This week's challenge is Biodiversity. I'm stealing the idea from a National Geographic Your Shot recent assignment.

Look at this for inspiration:
"Biodiversity" Story and Pictures -- National Geographic Your Shot

Just yesterday, I got to spend the day with the National Geographic photographer who hosted the Biodiversity assignment. (All free, invitation only event in San Francisco for photographers who post on National Geographic's Your Shot - what a fun event!)

Anyway, this challenge will run until Sunday April 6 at midnight PDT. Can't wait to see the entries!

Every week, a new theme is picked and judged by the winner of the previous week. This challenge is Pentax-only.

Everyone is eligible to send in their best interpretation of the given theme, as long as the photo is taken with a Pentax/Samsung camera. Themes can be subject-oriented or technique-oriented.

Rules
1. Post ONE photo (max 1024x1024).
2. The photo must portray an interpretation of the theme.
3. Post your single picture in this thread and explain what motivated you to take the picture and/or how you feel it represents the weekly theme (especially if it's not obvious).
4. The challenge is interactive. Any response is welcome.
5. The judge will pick the WINNERS and choose one of them to be the judge for the next week.
6. This challenge runs for 7 days plus an additional day for the judge to choose the winners.
7. Any Pentax (or Samsung DSLR) camera can be used.
8. Pictures can be from any time frame, not just within the week of the current theme.
9. In case the winner of a challenge is unable to become the judge for the next challenge, they will PM the #2 winner for that person to be the judge.

[ChatMechant]

[Finchj]

I captured this photograph a handful of years back on July 17th, 2011 in North Carolina, USA.

In the foreground, a diverse patch of our ecological garden- planted in polycultures according to a permaculture design- contrasts strongly against a typical suburban lawn.

Pentax K-7. Sigma K mount 35-105 Macro@ 100mm, ISO 800, f stop unknown (look at that depth of field at 100mm... ), 1/2500s .



For those outside the USA, here is a brief quote from an article posted by NASA regarding American lawns:

“Even conservatively,” Milesi says, “I estimate there are three times more acres of lawns in the U.S. than irrigated corn.” This means lawns—including residential and commercial lawns, golf courses, etc—could be considered the single largest irrigated crop in America in terms of surface area, covering about 128,000 square kilometers in all. Her next task was to figure out some of the ecological impacts of this crop of lawns Americans are cultivating."

- "Looking for Lawns" by Rebecca Lindsey from NASA's Earth Observatory.

128,000 sq km is just smaller than the land area of Greece.

[jcdoss]

I think there's quite a diversity of life in this shot, however that takes nothing away from the majesty of the wolf eel, front and center.

[NaClH2O]

I thought of a bunch of different shots for this challenge. With both the Bronx Zoo and the NY Botanical Gardens within a 10 minute drive of my house I have a miriad of shots of different plants and/or animals together. I finally decided on this one because it makes me smile. Maybe not as many different species together here, but I love the expression of awe/delight on the kids face and also the firm grip dad has on his arm to make sure that that delight doesn't lead to an unfortunate more "up close and personal" encounter with the Koi!


NaCl(delighting in diversity)H2O

[K David]

Duck diversity

[Bill2849]

Salt marshes are an important part of the ecosystem. This egret is hunting for food in a salt marsh on Ocracoke Island, NC near where it empties into Pamlico Sound.
The sound is visible at the top of the photo.



https://www.flickr.com/photos/113655123@N07/13654164474/in/photostream/player/

[Cory Tarilton]

A stand of Old Growth in the North Cascades, set to early Januray twilight.

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Last edited by Cory Tarilton; 04-06-2014 at 03:17 PM.

[RollsUp]

Bearded seals in the Bering Sea.

[noelcmn]

A tough one, been looking through my collection from the Kruger Park, too many. So tossing a coin, this one won.
4 Magnificent Tuskers, together with some Warthogs and Zebra at a small water hole. They totally dominated the waterhole, with the others having to wait their turn. Kruger Park, March 2012.

[Jacquot]

Great photographs! Here's one from Maine.

[sealonsf]

Today is the last day for this challenge so if you've been thinking about entering a photo but just haven't yet - this is your last chance! Thanks!

[jmschrei]

I spent a long time going through my photos and decided on this large slough, or marshy pond that is a regular stop for me when heading west toward the Rocky Mountains on the Trans Canada highway. This pond exists year round but smaller, temporary ponds used to thrill me as a child when they appeared on the prairie every spring. They are an important nesting location for waterfowl, and water source for livestock and irrigation.

[sealonsf]

The Winner has been announced in another thread.