2613 Open Projected Results – Whangarei Camera Club

: After the Rain. Salon. MERIT. I think the sparkling water drops, in this image, look like little jewels scattered across a miniature forest. The light through the moss is beautiful, with the sharp droplet balanced by dark space. With the two main rain drops in different areas of the image it is hard for the eye to find a focus point. The out of focus area in the left front attracts my eye. The photographer might consider a different crop to keep the focus on the lovely scene. This is a magical little scene that captures attention.

: Hebe Promises. Salon. HONOURS For me, there is a sense of quiet anticipation looking at this photograph. In my view, the extremely shallow depth of field works beautifully here. The top of the hebe is framed by the gorgeous purple colour. The tiny buds are pushing up from the purple flower beneath, giving a feeling of nature’s bounty. There is even a tiny water droplet right at the top. This is a delicate capture that shows a great eye for macro details. The image has a dreamy, ethereal quality.

: Shooting Star. Salon. HONOURS. I feel a sense of curiosity when looking at this image, wondering how the little creature shifted from its resting place to its current spot. The diagonal link between the starfish and its sandy imprint creates beautiful balance. Perhaps a very subtle vignette could darken the bright edges and keep attention on the subject and its footprint. This image has captured a lovely, storytelling moment from nature with excellent attention to detail.

: Tea For One. Salon. MERIT. A thoughtfully arranged still life with a clear narrative link to the title. The trio of cups forms a pleasing compositional rhythm, and the single filled cup anchors the story effectively. The slightly overflowed tea adds a touch of authenticity and visual interest at the base. I think the triangular shape you created with the three mugs works brilliantly to hold my attention. The front mug is clearly the star, filled with rich, dark liquid that contrasts wonderfully with the bright white ceramic. In my view, the bright reflections inside the two empty mugs are a little distracting. The photographer might want to adjust the lighting to soften those bright spots. The cups seem to crowd the top of the image. If you have more canvas at the top, a different crop could feel more balanced. This image is a really creative idea with a strong story.

: Hockey In The Rain. Salon. MERIT. For me, this image captures the gritty reality of winter sports. I think the way the bright artificial lighting catches the raindrops against the dark background is fantastic. It creates a wonderful texture across the whole scene. The dark background also makes the bright red and maroon uniforms stand out, giving the players strong visual dominance. It surely shows dedication to the sport. The expressions on the faces of the two players really summarises the uncomfortableness of the situation and lack of fun and enjoyment. In my view, the composition feels slightly unbalanced. Cropping some empty space on either side would tighten the frame and focus attention on their expressions. The image might have been strengthened by capturing the players in more active play rather than in what appears to be a moment between phases of the game, but it remains an evocative and honest portrayal of sport in challenging weather.

: Rainbow In Wood. Salon. HIGHLY COMMENDED. For me, this represents the still moments before creativity begins, waiting in the dark to bring colour to a blank page. The diagonal arrangement works really well. I see the pencils pointing towards the top right of the frame, which creates a strong sense of movement and draws my eye through the picture. The colours are vibrant, and the textures in the wood and pigment tips are beautifully rendered. In my view, the image is quite dark. Slightly brightening the exposure and lifting the shadows would reveal more wood grain and make the colours pop. This is a brilliant concept with strong lines. With a little tweak to the lighting, the photographer has a really striking macro shot.

: Red Hot. Intermediate. HONOURS. This is a bold, graphic study of a familiar subject, elevated through simplicity and precision. I think your use of light is excellent. It highlights the fascinating texture of the seeds and the fleshy inside of the pepper and everything is in focus. The deep black background creates a strong sense of dominance for the main subject. This is a striking piece of macro photography.

: Dahlia. Intermediate. HONOURS. The gentle pastel colours and the swirling shapes draw me right into the heart of the flower, almost like a quiet, peaceful maze. I think the way you have used light and texture here is lovely. The soft, diffused lighting highlights the smooth, delicate curves of the petals. The radiating lines naturally guide my eyes straight to the middle. This macro image depicts the wonder and beauty of nature.

: West Coast Paua. Novice. HONOURS. For me, this image feels like discovering hidden treasure on a beach. This is a striking and well composed image of pāua shells arranged across the rocky ground, creating the impression of a natural pathway leading between the boat and the barrel. The composition is strong, with the dinghy on the right, the rocks on the left, and the barrel above forming a pleasing frame that guides the viewer’s eye through the scene. Some shells are cut off at the bottom; a tighter crop or stepping back would tidy the edges, while a gentle shadow lift could reveal more detail under the boat. This is a really striking and colourful scene that captures a wonderful coastal mood.

