Fantasy Fence 22 Leonie Holmes Creative Gold
J3 The mirroring of the fence is very effective to draw the viewer into the image. The heavy mist effect leaves the centre of interest weak and the viewer's eye is drawn back out to the lower corners of the image where the fence is much darker than the surrounding area.
Mirage 24 HM GPP Ezbieta Piskorz Creative Gold
J3 Great concept. The different angles add interest. The the opacity of the clouds over the buildings makes them a distraction. A more precise selection was needed on several of the buildings. NIKON D610 50.0 mm f/1.4@50mm 1/125 sec F16.0 200
I Dream of Genie 25.5 TC GPP Doug Doede Creative Gold
J1 Very creative! Check where the 'genie' exits the left bottle, should appear to be inside, not in front of. The longer you look at this one, the more you see! Well done. RICOH IMAGING COMPANY LTD. PENTAX K-S2@100mm Unknown 1/180 sec F8.0
Enchanted Forest 21 Victor Turczynski Creative Gold
J1 the textures really work well on the birch trees, clearly the subject of this image. The trail leads the viewer there, but the light and the details do not. Perhaps simplify a little and add a graduated screen at the bottom to draw the viewer in Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM@105mm 1/125 sec F4.0 800
white breasted nuthatch 21 Art Ward Nature Gold
J2 This lovely image has a warm color cast and would benefit from a white balance. This could be accomplished by a temperature shift into blues as well as a tint shift into the green (just a wee bit with the green). NIKON D3 70.0-200.0 mm f/2.8@280mm 1/1600 sec F8.0 400
Tree Swallow 20 Jim Sykes Nature Silver
J3 Great timing for the wing position. The over-processing takes away detail from the feathers. This image might do better in the open category. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary 015@546mm 1/4000 sec F8.0 1250
Bumble Bee 22.5 Geoff Dunn Nature Gold
J3 Well-frame with excellent detail in the bee's body and head. The foreground wing is distracting because of its lack of sharpness and there are a few distracting elements in the upper and lower areas of the plant. Canon EOS 7D Mark II EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM@100mm 1/250 sec F5.6 400
GREEN HERON 22 Jim Swire Nature Gold
J1 Good composition and action but the vibrance/luminosity of the brightly coloured bits is too high. Canon EOS-1D X EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM@400mm 1/2000 sec F5.6 800
Canada Goose 21 BPP Michelle Achong Nature Bronze
J2 There is good detail in the blacks. Some highlights are a bit overexposed and the main subject is soft. A higher SS may have helped with both. Dodging the highlights at the top would help keep ones eye on the subject.
WHITE THROATED SPARROW 22.5 Gary Love Nature Master
J1 Great clarity. Oversharpened, though and the light's too harsh J2 This lovely image would benefit from a post processing white balence shift taking the temperature into the cool/blue tones. Canon EOS 7D EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM +2.0x@600mm 1/1250 sec F5.6 400
J3 Well composed. The processing has taken away detail in many areas of the image significantly affecting its impact. OLYMPUS CORPORATION E-M1MarkII M.300mm F4.0 + MC-14@420mm 1/1600 sec F8.0 6400
Field Sparrow 22.5 Virginia Stranaghan Nature Gold
J2 This is a well composed shot of the sparrow with wonderful bokeh. Except for the tail, the bird is sharp. A white balance adjustment adding magenta to the tint would have removed a green cast in this image. OLYMPUS CORPORATION E-M1MarkII M.300mm F4.0 + MC-14@420mm 1/200 sec F5.6 640
Mallard Pair Nature Silver
J2 This is a compelling and beautiful image but lacks a lot of detail to compete well in the Nature category. Yet it may have competed very well in the Creative category. J3 Birds are well positioned in the frame. The over-processing has taken away much of the impact.
Hope 22.5 BPP Bo Chen Pictorial Bronze
J3 Good exposure under difficult lighting conditions. The tree does not stand out well against the clouds, taking away some of its visual weight. Rather than complementing the subject, the background competes for the viewer's attention.
