Nature Pentax takes 1st & 2nd place in 2 classes at VLF competition!!! (4 images total)

**Marc Langille** · 12:15 PM

Four images will be published when the book goes to print next July/August, and the dedication ceremony will be next September… (the Canon shots garnered two 3rd places). This is the FIRST time (to my knowledge) that the images from a Pentax system has ever placed in the VLF Wildlife Photo Competition, let alone placing 1st and 2nd in two classes!!!

Over 1400 images were submitted for this competition. I came in 13th overall (there was a tie for 10th/11th), which is the top third in the event, yet I only submitted in 2/3 of the classes (I still submitted 50 images, but sometimes 2 in a class). Positions 9th à 13th were all within 81 points of each other. Those ranged from 805 à 886 points (9th à 13th place). The overall winner garnered 1221 points.

Everyone who finished ahead of me has been doing the competition since 1990, so they have 18+ years experience, 9 competitions, and local knowledge under their belt. In contrast, I took a 7 month layoff from photography for various reasons, and had less than 1.5 years of serious shooting under my belt.

To put further perspective on my results:

36 days in a 70 day period were allocated for the competition (it lasted 90 days)
8 days lost due to travel = 28 days left.
10 days lost due to no tripod/binoculars (*) = 18 days left.
3-4 days lost due to poor weather (45mph winds, etc.) = 14 days left.

Therefore I had ~14 days of really good photographic opportunities within the 90 day competition period.

(*)The box I shipped the tripod in arrived damaged, and the binoculars were missing. Therefore I had to send it to the shipper for a manifest inspection to file the claim. It eventually ended up with 5 tracking numbers, and was out of my hands for 33 days...

Images, starting with the 3rd places, and moving up... again, no cropping.

3rd place, Wading Birds - Great White Egret:

EXIF Info:
Date Taken 2008-04-25 00:00:00
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure Time 0.0002s (1/4000)
Aperture f/6.3
ISO 640
Focal Length 500mm (800mm in 35mm)
Photo Dimensions 3888 x 2592

3rd place, Mustelids and Raccoons - Raccoon:

EXIF Info:
Date Taken 2008-05-13 18:45:49
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure Time 0.0015s (1/640)
Aperture f/5.6
ISO 1000
Focal Length 500mm (800mm in 35mm)
Photo Dimensions 3888 x 2592

2nd place, Spiders and Arachnids – Orb Weaver (cleaning itself after a meal):

EXIF Info:
Date Taken 2008-06-07 22:00:57
Camera PENTAX Corporation PENTAX K20D
Exposure Time 0.0055s (1/180)
Aperture f/22.0
ISO 100
Focal Length 200mm (300mm 35mm)
Photo Dimensions 4672 x 3104

1st place, Butterflies I (aka Skippers):

EXIF Info:
Date Taken 2008-06-07 13:15:06
Camera PENTAX Corporation PENTAX K10D
Exposure Time 0.0008s (1/1250)
Aperture f/7.1
ISO 320
Focal Length 200mm (300mm 35mm)
Photo Dimensions 3872 x 2592

More good news! I just got a letter confirming the ranch owner wants to decorate his new cabin (just recently built or about to be built) with 10-15 of my images (8x10). That means I've pulled in ~$1000 between prize money and this order. It's not covered my costs, but my portfolio has certainly improved! All considering I am a rookie - especially in wildlife photography...

I have certainly come back from the experience with a much better understanding (by no means complete) of how to photograph and when to photograph. April through May were very overcast and very windy - less than ideal conditions. Even June was windy, so macro was difficult (what little I could shoot).

The moral of the story is that you should never give up - and with the tripod fiasco I certainly considered quitting on a couple of times. My two top places (with Pentax) were taken in the last week of my final trip...

Regards,
Marc

NB: If you are interested in looking at any of the other images submitted, but did not place, you can look at the threads I've started. The competition was very tough this year! If there is interest, I'll post an edit to this thread.

**Marc Langille** · 02-21-2009, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by kurt

Outstanding Marc!! ... and concrats

As an outdoor person I love your work and also your helpful & patient advice and work here in forums. Thanks Marc!

Thank you Kurt - you are very kind - I am always glad to help (when I have time)!

Regards,
Marc

Originally posted by dadipentak

Congratulations, Marc!

I don't know what VLF is or understand those day calculations but those are killer photographs--despite the "Pentax handicap"

Thank you dadipentak - I appreciate it...

**Marc Langille** · 02-25-2009, 06:59 PM

Originally posted by Taff

been away due to my cam at the repairer being cleaned and new focusing screen, and what a nice thing to see when i pop in for a visit marc

Well done mate

Taff

Thank you Taff! Much appreciated and I am glad you enjoyed the images.

Originally posted by Thumper473

Marc,
WOW! What an achievement! I am fairly new to this forum but I am learning what a true artist you are with your Pentax. Congratulations!

Sincerely,
Eric

Eric, you honor me good sir! Thank you and I am sincerely glad that you felt them worthy of such kind comments.

