The New Photo Contest: Behavior!

[Jonathan Bird]

Hi Everyone,
With the "editor's choice" photo contest now over, it's time for the next one: Animal Behavior!

This contest is going to be open only to images that depict animal behavior and it will be judged not only on photography, but the behavior itself. Macro or wide angle makes no difference....just behavior! (Feeding, mating, fighting....whatever!) No divers...just critters.

All submissions should be placed in this thread. Submissions will be open for a month or so, then we will narrow the finalists to five and have 2 weeks of voting for the winner.

The prize is to be included in our Hall of Fame (http://www.uwphotochat.com/photo_winners.htm), as well as a little something else, stand by... :D

Jonathan

[Jonathan Bird]

Ikelite has just offered to supply the winner of this contest with a brand spankin' new PC lite (http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/3pc_lite.html). Thanks Ikelite!! Let the submissions begin!

Jonathan

[tarczy]

Since the judges pick a group from all images submitted, and then the members vote for their one favorite, may I suggest that we be allowed to enter more than one photo.

Here's mah entry . . .


http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i284/mongo255/Raja%20Ampat%202008/_MG_96221--2008-Tarczynski.jpg

[Papa Bear]

You might have seen it before, but it is very unique behavior of a Trumpet fish eating the mantel of a Flamingo Tongue:

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/600_P9010252-Trumpetfish_Eating_Flamingo_Tongue_BA3_04.jpg

[Jonathan Bird]

Multiple entries are OK, but keep it reasonable! ;)

Mark, what is that behavior? Yawning at you? :D

Papa, all I see is a trumpetfish looking inconspicuous. ;) "When asked about the damage to the mantle of the flamingo tongue, the fish had no comment." :D

Jonathan

[tarczy]

Multiple entries are OK, but keep it reasonable! ;)

Mark, what is that behavior? Yawning at you? :D

Jonathan


Ha ha!!

Trust me, I felt like yawning too after spending 14 days, doing five dives a day, in all that muck and garbage that makes up Lembeh! :rolleyes:

[sorvju-f]

Ha ha!!

Trust me, I felt like yawning too after spending 14 days, doing five dives a day, in all that muck and garbage that makes up Lembeh! :rolleyes:

Here is my entry from muck and garbage! Mark be happy I was opposite and actually had only one whole day diving there due to delayed flights and I stayed missing some more dives there...

My entry..."these are mine, stay away"!

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/2008+Lembeh/Mine+800.jpg/full

Jukka

[Papa Bear]

Papa, all I see is a trumpetfish looking inconspicuous. "When asked about the damage to the mantle of the flamingo tongue, the fish had no comment." :D

Jonathan

Except I busted him in the act and all he could do is play Coral and ask for a Lawyer! :eek: :p

[Papa Bear]

The behavior here is being caught in the middle of the Cronoid you live in! A Cronoid Cling fish and a shrimp left in the open with a well placed tickle to the host!

http://twotankedproductions.com/images/320__MG_5675_Cronoid_fish_FAIII_Fiji_07.jpg

[allison finch]

This decorator crab decided that he needed a "BAD HAT". He had a major attitude and, believe me, the fire urchin was none too happy about it all.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1251/1363152968_87106b69ef_o.jpg

This mimic octopus was sizing us up in Lembeh...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2083597181_518aef2c5a_o.jpg

But when he went to make his escape....he pretended to be a banded sole and swam away.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1143/1269813354_8760589cce_o.jpg

The "behavior" shot is the octo swimming away. The first octo shot is simply to show the critter as he usually is.

[Jonathan Bird]

Mimics are so cool. :cool:

[sorvju-f]

Eggs everywhere...

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/2008+Bunaken/In+%26+out.jpg/full

Jukka

[Jonathan Bird]

Jukka,
Hint hint...one of the best behavior pics I have seen so far on this site is your shot of the turtle feeding.....:cool:

Jonathan

[sorvju-f]

Jukka,
Hint hint...one of the best behavior pics I have seen so far on this site is your shot of the turtle feeding.....:cool:

Jonathan

Thanks Jonathan, but it was already in last contest and I just feel good to have something new in the game:D

Jukka

OK, thinking...after a while I cropped the pic to get something new to it so its my third candidate ( and last )

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/Egypt+2007/Turtle+eartng+cropped+800.jpg/full

Jukka

[Sharp]

This pike is the king of the lake where we were diving. It tried to stay in his place as long as possible before divers came too close him.

I was very happy of the shot, because the pike is extreampy difficult to shoot in our lakes. Normaly in dark waters it´s very difficult to see the pike, and when you see it, it´s normaly miles away from you when you get you camera ready. Clear waters pikes let you dive closer.

Picture is called Eye contact.

http://pasilensu.com/kuvagalleriat/Pasi%20Lensun%20VA%20SM%20kuvat%202007/slides/Sarja%20B%20-%20kotimaa.%20Silmasta%20silmaan.jpg

[Jonathan Bird]

Pasi,
That is a great shot! I'm not sure what the behavior is, but I have never seen such a cool shot of a pike before!

Jonathan

[Daniel]

Pasi,
That is a great shot! I'm not sure what the behavior is, but I have never seen such a cool shot of a pike before!

Jonathan

Fish and human communication, a rare site indeed. ;):p:D

Daniel

[solisti]

Defending its territory from evil bubblemakers!

[Jonathan Bird]

I have in my possession a beautiful, brand spankin' new yellow Ikelite PC Lite (http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/3pc_lite.html) courtesy of our sponsors for the winner of this contest. ONLY BEHAVIOR SHOTS!

