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- 2 No Smoking Merit Nice use of telephoto compression to bring the dramatic background into play. The ship feels well balanced both visually and in terms of brightness. The ships smoke mirrors the background nicely.
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- 1 Pilot Boat Leads The Way Accepted The telephoto lens compresses the scene well. Consider how lighting guides the eye—does it highlight the boats as the story, or pull focus to the background instead?
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- 6 Yeah were ready Honours A visually striking image with strong composition. The contrast between light and dark water naturally draws the eye to the raft, which is perfectly placed. The overhead angle and relaxed poses give it a cinematic, storytelling feel. Watch for slight overexposure on the raft’s highlights. Runner Up
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- 19 Almost Home Accepted The boat’s forward motion conveys purpose, while the island adds depth and context. Shadows on the vessel are very deep and make the image feel dark. Maybe lifting the tones could reveal more detail in the boat and add impact to the image.
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- 20 Light The Way Merit Motion blur creates a vibrant, abstract feel with painterly energy. Light reflections enhance the scene, though background highlights pull attention from the main subject.
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- 3 Abandoned Dreams Highly Commended A nicely composed image with well-balanced luminosity and subtle vignette use that draws attention to the main subject. The image conveys themes of abandonment and the passage of time.
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- 4 Tranquil Waters Merit The tree creates a natural frame that draws the viewer in, with a pleasing composition featuring the boat, jetty, and distant mountains. A tighter crop to remove the bright top-left corner and a straightened horizon would improve balance.
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- 25 Misty Moorings Accepted The ropes and reflections lead the eye nicely to the boats and the soft mist adds mood and contrast. There is quite a lot of background clutter competing for attention and the blue boats on the right side pull your eye out of the frame. A tighter crop and or different shooting angle may help?
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- 26 Tall Ship Rigging Merit The upward angle gives a strong sense of scale and the rigging lines guide the eye nicely into the frame. Light and colour variation between the sails and blue sky add contrast and depth. The bright highlighted cloud in the centre pulls attention and impact from the main focus a little.
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- 8 Sailing to Hole In Rock Merit Great use of the boom to create a strong sense of place. The composition feels left-heavy. Maybe composing the shot with the island further to the right could improve balance and guide the viewer’s eye around the frame better.
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- 9 Sunday Morning at Port Whangarei Merit Beautiful use of soft light and calm reflections to create a serene composition. You might consider gently balancing the colour tones, as the cyan on the left and blue on the right contrast strongly.
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- 18 In The Fog Honours Dreamlike mist softens the image, adding depth and mystery. Muted blues and pastels enhance the calm mood. The rightmost mast feels tight to the frame edge, maybe more space or a crop could improve balance?
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- 17 Wooden Tonga Paddle Accepted A beautifully detailed image showcasing the paddle’s craftsmanship. The frame feels crowded, with the paddle competing against less interesting elements. A tighter crop could maybe highlight its beauty?
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- 29 Calm Waters Highly commended The boat rests calmly with its reflection adding balance to the water. Warm evening light creates a tranquil atmosphere, and the layered background adds depth. A touch more separation from the sand bank and boat would emphasise the main subject more.
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- 30 The Line Up Merit The selective colour effect makes the yellow floats pop against the monochrome scene, leading the eye down the row of pylons. Strong repetition and reflections add rhythm and structure. Cropping a bit tighter might remove distractions and emphasize the pattern even more?
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- 24 It’s Eightbells Accepted A serene maritime scene with beautiful soft morning light highlighting the boats details. The calm water adds tranquillity. Consider reducing saturation and levelling the horizon for a more balanced image
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- 23 Suspended Merit Lovely stillness with calm water reflecting the structure beautifully. The weathered structure contrasts nicely with the smooth water. Maybe a slightly higher angle of capture could have added more background separation?
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- 27 Stuck In Time Highly commended The abandoned boat makes a strong focal point, its weathered textures and colours contrasting beautifully with the soft water and background. The long exposure adds a smooth, timeless quality, while the soft golden light enhances the mood.
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- 14 Dry Dock Accepted The peeling paint and aged wood tell a story of time and craftsmanship, with warm light adding depth to the textures. The workshop setting provides context, but some background elements compete with the boat for attention.
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- 21 Tug at work Merit Strong industrial maritime scene with good use of scale. The small sailboat contrasts well with the larger tug and barge. The yellows contrast nicely against the cool water tones. Maybe slightly more space around the barge, or less in front of the tug, could improve balance?
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- 22 Work and play Accepted Juxtaposition of tugboat and red runabout creates a playful work-vs-leisure contrast. Calm reflections and soft colour palette enhance the scene further.
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- 32 Dinghy Accepted The weathered texture of the dinghy adds charm and character, contrasting nicely with the calm, reflective water. However, the bright highlights in the background draw attention away from the boat and could possibly be toned down or reframed to keep focus on the main subject.
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- 31 Nautical Night Lights Merit The vivid red and green lights create a striking contrast, casting colourful reflections on the water that give the scene an almost cinematic feel. The dark surroundings enhance the glow and focus attention on the boat’s bow
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- 11 A Repair Job Merit The weathered boat and tranquil setting convey a sense of abandonment and the passage of time. Warm, soft light enhances the boat’s textures and its reflection in the water. The bright background draws attention, perhaps reducing its luminosity could keep the focus on the boat?
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- 10 Rust Abounds Accepted The rust, scratches and weathering are captured in strong detail. The contrast between deep blue paint and rust tones adds visual interest. A tighter crop could further emphasize these textures while removing distractions at the top and side of the frame.
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- 13 Ancient and Modern Merit Beautiful detail in the carving and its reflection, paired with the clean lines of the boat. You could explore a slightly alternate angle or crop to give the paddle more space to breathe and reduce visual tension at the edges.
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- 12 When Will the Tide Come In? Accepted The vivid blue of the boat contrasts well with the dark green background and earthy tones. The clean side profile highlights the boat’s form and name well. You might experiment with a different angle to bring out more of its character and story, moving it away from a ‘catalogue’ style presentation.
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- 28 Day On The Lake Accepted The sailboat makes a clear focal point and is well placed against the sparkling water and dramatic mountain backdrop. The image does appear a little soft. This may be due to exposure settings or lower resolution?
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- 7 Boathouses on Hatea Merit A nicely detailed image with strong colour and contrast. The vibrant boathouse pops against the dark background. The left side feels less engaging due to the dominance of the highlighted boathouse. A tighter crop may improve balance?
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- 5 Messing About in Boats Honours The image effectively uses a natural flow from the bottom left to the top right, mirroring the boat’s movement and guiding the viewer’s eye. The man’s crumpled clothes reflect the water’s texture, creating a connection between him and his environment. Maybe additional burning of the highlights in the top left could help keep more attention on the main subject? Winner
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- 15 Lifeboats at the Ready Accepted Strong colour contrast and compositional dynamic leading line. I feel the line pulls the eye out of frame. Maybe cropping tighter around the lifeboat would better hold attention and enhance the image’s impact. Don’t forget to straighten your horizon.
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- 16 Stuck in the Branches Accepted A vibrant, candid moment with nice colour contrast. The composition feels awkward with subjects turned away or obscured, limiting engagement. A clearer angle might better capture the action and strengthen the narrative.
