Results – 2419 – Open August – Whangarei Camera Club

Judges – Jenny, Linda and Christine

: 1 Rainbow in the Mountains (Intermediate) What a delight!!! Rainbows are for everyone!!! The beautiful colour of the rainbow comes down right in behind one of the ridge lines leaving you to wonder if this is where the pot of gold is. . The triangles of the foreground trees have your eye moving about to study the ridges. Overall, the image is a little muddy flat and the sky is very noisy. To add to your concept you could try adding some contrast to midtones. This may bring out the lovely colours in the trees. Also, you could try some denoise in your post processing especially to the sky Merit

: 2. Security Check (Intermediate) This image is puzzling and yet intriguing. The shadows over the American dollar note make me think of a shadowy deal – or something like that. The green colour may represent Green Back but the story is very cryptic. There is a lot of negative space that appears to have no details. Nor does it add to the image. Some of the note is not in focus. It’s good to try something truly different. Maybe a less cryptic title would help us understand your concept. Accepted

: 3. Split Apple Rock (Intermediate) This image shows us the power of nature with this iconic. It makes me curious as to what caused such a neat split. It looks like sunrise or sunset by the pink-ish colours in the clouds behind the rock. What looks like water at the bottom of the image is the brightest part and demands attention. The darkest part is in the rocks below the “Split Apple”. The image may be strengthened by decreasing the shadows and increasing the highlights. This could add to your story. Highly commended

: 4. Metropolis (Intermediate) The end of the say in the city and it is the time to enjoy the lovely light on the buildings. The author has balanced the image with water, buildings and sky. The uprights are strong and straight. The image is equally divided into thirds. A crop off the bottom would concentrate the viewers eyes on the light on the buildings. This seems to be the strength of your image. Highly commended

: 5. All Lit Up (Salon) Whangarei’s iconic building at blue hour. This image has a festive feel. It couldn’t be anywhere else except in our hometown. The image lacks detail in places and the lights are a dominant This particular scene is not going away so you have time on your side. It’s a big challenge and takes practice. One idea to try could be a higher number F stop – this could you bursts of light and add more drama. Merit

: 6. The Shore (Salon) This image has a surreal feel. The moving light blue water against the solid bright coloured rocks speaks to me of the contrasts in nature and in all of us. It seems like you have used a slow shutter speed to enhance this balance. Honours

: 7. Inhospitable (Salon) The mighty mountains, with what looks like a glacier, gives me a sense of awe. How magnificent and inspiring The sky looks like some spots in the top right-hand corner. The mid tones look very flat without much contrast. To the sense of awe to your image, you could remove the spots. Also try to increase the contrast in the grey tones in the mountains. Merit

: 8. Abandoned (Salon) The cottage looks like it’s been loved in the past – but is now uninhabitable. Perhaps because of the weather or just neglect. I love the tree growing out of what looks like a doorway. There is something unreal about the aspect. House appears to have been pasted into image. The house is incomplete around roof of the left of the house. Also white poles on right of the house don’t seem to belong. It’s good to try something different. In this case it has not come off. This is probably due to the selection of the house. Acceptance

: 9. Old and New (Salon) This image gives you lots to look at and left me studying it for some time. Then could there be 3 structures here. Gorgeous arches and reflections, People & cars. All add to the story of old and new Honours

: 10. Cloud Background (Salon) The trees and the clouds look like they are trying to mimic each other. To me it seems like the clouds are copying the actions of the trees behind their backs: like a naughty child. The image makes me smile. Bottom part green trees very dark and the clouds don’t have a lot of texture. If I’m reading the image as you intended the trees and the clouds, are the main story. So, to strengthen the story the author could try to decrease the highlights – this gives you more texture in the clouds. To add further impact to the story you might try to crop some of the dark foreground. Merit

: 11. Kakariki The little green parrot eating a flower looks cheeky. The image depicts what these birds do in the wild. The eye and beak are super sharp, and the background is suitably blurred. To strengthen the concept, you could clone out some of the twigs. (Unless you entered it into a nature competition.) You might also like to try a vignette. Highly commended

: 12.Osk Fiord Artic Circle (Salon) A stunning image of the fjord. The curve of the sea motion adds to the visual flow. The Satin water contrasting turbulent wake provides textural contrast. Honours

: 13. Winter Moon (Salon) This image invokes a feeling of reverence. I see, the moon is at its mysterious best and the clouds are swirling around it in awe. There is no detail in the moon – and it may be covered with clouds. The shades of pink add interest to the image. . Honours

: 14. Crystal Dew Balls (Salon) Dew on what looks like grass is always interesting. To me the narrative shown is in the reflections in the dew. The diagonal aspect works well. To add to the story you could try tone down some of the bright spots Highly commended

: 15. Matariki Morning (Novice) New days – especially at this time of the year, are very special. The sign has taken up the glow of the landscape and looks like it’s pointing to a new way ahead. The most stunning part of the image is in the sunlit paddocks. The road sign is very bright in places. To strengthen the story, try to reduce the effects of the blowout sun you could try reducing the whites and highlights. Or you could crop the half of the sign off Highly commended

: 16. A Bright Embrace (Novice) To me, the intention of this image is that there is beauty in all small things. A simple common flower but presented beautifully. So often beauty is found in the simple things. The colours are lovely, and the centre of the flower is very sharp. The focus of surrounding petals gradually drops off beautifully. The image is very central and there are some red spots in the top right-hand corner. To add to your image, you could easily remove these in post processing. Highly commended

