SSN_111_A GLASS OF YELLOW GOODNESS.jpg

Acceptance. Well done. You have obviously searched out a subject and made a nice image from it. I like the sharpness and the plain background you have chosen

OPN_111_CAUGHT IN A WEB.jpg

Acceptance. Good idea but I suggest you could have improved it by using a tripod. As it is, to me the web appears too wind-blown. I would also prefer to see the flower from front on, rather than from underneath. Can you use the same idea, and apply these suggestions? You may prefer this one so remember these are only my suggestions. Another judge may see it differently as often happens.

OPN_111_TOI TOI.jpg

Acceptance. The textures of the toi toi have been well captured here. In my opinion I feel that the background blends in and I feel that a different colour would help to separate the toi toi from it. Maybe you try the white balance eye dropper (if you have lightroom or a similar post processing software) on the background. This may help to separate the two.

SSN_111_ HIGHLAND CATTLE.jpg

Merit. Stunning animals and they are quite photogenic. Good use of DOF with a nice blurry background. I personally feel that we could do with a little more space on the left hand side as the beast is on the edge. Maybe without the border you have got that extra space. I enjoy the use of the sepia tone. Something different.

111_SSO_ GERBERA.jpg

Non Acceptance. Incorrectly titled. This is very well handles and great composition. The lines of the petals also lead you right into the image. It is sharp and good exposure.

111_SSN_ VIEW FROM BENNETTS BLUFF.jpg

Non Acceptance (Incorrectly titled). For a novice image this is very good, it has a great feeling about it. Even though the hills are very dark it seem to be a soft feeling image.

SSN_111_RIPPLING REEDS.jpg

MERIT. I feel as if I am underwater. Good on you for seeing this form and for capturing it so effectively. In my opinion the lack of sharpness is an asset not a liability. The range of tones/light have been handled well. I suggest a crop from the top to eliminate a little of that bland background, but leave some to give context. To give the image more “pop” consider bringing out one colour range, say the yellows/oranges. Nicely seen it shows a subject in an unusual way and just needs fine tuning. Consider flipping it so that the reeds are leaning from left to right.

SSN_111_A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR.jpg

ACHIEVED I like what you have presented here. You have obviously given it some thought and presented us with an interesting long exposure image. The descending trail of sugar falls onto the top of the spoon only to flow off again with soft faint streaks giving us the feeling of motion. When lighting shots like these, be careful with the reflections off the white sugar as there is a large patch of blown out whites on the tip of the spoon. This is an area where there is no information recorded. The use of a diffuser might have helped in this case but well done for tackling something different. The blown-out white doesn’t distract much as the sugar is essentially white so I have accepted this image. If it wasn't for the blown out white on the sugar, I would have awarded a Merit Try this again and be conscious of the whites. Well done.

OPN_111_THREE SEEDS.jpg

MERIT A simple still life image that needs no studying to eke out any story as they are the story. The three seeds are nicely arranged with equal spacing. They have good sharp veins giving us a sense of strength and texture. Colour saturation and light have been well handled and the fine texture in the background sets them off nicely. Very nice.

SSN_111_EARNSLAW BEACHED.jpg

MERIT You’ve handled a difficult lighting situation well. Be careful of distrtcing element, in this case the bright red spot (presumably on the funnel)

OPN_111_ACORN HATS.jpg

HONOURS Nicely handled still life, good colour and the lighting has been handled well. Acorn cap on right is slightly closer to the middle one than the one on the left.

SSN_111_MIRROR MIRROR.jpg

MERIT Good composition here with no cropping needed. Exposure is also excellent. The only thing I would do to this image is reduce the vibrance and saturation somewhat as I feel the colours are too punchy.

OPN_111_ BEADY EYED ROOSTER.jpg

MERIT Nice composition here, with the rooster filling the frame and the background nicely out of focus. This image has been lit with flash, and I feel that it is over lit. Personally, I would reduce the exposure by half a stop which would improve the image. I suggest that you go back and have a play with this image on a computer if you can.

OPN_111_PINK DAHLIA.jpg

HONOURS -- Beautiful bokeh in this image. I like the fact you have shot the flower from behind. The pink and the green are fighting for supremecy? Maybe a tonal change of the greens to a warmer hue would soften the green and make the flower the hero of the story.

SSN_111_GOLDEN ORCHARD.jpg

ACHIEVED -- This is a fun scene to shoot. Well composed image however it lacks the WOW factor. Did you use a tripod? It doesn’t seem pin sharp to me . Also try a more dramatic time of day with low sun to create mood.

SSN_111_THINKING

MERIT This studio portrait has been well produced. The key light is providing good contrast to the man’s right cheek and eye. A fill light or reflector is providing just enough information for us to see into the darker side of the face. I feel the image would be improved if there was more contrast added in post production. The image is sharp throughout and there is a sense of determination about the expression captured by the Author.

CATCH OF THE DAY

ACHIEVED - The emotional elements associated with this image range from elation at the size of the catch to sadness for the life of the specimen. I felt them all. Without the human hand in the background there would be nothing to enable the viewer to measure the size of this fish. The image is sharp where needed but I feel the composition is bland and ‘in-your-face’. Possible allowing the viewer to see more of the specimen might have improved the composition.

DEVIL DEER

MERIT - You really have me thinking: is this real weathered deer’s head or is it a skilfully shaped piece of wood all weathered over bar the teeth! The composition leads from the nose to the eye to the top of the “antlers”. I enjoy the textures and the spiders’ webs which add to the story. Nicely seen with good depth of field and that “gor blimey” factor! Nice work!

WAKATIPU STORM

HONOURS - Congratulations for making this nice composition which utilises the power of the triangle to good effect. My eye is drawn to the dark clouds of the storm which are framed by the line of contrast and the sloping hills. You have done well to capture the bands of rain (or sunlight shafts?) and to retain detail in most of the cloud and in much of the darker tone below. The area that I find distracting is the light on the lake in the bottom third. This appears to be blown out. A raw image exposing more towards the highlights and then adjusted in post-processing may well help in this regard. I enjoy the way the lake gives context without overpowering the composition.