Wildlife Photo of the Year faked?

[Allen]

I does seem a little too perfect, but who am I to judge?

Wildlife Photographer of the year winner allegedly faked wolf image | Mail Online

[Hanky]

Interesting.

[Abel]

great image though...

[zebulus]

It is a great image, but it would lose alot of its appeal if it was faked.

[Angelo]

I guess rules are rules. Some of the comments made seem to want to allow staged images.

I wonder how many judges they have and how long it takes to go through
43,000+ entries?

[SaSha]

Guess they will have to subpoena the wolf

[venchka]

Sorry. I don't think it's a good wildlife photo. My first thought was that it was faked in Photoshop. Then I read that it was "faked" with bait. Either way, as a photograph of a supposed wild critter, it's too perfect.

How do you go through 43k+ entries? Very quickly. Which probably explains why something very dramatic and different like the "winner" caught the attention of the judges.

[Analog6]

Yes, if it is a Wildlife photo it shoudl be just that, wild. A tamed/captive/model wolf should not win the prize. If it was as he said and wild wolves used the 'right of way' and he snapped one, well that is posed but OK in my mind, the creature is wild. Tamed or trained should be ineligible.

[Jake]

I think "staged" is a better word than "faked" for this photo. I mean the photo is real, and pretty cool too!
But yeah, if it's a tamed wolf then it shouldn't count as wildlife.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by thejakestir

I think "staged" is a better word than "faked" for this photo. I mean the photo is real, and pretty cool too!
But yeah, if it's a tamed wolf then it shouldn't count as wildlife.

Agreed.

[hbwise]

Why would a wolf, wild or otherwise, jump over a fence and not crawl under or through it? This seems lie odd behavior for a canine.

[Jim Victory]

Originally Posted by thejakestir

I think "staged" is a better word than "faked" for this photo. I mean the photo is real, and pretty cool too!
But yeah, if it's a tamed wolf then it shouldn't count as wildlife.

If that is what the rule is then yes a tamed wolf would not qualify as wild. In this day of wildlife photography baiting and setting up perches or settings to get portrait quality shots are being used by most of the major wildlife photographers.There is even books out telling you how to do it.

Personally I prefer to get my shots without the props, baiting, or calls but I can appreciate the beauty of shots using these aids. My way also means it is more difficult to get a shot, if not impossible, of some subjects but when I do it makes the effort and success much more enjoyable.

My shots will never be as sanitized and clean as a setup shot but they will be natural.

[ttusa]

Very Disappointing...I have entered this competition and have reached the semi-final round with just shots of nature as is.

[heard03]

Perhaps they selected it as the winner just to generate the controversy and draw attention to their competition. Sadly nowadays it seems competition "winners" are being selected for reasons other than merit. Competitions in general, that is.

[ChristopherCoy]

who really cares?