BARREL RACING by SUZY WALKER

GRADE - HONOURS Barrel racing is about acceleration and cornering. This has captured the cornering bit as well as the beauty and strength of the horse as it pushes to the limit. A viewpoint that showed the face of either horse or rider would have been great, but not possible here. In spite of that, what you have caught gets an Honours.

DUSTY RIDE IN BAGAN by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - HONOURS Lovely backlighting gives this a very romantic feel, even though there is no sign of romance. A great feeling of warmth and depth.

ALIEN ENGINEER by MARTIN KOHN

GRADE - HONOURS A delightful piece of applied imagination, transforming a very real and solid rock formation into something totally “other worldly”. Every element has been well thought out and executed.

AFTER THE RAIN by SUZY WALKER

GRADE - HONOURS Simple, stark, to my eye well light to provide texture and accentuate the structure of the rose. I think this is an interesting (typically colourful) subject for monochrome treatment.

HAPPY EXPECTANCY by MARKETA STRACHOVA

GRADE - HONOURS I really enjoy the pure honesty of this image. It is conveyed to me by the joy on the woman’s face and what I read as the pride and apprehension on the face of her partner. I find the pale vignette works in this case to concentrate my eye on that lovely belly and their faces. One suggestion only – to move her arm down a fraction.

REFLECTING AT THE BAR by MARY HINSEN

GRADE - HONOURS Suggestive and presented with class. The symmetry and depersonalisation intrigue me. I feel the B&W range is handled with care (with distinction between the whites in the wine label, top and garment for example).

BLACK BIRD by SAM EVANS

GRADE - HONOURS To me, negative space is a creative tool. I think you have used it cleverly in this image. In combination with the silhouette this image poses lots of questions to me – more about photographer choices than the subject, which I enjoy. It has made the elements of interest stand out. Break the rules.

STRIPED DELIGHT by GILL KINGSTON

GRADE - HONOURS I think this is a great subject for B&W because it accentuates the visual disturbance of straight lines. Compositionally I feel the DOF concentrates the viewer on the action and keeps me focused on that reflection.

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD by VAL POHIO

GRADE - HONOURS I really enjoyed the numerous facets of almost voyeurism in this image that - to me – come together nicely to tell a discreetly observed slice of life. To me the facets – inside the café and the reflections in the glass – work because of the glance from the woman on the right. That engages me as does the fortuitous striped glove on her companion’s arm. Well seen, intriguing.

ANGEL TO BE by MARKETA STRACHOVA

GRADE - HONOURS I really enjoyed the sentiment of this image. I like the fact that the mother-to-be is mid step as – to me – that enhances the story of her journey that may not have been so well conveyed had she been statically posed. I also enjoy the brightness of the back ground which I feels give an ethereal feel to the outcome.

TESSA by KIMBERLEY HIBBS

GRADE - HONOURS Restful, languid and natural are the three descriptors that came immediately to mind about Tessa. Compositionally I like the visual interest that the slight diagonal of her pose, complimented by the background shapes gives the viewer. My only suggestion is to crop slightly more on the RH side to remove the distraction which is the slice of bright light towards the top of the image.

THREE FORKS by TONI CALDWELL

GRADE - HONOURS Cleverly done, with form, shape and shadow creating an abstract story that intrigues my eye. Have you tried this in B&W? I think it would have been an ideal image for this month’s set subject if you had.

UNTITLED by CATHERINE ANSELL

GRADE - HONOURS Now this one for a Novice is really well done. I think you have captured the essence of the situation perfectly. Exposure is great, and the background suitably sharp. My only comment re the composure would have been to wait till the Gondolier looked up and made him more lifelike. For a Novice this is tops.

SPIRALING by CHESTER ROSIE

GRADE - HONOURS This is an exciting image of the sky divers. And for a junior worker very good. I like the colour and the contrasts included. You have captured the action magnificently. My only suggestion would be to try the unsharp Mask in the 20.50. 0 setting as it will certainly boost the contrast dramatically.

