Go Sid! Finalists announced Australian Museum Eureka Prizes

[philiphart]

Mr Sidonio has trumped all of us with our Malin awards and gone straight to the big time.. he is one of three finalists for the New Scientist Eureka Prize for Science Photography at the Australian Museum Awards:

http://eureka.australianmuseum.net.au/eureka-prize/science-photography3

Mr Malin might have seen enough Orion Nebula's to last him a lifetime, but for the more public outreach oriented Eureka Prizes Sid's worthy M42 is going to take him to a prize night in Sydney which dwarfs Parkes!

http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/A-kaleidoscope-of-dust-and-gas-in-Orion

There used to be six finalists (I was one a couple of years ago) but now there are only three finalists for three very nice prizes so he has to go home with something!

Well done Sid! That should have you feeling a little better (I know you will have had to keep this under your hat for a few weeks too).

Phil

[DavidU]

Haha ! Excellent result. He seemed a little dejected after no Marlin's this time.
Well done Mike AP Sidonio.:thumbsup:

[Ric]

Congrats to Mike

I cannot imagine how awesome that must be, even just to be a finalist.

Top stuff

[astroron]

Congratulations Mike, a fantastic image, I am in awe at your nomination:thumbsup:

[renormalised]

Go Mike!!!:):)

If that image don't win, I'll eat this forum!!:):P

(send me the 1's and 0's by parcel post:):P)

[gary]

Congratulations Mike!

What a fabulous image!

Best Regards

Gary

[alan meehan]

well Done Mike,a beautiful Image ,your great skills should be rewarded.
AL

[RB]

Now that deserves another Guinness !!!

Awesome mate.

:thumbsup:

[RB]

LOL Carl, you willing to take a byte out of the forum. :P :lol:

[renormalised]

Nah...not a byte....a MEGA byte!!!:):P

[Bassnut]

Top work Mike, well deserved.

Ive wondered how an Astropic would go in this comp, now I know :P.

That M42 was a good choice to enter, it has high impact and suits a non-astro audience, they wouldnt know its easy to capture and overprocessed to hell ;) :lol: :thumbsup:. Although its very deep and arty and therefore also impresses cinical ol me :D.

[jase]

Go for gold Mike. Tough competition with the blown light bulb. On the bright side, you should get some moolah out of it :D Make sure you sent us all a pick of you in your black tie at the dinner :P

[strongmanmike]

Wow, thanks so much guys!! :)

It was a flabergasting notification I can tell you, it is very exciting and most gratifying. To have the passion, that so many on here share with me, recognised through one of my images and across all science photography, is quite an honour.

That young 17 yr old, that some of you may have seen in my recent M104 album at my web site, would never have imagined that he would one day be attending the Eureka Awards - the top night in Australian Science, for an image he took of the Universe. Being able to take the beauty of what we do to the World is one of the facets of our hobby that I like so much.

I am really excited about the awards night - the who's who of science, politics and entertainment will be there...I wonder if there is a red carpet for the paparazzi? :P

Thanks again for the well wishes, it is very exciting!

Mike

[SkyViking]

Fantastic Mike, good luck to you! That is a very worthy image :)

[strongmanmike]

For those who are interested

Twenty five of the best images entered in this year's New Scientist Eureka Prize for Science Photography are on display at Melbourne's Federation Square.

Here is a link to the top 25 images (http://australianmuseum.net.au/Top-25-Science-Photography-Prize)

Some amazing work there and even two other astropics :thumbsup:

By thw way, anyone can come to the awards night, the tickets (http://eureka.australianmuseum.net.au/about/about-the-eureka-dinner) are $180

Mike

[TrevorW]

You'll have to wear a suit, do they make them in your size :P

well done

[strongmanmike]

:lol:.. I have a nice sports jacket that rarely gets any use but I think it is the wrong shape now :rolleyes: :doh:

[multiweb]

Good on you mate. Hope you win that one! Looking forward to the red carpet picies. :thumbsup:

[Higbyrichard]

Breathtaking Mike. Just when one thinks you have seen the best you raise the bar again. It really is a captivating image. Exquisite.

