SSA_071_WAITING TO BE TOWED.jpg

Merit. Another interesting take on the set subject, with the lines of the water, the banks of the path and the fence all leading to where the vehicles are. Having participated in several 4wd off-roading experiences myself. I’m sure these people know what they are doing and are having a great day doing it. The placement of the red ute in the frame is very good and I like the panoramic crop of the image, this helps give strength to the lines. As nice as the image is, it would have been great to see a little more action, from the vehicles, water or mud splashing up from the spinning tyres or from the movement of the vehicle, through the water.

OPA_071_PASQUE FLOWER SEED HEAD.jpg

Merit. This image has lovely detail in the seed head. The exposure and colour tones are also very nice. The background is out of focus, which helps make the seed head stand out from it. There is a little detail in the background with lots of highlights and shadows creating some patterns and shapes. I would have preferred if there was more blur, enough to make the background more of a singular shade or colour, with less contrast. This is not always possible, as the only ways to achieve this would be, to either change the background, move the subject further away from the background or have a larger Aperture opening e.g f2.8. Having a larger Aperture would probably mean losing some of the depth of focus on the seed head itself, which you would not want to do. Still a nice image that showcases this seed head well.

FTA_071_DEATH TO THE WILDINGS.jpg

Accepted. A good exploration of ICM through shutter speed. However the end result is quite jarring and a slower shutter and/or stronger pan would have given the image a smoother finish

FTA_071_DEAD OR ALIVE.JPG

Merit Great use of leading lines and a intriguing point of view. The subbtle cloud are a lovely find.

SSA_071_A MOMENT IN TIME.jpg

Merit. You have indeed seized a moment in time to frame the paraglider between the buildings. Nicely seen and nicely composed. I felt that the image was a little underexposed and adjusting the exposure might well have made the paraglider more prominent in the image. Overall, a well composed image in my opinion.

OPA_071_TRICHROMATIC.jpg

Merit. I ejoyed the impressionist approach with a slight blur to make the hues stand out as the subject matter. I also liked the use of diagonal lines which gave me a feeling of instability and imply a feeling of motion throughout the image. Overall a nice image, although I found I could get a strong connection to the story.I felt that if the image had more contrast I would have had a stronger connection

SSA_071_NATURE'S TAPESTRY.jpg

Achieved. The carpet plants provide a velvety backdrop for the spikier flowering plants in this image. The scene appears well lit but flat. The lighter hillock at the top of the image drew my attention away from the flowers and seems too close to the edge of the frame. Try converting the image to monochrome and applying different colour filters fto find a more dramatic treatment.

OPA_071_DUNE DINGY.jpg

Merit. I was drawn to the contrast between the textures of the grass and the clouds, with the boat acting as a focus of attention in this image. The flatness of the tones diminishes the impact of the image. Increasing the contrast and saturation would strengthen the image by enhancing the different textures in the grass and the sky.

OPA_071_GRACEFUL FLUIDITY.jpg

Honours. In my opinion the title leads us to a beautifully crafted, graceful image with lovely lines and a subtle focus point. I enjoy the skilful camera work as well as artistic finishing off of the image.

SSA_071_VOICES FOR FREEDOM RALLY.jpg

Achieved. For me this image is an effective record of the placards presented regarding this social issue but hasn’t added anything further. I find the backs of the people and receding line of people a distraction and wonder if I am missing the point of your choices.

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.

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.

SSA_071_IN WINTER'S GRIP.jpg

Achieved. I feel you must have been brave to venture out into such a blizzard. In my view the image is dominated by the light tones at right and across the top quarter of the frame. Consequently, I found it challenging to look into the other parts of the image to see the textures and shapes that existed there as my eye kept being pulled to these brighter tones. I wondered if my connection to the image would have been stronger if the exposure of the image was brightened overall – maybe a high key feel would create a feeling more like a whiteout, emphasising winter’s grip?

OPA_071_THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS.jpg

Merit. For me, the story needs to come from the visual elements of the image. The Day of the Triffids suggests the image is about the John Wyndham novel in which most people are blinded by a meteor story and this is followed by a species of mobile plants becoming a human killer. Take care with making titles, as the image is the means by which you convey your feelings about what you have put into your frame. I did not find any connection from your visual story to the narrative I have read in that famous novel. I did enjoy the image that provided an abstract view of plant features, textures, lines and shapes. In this sense I felt the image created a sense of intrigue and revelation about this plant.

