Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2011 shortlist

[Carole]

Judging is under way for the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2011. These are some of the shortlisted entries. Winners will be announced on 8 September and will go on display the following day at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. The exhibition is free and will run until February 2012

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/gallery/2011/aug/12/astronomy-photographer-year-2011-shortlist#/?picture=377796405&index=0

Haven't managed to find the complete short list as yet.  I am sure some-one will oblige.

Carole

[Rocket Pooch]

What a terrible list.

[Whitters]

I thought this was an astronomical competition, not a landscape one. Also lots of simmilar subject matter.

[Mike]

There are only 4 out of that lot worthy of being entered. The rest are nice photographs but certainly not eligible for 'Astronomy Photographer of the Year'.

[Mike]

Also, those 4 are taken by professional observatories! Sheesh!! 

Useless competition.

[MarkS]

How do we know these are shortlisted entries - just because The Guardian says so?

There is no list of shortlisted entries at the official competition website - maybe The Guardian is guilty of hacking into the judges' phones  

Mike, how do you know some of these were taken from professional observatories - I can't find that info.

Mark

[Mike]

Mark,

It says at the bottom:

Photograph: Terry Hancock/The Royal Observatory

etc...

[mickw]

I find it hard to come to terms with a photo of a tree etc. with a starfield in the background being considered an actual "astronomical photo" let alone considered a contender.
Agreed that some look nice but I don't think it compares with a "proper astronomical photo/image" where somebody has spent hours getting the image and further hours processing it to get the maximum detail out of it.

In my opinion, the only exception would be an Aurora

[Carole]

It says at the bottom:
Photograph: Terry Hancock/The Royal Observatory

Don't they all have Royal Observatory against them?  i.e. because they are entered into the RO competition, perhaps that makes them copyright to the Observatory as far as the media are concerned. 

I seem to remember having the same conversation last year about the judges choices of images having a bias towards astronomical subjects with some foreground such as a tree, or horizon etc.  Personally whilst these images are attractive, I think they should not dominate the overall choices.  There should be a separate category for such images and I agree with Mick's comment

"proper astronomical photo/image" where somebody has spent hours getting the image and further hours processing it to get the maximum detail out of it. 

is what true Astronomical imaging is all about.

Carole

[MarkS]

Rats!  I've just realised I forgot to enter my "Moon and Jupiter Reflection in a Swimming Pool" image
http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php?topic=6562

Mark

[Carole]

Seems the results are out, and exhibition starts today:
Amateur astronomer Damian Peach has become the first British entrant to win the title of Astronomy Photographer of the Year, beating hundreds of photographers from around the globe in the 2011 competition. As well as securing the £1,500 top prize, his image takes pride of place in the exhibition of winning photographs opening at the Royal Observatory Greenwich on 9 September 2011.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/picture-galleries/8750367/The-2011-Astronomy-Photographer-of-the-Year-competition-winners.html

http://www.nmm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/astronomy-photographer-of-the-year/

If they say this is the Astronomy Photographer of the year and it's only September, and submissions had to be in some time ago, when does the year run from and to?

Carole

[mickw]

That is a cracking Jupiter 

Not a bad collection at all, except for the arty farty ones with people, trees and buildings 

[RobertM]

I agree, the detail is amazing.

[Mac]

cracking image.

Mac

[MarkS]

Damian's Jupiter image is a very well deserved winner.

Mark

[Carole]

I went to see the exhibition this afternoon, and was expecting to see all the short-listed images that did not ultimately win.  Was disappointed that all that was displayed is what you can see on the winners website, so what's the point in going??? 

There is an interactive screen where you can select previous winners, but apart from their Flicker name which is often nothing to do with their real name, there was no other detail apart from where it was imaged in the world.

The winners were attractively displayed though on a screen which gives much better definition than a printed photo would. 

Yes I agree about Damian's Jupiter, absolutely stunning. 

I think there should be a UK AstroImaging competition, as we really struggle against the elements in the UK with long patches of inability to do any imaging at all, and comparing what we can get to other countries with fabulous regular dark skies is perhaps a little unfair on the UK Imager.

Carole

[mickw]

That does sound a disappointing exhibition.

Although I agree with Carole about the ordeals that UK imagers suffer, I don't think that a UK only competition would be very well supported.
I think I would rather be rated 10th in the world than top in England

[Fay]

changing my mind a bit here. Have had a flick through the winners & most of them are very good

[Carole]

I don't think that a UK only competition would be very well supported.

Do you not?  I would have thought it would be popular.

Carole

[Tony G]

Why isn't there any trees, or someone holding their arms out pretending to to hold Jupiter. I think just plain images of a planet, and a couple of its moons is not very interesting.

Tony G

PS.......................I was not being serious.