Judge: Digital - Ron Willems Prints - Shona Jarray
Rules for this trophy competition can be found by clicking "more details"
The Elizabeth Davidson Trophy is awarded for the best print of the month and is restricted to New Zealand Landscape/Seascapes.
The Barbara Wilson Trophy is awarded for the best digital image of the month and is unrestricted.
Seascapes cannot be of just water - to qualify it must have some land content.
The competition is NOT graded and NO points are awarded (updated 14th April 2021) . Two images can be submitted in both prints and digital images for a total of four images instead of the usual total of three images per month. Images that have previously been entered into Open Competitions may be re-entered into the Landscape/Seascape Trophy Competition.
As per PSNZ Rules - Photographs which capture a sense of “space” and “place” and tell a story of the scene before the camera. A landscape will typically combine elements of earth, sea or sky. The image may include human elements for scale and context but not to the extent that they become the prominent element. Creative enhancement of the image is acceptable provided that the resulting image still reflects the essential story of what is seen in that landscape.
Open
Set Subject
Please note this was NOT a graded competition.
Digitals - Ron Willems attened our club night and gave a verbal critique of our digital images. After the printing critique I've attached some general notes he refers to when critiquing.
If you wish to be reminded about your images critique - you are welcome to contact Ron directly via email: ron@ronwillemsphoto.com
Prints
Marlborough Camera Club Landscape-Seascape Competition - PRINTS
Good evening Marlborough Camera Club. Thank you for inviting me to assess
your competition. It is always an honour and I hope that my comments are
helpful. It is important to remember that it is my opinion. Other judges are
likely to have different opinions since we all see things in our own unique way.
I look at the image, first for its emotional impact – what is it communicating to me, what story is it telling. Then I look at what you have done in terms of making the image, that supports the story.With all images, presentation is important. This is especially so with prints, and the matting of prints.
Aoraki Accepted
What a dramatic landscape and reflection – beautifully sharp all through. For me, the mountain feels a bit cramped, being so close to the edge of the
frame, and likewise the reflection, which has its tip cut off. If you were able to step back a bit – I know, not always possible, or alternatively use a wider lens.
I think that this would give the focal point some breathing space. The
cellotape across the top of the matting, and also visible across the top righthand corner is not, in my opinion a good look. Presentation is important.
There are some really professionally presented images in this landscape
competition so I would think that someone in your club could teach you. At
my club, roughly once a year we have a night where matting is taught.
Paradise, Otago … aptly named Accepted.
Yes, definitely aptly named!It looks like you have captured this scene on a
really lovely day. I like your point of view, capturing a nice recession which takes my eye through the image. I keep looking at the road to see if
something might come along. I think, if you had the opportunity to revisit and make your image either earlier or later in the day – the golden hours – you are likely to get more dramatic lighting, which would lift this image to another level. Nicely printed and presented.
Rawara Accepted.
I get the feeling that this s a really beautiful and peaceful spot. I am really enjoying the composition with the quite dramatic cloud formation with its reflection subtly textured by the slight ripple on the water. I recommend that you consider making images such as this, earlier or later in the day (the golden hours) to achieve more dramatic lighting. This image I think is by the same person who made “Aoraki” Please refer to my earlier comments regarding matting. It will make a huge difference to the way your work is viewed.
Sounds of snow Merit
I bet it was cold!I am enjoying the composition. For me, the bush on the bottom right anchors the image. The focal length you have chosen along with your point of view has ensured that the reflection of the peaks to the
right do not have their tips clipped. This is a scene with a very large dynamic range, making it difficult to get the exposure right. On the right-hand side, you have blocked up shadows whilst some of the snow has blown out
highlights. In my opinion this scene is a candidate for bracketed exposure – I would suggest 5, then blend them together in post processing. Nicely printed and presented.
Track to Puysegur Merit.
This looks to me like a fascinating place to wander around – looking at what
high tide has thrown up and what’s lurking in the rock pools. I like the way the obliquely placed log, centre bottom, leads my eye into the image and that there is clearance between the end of the log, and the bottom frame. I find the bright white stuff to the right of the log a little distracting and suggest you consider either cloning out or significantly toning down the brightness. The rest of the image has a lot of very interesting detail - I think you made a good choice of a large depth of field – it is nicely sharp throughout.
Veiled Valleys Accepted.
It looks like a cold and misty morning, the mist, for me, creating a level of intrigue as to what it is hiding. I like the way you have a recession of the ridge lines – this helps take my eye through the image. On the bottom much darker area there are a number of small, very pale specks. Whilst they are small, they are to me, somewhat distracting. There is one on the building on the righthand side, then going left, one on the bushes beside the house. Far left there are quite a few. These should be easy to deal with in post processing. Nicely exposed and good presentation.
Days end Sth Bay Kaikoura Accepted
This feels a bit like Autumn or winter to me. I am really enjoying the little touches of colour left and right – yellow on the left and pink on the right. I think that you have really captured that end of day feel. In my view, if you lifted the exposure a little in post processing and increased the contrast, it would really make the image “pop”. Very nicely presented.
