I guess I’d better go with the 7D so that my lenses fit! Ha!
Can you believe it? I entered the “Your Best Shot 2011 Photo Contest” that Adoramapix sponsored in March. The Grand Prize was the choice of a Canon 7D or a Nikon D300S. Each contestant was able to enter one photo of any genre. This is the image I entered which I took Feb. 1, 2011:
Competing with over 2200 entries in the contest, my picture made it to the top 12 via facebook votes and was then chosen by a panel of judges as the winning image. Is that cool or what? I’m a real happy camper as this is my first “First Place” win in any photo contest!
There was one other “nature’ photo in the top 12 and the other 10 covered many of the genres in photography. All were quite impressive entries that showed wonderful photographic skills. I never thought my little bird picture would be chosen over these other, much more ‘artistic’ shots! But the judges were apparently open to my bird image because it was taken in the “heat of the moment” and was not staged. My hat is off to the judges for having the guts to consider a photo of this genre as the winning image. What a wonderful surprise when I found out my picture was selected!
My intention here was not to brag about this but instead to share my joy about something that may never happen again for me. I always like hearing about other photographers getting published or winning a contest and so I hope my readers see this in the same light as I do. Thank you eagles for being there when I was there!!
But wait…..there’s more to the story regarding this image. It was brought to my attention by a fellow photographer that there is someone else in this world who likes my eagle image, too! He’s a thief named Antonio Quelhas Olthof who works for Princess Cruise Lines. He liked my photo so much he decided to post it to the Princess Cruise Lines Facebook album, Photos and Videos of Princess Cruises, without asking for or receiving my permission. He also did not mention on the website who took the photo or that he was not the one who took it. Why he thought two eagles in a mating dance was a shot you might see from a cruise liner is beyond me but he is a thief and indirectly, so is Princess Cruise Lines for allowing him to post it on their site. Here’s a screen shot of the illegally posted picture.
You know what would make my day, other than the fact that I won the contest? It would be for you, my readers to go to the link Photos and Videos of Princess Cruises and comment on the photo about how you feel about people stealing photographs from others on the Internet.
EDIT 18APR2012 8:50pm: Friends and family turned out in droves and commented so heavily the photo was removed within about an hour. Princess Cruise Lines says there is nothing they can do about an employee who steals images on his own time. The folder on the cruise line’s website was an open one that anyone could post pictures to. I don’t want to waste anymore of my time or anyone else’s time on this issue. I think the point was made that stealing images and posting them as your own in not the thing to be doing. Thank you everyone who took action on this!
Thank you for your support!
I clicked on the link, but it isn’t working ???
Thank you Sue! Yes, Within about an hour the picture and all the comments against the theft were taken down. I continue to pursue it through email and I may even send snail mail. Thanks for your support!
Oh, and, CONGRATULATIONS. You should enter more contests….you, of course, are an excellent nature photographer.
Thank you Sue for the nice congrats! Very kind of you to say those things.
Happy to say… it looks like the link, and the stolen image, have been taken down. Excellent photo by the way!!
Yes, Scott. They were on to the deluge of comments fairly quickly. They even locked up the cruise line’s FB business page so I can’t post anything. Thanks for your nice comment!
First, CONGRATULATIONS.
Glad to see the offending use of your photo is at least not accessible at the moment. The words “cease and desist” and “photo attorney” come to mind. Some might consider this use a compliment but not me. Keep on ’em.
Thank you, Bruce for the congrats! Yeah we went after them and I think we raised awareness some. This is the first time I’ve actually identified a person that stole a shot. It raised my blood pressure a little! 🙂
Glad the situation with the stolen image was resolved – amazing what people will do.
More importantly, congratulations on a very well deserved win! The image is stunning and gives novice nature photographers like me great inspiration. I was introduced to your blog and your work by a fellow amateur photographer in your part of the country (I’m on the “other” coast, in NJ) and have really enjoyed seeing your images.
Thank you so much, Deborah! It’s good to hear from you and I appreciate the nice words. Thanks, too, for viewing my shots and reading my blog. Tell your friend thank you from me for referring you. I hope my articles help you at least a little! Please come back to visit!