24
2 nd
4 th
2 Bruce Deacon UK29pts
Canon EOS 50D, 100-400mm at 285mm,
1/30sec at f/8, ISO 500
Using a slow shutter speed here has created
a beautiful effect that works perfectly with
the subject. Keeping just enough sharpness
to show the shapes and colours of the beaks
means the viewer can interpret what’s going
on, while also creating a fantastic sense
of movement. Having the bird to the
left completely sharp also helps with the
framing of the overall image, while the
black background means there are no
irritating details to distract the viewer.
4 Flavio Tosti Italy27pts
Nikon D300, 105mm macro, 1/200sec at f/45, ISO 200
No, it’s not a snake. It’s a Papilio memnon
caterpillar. Native to southern Asia, it has an
extraordinary talent for making itself appear
like a snake when it’s threatened. While
setting up his camera, Flavio accidentally
knocked the leaf this caterpillar was on, and
it immediately assumed this position. Despite
working very quickly, Flavio has managed
to achieve a very exacting focus, while the
depth of field means the creature’s body
fades into softness perfectly. The intensity
of the green is mesmerising, too.
A P OY 2019