OPA_012_OMINOUS.jpg

Achieved. The dark sky shows the promise of a storm brewing, yet the soft fluffy clouds don’t quite fit that narrative in my opinion. It feels to me that perhaps there was a lot of wind stirring up the waves however the use of a vignette has made the waves in the fore ground seem dull and dark. I like the band of green through the centre of the waves and feel the image would be stronger if this colour wasn’t dampened elsewhere. Composition wise the image is good; my eye is taken on a journey around the image from the misty hills to the fluffy clouds.

OPA_027_MEN AT WORK.jpg

Achieved. There is a lot happening in this image, the machinery working creating dust around the worksite. The men seem very small in comparison to the diggers. I feel this image could be improved with a lighter vignette as the heavy dark areas draw me away from the centre of the image instead of highlighting the place of action. Good composition.

OPA_097_SLICE AND DICE.JPG

Merit. A nicely composed image of cheese and vegetables both sliced and diced. I enjoyed the play on words with the one piece made into a dice. In my opinion the vignette is a little heavy and detracts rather than adds to the image.

OPA_140_Surprise Attack!.jpg

Honours. This is a spectacular action shot of the two seals. The eye is so intense. I like the softer background and the capture of movement in the water in the foreground. Very well done!

OPA_092_ICE TIME.jpg

Achieved. I am looking at this image wondering how the photographer has captured this moment in time – clearly, they are on the same rock face. I could be wrong but that is what my mind is telling me. Not a place I would want to be that’s for sure. I would have liked to have seen the climber’s face, the concentration of where to make the next move. In my opinion that would elevate this from a record of an event, to an adventure shot.

OPA_080_Glenorchy Wizard.jpg

Honours. This took me back to the movie theatre when I was watching Gandalf in Lord of the Rings. He is a good-looking wizard! I like the directional light coming in from the left of the image. Nicely done.

OPN_121_runDogRun.jpg

Honours. This image could have been placed in the creative category. I love the intentional camera movement in this image, the dog is clearly defined, yet the speed in which it is moving has given the photographer the opportunity for a lovely creative image. I feel that there are a few distractions along the top of the image and would recommend cropping it at the top a little to remove the distractions and make the image stronger, however I am willing to ignore them and enjoy the dog. Nicely done.

OPN_144_where was that rock again.jpg

Merit. An action shot with impending danger. I would have liked to have seen the person’s face but appreciate that is not always possible. The power of the water is clearly seen and the red of the canoe adds a nice pop of colour.

OPA_071_LUNCHING IN THE RAIN.jpg

Merit. The photographer has captured the many colours of the kereru well in this image. The bright yellow of the kowhai flower just adds a little more pop. I like that the water droplets have been captured and the detail in the features is very good. I would recommend adding a little fill light over the head of the kereru to make it stand out a little more. Nice soft background behind the bird.

OPB_021_OUTSTANDING IN HIS FIELD.jpg

Honours. I love this image, the beautiful soft pastel colours of the sunset or sunrise, the silhouetted foreground with the cow definitely out standing in HER field. Well done!

OPN_148_BRUSH STROKES IN THE SKY.jpg

Merit. This is a well seen cloud formation that has been nicely captured. The soft white lines looking just like brush strokes in the sky. I like how the whites have been handled in this image with no blown highlights. Good composition.

OPN_146_THE MOTH AND THE MOUNTAIN.jpg

Achieved. The plane is nicely focused, though I hope it turned before it got too close to that mountain top. The colours in this image don’t feel quite right to me as there are blown out highlights in the snow with the light coming from the left, and yet I don’t see similar light on the plane. A good attempt.

OPA_095_CENTRE PIECE (1 of 1).JPG

Merit. Lots of detail and texture in the petals of the flower, and the centre of it looks like a flower in its own right – the perfect centre piece. In my opinion this image could be improved by adjusting the exposure a little to give it a bit more “life” or punch. Great composition and beautiful sharp stamens and petals.