: Timber Breakers. Novice. HIGHLY COMMENDED. This is an intriguing monochrome image that, at first glance, almost resembles the keys of a piano — a clever visual illusion created by the repeating vertical pillars. The black and white treatment enhances the strong contrast between light and shadow, though the whites do appear a little bright, causing some loss of detail in the highlight areas. I like how one bird seems to be showing off to the other. The details on the wooden piles and the reflections are lovely, In my view, the visual design is really striking with a strong rhythm created by the vertical wooden posts, and the way their dark shapes contrast with the bright water. Toning down the brightest white areas just a tiny bit might help bring out a little more detail in the gentle ripples. The photographer might also consider a very subtle vignette to gently hold the viewer’s attention on the birds and the textured wood, as the edges are currently quite bright and uniform. This is a beautiful composition with excellent use of lines and contrast.

: Bar Tailed Godwit. Salon. HONOURS. This is a pleasing capture of a Bar tailed Godwit in flight, and the photographer has done well to freeze the moment with the bird cleanly separated from a soft, unobtrusive background. The muted tones behind the subject allow the godwit to stand out nicely. The light falls beautifully across the wings, highlighting those delicate patterns and giving the bird a lovely three-dimensional shape. The slight blur on the wingtips adds a brilliant sense of movement, making the flight feel truly dynamic. I think there is a small amount of digital noise visible in the smooth blue background. The photographer might try applying some gentle noise reduction to the background only, making sure to keep the bird perfectly sharp.

: Woman Overboard. Salon. HIGHLY COMMENDED. For me, this image captures a brilliant moment of pure chaos and high drama. The woman’s facial expression tells a great story. The photographer has used a fast shutter speed to freeze the flying water droplets, adding amazing texture and crisp detail that makes the action feel so real. The out-of-focus helmets at the bottom edge pull my attention away slightly from the action. Cropping just above those helmets, or even just cloning out the bright white dots, might help keep the viewer’s focus locked entirely on the incredible action above. This is the kind of image that makes the viewer feel the actually hit of the wave.

: Breathing Space. Intermediate. HIGHLY COMMENDED. For me, this image brings a wonderful sense of calm and energy. I think the way you have captured the motion blur in the water is excellent. The photographer might consider slightly darkening the bright white splash near the top edge. Bright spots near the border can sometimes pull the viewer’s attention away from the main subject. Toning that down just a fraction could help keep the focus firmly on the beautiful swirling patterns in the centre, with the lovely whirlpool effect showing the power of the ocean waves as they swirl around the rocks. This is a really peaceful and engaging piece of photography that would be a fine addition to a club salon.

: First Blush. Intermediate. MERIT. This image is beautifully titled and presents a serene sunrise seascape. The warm glow of the rising sun and the soft orange rays spreading across the horizon are appealing and create a gentle mood. The foreground rocks, however, fall into very deep shadow and lose all detail The soft, warm colours in the sky contrast beautifully with the cold, dark sea. I think the textures in the water add a lovely rhythm to the scene. I think, Straightening the slightly sloping horizon would make the ocean feel more stable. Lifting the dark rocks’ shadows, or cropping a little from the bottom, could reveal detail while keeping focus on the sky. Cropping some plain sky from the top could create a wider-feeling view and emphasise the colourful clouds and vast ocean. You have captured a truly peaceful morning atmosphere here.

: Fragments Of A Face. Salon. HIGHLY COMMENDED. This is a bold, minimalist, high key portrait that leans into abstraction and mood rather than literal representation. I think your choice to use such obvious contrast is a bold and effective artistic decision. By letting the skin tones blend completely into the white background, you draw all the viewer’s attention to the dark, graphic shapes of the lips, nostrils, and closed eyes. I think, the large white areas make the darkest features, especially the nostrils, dominate. Slightly darkening the eyelashes and lips, while retaining a little soft shading around the face, could improve balance and preserve form. The photographer might consider a crop from the bottom to make the image more horizontal as the chin area is taking a lot of real estate. This is a highly creative and striking piece of photographic art.

: Just A Fantail. Salon. HONOURS. “Just a Fantail” is a humble title, yet your image captures a lovely, fleeting moment of a much-loved New Zealand icon resting on an everyday object. For me, the soft green background works wonderfully to make the bird stand out. I love the crisp texture you captured in the feathers around the eye and the metallic links. The composition feels quite balanced, as I see the bird looking towards the right side of the frame, giving it just enough space to gaze into to spot its next meal. This is a charming wildlife portrait with excellent sharpness on the bird’s face.

