I have to echo George's concern over the one-photograph-per-CD rule. Saying
nothing of the expense and effort, that rule flies in the face of our
environmental responsibilities. Every photo contest I enter uses low
resolution thumbnail jpgs for the first judging pass then, those that have
potential, are requested with more resolution.

Have the judges considered the amount of CDs they'll receive and time they
will expend opening/transferring one image per CD when judging the contest?
I agree with George. These contest rules are impractical from all
standpoints and I respectfully ask the committee to reconsider.

Dean Newman
California, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of George M. Jett
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 5:27 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] MOS Breeding Bird Atlas Photo Contest

Folks/Karen

I have a couple problems with the rules for this photo contest that some may

not have consider.  You can submit only one photograph for a species.  "Each

contestant may enter only one photograph per breeding bird."  What will they

do about the Eastern Towhee?  Males and females don't look the same.  Hatch 
year birds are also very different.  That way MOS will need three 
photographers to submit one of each plumage.  If I have a very good 
photograph of all three plumages (which I do), only one is permitted.  How 
many people have good photographs of hatch year birds?

My second concern is I have most of the 209 breeding species photographed, 
and in many plumages.  I don't plan to buy say 200 CDs to be considered at 
one per species.  Should I submit the male or female Black-throated Blue 
Warbler?  I have excellent images of both, but if I follow the rules the 
judges will not see one of them.  In the case where a number of Maryland 
photographers have large portion of these 209 species, there should be the 
options of submitting small jpg files on say one CD (the environmental 
responsible way) of the candidate species.  The judges should have adequate 
eye sight to determine from a jpg file the best of the lot.  Any selected 
could then be put on the one CD requirement.

The committee making these rules should reconsider that rule since no 
photographer will get any money from this effort.  At 50 cents per CD 
submission it could cost me $100 to enter my stuff.  Will I get a $100 
deduction on my income tax?  How many extra hours would it take me to 
process the 100 CDs at one species per v one jpg CD?

I would like to hear from someone on the committee to see if options like 
submitting jpgs is an option.  I want to help the project.  So far I 
collected 76 percent of the Charles data.  Now I am being asked to spend 
more money and time when it is probably not necessary to get the best 
collection from participants.  The MOS committee will also have a wider 
selection to choose from if they relax the rules, and the published book 
will be an ever better success.

I stopped reading after my second concern.  Others may have more.  I want to

help the project but lets make is more user and environmentally friendly 
please.

George

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Norm Saunders" <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 11:53 AM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] MOS Breeding Bird Atlas Photo Contest


> MD-DC Breeding
> Bird Atlas Photo Contest
>
> The Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) announces a photo contest
> for pictures of the breeding birds of Maryland and the District of
> Columbia for the new 2002 - 2006 Atlas.  The previous Atlas,
> published in 1996, had line drawings of the birds.  The new Atlas,
> to be published by the Johns Hopkins University Press, will have a
> color photograph of each breeding bird.  The winning photographs
> will carry a credit line in the Atlas.
>
> Contest Rules:
> Each contestant may enter only one photograph per breeding bird.
> There are approximately 209 breeding birds in MD/DC so there is
> ample opportunity to submit multiple photographs. You can get a list
> of the breeding birds in the Field List of the Birds of MD (Yellow
> Book) 1996, or by accessing the summary data at the USGS Patuxent
> web page through the MOS Breeding Bird Atlas Website link.   Winners
> will be selected on the basis of originality, technical execution
> and their potential for helping readers gain an appreciation of the
> spirit of the bird.  All birds photographed for this contest must be
> (or have been) alive and living in the wild in Maryland.
>
> Who is eligible?
> The contest is open to all Maryland and DC residents and to members
> of the Maryland Ornithological Society.  A panel of editors will
> choose the winners.  However, in the event there is a tie for any
> given bird, preference will be given to a photographer who is a
> member of the Maryland Ornithological Society.
>
> When to submit. The deadline is January 31, 2008.
>
> Use of Images.  By entering a photograph in the contest you grant
> MOS and Johns Hopkins University Press (JHUP) the right to use and
> publish your photos in the Atlas without compensation.  You also
> grant MOS and JHUP the right to use and publish your legal name
> online and in print, or any other media, in connection with the
> contest and agree that any image submitted may be used by the MOS
> and JHUP for marketing and promotional purposes, including any media
> such as exhibitions, print and digital media directly related to the
> Atlas without compensation.
>
> How to submit.  All photographs must be submitted in high resolution
> digital format - 300 dpi JPEG format, no smaller than 5" x 7."
> Digital files must be submitted on compact disc, one image per CD.
> The disc itself must be clearly marked only with the species of
> bird.  No signature, stamp, date, or any other identifying mark is
> allowed anywhere on the photograph.  A separate completed entry
> document (on sheet of paper or card) stating: the name of the
> photographer, email address, mailing address, phone number, location
> of image, date of photograph, description (5 - 10 words), and
> equipment used must accompany each disc.  MOS will not return CDs.
> Address all questions and entries to: Karen Morley, 2719 N. Calvert
> St., Baltimore, MD 21218     410 235-4001
>
>