TIMELESS LOVE by Rowena Richards

GRADE - NOT ACCEPTED Obviously, a lot of thought has gone into this image, but I’m not convinced that I’m looking at shadows (other than that any photograph is, in some way a shadow). I’m going to “kick for touch” and not make an award, so that you can use it in a different class.

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.

DARE TO DREAM by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - HONOURS The tonal range in this image is great and the lighter skin tones of the face draw you straight to her expression. The darker areas around the edges contain the image nicely while the placement of her arm and hand form a strong triangular composition that allows you to explore the image while always returning to the face.

PIGEON MANIA by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - HONOURS What a wonderful subject for use of a slow shutter speed. The effect from a combination of deliberate movement by the photographer and the movement of the birds has created an amazing image full of interest. The framing of the shot with the tree is the perfect touch.

MANIOTOTO REFLECTIONS by MANIOTOTO REFLECTIONS

GRADE - MERIT The misty dullness hanging in the hilltops makes me feel the cold, damp conditions which are evident. The image is roughly divided into two parts and one tends to concentrate on the upper half rather than the reflections. By adjusting the composition in post production or moving the camera angle downwards, I feel more emphasis could have been placed on the reflection. Otherwise, a lovely landscape image.

RODEO MADNESS by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - HONOURS A great action shot. Very photo journalistic. For some reason I feel sorry for the steer. His eye seems to show just how frightened or angry he is. The fast shutter speed has stopped the action and made for a good image. Everyone in the image is looking towards the focal point. And one of the ranch hands appears to be recording his own image on an iPhone. Composition is excellent.

YANGON LOCAL by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - MERIT To me this tells a straight forward, accurate story of a timeless scene. I like the way you have caught the cigarette smoke and the side light that accentuates the wear on this woman’s face. I find the bright light on the wall draws my eye away from her face and think that the lack of engagement with your subject leads me to feel a bit observational rather than engaged.

NYAUNG SHWE CANAL MYANMAR by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - MERIT What a burst of colour here. Is this over saturated? To me your choice of shutter speed has created a feeling of quite frenetic movement amidst a riot of local colour. I feel the crop has left the boat quite constrained in terms of room to move in to. I find your point of focus interesting – and empty. To me it tells a story of the boatman rushing to find a fare.

SHWEDAGON PAGODA YANGON by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - ACCEPTANCE This image is very creative for a Novice worker. I like the concept but unfortunately there is so many components of the image that the intent of it is lost on me. Surely there was enough interest In a single pagoda without the use of the multiple exposures. Keep to the old KISS principle “Keep It Simple Son”

ABANDONED by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - MERIT And has been for some time. Great subject. I think though that you could have done more with it. Some creative angle or viewpoint would have lifted it up to the next level. Good colours and sharpness.

DANCING WITH THE DRAGONS by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - MERIT What a novel idea. For me the mirror image does not work as both sides are competing for attention. I also find it a bit over processed and would like to see the dust/flour blurred out a bit to give it a bit more movement.

REFLECTIONS by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - ACCEPTANCE The colours and patterns of this subtle abstract are easy on the eye, and pleasant to look at, but after a short while, the novelty wears off for the lack of a strong focal point. This is one with lots of potential – it already has the artistic and creative touch. With a little more thought about the composition, I can see this image reaching new heights.

ALL FOGGED UP by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - MERIT A sort of ‘abstract’ appeal about this portrait. The facial features (and especially the eyes), are strongly depicted, and the model’s stark expression with direct eye-contact, adds to the allure of it. Unfortunately, I think the ‘fogging’ of the mouth downwards, makes the lady look like she has a beard, which to a certain extent, takes away some of the effect. However, it is an “intensely” interesting portrait, with strong creative influences.

VIVID FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - ACCEPTANCE This is an interesting wider view with pleasing colour contrast. The inclusion of the spectators suggests this is a special event rather than a daily occurrence. Some cropping off the top and right would improve the composition while a small darkening of the mid tones in the top left quadrant, and of the highlight tones at centre, would remove some of the present looseness.

CLOSE CALL by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - ACCEPTANCE This is an intriguing if rather odd rodeo shot. The dusty background of spectators gives a sense of place which is good. However, the fast shutter speed has rather frozen the dust around the bull which almost looks like a carcass in its strangely prone state. If cropped to include just the cowboy and the front half of the bull, you could entitle it “Stabbed in the Back”!

ONCE PROUD by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - MERIT I think this is a great old vehicle for the subject. Another judge might be different but I feel the detail extraction is over-done, I think it has lots its reality and sharpness at the expense of the detail. Or perhaps you could have taken it further and made it solarised or something wacky. It is a good composition and a pleasant image.

VIVID AT SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - MERIT Isn’t this an amazing festival. It is very difficult to add that extra to this image to make it your own work a supposed to a record shot of what you saw. This is a great family album image – is it an Honours image? No, but I like the star burst and the reflection. If you had taken this just after dusk the sky would have been an indigo instead of black – then maybe an honours

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.

OTEMATATA MILKY WAY by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - MERIT I think this was a very well chosen subject matter, to contrast against the beauty of 'space' I enjoy particularly the rest for the eyes on the constellation just above centre left which I believe is an area that takes in Antares (the heart of scorpio) and is called Rho Ophiuchi. The eerieness of the old building could be further enhanced by cloning out some of the highlit vegetation at the lower right corner. A lovely image.

HYPOLIMNAS COMMON EGGFLY MATING by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - HONOURS Well seen and well captured.