: Vintage. Salon. HIGHLY COMMENDED. For me, this image captures the brave spirit of early forms of flying. In my view, the soft lighting works well to highlight the canvas textures and dark shapes of the aircraft. I really love the motion blur on the propeller. This is a great technique that adds a strong feeling of movement, showing the machine truly moving through the air. I think shifting the crop to place the aircraft further back would give it more empty space to fly into, making the composition feel much more balanced. There is also a small dark mark in the sky just below the plane, which looks like a sensor dust spot. Cleaning this up would make the sky look flawless. This is a brilliant capture of a wonderful flying machine.

: Cap Toadstool. Salon. ACCEPTED. For me, this image tells a story of finding magic in the tiny details of nature that we usually walk right past. I think the central placement works nicely here, giving the image a calm, balanced feeling. I also really enjoy the crisp texture you captured on the top of the cap. In my view, the bright, out-of-focus wood at the bottom pulls my attention away from the main subject just a little bit. The photographer might consider cropping the bottom slightly to reduce this bright area, keeping the viewer’s eye locked on the mushroom. Also, the shadow underneath the cap is quite dark. Bringing up the shadows slightly in your editing software could reveal some lovely details in the hidden gills. (AI – tells me the fungi is a Mycena sp.) The shallow depth of field has made this a tricky shot for you, and could be improved by stacking or making sure the front edge of the toadstool is in focus. The bright white border, while helping to contain the composition, might be better in a more muted colour.

: Bayleys Beach Boys. Salon. HONOURS. Here, I feel the raw power of the ocean and the intense focus of the crew. I think the way you have captured the peak of the moment is fantastic. The fast shutter speed has frozen the water droplets perfectly, adding wonderful crisp texture to the spray. The massive splash on the left balances the standing crew member opposite, creating a natural frame that leads the eye to the action. The steep diagonal angle of the boat also adds a superb sense of rhythm and upward momentum. For me, this is a highly impactful action shot that showcases both skill and courage in challenging conditions.

: Surf Rescue in Flight Mode. Salon. HONOURS. This is a dramatic and energetic capture of the surf rescue IRB launching off a wave, and the timing is excellent — you’ve caught the boat airborne at the peak of the action. The expressions and body positions of the crew add authenticity and intensity, and the rough sea conditions contribute strongly to the narrative. The shutter speed is well chosen to freeze the spray and maintain clarity in the boat and crew. The composition works effectively, with the boat angled into the frame and plenty of space for the action to move into. The overcast sky helps avoid harsh highlights, though a touch more contrast in the mid tones could give the image even more punch. Overall, this is a powerful action photograph that conveys the skill, danger, and commitment of surf rescue teams. The photographer has captured a truly spectacular moment with excellent technical skill.

: Female Weta. Salon. HIGHLY COMMENDED. This is a striking image of a wētā punga in her natural environment, and she’s been captured with lovely clarity and detail. The focus on her body and the texture of the tree trunk works well, giving a real sense of scale and presence. I do find myself tilting my head to fully appreciate her orientation. This image is a respectful, observational study of a remarkable creature.

: This Way Junior. Salon. HIGHLY COMMENDED. This is a charming and informative wildlife image featuring two oystercatchers with contrasting plumage — a pairing that immediately adds visual and biological interest. In my view, your framing is nicely balanced. I see the birds moving towards the left side of the frame, and you have given them plenty of empty space to step into. The panorama crop works well. They are actually two different types of oyster catcher. The bird on the left is a Variable Oystercatcher (tōrea pango) with mostly black plumage and the bird on the right is a South Island Pied Oystercatcher (tōrea) with black head and back with a clean white belly. Juvenile oystercatchers look very similar to their parents, just with a duller, browner plumage, a shorter, duller orange bill, darker legs, and a generally “softer” look. Good feather and eye details despite the very harsh lighting conditions. Capturing wildlife interacting like this requires great patience. The photographer has caught a wonderful, storytelling moment between these two birds.

: Grafton Bridge Peephole. Salon. HONOURS. For me, this image tells a story about finding a secret, clear window into the busy city world through a barrier of grime and age. The frame-within-a-frame composition is incredibly effective. I love how the rough, swirling textures of the dirty glass contrast with the sharp, bright city scene. The patterns are almost like their own highways. Placing the circle exactly in the centre feels very balanced for this type of shot. I think this image is a wonderfully creative take on a cityscape.

: Graduation Day. Intermediate. ACCEPTED. When I look at this photo, I feel a sense of everyday city life happening right next to a special milestone. In my view, your choice of black and white works brilliantly to highlight the textures in the scene. The pavement patterns draw the eye and the photographer might consider cropping some away, particularly from the left and straightening the vertical lines. This is a lively, observational street photograph with a powerful sense of the everyday but doesn’t really back the title of a graduation day where we might have expected to see people in graduation gowns. We are left wondering the role of these people in the image story.

