| Title | Format | Rating | Full Name | Comments |
| Fire | Colour | 1 | Christine Anderson | This image has a very neon feel to it. Maybe a nightclub or street scene in the back streets of town. I am not sure the border adds to the story. Perhaps the bright colour detracts from the image itself. A successful image that perhaps tells each viewer a different story. Acceptance. |
| Abstract in Blue | Colour | 3 | Christine Anderson | The symmetry of this image is pleasing on the eye and the black background enhances the pink and blue palette. I wonder again as to the border which seems to contain the delicate movement. The one small item that catches my eye is the aqua colour lower left. It could be removed, I feel that would bring this image to a higher level. Well done and well presented. Merit. |
| Better Without Them | Colour | 3 | Margaret Hooper | A striking portrait of this pooch. Certainly there seems to be personality to burn. Is this creative? I guess the glasses make it so, but I really feel the image would win in spades in a portrait competition. The reflections in the sunnies are rather distracting and could be toned down several levels, not entirely removed but enough that the viewer is not trying to make out what can be seen. The sunnies are well placed in so far as we can see the mischief in the subjects eyes. Altogether a pleasing image. Merit |
| Thats A Good One | Colour | 7 | Margaret Hooper | Well this is a super creative image. Well set up and perhaps showing the authors quirky sense of humour. The colour palette is well chosen. The one thing that lets the image down slightly is the execution. When placing images into a background pay particular attention to the edges. A few areas need a tidy up and replacing, for example the gorgeous red hair on the right side of the left model, and maybe the edges of the black hat. The border in this instance really works. Not only is this image creative but it is successful because it has made this viewer laugh. Honours |
| Oil and Water | Colour | 5 | Jack Horlock | The author has spent a great deal of time and patience to get this image just right. Symmetry and colour palette can not be faulted. Very well executed. Highly Commended. |
| Falling Feather | Monochrome | 7 | Jack Horlock | Another very creative image. The lighting is perfect and the choice of monochrome excellent. The feeling of movement is very evident and the thought pattern very creative. Well done to the image maker. Honours. Runner up |
| glass ball | Colour | 5 | Aaron Skelton | A very colourful and well executed image. It certainly is eye catching and creative. One small suggestion, perhaps the yellow rings and the top of the image could be toned down a little. I am sure you all know that the eye is always drawn to the lightest part of an image and unfortunately there it tends to stay. Toning down those rings would draw the viewer to settle on the central ball which is fascinating and has its own story to tell. Highly Commended |
| water drop puddle | Colour | 3 | Aaron Skelton | Someone has seen something here that most of us would miss. The shape of the puddle itself is quite fascinating and using your imagination one can see all sorts of images. The one thing I found a little disturbing is the sharpness of the central drop. I wondered ..and tried.. blurring it ever so slightly. The crisp sharpness of the puddle edge seemed to be sufficient to allow for the blur and not draw your eye front and centre and perhaps miss all the other interesting details.. Maybe though that is what you wanted to accentuate to the viewer as per the name, if so my bad and I stand corrected. The inclusion of the fern and the wee splash of green is an excellent touch. Merit. |
| A flower twirl | Colour | 3 | Ruth Mooney | Pleasant blend of colour in this image and just the right amount of twirl. One small suggestion, there is one petal on the right that has a very sharp edge, perhaps blurring it ever so slightly would make it blend more. I know that when you are working on images you tend not to see something others might. Make an image, leave it for a couple of weeks, then revisit. You usually pick up minor details yourself. It is the little things that often make a huge difference in a score. This image reminded me of a ballerina. Well done. Merit. |
| A swirl of smoke | Colour | 5 | Ruth Mooney | A striking image that is very pleasing to the eye. The border is perhaps unnecessary as it stifles the wonderful feeling of movement within the smoke. This image is extremely well lit. Well done to the image maker. Highly Commended. |
| Shells In A Bottle | Colour | 1 | Rose Tantau | Some creative thought patterns in this image. Perhaps the shells could be toned down just a tad to bring out the delicate colours in them. The muted and slightly blurry reflections work well. Acceptance |
| Glitz And Glamour | Colour | 3 | Rose Tantau | And a little razzmatazz, this is a very cheerful image that conjures up all sorts of thoughts. You have been creative with the border treatment but I am not really convinced the image needs it. Allowing the lines to flow from the edges adds to the feeling of movement. Altogether a pleasing image. Merit |
| Bubbles | Colour | 5 | Stacey Townsend | The swirl of colour in the oil adds much to the image as does the odd shapes surrounding them. The way the outer ring holds the image together works very well. I was put in mind of Hal the bad computer from 2001 a space odyssey. I am sure a lot of you remember that movie. Highly Commended |
| Bubble Bonanza | Colour | 3 | Stacey Townsend | Perhaps it is my quirky sense of humour but I found this image creative on two levels. Can anyone see what I mean. Look carefully. I am not offering any clues but when you see it let Ruth know. I would be interested to see how many of you look with creative eyes. I did find the sharp edges surrounding each bubble a little distracting. Perhaps a swipe with the blur tool at 50% opacity and slight crop on the right to eliminate the bubble on the very edge would balance the image. Altogether though a very creative effect. Merit |
| Face In Flame | Colour | 1 | Phillip Shaw | Good use of colour in this image. It puts me in mind of a bone carving. Try flipping it vertically and see what you think. Be careful about backgrounds, there are a few blemishes that need to be cloned out. A very cheerful image. Acceptance |
| Creative Flower | Colour | 1 | Barbara Herman | Good choice of the pencil effect on this image. Sometimes such an effect brings out the finer detail often overlooked. What seems like a stem bottom right is a little distracting and could perhaps be removed. Well handled Acceptance. |
| Spooked Retreat | Monochrome | 5 | Noel Herman | The monochromatic palette works well, as does the effect used. This image has huge potential to be taken to a much higher level if you have the time. A ghostly figure with a parasol perhaps?? As presented though it is still a successful image. Highly Commended |
| Kauri Reaching For Sky | Colour | 1 | Noel Herman | This image gives the feeling of how mighty our Kauri trees can be. Try rotating to a horizontal view and see what you thing to make an image more creative. Sometimes being brave and thinking outside the square really gives a different perspective. The sunlight showing thru the leaves is a nice touch. Acceptance |
| The Campfire | Colour | 7 | Barbara Herman | What a brilliant storybook set up. The more you look into this image the more you will find. I really like all the hidden details. Perhaps toning the foreground down a little would also concentrate the eye more on the detail in the campfire. Well thought out and set up. Honours - Winner |
| Round and Round | Colour | 5 | Karen Newton | Well presented and the colours really harmonize. The composition also works very well. Highly Commended |
| Daisy | Colour | 1 | Karen Newton | The softness of focus works well here There are also areas where the pixels seem to be breaking up which is distracting. Colour palette is very harmonious. Acceptance |
| A Quiet Place | Colour | 7 | Pamela Stephen | This image shows the title in spades. The suns rays coming thru the trees is a real bonus. The texture on the moss is almost touchable. The light areas of sky right hand top are very distracting. Cloning or content aware fill would really take this image to the top of the list. Still very happy to give this image Honours - Runner up |
| Waterdrop | Colour | 3 | Pamela Stephen | Well executed and presented image. The delicacy of the grass holding the droplet against a well handled background is excellent. Merit |
| Tree Dreams | Colour | 3 | Donna Russell | Very impressionistic. The effect works well as does the colour pallet. I wonder about blurring the edges a little more to soften the trees and background, just a little. That would draw your eye down the path and into Dreamtime. Well done Merit. |
