! This is definitely a book to look forward to each year! Magnificent!
ReplyDeletePhotography is indeed an art form and "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". I'm sure there are all kinds of standards and guidelines in judging photography ..judging being subjective as it often is...A difficult job for sure..I have seen an occasional fantastic photograph taken with an IPhone...and I'll just bet that Miriam has several taken with her lowly Canon. Competitions should not require (I think most do) one to tell with what kind of camera the photo was taken..or the conditions, etc until winners have been chosen....although interesting it think these facts may tend to sway the results.. Did you climb an Icy mountain for a week or take it sitting in an easy chair in your living room ? Shouldn't matter..I think most do!! Love the cover photo!! Sounds like an interesting visual experience..Sorry, seems like I went off on a tangent. xxoo
ReplyDeleteHello Professor David, how r u!
ReplyDeleteI love the quality of this book, wow, it´s very impressive, behind each image i can feel the passion of the photographers. It is a beautiful publication, inspires me.
A kiss and happy next week! Saludos!
There really are some remarkable pictures in this book. I think we may well be living a golden age of photography. Hope all is well. Stewart M - Melbourne
ReplyDeleteTo get great photos you need expensive equipment with great capabilities, you are right David. It is nice to look at great photos in a book and especially some photos of a photographer you know.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read about outstanding photos of wildlife I am always impressed by the patience of the photographer — not simply by the equipment. Often, the photographer has a long wait for a shot that has just the right lighting, background, lack of distressing extra foliage, time of year for best plumage, and so many other concerns.
ReplyDeletebest, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Beautiful. What a great book and what a great photographer.
ReplyDeleteI know you review a lot of books, David, and while most are above my interest, this was not one of those. While I have never been as avid a bird photographer as yourself, Miriam and others, I have always appreciated the wonderful images captured by others and seen some of the equipment mentioned. It definitely requires expense, talent, and patience. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that this one captured your interest, Beatrice. There are lots of reviews coming in the next little while. Perhaps something else will garner your approval, or perhaps at the very least you’ll derive pleasure from the review itself. I can only hope!
DeleteNo veo mi comentario anterior. Besos.
ReplyDeleteHi David - extraordinary patience photographers need - let alone all the other contributing knowledge ... amazing - cheers Hilary
ReplyDelete