Moonrise Accepted.
Looks like a full moon too. What great timing. I like the way that the trees
almost look as though they are cradling the moon. I also really like the golden light on the foreground. You seem to have a little bit of haloing on the top edge of the hill – this will have happened in post processing. In my opinion a fair bit of the left hand side of the hill adds nothing and I would recommend that you consider a crop to a 4:5 format. Very nicely exposed and presented.
Storm Slowly Clearing Accepted.
I get the feeling that this has been some storm, with the sea like a washing
machine and lots of debris dumped on the rocks and the beach. I really like
the layers in the composition – for me, this gives interest and keeps my eye
moving around the image – rocks, sea, hills and a dramatic sky. I wonder, if
you would consider increasing the contrast a bit to put a bit more light
through the sea – for me that would make the image pop. Really nicely
printed and presented.
The Old Wharf Accepted.
This looks to me like a magnificent winter day!I do like the little bit of mist or fog coming across the hills. The wharf looks past its best but is no doubt a very good roosting spot for the birds. I think you have captured some interesting texture in the water in the foreground. I wonder if you would consider cropping a third to half of the sky. For me, it doesn’t add interest to the image and I think that by cropping you would move the old wharf to a more dynamic position in the image. Nicely exposed and presented.
Whites Bay Honours.
This looks like a stunning evening to be out by the ocean. Your choice of
shutter speed gives the water a silky look whilst maintaining the sharpness of the stars. The detail and lighting on the rock is wonderful. Beautifully
presented.
Aoraki Mt Cook Merit.
A tranquil scene with breath taking beauty. I really love the colours – the
golden light on the land, the swathe of pink and the mist. About half up (or
down!) on the left hand side right up against the frame is a bright area of
snow – this tends to draw my eye. You might consider darkening it a little in post processing. I really like your choice of paper – nicely printed and
presented.
Approaching Squall Honours
It looks pretty threatening to me. I would be wanting to hurry to somewhere
warm and dry I think!You have captured an amazing range of colours and I
really like the detail and texture you have captured on the rocks. Good
choice of paper and lovely presentation. So far I have not been successful at pasting an image onto core board and getting it straight and square and neat - well done.
Glorious Dawn - Honours.
Glorious indeed!It looks to me a little like “that Wanaka tree” If it is, thank you for photographing it from a different perspective. Your point of view has ensured that the lone tree in the lake is isolated from those on the left. I really like that the reflections seem to me as though they dissolve into the water – well done.
Kaiteriteri Honours.
For me, the simplicity of this image makes it very compelling, as at the same time there is so much to explore. Your choice of black and white has stripped out any chaos or confusion that colour can sometimes bring. The
composition is forced to speak for itself and it does this, in spades. From the bottom left the darker area leads me to the rock and the tree, then to the small bit of land behind , and back again. Beautiful texture in a high key image. Choice of paper, printing and presentation is outstanding – well
done!
Lees Creek Merit.
To me, your choice of shutter speed is perfect – it results in the cascading
water looking a bit like the train of a bridal gown – beautiful and silky. I have a strong sense of peace and tranquillity as well. The whole scene appears nicely exposed with good contrast. You might consider a subtle vignette to keep the eye of the viewer on the beauty of the water.
Moonrise - Honours.
Wow!I love the way you have captured the “pull back” of the waves – for
me it speaks of the power and energy of the sea, and I feel as though I can
hear and smell the sea. The four distinct layers of colour and texture in this image keep my eye moving around and within the image. Beautifully
presented.
St. Anne's Lagoon Merit.
What a beautiful peaceful spot – your image makes me feel that I want to be
there. I like the placement of the trees through the middle ground and that
there is clearance from the right hand side of the frame. There are some
“intrusions” along the bottom of the frame which I find a little distracting – the spikey blades of foliage on the bottom left and the start of the reflection of the tree on the bottom right. You might consider cloning these out. Very nicely exposed and presented.
The Willows - Honours.
A beautifully tranquil scene. I like that there is just enough movement in the water to make the reflections look a bit fuzzy – or perhaps painterly is a better description. For me, the muted colours add to the sense of serenity. I do seem to have a “thing” about items hitting the edge of the frame and suggest that you might consider “nipping off” 1-2 mm of that thin branch hitting the top. Nicely presented.
Woodland Walk Merit.
To me, this is so typical of a New Zealand bush walking track. I like the central placement of the path with its interesting tree root shape making a sort of focal point, the ferns each side creating some symmetry – to me it is a very pleasing composition. I find the bright area of sky at the top to the left a little distracting. Would you consider darkening it or alternatively cropping down from the top to eliminate it. Beautifully printed and presented.
That’s it from me. Please remember, that my recommendations are based on
my opinion and I am certainly not saying it is what you should do. They are
your images, if you like what my recommendation does to the image – good,
then make the change. If you don’t like it, don’t make the change. Make
images for yourself, not for the judge
Goodnight all.
Shona Jaray APSNZ
27th May 2021
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