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Rose Impression. Salon. HONOURS. A beautiful, romantic impression of this rose. The peach tones are lovely, and the little water droplet adds a sweet artistic touch. The whole image is soft, but that softness really supports the warm, tender feeling. A very gentle and appealing floral capture. Matt suits this image perfectly. Lovely and creative and well executed.
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Lily Pond. Salon. HIGHLY COMMENDED An enchanting lily pond image with a lovely Monet style softness. The colours are beautiful and calming, and the painterly effect gives the scene a decorative, wall art quality. The softness does reduce some of the finer detail, and the image appears slightly underexposed, giving it a darker overall feel. Unfortunately, there are visible fingerprints, including glue marks, which distract from an otherwise creative and colourful piece.
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Mamaku Koru. Salon. HIGHLY COMMENDED A lovely close up of this fern frond. The textures, hairs, and water droplets are very appealing, and the lighting works well to highlight the form. The background keeps the focus on the koru, though the lower left corner is a little bright. The edges of the frond are slightly soft, but the overall softness of the background complements the subject nicely, and the square crop suits the image well. Overall, it’s a very pleasing and detailed nature image.
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Toutouwai Defying the Breeze. Salon. HONOURS A beautifully composed monochrome study of this small bird, with lovely feather texture and a gentle, contemplative pose. The eye is clear and engaging, drawing the viewer straight in. The soft background provides excellent separation, allowing the detail in the plumage to stand out. The tonal range is well handled, giving the image depth without losing subtlety. A strong and elegant portrait in black and white.
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Calming Beach Activities. Salon. HIGHLY COMMENDED This image conveys a peaceful beach moment, especially with the man watching over the child in the water. The reflections are lovely, and the whole scene feels calm and warm. The fisherman on the rocks does pull the eye a little, and the small white pebbles in the sand are minor distractions, but the overall image remains clear and appealing. The blue in the sky doesn’t quite match the blue in the water, which creates a slight tonal disconnect. The leading lines work nicely, guiding the viewer into the scene, and the title is well chosen.
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Go Girls Go. Salon. HIGHLY COMMENDED. A great action image of the girls in their surf rescue boat. The rib is lovely and sharp, and their focused expressions really add to the moment. There is good space for the boat to move into, giving the scene a strong sense of direction and energy. The water is a little soft, and a touch more detail in the spray would have enhanced the impact. Unfortunately, the presentation has let the image down. There is visible artefact at the top of the frame, a pen mark in the upper left corner, and glue showing along the right edge. These distractions draw attention away from an otherwise engaging action shot. Overall, it remains a lively and enjoyable capture.