: Tahlia Runs. Intermediate. HONOURS In my view, the bright smile and the mid-air stride capture the thrill of competition. I love how you have frozen the action so sharply, with both feet completely off the ground. This adds a fantastic sense of energy and she looks like she is running on air. The background is quite detailed with the houses and boats. I think that softening the background just a tiny bit more with a wider lens opening in a future shoot could help Tahlia stand out even more. The photographer has captured a wonderfully uplifting sports portrait at a great upward angle with great timing and vibrant colours. It really tells a great story.

: Cultural Differences. Salon. MERIT. For me, this image tells a fascinating story about people from diverse backgrounds sharing the exact same journey. The bamboo pergola creates strong leading lines that pull my eyes straight towards the women. The sunlight on the white dress is quite strong; reducing the highlights very slightly in editing could restore detail in the fabric. The judges wondered if there was a time when the women could have been captured a few paces apart when the woman in black could have been seen a bit more. The photographer has captured a wonderful slice of life with a compelling story.

: Symmetry On A Portugal River. Salon. HIGHLY COMMENDED. For me, this image brings a wonderful sense steady rhythm. The soft light works well to highlight the textures in the stone and the hillside without creating harsh shadows. I think, the cluster of houses towards the left side of the frame add a lovely touch of human life along the river. The light is soft and even, which is pleasing but slightly flat. I think, a little more contrast or micro-contrast on the bridge supports would help them stand out from the background. The judges all liked the panorama cropping, but felt the blue sky and its reflection on the right are distracting. This quiet rural scene beautifully highlights the symmetry between the bridge and its reflection.

: Wintery Trees. Salon. HONOURS. A beautiful study in in-camera movement, with the effects creating a feeling of being out walking on a blustery winter’s day. The red figure in this image adds perspective to the height of the trees.

: Ohinemutu Window at 6am. Salon. HONOURS. This image gives a sense of the character of the people who live inside, with the golden morning light giving a sense of warmth.

: I am Your Prince. Salon. HIGHLY COMMENDED. When I look at this image, I immediately smile. For me, the frog seems to be posing patiently, waiting for a magical kiss. I think your use of lighting really brings out the wonderful textures in the scene. The shiny, bumpy skin on the frog’s throat contrasts beautifully with the rough, dry stone. For me the eye and the nose are not quite in focus. There is a depth of field challenge with these small creatures up close. There’s a lovely sense of discovery, in this image, as if you’ve stumbled upon a quiet moment.

: Mine All Mine. Salon. HIGHLY COMMENDED. I feel a keen sense of fierce protection when looking at this image, and this is well reflected in the title. The visual design really highlights your subject. The large area of dark negative space that adds a moody, dramatic atmosphere. This is a fascinating glimpse into nature’s tiny architects.

: Nature’s Patterns. Intermediate. MERIT. This image reminds me of a quiet walk along the beach on a sunny afternoon, with all of the wonderful patterns in the sand and in the water. I like the contrasting textures between the smooth, flowing ripples in the shallow water and the deep, shapes in the dry sand. The judges felt the deep shadows in the bottom section of sand are quite dark, losing a little bit of detail. The photographer might consider lifting the shadows just a fraction in your editing software to reveal more of that lovely sand texture. In my view, A slightly tighter crop from the bottom and sides could focus attention more strongly on the interaction between the water ripples and the seaweed. This is a lovely study of natural shapes.

: Beside The Lake. Salon. HIGHLY COMMENDED. This image brings a sense of mystery and serenity with the last rays of sunlight highlighting the tree trunks, which provide a strong visual anchor. We think the way you have used vertical lines creates a lovely rhythm across the frame. The intentional motion blur works perfectly here, softening the textures and turning a simple lakeside view into an abstract piece of art. There is a small patch of grass in the lower left which is a little distracting and darkening or cloning this out might help maintain focus on the trees. The photographer has captured a familiar scene in a wonderfully imaginative way, turning it into a moody and captivating piece of art.

: Koromiko. Salon. MERIT. For me, the soft pastel colours against the clean background create a very peaceful feeling, almost like a botanical illustration. The soft lighting works wonderfully to show off the smooth texture of the petals and the tiny details on the stamens. In my view, the photographer might try boosting the contrast just a fraction to make those lovely purple tones stand out more against the pale background. The photographer has captured a gorgeous level of detail in this delicate little flower.

: Broken Memory. Salon. HONOURS. This image gives a sense of time passing and the fragility of what we leave behind. I think splitting the word IN from the rest—adds a powerful visual line that deepens the emotional impact. In my view the highlights are quite bright and distract from the atmosphere. The photographer might consider very slightly reducing the highlights. This is a quietly powerful image — the kind that doesn’t shout but lingers and invites the viewer to reflect.