Regards,
Marc

Bramela · 02-25-2009, 11:39 PM

Congratulations Marc. Awesome shots. Gives us all something to try to attain to.

**Marc Langille** · 03-08-2009, 06:55 AM

Thank you Bruce - very much appreciated! Hard work is the key. Never let up...

Cheers,
Marc

stoge · 09-22-2009, 05:27 PM

Congrats Marc! Great job,Well done!---Jeff

**Sailor** · 09-23-2009, 08:30 AM

Let me add to the kudos, Marc. And thanks for all of the help you unselfishly provide to us on the forum.

Jer

**dcmsox2004** · 09-23-2009, 09:20 AM

marc, mazel tov !! well deserved, and a credit to pentax nation....

Big G · 09-23-2009, 09:34 AM

Congrats Marc, excellent work.

Pentax_XTC · 09-23-2009, 10:45 AM

All I can say is... WOW! These images are truely worth rewarding and you were rewarded rightly so.

You can give me that 200/f4 Macro since the competition is over you and you won't be needing anymore.

**Marc Langille** · 10-28-2009, 11:14 AM

Originally posted by stoge

Congrats Marc! Great job,Well done!---Jeff

Thank you Jeff!

Originally posted by Sailor

Let me add to the kudos, Marc. And thanks for all of the help you unselfishly provide to us on the forum.

Jer

My honor Jer and thank you!

The book dedication is November 5th at the Museum of South Texas History in Edinburgh, TX: Valley Land Fund

**Marc Langille** · 10-28-2009, 11:17 AM

Originally posted by Big G

Congrats Marc, excellent work.

Thanks BigG and there were some really, really long days!

Originally posted by Pentax_XTC

All I can say is... WOW! These images are truely worth rewarding and you were rewarded rightly so.

You can give me that 200/f4 Macro since the competition is over you and you won't be needing anymore.

Allen, thank you very much.

I am starting to worry about my lenses in general...

First the FA* 200/4 macro, then...

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02-21-2009, 12:09 PM	#46
Marc Langille Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,710 Original Poster	Originally posted by kurt Outstanding Marc!! ... and concrats As an outdoor person I love your work and also your helpful & patient advice and work here in forums. Thanks Marc! Thank you Kurt - you are very kind - I am always glad to help (when I have time)! Regards, Marc Originally posted by dadipentak Congratulations, Marc! I don't know what VLF is or understand those day calculations but those are killer photographs--despite the "Pentax handicap" Thank you dadipentak - I appreciate it...

02-25-2009, 06:59 PM	#47
Marc Langille Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,710 Original Poster	Originally posted by Taff been away due to my cam at the repairer being cleaned and new focusing screen, and what a nice thing to see when i pop in for a visit marc Well done mate Taff Thank you Taff! Much appreciated and I am glad you enjoyed the images. Originally posted by Thumper473 Marc, WOW! What an achievement! I am fairly new to this forum but I am learning what a true artist you are with your Pentax. Congratulations! Sincerely, Eric Eric, you honor me good sir! Thank you and I am sincerely glad that you felt them worthy of such kind comments. Regards, Marc

02-25-2009, 11:39 PM	#48
Bramela Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Newcastle Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,284	Congratulations Marc. Awesome shots. Gives us all something to try to attain to.

03-08-2009, 06:55 AM	#49
Marc Langille Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,710 Original Poster	Thank you Bruce - very much appreciated! Hard work is the key. Never let up... Cheers, Marc

09-22-2009, 05:27 PM	#50
stoge Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: front royal,va Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 98	Congrats Marc! Great job,Well done!---Jeff

09-23-2009, 08:30 AM	#51
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,205	Let me add to the kudos, Marc. And thanks for all of the help you unselfishly provide to us on the forum. Jer

09-23-2009, 09:20 AM	#52
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	marc, mazel tov !! well deserved, and a credit to pentax nation....

09-23-2009, 09:34 AM	#53
Big G Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 581	Congrats Marc, excellent work.

09-23-2009, 10:45 AM	#54
Pentax_XTC Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 365	All I can say is... WOW! These images are truely worth rewarding and you were rewarded rightly so. You can give me that 200/f4 Macro since the competition is over you and you won't be needing anymore.

10-28-2009, 11:14 AM	#55
Marc Langille Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,710 Original Poster	Originally posted by stoge Congrats Marc! Great job,Well done!---Jeff Thank you Jeff! Originally posted by Sailor Let me add to the kudos, Marc. And thanks for all of the help you unselfishly provide to us on the forum. Jer My honor Jer and thank you! The book dedication is November 5th at the Museum of South Texas History in Edinburgh, TX: Valley Land Fund

10-28-2009, 11:17 AM	#56
Marc Langille Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,710 Original Poster	Originally posted by Big G Congrats Marc, excellent work. Thanks BigG and there were some really, really long days! Originally posted by Pentax_XTC All I can say is... WOW! These images are truely worth rewarding and you were rewarded rightly so. You can give me that 200/f4 Macro since the competition is over you and you won't be needing anymore. Allen, thank you very much. I am starting to worry about my lenses in general... First the FA* 200/4 macro, then...