Cheers
Richard.

[Tamtarn]

Congratulations Mike.

All the best for the final - hope you bring home the big one :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Marc and Richard, the well wishes are most appreciated. There are certainly some lovely images amongst that lot.

Mike

[DavidTrap]

All the best Mike.

DT

[Jeffkop]

The judging criteria gives all 3 of those pictures a chance for sure. They are all unique and from totally different areas of science and captured utilizing totally different disciplines even though at some point those skills must converge to a degree. In common however is the colour isnt it.

Good luck Mike ... Appears to me though, regardless of the result ... the sentiments you've expressed in this thread indicate that the prizes you've already won from these awards are better than the cash anyway. Going to be real nice to have some coin to go with your humility too I reckon ... once again, All the best.

[strongmanmike]

Yeh 12.5hrs of exposure and near 200kg of gear lugged back and forth by car over three nights...compared to bang! 1/1000 sec ...sheesh, if there was an hourly rate in it I would get the biggest pay check at least. I think we are in the worst effort v result area of science photography, that's for sure :lol:

[seeker372011]

congratulations on getting this far, and good luck

[mill]

Congratulations Mike, and as you might know, big events ask for big suits, so you will fit right in :thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

well done Mike

[gregbradley]

Great image and a worthy finalist. I did not know the Museum holds that competition.

Congrats Mike.

Greg.

[spacezebra]

Excellent Mike

Congrats!

[strongmanmike]

Thanks so much Narayan, Martin, Dave, Petra and Greg oh and Greg, what planet you been on dude? :eyepop:The Eureka Prize awards are only the biggest awards in Australian Science :rolleyes: :lol:. The awards started in 1990 and there has been a science journalism/photographic journalism category ever since, the more specific Science Photography category was introduced in 2006.

Mike

[iceman]

Congrats Mike, what an amazing experience to be a part of.

I'm sure the number of entries in the 'science' category will go up next year :)

[xstream]

Yes, congratulations Mike!

Fingers crossed for you that you pick up the major prize. :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Mike and John

Yep, gotta be in it to win it Mike, it's a challenge to find an astropick that actually meets the judging criteria well. Although unique and ground breaking in astro circles, my Ultra deep Centaurus A didn't even make the top 25 last year. Only one entry is permitted too so it needs to be carefully chosen.

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Just got this from the Eureka Prize organisers

"Dear Photographers,

Your photographs will be presented as part of the Eureka Prize for Science Photography exhibition on the screens in both the Atrium and in the main square of Melbourne’s Federation Square. The images will be added to the general playlist, which means it will play out as part of their rotating playlist multiple times throughout the day and overnight. The media plays for about 2 minutes in total. Federation Square will try to ensure a specific time slot for the Eureka Prize for Science Photography at 12 noon each day (though this is subject to change depending on bookings in the square)."

So if you live in Melbourne you might like to take a look at the top 25 entries :thumbsup:

Mike

[DavidU]

I'm going to try to see your image @ Federation2.Good luck M8 !

[strongmanmike]

I was pleasently surprised to see that two major Newspapers have run stories on the New Scientist Science Photography Eureka Prize. The Canberra Times is printed in colour but my Canberra dwelling brother in law, who scanned it, only scanned it in B&W :sadeyes:

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/2010_eureka_awards

:D

Mike

[danielsun]

Go Mike!!:thumbsup:

[Peter Ward]

Humm...I'd say you're in with a strong chance for sure.

The rival insect image bugs me, and the other is just smoke and mirrors... ;)

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Peter and Daniel

Peter, the old cliche holds here though, ie I have already won, just to be one of the finalists is outta this World and I would be still happy if I am not announced as the "winner" :)...besides I am pretty used to placing second :rolleyes: :lol:

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Ooooooh only two more sleeps :jump2: :help:

The event is sold out with 880 people going and there's even a red carpet :eyepop:. I have my Penguin suit and I'm ready for lots of :drink:

I go boldly in the name of all astroimagers.....only a broken green light and two flies stand in our way!..?... how hard can it be :prey: :lol:

Mike

[DavidTrap]

Surely you've seen the disasters at award ceremonies when the recipient has had one too many glasses of "dutch courage" before they get up on stage...

