Gardens Niagra 7 6.5 7 20.5 Jordan Wright Pictorial Bronze
J2 The symmetrical composition and framing of the scene works well. The out of focus areas in the foreground are a bit distracting such as the trees and center hedge. You could use a smaller aperture to gain depth of field front to back, or try focus stacking to get all elements in focus. The exposure on the gravel is very hot and causing loss of detail - if shot in RAW, highlight recovery may bring back some detail.
Aperture: 4
Camera: NIKON D3400
Iso: 200
Duck ! 6 6.5 7 19.5 Peter Chow Pictorial Gold
J1 Pleasing light and the duck is sharp. The photographer may have intentionally tilted the image to get more of a diagonal between the shadowy bird and the duck, but it leaves the impression the duck is swimming uphill.
Aperture: 5.6
Camera: DSC-RX10M4
Iso: 200
Orientation: 1
Touch The Sky 6.5 6 6.5 19 John Bunyon Pictorial Silver
J1 The different diagonal lines add to the interest. Overall the image is dull and lacks contrast. Try shooting this or a similar subject under different lighting conditions. For example getting your main subject lit directly by the sun would significantly increase the impact.
Aperture: 6.3
Camera: Canon PowerShot S5 IS
Iso: 80
Orientation: 1
Earthquake 6.5 6 6.5 19 John Bunyon Pictorial Silver
J1 Great concept. The glass is sharp and well exposed. The harsh lighting creates distracting shadows on the hand and the out of focus drops on the right are also a distraction.
Aperture: 1.9
Camera: SM-A520W
Iso: 40
Orientation: 1
Bycycle 7 8 7 22 Peter Chow Pictorial Gold
J2 The bold complimentary colours certainly adds high impact and the sense of humour is certainly welcomed. The composition is simple and suits the subject as well. Using a smaller aperture to gain some depth of field would help bring the foreground into focus. Clone out the white debris as it detracts. An option would be to selectively darken the foreground image to the same blue as the bike to unite the colour palette and unify the composition. J3 Perhaps cloning the litter away may have been considered for this otherwise lovely image.
Aperture: 10
Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T5i
Iso: 100
Orientation: 1
Common Loon 7.5 7.5 8 23 GPP Geoffrey Skirrow Nature Gold
J1 The low angle makes for a great connection between the bird and the viewer. The green reflections provide a pleasing background for the black and white bird. The position of the head has the advantage of showing both eyes. However, it also makes the beak area appear somewhat un-natural. There is a little more negative space at the bottom of the image than is needed to tell the story.
Author: Geoffrey Skirrow
Aperture: 7.1
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Iso: 400
Ice Thistle 7 7.5 7.5 22 Andy Langs Pictorial Gold
J3 This wonderful image has lovely colour harmony with complimenting tones. The maker has not overexposed the snow/ice (specular highlights excluded) and instead has captured wonderful detail in the highlights while not underexposing the shadows. The composition of the diagonal lines with the thistle presenting like a flower upon it is well done. The bottom right, vertical branches do not add interest to the composition and cloning them out may have added impact to the main subject.
Copyright: Copyright: Andy Langs ([email protected])
Canada Anemone 6.5 5.5 6 18 Marino Favretto Nature Silver
J1 Pleasing composition. The very dark background makes the flower appear to be separated from the rest of the elements in the image. The dark shadows caused by the strength and position of the light are distracting. J2 A few issues that bring down the score. The main subject is too small in the frame - zoom in closer, blown highlights - exposure compromised by the overall darkness of the scene, harsh shadows - use a diffuser to soften the shadows and bring out detail.
Author: MARINO FAVRETTO TakeAnotherSHOT
Aperture: 6.3
Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Iso: 320
Copyright: Marino FAVRETTO
Orientation: 1
After The Fire 8.5 7.5 6.5 22.5 Janet McNally Pictorial Gold
J2 I know the maker rotated the image for legibility, but it distorts the perspective with the top foreground being sharper than the bottom. Just unsettling for the viewer/ J3 This is a story of destruction by fire. The book is well exposed with proper white balance. Having more of the image in focus would have added texture to the burnt remains and may have complimented the composition and impact. A different perspective may also have added impact, especially if the words on the burnt book were the main subject of the makers story. The bright, out of focus paper at the bottom draws ones eyes out of the image. Removing it before shooting may have been considered.