OPA_071_Transcendental.jpg

Achieved. I’ve enjoyed the quiet feeling of this image. There seem to me that there is a translucent fragility where colours overlay other elements such as highlights and lines . There is a heavy dark area on the right which seems to weigh the image heavily, on the right. Perhaps the author might like to try a square crop to remove the dark area, which could perhaps shift the balance, but overall I enjoyed the delicacy of the colours and lines. Evocative of fine silk or plumes of smoky incense.

SSA_071_DUTCH BAROQUE CANAL HOUSES.jpg

Achieved. As an English speaking person who reads from left to right, I find this image hard to read, as the composition is weighted to the right, and my eye must to go left to read it. I have to assess the image as it is presented, looking left, but it feels uncomfortable to me. Be that as it may, there is some lovely interest in the detail, with people, cycles, shop fronts, box gardens and the architectural details of the facades of buildings themselves. Good verticals and colours, and the sun is in the right place for the scene to be seen at its best.

OPA_071_WAFTING IN THE BREEZE.jpg

Honours.

SSA_071_TEACUP TOWER.jpg

Achieved.

SSA_071_DISTORTED REALITY.JPG

Merit. As an abstract, the patterns of the reflections of the building are very exciting and work well. I feel that the files and diplomas in the middle pane disrupt the fluidity of the image. Try cloning them out to see if you agree

OPA_071_SERENITY.JPG

Merit. I could sit for hours looking at the sun kissed yellow and orange hues in the sky, watching the birds enjoy the solitude. The reflection is gorgeous. To strengthen the image, I would crop the total black area from the bottom, putting the horizon on the bottom third. Suddenly, the landscape and reflection becomes stronger.

SSA_071_NOAH.JPG

Achieved. With the camera movement, the water and the gravel combine quite seamlessly to provide an unobtrusive background to Noah. I assume from his stance that Noah is threatening to take a dive. He's well placed in the frame and it's good to be able to see his features quite well in spite of the movement. To add interest I suggest you consider a vignette by darkening the existing colours, because apart from the figure there is no variation within the frame.

OPA_071_AUTUMN GOLD.JPG

Honours. I love the way the darkness on the left gives way to colour, the smaller trunks to the larger and brighter as the eye moves across the frame. The camera movement has been very well done to simplify and create the feeling of upwards thrust. Although it is a very complete image I do feel that it could be improved by progressively darkening again on the right from that strong trunk just right of centre which would make it the undisputed focal point. Having done that I suggest just a slight increase in saturation. Good work.

SSA_071_BAGPIPER.JPG

Achieved. Good subject that certainly fits the criteria.

OPA_071_HARRIS'S TUSSOCK BUTTERFLY.JPG

Merit. A strong photo. Could be adjusted in post production for more contrast and tone for better impact.

SSA_071_SPEARGRASS WEEVIL.JPG

Achieved. Enjoyed both the subject matter and the colour palette. There is some great details in the shot but really wish the point of focus was on the head of the critter rather than the legs.

OPA_071_BLUE DAMSELFLY.JPG

Merit. Wonderful creature, well seen and composed. To improve you could have twisted so that that both diagonals come from the bottom corners and that would have also removed the yellow distraction on the bottom left.

OPA_071_FROZEN IN TIME.JPG

Merit. A nice artistic image, I like the thought that has gone into creating it. The square crop works well and I like the little ice bubble below the middle flower. My only comment would be to try a vignette to slightly darken the edges to lift the image a bit. Lovely colours and textures.

SSA_071_BROWN-EYED GIRL.JPG

Achieved. Nice lighting and her expression is delightful. Lovely skin tones. I feel the crop is a bit tight on the base cutting off her chin. I would recommend a crop off the left side to help tighten the composition. Using a greater depth of field or moving back a bit would have helped to make both her eyes and nose sharp.

FT_071_NEAREST PUB.JPG

FT_071_FLOWER FIELDS.JPG

FT_071_DRAGONFLY.JPG

TWO

FT_071_NEVIS HUT.JPG

SSA_071_FLU JAB, COVID19.JPG

Merit. COVID-19 - very topical, we did the same car park flu injection. Tells the story very well

OPA_071_ A TIME TO REFLECT.JPG

Merit. well seen and executed well showing the triangles. Lovely colour tones. That looks a hard slog up the hill.

SSA_071_OUT OF THE BLUE.JPG

Merit. I like the title. The eyes are clear and sharp with lovely attention to the details. Because of the head wear I am drawn to the eyes. I suggest that next time chose a scarf that has a less dominant pattern as I find the white on this one distracting from the beautiful eyes. A vignette I feel would have helped too, to darken the outside and so draw me into the middle of the image. The composition, with the eyes on the diagonal and the close crop help me to focus on the eyes.

