Field and Forest Nature Photo Contest

Photographer's Comments

First Place - Terry Cervi

Photograph: Leaf Under Ice
Date taken: Oct. 9, 2001
Location: Kenmore, New York, USA
Equipment used: Nikon CP990

Comments: I found the leaf resting under a film of ice which had formed on a backyard birdbath. I especially enjoy macro photography. It reveals sights we might not otherwise enjoy, for example, the texture of the ice sheet in this photo.

Second Place - Don Wilson

Photograph: Yankee Boy Basin Falls
Date taken: August, 2001
Location: Southwestern Colorado, USA
Equipment used: Nikon F5, 17-35afs lens with Fuji Velvia film at f16 1/15sec.

Comments: The Yankee Boy Basin in Colorado is oft photographed in the summer wildflower season, but it is also beautiful in it's fall clothes as well. As for me, I'm a youngster in my second half-century. I spent the first half century thinking I was just a "guy" with no artistic talent at all, no sense of color or style. Maybe I was wrong? Exploring this question is a great joy for me now.

(Editor's Note: You were obviously wrong. Your other entries were quite beautiful too. Congrats.)

Third Place - Jay O'Brien

Photograph: Tree and Sunrise
Date taken: Fall, 2001
Location: Valley Forge Park, PA, USA
Equipment used: Nikon F5, Nikon 28-200 lens at f22, Fuji Provia F100 film, Bogen tripod and head.

Comments: I had envisioned this image as I visited Valley Forge Park, PA. for four or five Sunday mornings. I noticed where the sun was coming up each Sunday, and made sure to be there when it would come up behind the tree. I made several images from different angles, and had to watch out for lens flare.

Honorable Mention - Catherine Boineau

Photograph: Winter Sunrise
Date taken: January 2001
Location: Poconos, PA, USA
Equipment used: Canon Rebel, 75-300 mm lens, tripod.

Comments: I have a combined passion for travel, nature, wildlife and landscape that moved me all around the world in search for beautiful places and great wildlife. I have been "recording" this passion with photography for more than 15 years. Very recently I have decided to send my best shots to stock agencies and I hope to start my own business soon. It will be a "dream come true", working for my passion. (please, excuse my English, I am French)

Honorable Mention - Victor Steel

Photograph: Elephant at Ngorongoro Crater
Date taken: June, 2001
Location: Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, Africa
Equipment used: Canon EOS D30 with 28-200mm Canon lens set to 35mm. 1/250 sec at f5.6. Beanbag support on roof opening.

Comments: We were heading back to camp after a long day photographing game in the fantastic Ngorongoro Crater when we stopped at a campground area on the crater's rim. A small herd of zebra and two male elephants were peacefully grazing. After taking several close-up portraits of both the elephants and zebra, I switched to a wide-angle lens and shot this image of the elephant under an Acacia tree. It embodies the essence of Africa.

Honorable Mention - Mike Marcotte

Photograph: Gull at Manistee
Date taken:October 2000
Location: Manistee, Michigan, USA
Equipment used: Canon AE-1 with a 75-300mm zoom

Comments: It was taken early in the A.M.just about sun rise overlooking Manistee Bay. Due to the slow lens I usually use 400 ISO film.

First Place	Second Place	Third Place
Click on a place to read the judge's specific comments regarding our first, second and third place winners. The full text of the judge's comments can be found at the bottom of this page.