Jonathan

[Ken Hawk]

I am struggling with this one, don't think I have anything, not even a bad one
:(

Ken

[Ken Hawk]

I have found one that may fit the theme, not the best pic ever but, one has to try :D

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/Moray--cleaner-shrimp-Resize.jpg

Thanks Ken

[Papa Bear]

Tiger Grouper at a cleaning station they will even change color while being cleaned!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/600_IMG_3627_Cleaning_Station_T_C_A_07.jpg

[sorvju-f]

I have found one that may fit the theme, not the best pic ever but, one has to try :D

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/Moray--cleaner-shrimp-Resize.jpg

Thanks Ken

Looks like schimp is giving good massage...the face of moray is showing smile of enjoy:D

[dbh]

Can I do 2 as 1?? Wasn't sure which liked the best.....so I'll post them both. If this isn't legal I will delete one.....as long as someone tells me which to keep.

http://www.myunderwaterworld.com/Bon06%20Arrow%2003.jpg

http://www.myunderwaterworld.com/Bon06%20Arrow%2002.jpg

[Jonathan Bird]

You can keep them both. WOW!

[sorvju-f]

[QUOTE=dbh;5317]Can I do 2 as 1?? Wasn't sure which liked the best.....so I'll post them both. If this isn't legal I will delete one.....as long as someone tells me which to keep.
QUOTE]

I feel that the lower one is more clear and better composition...its looking great when there is really action inside the picture:eek:

Jukka

[Papa Bear]

[QUOTE=dbh;5317]Can I do 2 as 1?? Wasn't sure which liked the best.....so I'll post them both. If this isn't legal I will delete one.....as long as someone tells me which to keep.
QUOTE]

I feel that the lower one is more clear and better composition...its looking great when there is really action inside the picture:eek:

Jukka

I agree! The thing that helps for me is the distinctive nose being shown more...;)

[allison finch]

I thought we were only allowed two entries? Are we allowed more?

[alcina]

What's the end date of this one?

[Jonathan Bird]

I thought we were only allowed two entries? Are we allowed more?

Somewhere in the thread we said "a reasonable number" but didn't define it! So I would say more than 2 and less than 10!

[Jonathan Bird]

What's the end date of this one?

End of May-ish.

[allison finch]

this decorator crab was holding a fire urchin hostage. I sure didn't want to try to touch him. His whole posture said "ATTITUDE!!"

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3153/2488181421_7c66bca5da_o.jpg

[allison finch]

One more, but it's a duo pic showing the mating of a marginatus octo.

This is a "quickie". You can see the mating arm still inserted into the female

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/2481547998_2fcb0e9dce_o.jpg

WHEW!! I'm outta here...anyone have a cigarette?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2481466292_d4276898f0_o.jpg

[Papa Bear]

How about a Flamingo Tongue crawling into position on a Soft Coral with its feelers out and moving into position!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/480__MG_6200_Crawlling_Flamingo_Tongue_SS_EV_E_I_5 -08.jpg

[Papa Bear]

Goat Fish males fighting over dominance of the school. They go mouth to mouth until one yields!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/479__MG_6290_Two_Goat_Fish_being_Terratorial_Conce ption_EV_E_I_5-08.jpg

[Papa Bear]

Butterfly fish mate for life and are only a few inch to feet apart at any given time!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/480__MG_6342_Banded_Butterfly_Fish_EV_E_1_5-08.jpg

[Papa Bear]

Flying Gunard lives its life in the sand crawling on specialized fins until threatened when it spreads its wings to "Look bigger" or appear like a "Ray"! They do not fly like "Flying fish"!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/480__MG_6060_Flying_Garnard_EV_E_1_5-08.jpg

[beau_gust]

A little cleaning action...

http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/41537/2250151780011322688S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2250151780011322688xUXWSV)

[beau_gust]

Baby humpback whales are "taught to breathe" by their mothers. She goes to the bottom and sleeps - she can stay down for 20 minutes or more. Every five minutes or so, she lets the baby swim to the surface and breathe. While the baby's up there, he tends to play around - thrashing his tail, slapping his fins, and general wiggling around. Then the go back down to mom and slide under one of the pectoral fins for a snack and a stroke. This shot was taken as he had just grabbed a breath and was splashing about - hence the bubbles.

http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/19967/2662855120011322688S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2662855120011322688ClrDmS)

[beau_gust]

Humpback whale babies are born (among other places) on the Silver Bank north of the Dominican Republic. They then have to swim all the way to Newfoundland to feed. So mom and baby swim around a lot to help the baby build strength (while mom gets thinner - they don't eat during mating and birthing season). To help the baby keep up, it swims in mom's slipstream, as happens here.

http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/11484/2435491890011322688S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2435491890011322688cLbDNG)

I'll stop at three entries...

[solisti]

A little cleaning action...

http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/41537/2250151780011322688S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2250151780011322688xUXWSV)


I love this. Looks like dentist! "Open wide, rinse and spit, I promise you wont feel a thing...."

[Papa Bear]

These two go together, this is a Juvenile Drum fish eating!

http://wsm.ezsitedesigner.com/share/users/21/218534/websites/478769/images/480__MG_6427_Juvenil_Drum_Fish_Eating_EV_E_I_5-08.jpg

[Papa Bear]

In this one look close at this resolution and you will see its mouth full of coral sand and the crumbs falling out below it! It is either eating alga or small critters in the sand!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/480__MG_6424_Juvenil_Drum_Fish_Eating_EV_E_I_5-08.jpg

[beau_gust]

It also looks like he's smiling! :)

[Jonathan Bird]

OK, contest is closed for judging!

Stand by for a voting poll!

Jonathan