OPA_071_GOLDEN WILLOW.JPG

Honours. I would never have picked that this image was a tree. It looks more like material . I love that abstract look and all the flow that is here. The bright straight line in the middle I feel could have been darkened a tad. I like the way the lighter part is to the right and then darker at the edges. An intriguing image I feel.

SSA_071_ DEEP IN THE TANGLED WOODS.JPG

Achieved. Here I see a basically oval design of complex, overlapping and interlocking branches. The centre is brighter, while there is a broad, darkened vignette around the outside, with hints of foliage. The feeling is gloomy and ominous. This image is well titled and suits the BW treatment, but it does feel very solid – a bit too dark in places.

OPA_071_GOLDEN SHARDS.JPG

Merit. An abstract pattern made up of repeated and varied long angular shapes, some superimposed on others, and glowing with golden lighting. The main centre of interest seems to me the bright shapes just right of centre, then the other shapes fade off into darkness. Pleasing to look at, while not knowing how it was achieved! It seems there may be something below the bottom edge that the shapes and lights are coming from, so there is a slight feeling of incompleteness for me.

SSA_071_OUT OF THE BLUE.JPG

Merit. – I like it and my eye is arrested as I try to read the message in the sky. [Or is it the sky?] To add to the ‘one predominant colour’ subject could you crop a small amount off the right hand side to eliminate the yellow? This image is full of questions and I like it.

OPA_071_EMERGING FROM THE FOG.JPG

Merit. I like the mood you have captured here and I think the branches add to it. Good separation of the silhouettes. Well done.

SSA_071_BACK TO THE MOTHERSHIP.JPG

Achieved. I'm glad your title clarifies that the mothership is actually stationary and you are heading to 'it' otherwise I would have to say, 'prepare yourself' as a giant ship is bearing down on you. I like the strong angles of the portal and edge of the ship deck that are parallel which also forms part of a 45° corner. Well captured and exposed it's quite geometric but it's lines and angles are softened somewhat by the little bit of cloud at the aft of the ship.

OPA_071_POPPY.JPG

Merit. Fabulous colours. You have captured the tissue -like petals of the poppy and the stamens are sharp. Your shallow depth of field has enabled you to achieve this lovely soft background. The soft pastel purple areas above and below the poppy worked well in the colour scheme. The only small thing I would suggest is to crop off about half the distance between the flower and the edge on the right, making the image more of a square. You would still retain your lovely background colours yet eliminate some waste space. Add to that, a square is a very strong shape for a round flower to sit in.

OPA_071_MOSSY REBIRTH.JPG

Acceptance. A scene that we see on our walks but don't always stop to enjoy. The fingers of green are leading lines that lead us to the tree. There is a peacefulness to the image. I find my eye darting around the image looking for a focal point of interest. The fallen tree on the right hand side takes my eye out of the shot. Maybe the author might like to consider a crop to a portrait format so we can focus on the main part. A vignette might be considered to assist in focusing our eye. A simper shot would be a stronger one in my opinion.

SSA_071_OTTER.JPG

Acceptance. The wet head of the otter is sharp and we can almost see the scene in its eye. In my opinion I would like to see more of the environment and what the animal is doing in that environment to get a feel for the story. Maybe the author has got more similiar images that they can consider.

SSA_071_CURLY WURLY STEMMED POPPY.JPG

Acceptance. This is an intriguing shot. The two elements create contrast for the eye. Nicely seen.

SSA_071_CAUGHT ON A BRANCH.JPG

Honours. This is a nice simple composition but could be cropped in further. The diagonal line gives it good direction.

OPB_071_ WHAT A MOUTHFUL.JPG

HONOURS Congratulations on making an image with the bird actually doing something interesting! The berry in the mouth, the bird near the third and the great use of DoF make this a lovely image. Immediately engaging.

SSB_071_RED CLOVER (Trifolium pratense).JPG

Accepted. To me this image is characterised with nice composition, adequate focus and great use of DoF. I suggest that it may be even more effective if the flower was larger in the frame. Cropping in from the right may achieve that and may also cause the strong green of the bokeh to be less distracting. But as stated above the photographer has used a number of basic principles well. In my opinion it just needs a bit more flair.

Yvonne Assie_071_A BIT TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.JPG

OPB_071_LEAF SKELETON.JPG

MERIT Good use of black and white to keep the viewers eye focused on the lines and textures of the leaf., well lit, sharp and technically well handled. Just lacks that extra something which for me is an emotional connection to take it to a higher grade. I need an Image to in someway connect and move me.