- Messages
- 41,711
- Name
- 'Gramps'
- Edit My Images
- No
That's probably where the "staging" comes in!And if that IS a harvest mouse, what's it doing in the middle of an apple on a bed of moss?
That's probably where the "staging" comes in!And if that IS a harvest mouse, what's it doing in the middle of an apple on a bed of moss?
Whilst I can see it’s a pain to do all of that I don’t think we can say they aren’t thorough with their research into eligibility once selected. I’ve heard other competitions do the same things like ask for the original RAW or JPEGs either side to check there isn't any photoshop trickery going on.I’m surprised winner was allowed through to the end, if only from personal experience.
I entered a few years back, the first time I’d sent any pic in to a competition. Very pleased to be told initially that I’d made the shortlist and then ultimately got chosen to be in the calendar. Yay.
However, between those two stages it was like a grilling from the Bristol Mafia over a period of several weeks. How did I take the picture, where, when, what gear? Had I entered it into any other competition?
I had to send in an electronic copy (they wanted prints for original competition), plus frames either side of the one I sent. Got asked to explain why the colours on their computer screen image were a little different from the print? They then obviously did an internet trawl and asked why my picture was being used in Russia?! (I assume it had been nicked off Flickr). I then had to agree to not use the pic anywhere else for 12 months and BBC Radio Cambridge had to get permission for a radio interview with me and a country ranger type fella for a bit of PR.
Didn’t bother again after that.
That's probably where the "staging" comes in!
Ath oppothed to Thuthics?...because - ethics.
They class a professional as anyone who earns more than half of their income from photography. There are plenty of 'semi pros' (either with a full time job or retired with pension) in the same position.I thought the comp was only open to amateurs yet the winner appears to be a professional photographer with website & separate FB page for her business. The guy who runs the studio sessions for the mice has taken some flak too.
Congratulations - realise it wasn't this year! A friend of mine has just been through exactly the same. He didn't get into the calendar, though I believe his photo will be displayed with others on the cover or something. He still got the grillingI’m surprised winner was allowed through to the end, if only from personal experience.
I entered a few years back, the first time I’d sent any pic in to a competition. Very pleased to be told initially that I’d made the shortlist and then ultimately got chosen to be in the calendar. Yay.
However, between those two stages it was like a grilling from the Bristol Mafia over a period of several weeks. How did I take the picture, where, when, what gear? Had I entered it into any other competition?
I had to send in an electronic copy (they wanted prints for original competition), plus frames either side of the one I sent. Got asked to explain why the colours on their computer screen image were a little different from the print? They then obviously did an internet trawl and asked why my picture was being used in Russia?! (I assume it had been nicked off Flickr). I then had to agree to not use the pic anywhere else for 12 months and BBC Radio Cambridge had to get permission for a radio interview with me and a country ranger type fella for a bit of PR.
Didn’t bother again after that.
Let's face it's, these sweet, twee images that get viewers (especially women) going, 'Aw, so cute!' is what sells the calendars...probably part of the reason for the mouse being the winner and therefore on the front of the calendar...
Farm animals are allowed, but photos of pets and zoo animals are not eligible. Images of UK wildlife in captivity must be declared as such. The BBC’s decision as to the eligibility of individual photographs will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Spot on...I think that they will either need to change the rules for future competitions, or accept that there will be an increase of people capturing wildlife in order to take photos of them in artificial environments given that those sort of images seem more likely to be successful.
That’s pretty much my thought on it too. I doubt the majority of Countryfile calendar buyers will give two hoots about how the photo was taken, or about photography whatsoever. They just want a nice picture on their calendar each month. Given the calendar aids charity, I can understand fully the effort to maximise the market for it in this way.
From an entrants point of view though, it’s a somewhat disingenuous state of affairs, I think.
The relevant section of the competition T&Cs reads:
When do captive animals cease to be captive and become pets? What is the difference between a captive animal in someone’s home as opposed to in a zoo? Were the mice released back into the wild after the photo was taken? Given that the person still had them in their artificial habitat in order to demonstrate the shot to John Craven, I suspect not (although I suppose these could be a fresh bunch of captives). Also, what are the ethics of capturing wild animals to be used in this way?
I think that they will either need to change the rules for future competitions, or accept that there will be an increase of people capturing wildlife in order to take photos of them in artificial environments given that those sort of images seem more likely to be successful.
Spot on...
Congratulations - realise it wasn't this year! A friend of mine has just been through exactly the same. He didn't get into the calendar, though I believe his photo will be displayed with others on the cover or something. He still got the grilling
If they are captive animals IMO there must be a declaration in regard to whether the pictures were taken at a licensed 'premises' such as run by Dean Mason of Window on Wildlife. NB AFAIK he in common with some other but not necessarily all of them licensed providers have captive bred harvest mice.
The same professional Dean Mason that won it a couple of years ago with the water vole, not exactly an amatuer
I've read the T&C's and I can't find one that isn't subjective and enough of an eligibility issue.Absolute farce and a shambles from Countryfile that they would even consider allowing the mouse photo to be the winner. Against the T&C's no less! Kick in the stomach to proper wildlife tog's who get up at 4-5am and spend all day knackered searching for 'the shot'
They even have a piece here https://www.countryfile.com/country...lendar/countryfile-calendar-competition-2020/
With John Craven doing his "mouse whispering" bit in the reprise of the studio situation.
As I had mentioned on a previous post, I don't previously recall such captive 'wildlife' being permitted?
I've found the rules from 2009 and they are nearly identical to the current rules. I've not been able to find rules prior to 2009.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/features/countryfile/competitionrules.shtml
There is a chance they could have changed it and then removed it within those 10 years.I stand corrected if that is the case..................because I was thinking more recently than 2009???
This is the nub of it for me. It's not a scene likely to be found in the wild. What's the mouse doing? Looking cute for the cameras.And if that IS a harvest mouse, what's it doing in the middle of an apple on a bed of moss?
Don't be too judgemental! She was young... and she needed the sunflower seeds!What's the mouse doing? Looking cute for the cameras.