ROSE by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - ACCEPTANCE An interesting take on a much photographed flower.however I found the white branch to the right competing for attention and making my eye jump around the Image instead of settling on the rose itself.

URBAN ARCHITECTURE by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - ACCEPTANCE Personally, I would crop the right side off right to the building as the light sky draws the viewer away from the subject. I would also crop the top off for the same reason. Then I would darken the triangle that is left.

MY SNOW WHITE by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - MERIT Great framing here. A few adjustments will help this image achieve more impact I feel. I suggest you always click on the auto button in the develop module/Camera RAW to see what you get then work from there. (Contrast -25-30%, whites +35-40%, blacks -60-65%)

SAND DUNES BLOWING IN THE WIND by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - HONOURS Lovely repetitive sand pattern image. Nicely exposed in what looks like difficult conditions. Excellent vignetting around the edges which keeps the eye within the picture. Very good contrast. This image is very strong, has impact, and to me, that “wow” factor.

PURAKAUNUI FALLS – CATLINS by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - MERIT The intentional or unintentional vignettingin the corners has helped to concentrate interest on these beautiful falls. Consider a crop on the L/H side so that the falls have the appearance of more space to flow into on the R/H side. There is a slight bluish cast on the R/H side of the falls. The long exposure has enhanced the flowing water.

I'M GONNA GET YA by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - NOT ACCEPTED I’m sorry, this image has the name of the author on it. Easy to do, but not good.

CHERRY DELIGHT by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - HONOURS The photographer has made good use of negative space in this image. There is great contrast between the vivacious and bubbly cherries and the hollow black background. This gives this image its great impact. I love its simplicity and the need, for example, to imagine where the glass is. To my mind the image is little top heavy and would perhaps benefit with just a little less of the black space. But a great feel nevertheless.

CHOMPING AT THE BIT by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - HONORS What a great image. There is no doubt what I am looking at here. The detail and lighting on the horse is lovely. The veins add a textural component to the horse and the light on the whiskers helps them stand out beautifully. Not much more to say … lovely

TUSSOCK DEW by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - MERIT To me, this is a lovely closeup macro shot. While there is only the tussock grass to give you a sense of perspective, the size of the dewdrop indicates that you have gone in close to your subject. The leading lines from the diagonal corners of the frame work well to guide my eye towards the main subject matter of the image which is the dew. You have captured some lovely detail of the underneath grass through the dew, and the subject is well separated from the background. Good image.

RAM IN GOOD HANDS by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - MERIT Don't you just love the tongue, but I'm not sure the ram thinks it's in good hands with eyes shut and tongue out. A good tight arrangement which might be improved by a crop closer to the elbow to improve the position of the tongue and remove some of the light area on the other forearm. Half close your eyes and you will see where the hotspots are. A bit soft, but good work.

MISSED THE BALL by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE - HONOURS Lovely lighting on the model's face and in many ways it would be nice to have that larger in the total picture area. Perhaps a little crop from the top and the right could be considered. A great story-telling setting and story although the frock with bare bed springs is a little out of context. Love the gloves over the case. Love the gloves over the case and technically the whole thing has been very well handled.

SELF REFLECTION by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE : MERIT At first view this is a very pleasing image. The hat and coat provide information about the model and the background is unobtrusive. The detail in the eyes has been well retain in spite of the brim of the hat. On a second inspection one gets the feeling that the out-door girl is in conflict with the indoor setting. There is evidence or a suggestion of post processing around the hat and behind the woman’s left ear. Also there appears to be an issue with the way the light is falling on the background in opposition to that on the model.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE : MERIT At first view I get the feeling of at least three dedicated photographers climbing to some high peak in search of unique images. The two men on the distant peak with their tripods, cameras and accessories make an effective stance. The backdrop is impressive. It indicates scale and suggests the photographers are high above an impending storm. For me, the background looks at if it may have been exchanged. There is something unreal about the intersection between the rock and the skyline. This is particularly so in the lower righthand edge of the rock. The light and shadow detail here seem inconstant in someway. Forgive me if this is not the case but edge became such a distraction for me that I had to reflect it in the mark.

FLY BOARDER EXTRAVAGANZA by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE : HONOURS An extremely effective image - well done. The action really stands against the darker background The fly boarder is coming towards us which adds to the impact. Everything in the image contributes to the telling of a great story.

NOSEY SEAL PUP by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE : MERIT There is lovely rim lighting on this portrait of the young seal pup. The look is very direct so the viewer makes immediate contact with it. Try lifting the light a little by shifting both the highlights and mid tones sliders to the left as this gives more life to your subject. The composition has put the head a little off centre and you have captured the detail of the coat well.

MISTY WINTER by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE : MERIT This is a nicely seen autumnal landscape. Nice composition but the colour lacks a bit of punch and is crying out for a bit more post processing…..just over do it.

LOST by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE : NOT ACCEPTED This is a nice enough image of this “caught” dog but the story is not really either of a dog being lost or of winter so I struggle a bit with the context. It really belongs in open or a different set subject so my best call is to not accept it so that you can resubmit in a different competition.

NIGHT LIGHTS by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE : ACCEPTANCE A well composed image with the lead in on the left. A good Acceptance.

RODEO TUMBLE by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE : HONOURS An excellent action shot. The slightly blurred hand adds movement and the unobtrusive background adds to the overall impact. My only niggle would be to watch your cropping, it is a little tight at the top. Well done.

ACROBATIC FLY BOARDER by ROWENA RICHARDS

GRADE : MERIT