Can you help me select 1 image

[missyinmuskoka]

hello all. If you are a camera club member you will understand why choosing a particular photo for a contest is difficult. The judges always look for the more technical elements to deduct marks. Our zoology category the judges are supposed to give more weight to a "story". Could you help me select one of the 4. It is difficult for me, and I usually choose the wrong one because I get too emotional about how long I waited, how hard it was to shoot etc, rather than the feeling it gives to the viewer. Thanks in advance

[Marko]

Shots 3 and 1 are battling it out in the wrestling ring. At this point I do believe shot 3 has the teeniest advantage imo.
All 4 are strong images though.

[Runmonty]

All are stunning but I will go with # 3 as well (particularly for sense of story). No 1 is second for me

[Bambi]

so I'm no help 'cause I like the second one- I love the simplicity, detail and bokeh.

[Jim Scrimger]

All are excellent, but like Bambi I'm probably of little help as I rather like #2 for the reasons Bambi mentioned - plus the look of serene, regalness the little critter displays, I have only a vague idea what is meant by "story" as I suspect is the case with the judges as well. The yellow bird (#1) could be conveying a thought (story) as he has a sort of "...now what the hell will I do with this stuff in my beak" look. Images #3 and #4 do convey the survivor "story" - probably #4 the most. I would guess that an artistically/graphically inclined person would opt for #1 and a scientifically/social worker inclined person would opt for #3 or #4. As to "story", again I guess it depends whether a judge is an interpretive or purely lineal/literal thinker. They rally should be asking you, nicely, to do a workshop on how you capture such good images.

[asnow]

Bird photography is definitely not my forte. I don't have the lens (or patience) for it so I will just choose what looks best to me. My choice is number 1 and then number 2.