2334 Open Projected November Results – Whangarei Camera Club

Judges: Christine, Bruce, Linda. Scribe: Marg

: Read to Attack: Salon: Very good capture of the kitten in hunt mode. Love the great intent concentration in the eyes & sharp whiskers. However the background blur is inconsistent, the tail is blurred but back lower left on rocks not. The grass distracting, either decrease the blur or crop hard from cat’s haunches, keeping the shadow & rocks in perspective. Merit

: Leaves -Salon – Details of the leaves are sharp and the angle fills the frame. The image is a little under exposed. Try a click of the auto levels button to brighten the image. Merit

: Friends –Salon – These girls are lovely and the author has captured them enjoying themselves. Eye contact is excellent. The focus is a bit soft, and you have multiple catch lights in eyes this is distracting you needed only one catch light. A clone out of the others keeping the eyes with the light source would have made a difference. Merit

: Rainbow Falls –Salon – Your settings have been just right on to get that smooth flow of water. Well taken with silky smooth water. The bushes at the side tend to draw the attention away from the waterfall. Clone out the top LH bush and a reduction of the bushes brightness would lessen the distraction, also a lighten of the rocks would give the image more impact. Highly Commended

: Boxed Perfection- Salon – Lunch on the go! Nice pops of colour with the lemons & blue napkin. The sandwiches, are the main component are not clearly seen, some repositioning of the sammies would give more detail to the story perhaps even a bite out of one. The image is a bit static and your boxes have really been too tightly cropped plus the table edges are distracting. Sorry Not Accepted. \

: Waiting for Lunch- Salon- A lovely capture of this shag. The back ground has been well handled and the eye is sharp. Shame the tail is out of focus and you have lost some detail in the white feathers. A small crop on the right and a bit of cloning of the rust spots would have tidied up this image. Merit

: RifleMan –Salon- Sharp detail & good eye in this image. Nice contrast with the bright background giving prominence to the rifleman. However your image is a bit under exposed and the colours are not true to the Rifleman. A click on the auto levels brings the detail out and gives closer colour of the bird. Merit.

: Black Oyster Catcher –Intermediate-Very nice capture of the Oyster catcher. Nice eye and its sharp, same for the feather detail and good contrast against the back ground. A crop off the right to take out the small rock takes you eye more in to the bird itself the image is a bit soft. Well done Highly Commended.

: Take A Child Fishing – Intermediate (Mono) A nice shot of boys doing what boys do. The black & white help to accentuate the cloudy sky and gives the whites of the kids clothes a good contrast against the dark wharf. The boat helps with the story, but the white strip behind it drags the eye away also you seem to have lost the top of the mast. Your horizon needs a little bit of a attention as its not quiet straight. Merit

: Twilight – Salon Very pretty twilight sky, nice colour palette and composition. The landscape for mat particularly suits this image. It could do with a lift in levels just to lighten it a tad. Highly Commended

: Quiet Mooring –Salon Soft golden hour lighting with pristine reflections however the background is busy. The distracting wee bit of cream on the green roof top needed some attention a crop to take this out and darken down the green makes a difference. Highly Commended

: That Fish Looks Tasty – Salon Great to see these birds, the one in flight is beautiful. The diagonal perch for the other birds keeps you in the image looking at the key player but what a shame there’s no eyes showing. The title really needs a second try as the fish is so small and is hard to find. Merit

: Mums Granny Bonnet – Intermediate This image has lovely colours with the background nicely blurred. With the Stamen beautifully sharp. Soft background enhances the flower. The yellow of flower on Left leads to the yellow stamen of the main subject. However the image is very soft a bit sharper would have bought out more detail. The purple at the bottom of the image could have been cropped off this would not detract at all from the flower. Merit

: Tropical – Intermediate Lovely colours and the image, has an impressionistic feel to it. Pity the top of the flower has been cut off. The left incomplete petal does leave you wondering where its tip is. Accepted

: Nevis Valley Scene –Salon Great landscape shot. The vastness of the area is captured in this image. A bit too much of the brown hills which diminish the shack. High country clear blue sky suggests midday shot which has flattened the land’s texture. This was not an easy image for our judges, however it was suggested a crop across the top skimming the second hill, then the right side nearly to the boulder and left to the leading line of rocks in the hillside. You also really needed a bit more texture in the background. But a worthy Highly Commended

: Raupara – Copper Butterfly – Salon Lovely image of this butterfly with its strong colours against the pastel green. It is nicely angled across the frame, with its effective square presentation with a fine edge. However there is some very soft edges on the wings and a shame as the bright white on the right is a bit of a distraction this needed toning down. Highly Commended.

: Life Midst Death –Salon The image is very sharp with plenty of detail in the foliage. The vine is nicely angled across the frame with the green leaves making a nice contrast. The title gives meaning to the image. Shame the top leaf has been cut off, another leaf in the centre wouldn’t have detracted from the image. Highly Commended

: Girl With A Curl – Salon Nice portrait of this wee girl. Image is clear and sharp with back ground well done. Nice eye connection with the camera. It is completely engaging & natural looking. Soft background complements her smooth young skin. Lovely highlights on the hair A well deserved Honours

: Matopos Mountain Zimbabwe –Salon A very rugged landscape captured here with a striking colour palette. You captured a dramatic foreground with an intriguing range recession into distance. However the frame you have chosen has let you down for your image as it is too wide and its taking your eye out of the image to the frame. A narrow even darker frame perhaps just 5 pixels would have presented it more pleasing. Merit

: Kowhai Is Yellow – Salon Nice composition of this image with the main blossom in the central third. The yellow frame complements the Kowhai Yellow. Highly Commended

: Small Town Firework Night – Salon Vibrant sunset colours in this image and the fireworks has been well captured with plenty of contrast and an interesting sunset skyline.The Image is pretty dark on the right cropping, in more to the fireworks taking out some off the bottom would have enhanced the image. As there is still plenty happening closer to the fireworks regarding the small town Title? Accepted

: Retired – Intermediate (Mono) A busy rural setting with lots going on. This old tractor certainly looks tired and the Black & White helps to empathize that. The subject is well suited to monochrome and its clearly named tractor on its last legs. The image could do with an adjustment to the levels and plus brightness & contrast. Merit

: Whangarei Rally Car – Salon A nice action shot of this car in motion. Nice colours & the back ground has been well handled. However the top white roofs & dark ‘boxes’ are unnecessary you needed to take these out. Also a crop on the right, but make sure you leave the dust and doing this it gives the car more room at the front. Merit

: TeMatau Pohe Bridge – Salon (Mono) Interesting night view of the bridge unfortunately the highest points of the arms are in shadow & faded, and the horizontal lighting strip is off centre of the image & grabs your attention. Sorry Not accepted