DPReview Editors' Challenge results A few weeks ago, we issued a challenge to the DPReview community to show us your best bird photos in honor of World Migratory Bird Day. Over 270 of you submitted images of birds in flight, at home, hunting for dinner and more.
We love seeing your work! Thanks to everyone who submitted. We couldn't call out every image we liked and tried to restrain ourselves to our favorite baker's dozen (in no particular order).
If you don't see your work here today, please don't call fowl on the play. We encourage you to submit for our next challenge.
Also, a quick reminder to keep comments constructive and civil. To be blunt, it's one thing for editors to receive harsh comments, but it's another threshold to be rude to people not on our staff who want to make some images and share their work. Rule #1: Be nice. That's it, there is no rule #2.
Male Snowy Egrets displaying at dawn in the marsh
By: kipsneddon
Caption: Taken just after dawn on 05/15/2024 in the Scarborough Marsh in Scarborough, Maine USA. Image is of two male Snowy Egrets displaying to decide who is dominant.
Nikon Z9 | Nikon Nikkor Z 800mm F6. 3 VR S | 1/800 sec | F6. 3 | ISO 1000
Edits: WB corrected | cropped slightly | sharpened | lens correction
Early summer
By: Xiaomao
Caption: The photo was taken for a Mrs. Gould's sunbird in Kunming, China on May 6.
Sony a1 | Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS | 1/2000 sec | F5 | ISO 4000
Edits: Color: 3852 | Toning: +35 | Exposure: +1. 35 | Contrast: -51 | High light: _35 | Shadow: +66 | White level: +5 | Black level: +39 | Clarity: +7 Etc.
Lunch time
By: djrocks66
Caption: An Osprey catches a fish at a local pond by me. Riverhead, NY.
Nikon Z7 II | Sigma 150-600mm F5-6. 3 DG OS HSM C | 1/3200 sec | F7. 1 | ISO 1250
Edits: No details shared
Bittern
By: Tim Munsey
Caption: A bittern climbs high on the reeds before take off.
Sony a9 III | Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS | 1/5000 sec | F4 | ISO 800
Edits: Processed with DXO PureRaw 4, finished in Photoshop cc 2024 with the aid of DXO Nik Color Efex. No more details shared.
Tern emerging from a dive
By: slowsync
Caption: A fishing Tern emerging from a dive with fish.
OM System OM-1 Mark II | Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4. 5 TC 1. 25x IS PRO | 1/4000 sec | F5. 6 | ISO 500
Edits: Developed in DXO PL7, crop, slight curves adjustment, slight vibrancy, NR default settings.
Winging together in the showers of love
By: Ritam Melgunov
Caption: The tufted duck couple winging together through the splashes of water. The White lake, Gatchina, surroundings of St-Petersburg, Russia.
Canon EOS R7 | Canon RF100-400mm F5. 6-8 IS USM | 1/2500 sec | F8 | ISO 1250
Edits: dodging-burning, sharpening, adding a vignette, cropping
Yellow Warbler sings
By: Geoffrey S Baker
Caption: Yellow Warbler sings at Susquehanna State Park in Maryland.
Nikon Z8 | Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm F5. 6E PF ED VR | 1/32000 sec | F7. 1 | ISO 6400
Edits: Crop, denoise, sharpen, color, contrast, dodge and burn
Baltimore Oriole in flight
By: Geoffrey S Baker
Caption: Baltimore Oriole at Susquehanna State Park in Maryland.
Nikon Z8 | Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm F5. 6E PF ED VR | 1/26000 sec | F7. 1 | ISO 6400
Edits: Crop, denoise, sharpen, color, contrast, dodge and burn
You can shout all you want
By: macropaul
Caption: Sibling calling for food late afternoon.
Sony a1 | Sigma 500mm F5. 6 DG DN OS Sports | 1/4000 sec | F5. 6 | ISO 1600
Edits: None shared
A painting of flight
By: Ritam Melgunov
Caption: A seagull captured at longer exposure. The White lake, Gatchina, Leningrad region, Russia.
Canon EOS R7 | Canon RF100-400mm F5. 6-8 IS USM | 1/15 sec | F18 | ISO 100
Edits: Sharpening and crop
Cricket anyone?
By: Sujiar
Caption: A Nuttalls Woodpecker bringing some juicy crickets to its offspring. Last year a Downy Woodpecker had the residence!
OM System OM-1 | Olympus M. Zuiko Digital 300mm F4 IS Pro | 1/800 sec | F5. 6 | ISO 1250
Edits: Adjusted the heavy green cast from the spring foliage, dodging and burning, crop
FC Sunrise
By: hapster
Caption: Courting Canada Geese as the Sun rises on a foggy morning at French Creek State Park.
Sony a99 II | Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2. 8 Di VC USD| 1/320 sec | F6. 3 | ISO 200
Edits: Shot in RAW. Editing was basic, exposure, contrast, cropping.
Untitled
By: surfnbird
Caption: Great Horned Owlets. 5pm, May 8, 2024, in a large pine tree, Encinitas, Ca.
Canon EOS R5 | Canon RF 100-500mm F4. 5-7. 1L IS USM | 1/640 sec | F5. 6 | ISO 1250
Edits: Cropped | adjustments to Exposure, Contrast, Noise, Highlights, Shadows, Whites, Blacks, Texture, Clarity, Vibrance, Saturation
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who participated. Seriously, how amazing is it to see our fellow DPReview reader's work? To see all the entries for yourself and vote for your favorites, head over to the challenge now. The complete shooting specs and gear used for each photo in the challenge platform can also be found in the challenges gallery.
If you couldn't participate in this editors' challenge, keep an eye out for our next one. We'll be doing more during the year as we celebrate 25 years of DPReview. Speaking of which, do you have a suggestion for an Editors' challenge? In the comments, let us know what to do for our next one.
. dpreview.com2024-5-23 12:00