The photos have now been judged – a total of 49 entries. The professional photographer comments about the pictures are below followed by the pictures. Winners’ prizes ($100/$75/$50) will be awarded at the summer AGM (or by some alternate means).
(click on a picture to see the full size version)
Judges comments about the entries
The stand outs were 1 and 2 for the quality of the shot, and 2 especially is iconic and the flat light has a painterly effect. The glow of the loon’s breast is gorgeous. If it had been cropped slightly at the top so the gradation of light on the water was taken out and the water background a more flat grey, the white would have popped even more. Both also have a really nice, classic image simplicity.
In terms of composition, the visual balance of an image in the frame, 10 and 30 and 12 are fantastic. The composition on 10 especially is masterful. The colour on 10 makes it a little too postcard-artificial seeming; sometimes the light or camera just does that, but if saturation was used, maybe ease off the gas a bit, or bring it down a touch in editing to counter that.
In terms of use of light – The sunsets are all gorgeous! 9 and 21 are beautifully composed as well. 22 is a spectacular image, I really love the angle that it was taken from, which makes the sky vast; the composition and use of light are glorious. It does need to be straightened though – straightening can be a bit tricky – but the general rule is to straighten the horizon. 26 and 34 are also really beautiful uses of light.
There are some fantastic shots capturing the moment here, for both wildlife and people – in terms of people, my favourite is 11! What a great, funny shot! 6 is spectacular! Fish, boy, dogs! 9 again is lovely, as is 22, and so is 28 and 40.
Some terrific wildlife captures too! It is harder to get a really high quality image on these but beautiful pics – the eagles in 25 is really cool, the loon and baby in 29, 16 and 23 are wonderful!
The Winners
Helga Bock – First Prize
Stephen Kowalski – Second Prize
Georgia Lebtag – Third Prize
The Honourable Mentions
Michael Stephensen
Robert Parent
Els de Gussem
Ted Melnyk