Australia needs you!

[strongmanmike]

I'm not sure if anyone else on this group has had good news too (if you have then GREAT!) but I have been incredibly honoured (and mighty surprised) by having had two of my images selected as top 10 finalists in specific categories in the World Wide S&T Beautiful Universe photo contest.:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Now, apart for the judges verdicts, there is also a viewers choice winner to be selected for each category and it is decided by the number of votes an image gets... soooo far be it for me to try and co erse you or anything buuuut....pleeeeease get behind our Australian skies and vote! :-) (gratuitous tug at your patriotism there)

Now...I think the image of Centaurus A in "The Deep Sky: Galaxies" section (second image from the top) and Omega Centauri in the "Deep Sky: stars and star clusters" section (second image from the bottom), both look pretty good..? :P

http://skytonight.com/BUphotocontest (http://skytonight.com/BUphotocontest)

Mike
ps. with a grin from ear to ear! :-))))))))))))))))
pss. can ya tell I'm stoked
psss......oops, I just fainted....zzzzzzzz

[[1ponders]]

You lucky fellow you :lol: Congrats Mike and good luck ;)

[h0ughy]

this is worthy for you to forfit all prize winning entries next year at SPSP to Me Mike................voting done!

[h0ughy]

opps clicked on some galaxy with wayward arms:rofl: :P :D

[EzyStyles]

congrats mike!. ohh coincidentally, i also click the galaxy with wayward arms. :lol:

[jjjnettie]

Good luck!
You were right, they were the best pics of their class.

[ballaratdragons]

Cool Mike. Job done! :thumbsup: and they earned my votes!!!!

[gaa_ian]

Great shots, happy to give you my vote :thumbsup:

[Ric]

Congrats Mike,
voting done and what an amazing collection of images they are

cheers

[iceman]

Well done Mike! Congratulations!

[Striker]

congrats Mike....very much deserved.

I have voted...good luck..go auzzies oy oy oy

[iceman]

Some amazing entries in all categories there.

[h0ughy]

mmmmm did you know you can vote as much as you like............................... .........30 minutes of broadband voting Mike............................... ..........;) :D

[acropolite]

You have my vote.....hmmm vote rigging.... must have something to do with the name "Mike"....:P

[iceman]

OI! I resemble that remark! :)

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1152089/Main/1152089#Post1152089

[acropolite]

:lol: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:Seriously though c'mon guys, get behind Mike....and Mike

[Dennis]

Congrats Mike. I was inexorably drawn to those 2 amazing entries before I had the chance to read and digest you post fully; so my conscience, and yours, is clear.

Cheers

Dennis

[alandee]

Congratulations Mike, your images are always inspirational and stunning, but you've got some stiff competition there ! Your Centaurus A is the standout to me of a magnificent group though. And I voted for your Omega with it's killer resolution to the core, if everyone looked at technical skill in that one you'd be a shoe in, but I reckon it's even tighter in that comp.
Goodluck.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks a million my IIS friends :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Just to clear my conscience, it's not vote rigging, I just brought the competition to everyones attention and you could vote for my images if you liked. Anyone who went for a look at the finalist images could vote for who ever they wanted once they got there as there was no compelling force involved once it was just you and ya computer! For those who liked my images and gave me your vote... cheers big ears! :)

I have to say though, I am pretty overwelmed really, my Centaurus A image is up against images taken by none other than Rob Rendler, Russell Croman and Daniel Verschatse - three gods of astro imaging! :eyepop:

Cheers

Mike

[Striker]

Mike,

Why is it then when I ticked to vote for someone else's image a warning appeared on my screen saying "wrong pick again" until your image was selected....lol

Good luck

[strongmanmike]

Doh! ya weren't meant to discover that!

;-)

Mike

[fringe_dweller]

Yikes!!! thats an awesome collection of amateur shots there, the deep sky sections look especially tough. looks like Robert Gendler et al in there lol - but then they all are pretty damn good examples in every category too - some I dont think I may have seen before!! - that analemma with the eclipsed sun using the scenery from during eclipse gets my overall vote - what a beauty!
by the sons of gallipoli you get this little digger/vegemite's vote Mike - :thumbsup: superb images - good luck to all southerners who may be in the the comp :)

[strongmanmike]

I don't think my Cen A image looks out of place really but with images by Rob Gendler, Russ Croman and Daniel Verschatse in my category...sheesh..gulp! :-o

Just to have my images chosen with theirs is an honour in itself aaaaand remember our winter Olympics hero Steven Bradbury? :-)

Thanks for your vote!

Mike

[Starkler]

Absolutely awesome imagary in there :eyepop:
I spent a good hour enjoying all the eyecandy, thanks for that :thumbsup:

[spearo]

well done and well earned!
frank

[tornado33]

I think that Helix Neb shot is the best as it is so incredibly deep yet not over exposed. :) Shown here too http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/66401653
Scott

[ausastronomer]

I really like that Helix image as well.

Great effort Mike and hope you win something against that illustrious competition.

CS-John B

[Garyh]

I reckon the Centaurus A image is a beaut Mike defineately worth being there with the "other" imaging gods..good work..thumbs up for me.
Cheers Gary

[fringe_dweller]

I didnt mean they looked out of place lol, and I especially wouldnt say that to someone who can bench press 200+kg :screwy: :scared:

I was just thinking aloud about the standard of shots in the comp, I didnt see any details accompanying the images (which I find unusual!), I was guessing who they were, how do you know who they are Mike? guessing like me? your right it is indeed illustrious company, and your pics are right at home mate :thumbsup:

curious: Is there any dlsr shots in the deepsky sections, does anyone know? looks like all high end CCD stuff maybe? :-)))

[strongmanmike]

I know you didn't say my Cen A looked out'a place I was just comenting :-)

I think they have left out the image details on purpose so that it is purely based on the visual appearence and that's it - "Beautiful Universe" I guess..? Images are presented relatively small and in low res too, so this levels the playing field too.

I know peoples images like I know my own kids, I can pick most of the top imagers work anywhere (a gift? LOL).

Not sure on the DSLR in the deep sky section but there is a t least one SXV-M25 which is a one shot colour CCD, it's the second M45.

Mike

[iceman]

I saw some of Damian Peach's work in the planetary section, very nice images of Jupiter and Saturn.

[jase]

Nice work Mike. Hope you go all the way and win the grand price.