: 17. The Bird in the Garden (Novice) The speaks to me of a lovely open area with an image of public art. You have a pleasing crop. The bird’s head is clearly in the open sky. The image is central, nice and sharp. The drawback is that the image is essentially someone else’s art. When taking photos of art objects such as this, it’s important to put your own stamp on the image. For example, you could try taking the image at a unique angle or using interesting lighting. Merit

: 18. The Long Pier (Novice) It feels like we are heading somewhere on a beautiful day The image makes me wonder where to? I love that you have cropped the image symmetrically. The image feels flat because is no subject to focus on. The boat on the left-hand edge is cut off. The image would be stronger if there was a seagull, a person, a yacht sailing by or, or or…. Merit

: 19. G’day (Salon) What a cheery fellow you have captured here. I bet he has got some stories to tell. Honours

: 20. Matariki Sunrise (Salon ) What a lovely time of day. Especially at this time of the year.. I can hear the gentle lapping of the waves. To me the image is all about the colours. The image appears unbalanced because of the large volume of sea across the major part of the image Highly Commended

: 21. Into the Valley (Salon) Wow! Love the mountain side texture and clouds. The grassy arch in the centre foreground draws the eye from the vista. You could try to clone some of the grasses over the arch. Honours

: 22. Mum and Baby Macaque (Salon) A terrific family photo to treasure. The background is nicely blurred Honours

: 23. Pateke with Reflection Perfectly captured with it’s equally perfect reflection. Honours

: 24. Magical Meteor Sunset (Intermediate) Wow, great spotting. The image depicts a lovely time of day– with an intruder stealthily flying by. There is not a lot of detail in the image. It is there but you cannot see it the way you have presented it. To make this image POP, you could try reducing the highlights and lifting the shadows. Have a go and you’ll see the difference Highly commended

: 25. Sunrise Kuwaha “Kuwaha” is door or entrance in Maori. This is image speaks of the entrance of beginning of something important or special for the person in the centre at dawn. I think I see 3 images here: all on the same theme and maybe taken at the same time. The image may be a multi-exposure or perhaps you have a layering effect. Great idea to try something completely different. The image is very busy. All you images are detailed and have a lot going on. Perhaps next time you could attempt to combine less. Thank you for trying something different. This particular image hasn’t quite worked. Merit

: 26.Balcony Viewer Passing the time of day, waiting for a visitor or perhaps just being a nosey neighbour? The story is compelling and makes us wonder why she is standing in right there. Well done for the way you have handled the whites. Love the clear focus giving a lovely sense of place. The midtones are quite flat and could use more contrast. To strengthen the image, you might like to try adding more strength to the shadows. Just another suggestion –this image could really POP in Black and White. Have a play with it and put it in a street photography national competition. It certainly has potential. Highly commended

: 27. Water Patterns I love what you have seen here. The image is almost a graphic. The lines lead us through the image to other bridges in the background. The whole image is very sharp. I love the water reflections on the underside of the bridge. The composition is a bit confusing and not quite straight. To add to your concept, you might like to try straightening the image. Adding some contrast to the midtones and perhaps play with the crop. Again, this graphic image would really POP in Black and White – have a play Highly Commended

: 28. The Goat Plays his Joker Here we have the GOAT in action. It must have been a great experience. The colours all tone in together adding to the sense of concentration Well done to have not blown out the whites on such a sunny day. A fantastic Photojournalism shot Honours

: 29. Sunrise Gold (Salon) Again, another sunrise shot. How lucky are we to be able to see such scenes. The promise of another beautiful day to relish in. Lovely colours with all lines leading to the morning sun. The sand is very flat. There is texture in the sand, but we can’t see it because it’s quite dark You might like to bring out more texture in the sand. Highly commended

: 30. Out on the Lookout This bird has an important job to do. Sitting high still and watching for any danger. The low angle adds to the story The bird is not sharp and has little detail. The grass seeds in the foreground make focusing on the bird quite difficult The image is well seen and captured. The lack of detail in the bird lets the image down Merit

: 31. Into the Light (Intermediate) This image shows us typical night life in an urban area with plenty of points of interest. The graffiti, the posters, the harsh lighting and the two people all mundaneness of urban life. The bottom part of the image is where the action is. But the pole and the light tell us more. The image has not been straightened. There is a lot of detail in the shadows that we can’t see. This image has a lot of potential. To boost the image, you could try to straighten the image both horizontally and vertically Decrease the shadows a little to bring out the extra information in your story – there’s a lot lurking in the shadows. Merit

: 32. Komorerebi Maungatapere Mt. (Novice) A lovely capture of the golden slanted light streaming the natural bush. Honours

: 33. Dotterel Dinner Time (Novice) Lovely to see this bird in action. A great capture. There is lovely detail in the feathers. Honours

: 34. Tower and Shoes (Salon To me the graphic visual content of this image has been created to communicate a message. Perhaps French know how and ingenuity vs French fashion and glamour? Steel practical construction vs white lace perhaps impractical shoes. The rear shoe’s heel could have been moved to a bit to the right. This could easily be removed. Congratulations for trying something different. Highly commended

: 35. The heron is sitting, waiting and watching for an opportunity to come its way – perhaps a fish. The tyre on bottom right gives the image an urban feel. The visual flow or composition works well. The eye is sharp, but the feathers are not perhaps because of the wind The whites are blown out in the foreground and on top of the bird’s head You could try a time of day with softer light, or maybe a polariser would help with the whites. To Note: Nowadays nature photos of birds and all animals in fact, are awarded higher marks if they are doing something to show its characteristics or personality– e.g. doing something like catching a fish Highly Commended