Prize Winning Picture Used a Rented Wolf

The winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award, Jose Luis Rodriguez, has been stripped of his award for hiring a ringer. Officials allege that the wolf in the picture is none other than Ossian, a tame wolf that lives at a zoological park. Using a tame animal is a violation of the contest rules. Wildlife photographer and competition judge, Mark Carwardine, said, "You can see several very distinctive markings and the experts all agreed that, yes, it's the same wolf. We disqualified [Mr Rodriguez] and banned him for life from entering the competition again, so I think that sends a strong message." I'm surprise I haven't found a "three wolves jumping the fence" meme yet.

Banned for life? Innapropriate.

[epp_b]

This world needs to learn some forgiveness. I understand that the judges and other competitors must have felt cheated -- and rightfully so -- but a lifetime ban is just pure vengeance and no logic. Five or ten-year ban? Sure. Being banned from participating in a prestigious contest for which you have a passion for 20% or more of your life (perhaps 30% of your working life) is still quite a punishment. Banning someone for life is just making an example for example's sake.

Excuse me while I stray a lit

Re:

[frosty_tsm]

He's not going to jail. He isn't prevented from working. He is merely banned from a competition that holds (relatively) little consequence for showing he had absolutely no respect for the purpose and intent of it. Compare this to olympic bans and being stripped of medals. Some bans are only a few years, but if you go beyond just "screwing up" you can lose all the medals earned to date.

If you want to whine about over-punishment, look at the US criminal justice system where reform is no longer part of

Obligatory

[Locke2005]

I'd say his wildlife photography career has jumped the shark...

Re:

[Fotograf]

wild life and macro photography have been stumped by cheating for long time. it is not even first high exposure (no pun intended) case. Half of the macro animals are dead and many typically wild life animals (like ravens, deers, wolfs etc) are available for hire from those who have them as pets.