Winner Chosen - September 2013 - Admin's choice - Image of the month

[Marko]

Hi members,

In case you are new around here this is where the Admin (me) chooses one excellent photo each month from all the photos nominated by other members during that month in the Member's monthly choice forum.

Just so it's clear, the photo I choose is not necessarily the best one of the month. I've come to realize it's not really logical to pit images from totally different genres against each other. That's why there are categories in photo contests.

My goal is to simply choose an excellent photo and talk about why I think it rocks. This month was a hard month (again) as the nominations from different genres were of very high quality.

Congrats to Hillbillygirl for capturing this image from Rodeo Action

I chose this image for several reasons:

1 - Decisive moment and gesturing - This captured moment is extremely well timed and the captured gestures are superb. Look at the musculature and the angle and stretched out leg of the horse in mid-maneuver - It's fab. The concentration on the rider is also fab.

2 - Sharpness - The sharpness here is bloody gorgeous and anyone who has tracked moving targets knows it's not easy. A nice fast shutter speed coupled with precise focusing has frozen an intense moment. Even the kicked-up dirt in the air and on the ground is sharp - love it.

3 - Composition - Composition works really well here with the fence of spectators in the background, The Coors barrel/obstacle on the left and the intense gestures of the central main focal points.

4 - Post processing/exposure - I like the fairly realistic processing in this image with good well controlled tones in the sky and good clarity in the faces of the horse and rider.

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month. Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That's cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again to Hillbillygirl for capturing this fabulous moment!

[Jason]

A beautiful shot--well deserved HBG!

[Zukie]

Fantastic shot HBG

[Mad Aussie]

Well done HBG ... excellent action shot.

[Hillbillygirl]

Thank you so very much Marko for such kind compliments. Very surprised, with seeing all the extremely talented individuals on this forum.
I would suck at this, as I would never be able to choose a winner. Every pic posted here is a winner, for one reason or another.

[Runmonty]

Congrats HBG - it is a fab shot.

[Matt K.]

Well deserved, HBG. Awesome shot.

[Yisehaq]

Congrats HBG! This was also my fav pic of the month