Author: Janet McNally
Aperture: 8
Camera: NIKON Z 6
Iso: 200
Orientation: 1
Sunrise At The Pier 7.5 8.5 8 24 HM GPP Judy Boufford Pictorial Gold
J1 This is a good example of finding a new way to shoot an often photographed subject. Watch for the small things. The blurred water along the top right of the chain and the chromatic aberration along the bottom edge of the chain are small distractions. J3 This is a fabulous image! The composition, tones, exposure, texture (in the chain) and white balance are all excellent. However, I would like to share 2 comments. 1st, the horizon is slightly crooked and this could be easily fixed in post. 2nd, the chain has a visible halo around it, perhaps caused by over sharpening. Care to avoid this while editing is desired. Otherwise, congratulations on such an outstanding image. (This deserves to be printed!)
Orientation: 1
Chicory 8 7.5 8 23.5 Doug Doede Nature Master
J3 This judge respectfully suggests the maker try introducing light onto the front side of a back-lit subject (bouncing/flash) to perhaps further increase the dynamics of the light of an otherwise outstanding image. With skill, this could also be achieved in post.
Aperture: 16
Camera: PENTAX K-S2
Iso: 100
Orientation: 1
Costa Rican Robin Nature Gold
J1 Bird well positioned in the frame. The lack of overall sharpness and clipped highlights take away much of the image's impact. J2 Composition is good but the too many technical issues: subject out of focus, blown highlights on beak/foot, excessive noise, background distractions.
Non-Essential 8 7.5 7 22.5 Ed Espin Pictorial Gold
J3 This image has wonderful textures and leading lines drawing ones eye into the mask. Having more of the farm tools in focus (increased depth of field) may have added to this impact. It is underexposed and use of either the camera or the post editing histogram would have helped. The choice of a monochrome presentation may have added interest by removing distracting or non-complimentary colours but perhaps to have masked colour (selective colouring) back into a mask may have strengthened the story.
Autumn Splendor 8 7 8.5 23.5 Leonie Holmes FCAPA Pictorial Master
J3 This wonderful image is powerful in emotion by delivering outstanding tones, colour harmony, vibrancy and light. The composition is classic yet enhanced by the capture of the swimming birds. The image has a lack of small detail that contributes to a painterly quality adding to the emotional value of the artistic impact.
Aperture: 7.1
Camera: NIKON D4S
Iso: 800
Orientation: 1
Chicory Flower 7 9 7.5 23.5 GPP Elzbieta Piskorz Pictorial Gold
J1 The flower is well exposed with good sharpness and pleasing colours. The total removal of the background and post-processing treatment of the petals, might make this a better candidate for the Creative category.
Author: Elzbieta Piskorz
Aperture: 16
Camera: NIKON D610
Iso: 100
Copyright: Ehla Ela Piskorz Photography
Orientation: 1
Violet Sabrewing Pictorial Gold
J1 Well timed shot with the subject nicely filling the frame. A number of technical and processing issues take away from the overall impact. These include the digital noise, colour cast and distracting background. J2 Few things here that brings the score down - majority of the bird out of focus (disregarding the movement of the wings), contrasty image with lack of detail, saturation is very high. If shot in raw, maker should be able to correct the contrast and saturation to bring out detail which may help bring up some details in the body of the bird reducing the lack of sharpness.
J1 There are interesting elements within the image. The main subject isn't clear and image doesn't specifically evoke a feeling of Evening. The lighting is challenging here. Perhaps moving in closer to one of the elements within the image would have created a stronger subject and made balancing the light easier.
Aperture: 1.9
Camera: SM-A520W
Iso: 40
Orientation: 1
Ambush Bug Pair 7.5 6.5 7 21 Geoff Dunn Nature Gold
J2 The composition and the nature story adds much to the image. However, the main subjects are not completely in focus, there are odd artifacts on the subjects that detract. The image is low in contrast without any proper dark values. Distracting haloing bottom right.
Aperture: 11
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Iso: 400
Echinesia 6 5 7 18 James Hamilton Pictorial Gold
J1 Framing of the flower works well. The artistic softening of the mauve ray florets works ok, but the contrast between the dark and bright areas of the disc florets just makes it look out of focus. This takes away much of the impact. J2 The maker has done well for composition and impact with colour. However, the out of focus main subject is the downfall here. Even if going for an ethereal mood with the softness, you would still need some elements to be sharp for the eye to focus on.
Suggest to try this image again with using selective focus shooting at wider aperture and pick out an interesting focal point while throwing parts out of focus.
Author: JAMES H HAMILTON
Copyright: JAMES H HAMILTON
Orientation: 1
Red-Legged Honeycreeper Nature Gold
J1 Camera position and framing work well. The lack of overall sharpness and detail in the feathers on the top of the head and shoulder both take away from the overall impact of the image. J2 Composition is great but the too many technical issues: subject out of focus, blown highlights on head, excessive noise.