FROZEN IN TIME by MARY HINSEN

GRADE - HONOURS This is certainly a creative interpretation of a portrait (Well is it really a portrait?). I certainly like the creativity that went into this image. The title certainly suits the image and I found myself coming back to it again and again trying to make my mind up about it. I really only have one criticism of the image and that is the darker brown around the eyes on the left hand model. Just distracts it slightly. I find myself in two minds about the image but decided that in B Grade I will give this

GHOST BUS by GILL KINGSTON

GRADE - HONOURS This is a very creative image, movement, Static, Colour it is all there. I have to say that this image sets a very high standard for the images I am considering this month. I could not think of any improvements or alternatives. Well done.

WELDING TIM by KATRINA HUGHES

GRADE - HONOURS A very good image of a man at work with the welding equipment. The action is well set out and very clear. I think this would be improved with a little less contrast (Try the shadow highlights tools in the computer). I am sure this would improve this image even more. I do like the image. In the novice section of this set subject this is tops!

SHEARING SHED BANTER by MARY HINSEN

GRADE - HONOURS Yes this is just like it is in reality. Hard work but lots of fun! Actually the support staff in a woolshed are a crucial part of the operation. This one captures this woman wool handler giving back as much as she gets. Crisp, sharp and well captured.

STUD IN THE HANDS OF A PRO by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - HONOURS Now this one really captures the essence of the work shearers do in lifting the fleece off a sheep and particularly a Merino Ram. This image is crisp and sharp. The Mono suits it really well and it fulfils the criteria for the subject perfectly. I wish I had taken it.

COLOURFUL PAST by KIMBERLEY HIBBS

GRADE - HONOURS I like the fact that you have not shown us the whole vehicle. We do not need to see the whole thing. Our imaginations will fill that in and it make us think more about the image. Lovely textures and colours with good detail.

OLD HOUSE by VAL POHIO

GRADE - HONOURS I like the composition of this house. Your eye travels along the house taking in all the detail and the trees on the right stop your eye from going out of the image. The little bit of tree in the top left is intrusive. Either clone it out or put a lot more in that side. The muted colours enhance the feeling in the image. Nice use of a texture overlay.

FORGOTTEN by TONI CALDWELL

GRADE - HONOURS The low angle really makes this image. Your eye is forced along the floorboards to the far end then up to the top of the image. I like that you did not straighten the upright perspective as it would have made it too clinical. Lovely detail in the image.

TESSA by TONI CALDWELL

GRADE - HONOURS This image has a wonderful feel to it. It is dreamy and wistful. Just to be picky you could blur out the stripy collar so that it does not take your eye away from the face.

LOOKING FOR THE LIGHT by MARY HINSEN

GRADE - HONOURS A beautiful use of light in this portrait. The look on his face is a bit difficult to fatham and is not a usual pose but it does make the image different which grabs attention. The face is nicely placed within the frame.

THE HEART IS PROTECTED BY MANY LAYERS by JEN LEWIS

GRADE - HONOURS Apart from the title being a bit of a mouthful, this is an interesting approach to the set subject. Although this does have a few obvious clues as to what it is, it’s a very clever concept, and I love the way the lighting hits the focal point of ‘the heart’ and then quietly dwindles away across the rest of the image. Everything is sharp with excellent detail and the mono tones are a great choice for this image. Well done.

LAYERED by TONI CALDWELL

GRADE - HONOURS The simplicity of the composition, makes this image very easy on the eye, and the mono magenta-like tones are relaxing to look at. Contextual information is absent, which makes this well suited for the set subject. The success of this image is due to all the layers being uneven, and all having different tones of the same colour. Well put together, with a border that compliments the picture.

CURVATURE by VAL POHIO

GRADE - HONOURS This image very much meets the criteria of the set subject. It is void of any contextual info (apart from the title), with the curve acting as a strong focal point. The grainy effect of the mono tones adds a kind of eye-catching texture to it all. A simple composition that is well thought out. Perhaps this is the best example of the set subject, in this competition.

DOOR TO THE PAST by SANDRA DANN

GRADE - HONOURS The design of this composition, is visually eye-catching and very interesting. The horizontal plane of the wall boards, lead the eye through the picture to the doorway to the distant landscape scene. The low camera angle has worked very well, and the light coming in from the left and hitting the wall on the right, adds significant impact. The shapes and textures of the wall boards, add to the theme of “the past”. Well seen – excellent work.