DT

[strongmanmike]

:lol:...yes....

At least I have experience mixing astroimaging and beer... :question:

:D

[alexch]

Congrats Mike!!! Well deserved, that M42 is out of this world.
Best of luck for the award.

Alex

[RB]

:rofl:

Good luck mate.

:thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

we need a suit shot Mike

[renormalised]

That's also known as "IPL" = "Image Processing Lubricant". The cogs in the ol' melon have to be lubricated sufficiently before you attempt any processing, otherwise the results might not be so desirable. One cog seizes and that's it, goodbye piccie:):P

[strongmanmike]

Cheers guys.

Funny, for all her lack of interest in anything to do with astronomy... I actually think my wife is even more excited about the night than I am :) :love:

[DavidTrap]

Just read the result in today's paper - what a crock!

DT

[DavidU]

What happened?

[h0ughy]

congratulations for the second place Mike http://eureka.australianmuseum.net.au/eureka-prize/science-photography3

[multiweb]

Whoohoo! Congrats Mike. :thumbsup: Bring a can of Mortein next time ... or a big counter-weight ;) So where are all those red carpet shots! c'mon! :lol:

[DavidU]

Well done Mike !!!!!!!!!
a pressie for next year....

[iceman]

$3k is nothing to be sneezed at! Congrats Mike. Well done!

[xstream]

Congratulations "Big Fella". Certainly a great achievement!

[Kal]

Congratulations Mike! :thumbsup:

Maybe enter with a pic of the butterfly nebula next year :question::D

[Ric]

Well done Mike, a grand effort.

[mill]

PFFFFFFF second prize :rofl::rofl::rofl:
Bloody well done Mike and congratulations on the $3000 (think how many drinks you can have with that when imaging :eyepop: ).

[strongmanmike]

WOW :eyepop: what a night.....

Where do I start..? :question: Fom the searchlights on arrival to the miriad of waiters with trays and trays and trays :drink: of champagne and beer to the red carpet, reporters, TV cameras, TV personalities, members of parliament milling around inlcuding, the Hon Peter Garret and Senator Kim Carr, the head of the CSIRO and Australias chief scientist to the huge stage and screen and room full of 900 people :eyepop:... it was just like the Logies looks on TV :thumbsup:.

The three finalist images in my category were scrolling on a big TV in the entry foyer for all to see.

Most categrories were presented in Logies fashion ie each category finalist got a pre recorded blurb and footage on the big screen then the guest prize presenter or sponsor for each category would announce the winner from an envelope with a big gold seal, the winner would then come up on stage to music and accept it. For the Scientific Photography category however..the three of us were ushered behind the scenes by feverish event organisers, clad in headset mics holding run sheets etc, to go out on stage for the presentation at the appropriate time. I sudenly became little nervous at this stage and I reverted back to my pre event nerve suppression tactics from my strongman competition days :lol:. The ABC's Adam Spencer narated each of our images and we came out one by one to spot lights :eyepop: with our respective entries up on the huge screen above us :eyepop:. The New Scientis representative (drop dead gorgeous too :eyepop::eyepop::eyepop: mind you) then announced 3rd then 2nd (me) and finally the winner. Then photos on the stage, offical photos and interviews conducted at the side of the venue and cheque presentations.

The uphoria was at a pretty high level I can tell you :eyepop: :D

A lot of :eyepop:'s I know but if you picture this emoticon in a penguin dinner suit...well that was how I looked for most of the night :eyepop: :lol:

It was a thouroughly over whelming and amazing night that I will never forget and certainly the bigest event like this I've ever been a part of.