Wood Stork 6 5.5 7 18.5 Herb McClelland Nature Gold
J1 Birds are well positioned in relation to each other. Prominent areas of the feathers have no detail. The visible noise in the sky and the diagonal line in the upper left corner are both distracting elements. J2 a few technical issues bring effecting the score: blown highlights in the feathers, noise in image, sharp line upper left, unnaturally sharp clouds on an out of focus background. If compositing elements, natural unity is key.
Aperture: 8
Camera: NIKON D500
Iso: 1250
Fall Colours Niagra 7 6 7 20 Jordan Wright Pictorial Bronze
J1 A pleasing viewpoint with the river creating a leading line through the image. The large area of white sky draws the viewer's eye away from the main subject. Removing some of it would make the story of Fall Colours stronger.
Aperture: 4
Camera: NIKON D3400
Iso: 200
Schools In Pictorial Silver
J1 Great concept with humour. Lack of overall sharpness and the slight diagonal line at the top edge of the aquarium take away from the impact. J2 The main subjects being out of focus brings the score down for this image.
Aperture: 1.9
Camera: SM-A520W
Iso: 160
Orientation: 1
In The Woods 7.5 8 7 22.5 SPP Mike Mulvale Pictorial Silver
J1 Great angle and well framed. For being deep in the woods, the car is overly bright. Reducing the exposure by about 1 stop would give a more natural feel the the lighting and improve the image's impact. J2 The low angle perspective gives the subject strong presence. The maker has done well to bring focus to the subject while eliminating unnecessary distractions.
However, the direct front lighting is a bit harsh as evident by the shadows under the hood and wheel well. The direct lighting flattens the scene and we lose the sense of depth. Maker can still burn and dodge areas to to "shape the light" and bring back some depth.
Author: Michael Mulvale
Aperture: 7.1
Camera: NIKON D500
Iso: 720
Copyright: Michael Mulvale
Waterfalls 8.5 7 7 22.5 SPP Bill Waddell Pictorial Silver
J2 A pleasant scene that leads the viewer among the waterfalls.The exposure is held well across the scene but we do have major blowouts in the main waterfall center and to it's upper right. Bracketing for HDR would have helped control values from highlight to shadows.
Aperture: 11
Camera: DSC-RX100
Caption: BW Submitted Dec 2019. Score 24 Gold HM Trillium Clinic Oct 2020-Nature
Iso: 125
Serenity 7 6.5 7 20.5 Annemarie Toth-Waddell Pictorial Silver
J1 Good exposure with adequate depth of field. The isolated viewing platform in the sea of grass is a great subject. The red sumac are closer and more prominent than the main subject drawing the viewers eye to the edge of the frame.
Author: atw
Aperture: 7.1
Camera: E-M5MarkII
Iso: 200
Song Sparrow 8 7 7.5 22.5 SPP Mike Mulvale Nature Silver
J3 This image has a wonderful story and composition. However, it appears the maker has uniformly applied a noise reduction filter to the entire image, erasing much of the desired texture in the details of the subject. Perhaps a mask to remove some of this filter from the bird may add to the impact of the image. (The use of the filter on the background is usually appropriate.)
Author: Michael Mulvale
Aperture: 6.3
Camera: NIKON D500
Iso: 640
Copyright: Michael Mulvale
Bee Balm 6.5 7.5 6.5 20.5 Don Poulton Pictorial Master
J1 Good effort at softening a distracting background. To be really effective, spend a little more time with your selection of the background to avoid missing the the small areas close to the flower (as can be seen in several places).
Aperture: 8
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Iso: 200
J1 Good sharpness across the entire image. The subject is quite recognizable with no obvious in-camera or post-processing artistic manipulation. the Pictorial category may have been a better choice for this image. J2 While the popcorn provides an abstract texture of sorts, it's very weak in category. There needs to be more to keep the viewer intrigued and interested.
Author: Picasa
Aperture: 7.1
Camera: DMC-ZS45
Iso: 100
Milking 6 6 6.5 18.5 Roy Oldfield Pictorial Gold
J1 Great story. Seeing more of the girl's face would have created a greater connection for the viewer. Watch for distracting elements such as the girl's foot being cut off and the legs in the top right corner.
Author: Picasa
Aperture: 4.5
Camera: NIKON D70s
Great Horned Owlets 7 7 8.5 22.5 Pat Wintemute Nature Gold
J2 While a really strong Nature story, the image can be improved by eliminating much of the unnecassary right and left and framing tighter to emphasize the subjects and give greater impact.
Author: Picasa
Aperture: 8
Camera: Canon EOS 70D
Iso: 800
Orientation: 1