OLD CROMWELL TOWN by GILL KINGSTON

GRADE - HONOURS The ‘cold’ colour tones contrast well against the sombre background of the sky and the surrounding hills. This place looks deserted and quite desolate – no people on the street, with only that dear old car giving a hint of somebody being in town. Looks like a little “computer magic” has been used to create the overall effect, which I think, adds greatly to the mood of it. Well done.

ALICIA by VAL POHIO

A very strong portrait, with big extremes of contrast. The B &W medium is well suited to this image. One could be tempted to crop the left side with all the negative black space, but I think that would spoil the whole effect. The lighting on the girl’s face is perfect for this image, and the few hazy lights at the left, gives it the “night” mood. Overall, it is a very strong image, which borders on being ‘fine art’. Excellent work.

ME AND MY GIRLS by JUBY JOSEPH

GRADE - HONOURS I gave this image top ranking for several reasons. Firstly it conveys the magic and delight provided by the illuminations. It invites both emotional and intellectual responses, and is supported by a well thought out composition, colour contrast, and a good control of exposure. I particularly like the way you allowed a blue line to overlap with the mouth. This helps to downplay the gummy smile while diverting full attention to the sparkling eyes.

LOST IN THOUGHT by TONI CALDWELL

GRADE - HONOURS A soft high key study which is in keeping with the title. However this is an image which offers other kinds of interpretation upon repeated visits. Some of the questions we might ask are, who is she, where is she, to what are her eyes directed, and what is the relevance or symbolism of, the hair over her mouth, the foreground out of focus barriers, and the rough window frame? To what extent might she be captive in either a physical or psychological sense. The monochromatic/sepia rendition also provides a somewhat timeless aspect. This is an image of substance.

THE LAST JOURNEY by PHIL GREEN

GRADE - HONOURS A delightful image giving me a big story of where we are and the lighting is soft and enjoyable. The high point of view looking down works very well. A well thought out image.

TIME GONE BY by SANDRA DANN

GRADE - HONOURS A very creative work and I like the three main objects. The flowers are a great base to the story even if a little soft. The background screen/wall compliments the set.

SKETCHY TREES by TONI CALDWELL

GRADE - HONOURS The colour palette is very pleasing in this. Does the hand help it? It certainly make sit interesting, I think quite creative and Queenstown started the ‘hand’ craze with Jackie Ranken’s series ☺ I would have liked the pen to be angled slightly but that is a minor point.

UNEXPECTEDLY WET by MARY HINSEN

GRADE - HONOURS This photo is full of emotion..some laugh in the rain, but not this lass. It is a looks can kill image ! Sharp eyes, great water running down her neck. Good placement on the third.

APRICOT CANOPY by JO BOYD

GRADE - HONOURS I like the pattern you have created here, well balanced. Could be a fabric or wall paper design – the white sky for once works to your advantage. Well done

AURORA1 by JAKUB SOLTYSIAK

GRADE - HONOURS Your viewpoint has been well chosen for this panorama, including sky,urban region, landmass, shoreline and aurora . It is well rendered and includes a number of areas of interest, brought together into an unified whole by the triangular land-shape; linking the main urban dwellings, with the aurora; held together, under the umbrella of the star studded sky.

CLOSE CALL by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - HONOURS Sure is. A great rodeo shot. Great action, and tells a lot about rodeo, without many of the distractions, which often clutter these shots. I love the absolute 'unconcernedness" but passive interest of the viewers in the background. The salivating intent bull, The actions of what I think is the decoy runner, attracting the bull away from a lost rider, is great excitement. It takes a lot of courage, to be placed in that situation, of escaping an intent bull.

SEEKING A WAY OUT by MARY HINSEN

GRADE - HONOURS Is a very creative use of the space available and projects the viewer's mind from the readily seen, into a third dimension. The title is so apt . The choice of lighting adds to the drama . The beads of moisture , the vertical lines of the books and the horizontal lines of the shelves, enhance the entrampment story . The vignetting into darkness a great choice . I suggest a 4-5 pixel border in white, in case the image is projected on a black background. So that the viewer can understand the boundaries of the image, which although unusual, empower, the depressive nature of the space used.