There were so many insect images of varying quality but the real difficulty came when I had a dozen or so to decide on and which ones made the Top Ten.
However I could not have this stunning capture of a Fruit Fly finish anywhere other than in the top Three. There is much to commend the photographer for with this image.
Great colours that are plain, sharp and vibrant with some wonderful textures in the leaf in the foreground. The fly is razor sharp and perfectly focused. It's simply an outstanding image that immediately catches your attention and thankfully it has enough quality to hold the viewer in for some time.
Amazing capture. Congratulations to the photographer.
Firstly may I say what an incredibly difficult decision it was having to whittle down so many stunning images with such a varied range of subjects, to just ten and ultimately just one for the winner but here it is.
Why did I select this image from the 1200+?
Well, I am a full time landscape photographer who is constantly found seeking out the most evocative light and wonderful colours not to mention strong subjects and this capture has all of those qualities and more.
The main thing that drew me into the image was the beautiful warm early morning orange light that surrounds perfectly the butterfly and grass. That light allows the butterfly to become semi-translucent with some gorgeous detail being shown on the wings.
The bokeh is just devine too, circular in shape without being too distracting and the overall tone and light is superb. The image appears in focus and sharp too.
Overall a truly fantastic image and to my mind, wins by a hair's breath such was the competition. Congratulations to the winner, whoever they may be.
Why give this image third place? Well, firstly it is so refreshing to see these fine creatures capture from a different angle for a start. This has the image stand out in the first instance but the composition to include enough of the foliage in the background at a lovely drop off in focus without being harsh in light and colour is a big plus point for me.
The Leopard is pin sharp on the whiskers too. Overall a stunning capture of a fabulous creature. Congratulations to the photographer for capturing it so well.
Brief
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***This contest is open to subscribers (members on the Challenger, Pro and Master subscription tiers). However if you're not a paying subscriber you can still purchase entries for £2 (GBP) per image.*** From flowers and foliage to colourful birds and insects; nature and its many trappings present a number of colourful and creative uses of bokeh photography - a technique that creates an out of focus area within an image. Different lenses and cameras can create bokeh in different ways, but the goal should be a smooth and soft background blur. Good luck.
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1,216 Images entered
513 Photographers
35,582 Ratings