Now the down side..:sadeyes: I left my camera in the Taxi that took us home...CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT! FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU .....

I am shattered :(

There is still hope as I contacted the Cab companies and filed reports so my fingers are crossed that somone will find and return it :prey:

Th official photographs of the event will be available in a few days so meeeh...:tasdevil:...se la vi :shrug:

The $3K prize money will help me finally get that long awaited 12" F3.8 Astrograph I recon...? :thumbsup:

Mike

[Paddy]

Many congratulations, Mike, a fantastic achievement. I'm glad you had such a great night. Hope the camera turns up and look forward to your output with the new scope.

[Octane]

Well done, Mike.

I thought you might put the money towards an STX-16803. :poke: :poke:

H

[philiphart]

awesome!

it's hard to imagine two more different photos.. a super close macro shot of two tiny flies that would have disappeared in a second and a shot of the largest structures we can comprehend imaged over many hours at distances we really can't comprehend which will probably still look the same a thousand years from now!

mike's description does convey some sense of how big this event is and how amazing it is to achieve second prize. and they've clearly beefed up the photo awards bit too. it's hard to go up from there! :thumbsup:

well done mate.. your amazing efforts have done you proud!

Phil

[Doomsayer]

Well deserved Mike. Also looking forward to the tuxedo shots.

guy

[strongmanmike]

Yes well I have left the door open for another astroimager to top that, see I am a nice guy ;)



Mate you may be laghing but I am crying, some priceless shots were on it :sadeyes:



Thanks Phil :)

[DavidTrap]

Great write up of the event - horrible end to the night though.

Glad to hear you are "reinvesting" your winnings.

DT

[philiphart]

Not laughing too much.. I have known that pain before :(! For a few minutes last week I thought I had lost my 5D with a weeks worth of back country skiing photos on it including night sky stuff shot at -14degC from 1900m elevation which I won't be getting again in a hurry. For a few minutes I was a very unhappy camper!

I do hope you get your camera back, in the meantime we can only try to cheer you up! Life has a habit of following a bloody good one with a little kick in the pants. Too much excitement i say!

(and sorry for making a meal of things by posting without looking and then editing later on..)

[gary]

Hi Mike,

Well done! But sorry to hear you left the camera in the cab!

Best Regards

Gary

[astroron]

Well done Mike, commiserations on the camera.
I hope you get it back.
Cheers

[wavelandscott]

Congratulations on the much deserved recognition...bummer about the camera, hope it all comes good.

Cheers!

[Bassnut]

Excellent Mike, thats a good story to read and again congrats, the night sounds awesome.

Sorry to hear about the cam.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks so much everyone, the well wishes are really appreciated and as I have said before it is great to be part of a kind of family really, here on IIS and feel like we can share such moments in our lives with other people who will be happy for us and feel even just a bit of the excitment themselves, thanks :thumbsup:

Mike

[alan meehan]

Well done MIKE i just seen that the awards will be on cataylist abc next thursday night so we can see you live ,good work mate your a inspiration ,although i stand in your shadow i just won first place in the qld astrofest imaging comp, i feel i bit more taller.
AL

[spacezebra]

Excellent Mike - congrats.

Cheers Petra d.

[Rob_K]

Congratulations Mike, boldly going where no astro-imager has gone before! :thumbsup:

Cheers -

[cookie8]

Congrats Mike for such outstanding acheivement. You do us amateurs proud.
Vincent

[stringscope]

Congratulations Mike,

Well done :thumbsup:

Cheers,

[philiphart]

here's the first photo i've seen of the prizewinners on the Eureka web pages:

http://eureka.australianmuseum.net.au/eureka-prize/science-photography3

[strongmanmike]

Ya beat me to it Phil :lol:...well, there you are everyone, Mike in a formal Dinner Tent :P

Still haven't heard from my camera though :sadeyes:

Mike

[Ric]

Very 007 Mike :thumbsup:

Was the Aston Martin out the front for a quick getaway. ;)

Hope the camera turns up soon.

Cheers