PIERCING EYES 18.5 Serge Priffer Pictorial Silver
J3 Great concept. The eyes are not sharp and the viewer's attention is drawn to the eye lashes and brows, which are sharp. The colouring of the skin is also distracting, this may have worked better as a monochrome. NIKON D700 70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6@300mm 1/2 sec F5.6 200
Super Moon 21.5 Victor Turczynski Pictorial Gold
J1 Great attempt at a symmetrical composition. Colour palette is excellent and exposure is spot on. Would have scored higher if perspective control in post had been used to level the pier/bridge. Canon EOS 5D Mark III TAMRON SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD A009@100mm 3/2 sec F8.0 1600
The Fallen Tree 20.5 David Evans Pictorial Gold
J2 The fallen tree juts across in juxtaposition to the peacefulness of the background forest. The panorama crop suits the image. The tones are pleasant. The image has been altered enough in post processing that it would have competed better in the creative category. Canon EOS R RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM@81mm 1/80 sec F4.5 320
Soaptree Yucca on White Sand 20 Peter Chow Pictorial Silver
J2 This image has nice leading lines and textures. The Yucca are not sharp and the left one has a merger drawing ones eye out of the image. The image lacks depth in the dark tones causing an imbalance in it's contrast. This would be seen on a histogram. A curves adjustment would have helped. Panasonic DMC-FZ200 [email protected] 1/800 sec F6.3 100
Anguish 23 SPP Claudia Povilauskas Pictorial Silver
J2 This image is well taken and processed with very dynamic lighting. The exposure and contrast are on the darker side which contributes to the darker story captured here. Perhaps adding more separation to the subject by darkening the background might increase the drama. Canon EOS Rebel T6i EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM@200mm 1/1600 sec F4.0 100
58 Oldsmobile 24.5 HM GPP Bertin Francoeur Pictorial Gold
J1 Selective colour works sometimes! Image would have scored higher if the maker had worked on the reflection on the side of the car and was the colour missed on the roof? SONY ILCE-7RM3 FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM@35mm 1/125 sec F10.0 200
Ride in the Sky 22.5 John Overmeyer Pictorial Master
J1 The maker has captured a sense of movement through the use of diagonal lines and anchored the image with the ferris wheel. Lighting, however, is a challenge mid-day and there are some blown out whites. The angle of the middle chair is jarring. Good attempt, shoot more! J2 This image is a great example of nailing "The decisive moment". Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Unknown@176mm 1/800 sec F5.6 100
Redwoods 24 HM GPP Kathy Leisti Pictorial Gold
J2 The BnW treatment with good tones, contrast, exposure and sharpness brings a rich depth to this peaceful scene. The foreground adds little to it's impact. A landscape crop 1/3 up from the bottom (and maybe more from the edges) may help make the image more dynamic. Or a vignette around the sun rays?
Morning sunrise on the canal 21.5 Andy Langs Pictorial Silver
J2 This is a well comp0sed image. At this time of day the use of a high shutter speed to freeze the bird and water action has caused the maker to increase their ISO. But this has also introduced a lot of noise and loss of detail in shadows. An HDR approach may have helped.
Grated Tomatoes 19.5 Roy Oldfield Pictorial Gold
J3 Creative idea with humour. There is good sharpness throughout. The image is slightly under exposed and lacks contrast. The background is distracting, try shooting it with an all white background. Good effort. NIKON D70s Unknown@31mm 8 sec F16.0
First snow 2018 Nov 16-Red Maple 22 Bela Acs Pictorial Gold
J2 The maker has done a wonderful job in post processing creating mood with selective coloring. Even still, the image lacks contrast. Perhaps an overlay of blowing snow? The composition is fabulous on the left side but is unfortunately weaker on the right due to weak contrast. FUJIFILM X-T2 XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS@55mm 1/60 sec F7.1 1000
BEAGLE CHANNEL - CHILE 20 Herb McClelland Pictorial Silver
J2 Complimentary colors and wonderful tones draw your eyes through this lovely and peaceful image. Major dust particles should have been removed during post processing and the horizon appears slightly crooked. J3 The sensor dust visible in the sky takes away from an otherwise beautiful landscape. NIKON D500 80.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6@135mm 1/500 sec F16.0 800
Amy 23 Peter Bartens Pictorial Master
J1 Compelling pose. But the fingernail and ring at the bottom draw the viewer's eye. Either keep them in or not. Also clone out light spot at far right. Maker might consider using frequency separation techniques to smooth the skin just a little. NIKON D800 Unknown@105mm 1/125 sec F8.0 100
Nicole 19.5 Bert Pierre Pictorial Gold
J1 Marked down due to watermark on picture. J2 This image was submitted with a watermark. J3 Interesting composition. The watermark takes away from the impact of the image. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM@200mm 1/100 sec F7.1 400
Abandoned Tobacco Shed 21 Janet McNally Pictorial Silver
J2 The simple composition of this image is carried by good exposure, sharpness and tonality. The maker may have considered using more dramatic lighting when taking the image or maybe to add drama in post processing. NIKON D7100 18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6@38mm 1/250 sec F4.5 100
