Nature's Best Submission for 2010

Note that Nature's Best wants the high-res images in a different format this year, and incorrect information was given in the January Newsletter. The high-res files should be 300 ppi and be the largest file available without up-resing from the original capture.

It's that time of the year again to prepare an entry for the Nature's Best Photography competition in the photography club category. When we win, selected images will appear in Nature's Best Photography Magazine and be displayed in the Smithsonian. It's an exciting way for your images to get worldwide recognition.

To create our submission of twenty (20) images, each club member may submit up to eight (8) images to be considered. Each image must fit into one of the following categories:

African Wildlife
Animal Antics
Art In Nature
Birds
Creative Digital
Endangered Species
Environmental Issues
Landscape
Oceans
People In Nature
Plant Life
Small World Spectaculars
Weather
Wildlife
Zoos & Aquariums

(View more information about the categories in a PDF file on the Nature's Best site.) All photographs must accurately reflect the subject matter as it appeared in the viewfinder. Nothing should be added to an image, and aside from dust spots, nothing should be taken away. Normal processing of RAW image files and minor adjustments to color and contrast are acceptable, as is minimal cropping. EXCEPTIONS: Anything goes in the Creative Digital category! Stitched panoramas may be entered in any category, but they must be identified.

Submit your images on CD or DVD at the February meeting or mail them so they arrive on or before February 10, 2010 to

Russ Burden
2323 E. Chesapeake Lane
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

No images will be accepted after February 10, 2010. Put your first and last name and phone number on each CD or DVD (no stick-on labels), and make sure that the files are readable before you submit them.

Create low-resolution (72 ppi) JPEG files with each image sized to be 1000 pixels on the longest side and in sRGB IEC61966-2.1 color space. Name the files with your first and last name, image title, and the category like JohnDoe_fox_wildlife.jpg, and put all of your low-res files in a single directory/folder called JPEG.

Create high-resolution (300 ppi) uncompressed and unsharpened TIFF files that are the largest available without up-resing from the original capture. The image may be in any color space. Name the file the same as the low-res file (JohnDoe_fox_wildlife), and place the files on the top level of as many CDs or DVDs are required.

If the image was captured digitally in RAW format, include the RAW file named the same as the low-res file (JohnDoe_fox_wildlife). Place all of your RAW files in a single directory/folder called RAW.

If the image was captured on film, supply low-res and high-res digital files as described above. If your image is selected to be part of the club's submission, you will be notified by the end of March and you will be required to provide the original transparency (not a dupe) by the end of April 2010.

All entries will be scored online by the Masters. Then the 50 highest-scoring images, with no more than four (4) images per photographer, will be presented to a group of six (6) final judges. The final judges will first independently score the 50 final images, then they will meet face to face to create the club's submission of 20 images with no more than three (3) images per photographer.

All CDs and DVDs will be destroyed when they are no longer required. Original transparencies will be returned when they are no longer required.

Contact James Hager at 720-219-4248 with any questions.

All images on this site are copyrighted by the photographers and are intended for viewing only. They are not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of the photographer.