SSA_012_FACING THE ELEMENTS.jpg

Achieved. I found it difficult to see this as a tryptic as the black border that contained the three images also made the white spaces in between stand out. This immediately drew my eye to the lines though out the entire image and distracted me from the creative work done on the hills. I like the way each set of hills has been treated differently. Each has its own defined space yet is blocked in by the border. I feel that the black and white treatment could do with a bit more light to improve them and draw attention away from the white lines separating them.

SSA_027_ARMAGEDDON; HOPE IS BUT A DREAM.jpg

Honours. This is a stunning piece of creativity! It is full of drama and dreamy colours. Very well done!

SSA_097_MULTI MIXUP.jpg

Achieved. An interesting abstract and the more I look at it, the more I see. In my opinion the image would be stronger if the photographer had put the brighter image underneath and each subsequent layer a little darker. This would have drawn me into the image instead of the bright centre pushing me out. Very creative

SSA_140_The Olde Shed.jpg

Achieved. A nicely balanced image of old bottles on a shelf in an old shed window. I am struggling to see the creative aspect to this image and feel it would be better served in the Open category.

SSA_092_WATER ABSTRACT.jpg

Achieved. The colourful reflections in the water create an interesting abstract with the swirls and patterns. In my opinion this image could be stronger if you cropped off the darker side and the black area in the top corner feels somewhat heavy compared to the rest of the image. Well seen.

SSA_080_Playtime.jpg

Honours. A stunning example of creative photography. The dark background draws the focus to the girl and the colours around her. I am sure much fun was had when creating this image. Well done!

SSB_021_THREE HEADS ON A SHED.jpg

Achieved. A good idea that has been let down a little by the execution. In my opinion the two left sheep appear to have more light than the first, the right hand one with more than the centre one. I also feel that the layers would have been lined up a little better at the top so there was a seamless dark line instead of the stepped line that is in the image. I believe with a little more work this could be a stunning image.

SSN_144_going ... going .... gone.jpg

Merit. This image of the moon looks like it may have been made during an eclipse. It is nicely done with the three stages of the moon matching the title well. I feel the image would be stronger if it was cropped a little on both sides to remove some of the dark areas – I don’t think they add anything to the image. Nicely done.

SSA_071_HARAKEKE TARTAN.JPG

Merit. On first glance this looked like someone had drawn lines then photographed them. Then I read the title and looked a bit harder. This is a very clever image. I love the symmetry and repeating patten and the two red lined keep my eye from drifting away. Nicely done.

SSN_146_FIREBIRD.jpg

Merit. This is one of the interesting abstracts that would be better without a title. Every time I look at this image, I see something different. I tis almost as if the lines readjust themselves into a different creature each time. I have no idea how the was created but it is clever.

SSN_148_LOOKING INTO THE PAST.jpg

Achieved. It took me a little while to warm to this image, however once I started noticing how the hills and the tree were lining up as if the tree was morphing into the mountain the image started to make more sense to me. I am unsure about the dark area on the left of the image and feel the cut off from the dark space to the hills is a little too stark. I can see much thought has gone into its creation.

SSA_095_CAT IN THE LAVENDER (1 of 1).JPG

Achieved. I can see what the photographer has tried to achieve here and feel it is very close. The area on the neck of the cat appears to be in shadow which has made the lavender plants appear to be growing out of the neck of the cat. I find the cat’s whiskers a little distracting also. Good attempt.

SSN_094_FIFTY SHADES OF PANSIES.jpg

Achieved. The purples and yellows of the flowers are very striking and the feel of movement in the image is just enough to be interesting. I unsure about the oval crop with the soft edge, I would have preferred to see the entire image. Good attempt.