Judge: Sheryl Williams
“monochrome” literally means, “one color”. All black and white images are monochrome images, but not all monochrome images are black and white
An image where all colour has been removed (in the post digital process or in camera). It consists of shades of grey tone that generally go from dark (black) to light (white).
Common terms sepia (warm colours) cyanotype photos (cool colours). Photos must depict B/W or limiting photos to a single colour range. https://photographylife.com/black-and-white-photography/
https://photographypro.com/black-and-white-photography/
The term “monochrome” literally means, “one color”. All black and white images are monochrome images, but not all monochrome images are black and white. Other types of monochrome images include sepia, or other “toned” images, and cyanotypes
Open
Set Subject
Image of the month was: Wyperserfontein - by Sue Henley
| Grade/Title | Critique | Result |
| C Grade | ||
| Eye'll be seeing you | I find that getting in close and filling the frame with a subject like this has good impact. Nicely contrasting blacks and whites, a catchlight in the eye, great detail, sharpness where it needs to be and well composed. The lead in line from the bottom right takes you straight to that beautiful eye which has depth and interest. Well done | HONOURS |
| Lucy licking her chops | Lucy is so cute and captured very nicely. Good side lighting and contrast adds depth and I like how you have filled the frame with her face, excellent composition and lovely sharp detail with a good neutral background. The only comment I have is the strange spot in the left eye which is a little distracting for me. Perhaps cloning in a catchlight like the one in the other eye may work here? | MERIT |
| Resting Tiger | A striking capture of this magnificent animal composed and filling the frame very well. The direct eye contact is great along with all that lovely detail and sharpness in the tiger. All supported by a muted out of focus background showing some context of it’s surroundings. Good depth of field here | HONOURS |
| The Relic | What an interesting structure, the detail and sharpness is spot on showing lots of information about this ‘Relic’ Nice side lighting adds depth and the composition is quite well balanced. It is a shame that the sky above it is very bright as my focus is going there first and out of the image. Try toning down the background and lifting the exposure a little on the relic , I think that will balance the lighting nicely. | MERIT |
| The Watcher | The bird is placed nicely on the third and the angle of the wire adds a sense of flow through the image. Unfortunately it is not sharp and there is a lot of lost detail especially in the head where it is very dark. I would like to have seen more of the birds eye. | ACCEPTED |
| Yesteryear | Good contrast and side lighting on the building has added depth and helped those whites to pop nicely. I like the angle its been taken on and there is some good detail. The panoramic crop suits the building. I find the house is not sharp and I’m not sure about the branches in the foreground; I find they are blocking my view of the house and are quite distracting. Perhaps moving around more to the right may have given you a clear view. | ACCEPTED |
| Best friends | The connection between the child the puppy and photographer has added a lovely feel here. It certainly has the aww factor for me. Nice muted background and sharp detail on the subjects with catchlights in the eyes. I find the lighting a bit flat, try bringing up the whites overall and some detail in the shadows on the puppy’s face. I would love to see it’s face as its quite dark. Also I feel the crop on the right is a little tight. Just a bit more room there would help strengthen the composition. | MERIT |
| Not so Zen ... overtourism in Japan | Wow it sure is busy, a well captured scene showing the effects of tourism! I like the angle and balance of the building behind them adding a good counterpoint to keep the eye in on those heaving masses. Good contrast between the blacks and whites and an interesting story. Just watch out for bright areas on the edges, the sky and roof on the right is distracting and is drawing the eye out there. You may be able to tone those down to keep focus on the main subject | MERIT |
| A Grade | ||
| A Dazzle of Zebra | There is great detail and sharpness on the Zebra herd helping them to stand out quite nicely. I like the context of their surroundings showing them in the wild. I do find the image rather busy and the lighting quite flat. I suggest cropping in to a small part of the herd which may strengthen the composition and bring them more into the frame while keeping the context of their environment. Try a curve adjustment to add contrast and help the whites to pop out too. | ACCEPTED |
| Angles Of Contrast | I enjoy the depth and strength of this almost abstract composition, balanced nicely in the frame. Great contrast, detail and sharpness, the whites & blacks are well handled. This capture has impact and the perspective of just a part of the building works very well here in my view. The muted sky has a nice hint of detail and supports the subject well. | HONOURS |
| Avro Anson Mk1 | This lovely old aircraft is in a strong position in the frame, well lit and composed on a pleasing angle with room on the right to move into. Good blur in the propellors. The plane is sharp with great depth, detail with a nicely muted background. For me I feel the smoke is quite grey and I think bringing the whites up a little more there would add impact to this capture | MERIT |
| City Skyline | I think the high key treatment has worked nicely here; the angled composition of the buildings has added a dynamic flow through the image adding a sense of movement and interest. The depth, sharp detail, textures and contrast is strong and appealing. I rather like the ghosting effect, a different and interesting perspective. | HONOURS |
| Climate Change Catastrophe | The title says it all and the creative treatment has worked quite well to give an impression of a disaster! The elements are composed nicely on the right third and the curves add a sense of strong movement and interest. I feel that increasing the contrast between the blacks and whites to help them pop out more would really add drama to this capture. | MERIT |
| Ice Patterns Abstract | Good, strong contrast between the blacks and whites has added punch to this capture I feel. I like the symmetry, strong patterns and textures of the ice, the dark area in the middle draws my eye there first and then travels around all those interesting and sharply detailed patterns. A strong abstract in my view. | HONOURS |
| In Triplicate | The simplicity of this balanced composition and the high key treatment is very appealing to me. Positioned strongly in the frame, they work together nicely to create a visually pleasing creative image. Good use of defined shapes and angles in the glass offset by the softer darker plants adding a nice pop of interest. I did wonder if you need so much at the top? Try cropping to more of a square crop, I think that will bring the subjects more into the frame. | MERIT |
| Living the Dream | This wonderful scene is supported nicely by that lovely detailed sky. With the hiker placed on the right third looking in I get a great idea of the majesty of this landscape. Sharp and detailed with a good sense of scale and pleasing side lighting adding depth. I like the feeling of achievement here. Just be aware of light haloes when toning down your skies, I can see one above the top half of the hiker which keeps drawing my eye. | MERIT |
| Our Big Back Yard | Nice side lighting has added depth and modelling. The sky is detailed and supports the scene well. I like the beautiful detailed foreground with those lovely reflections and strong lead in lines. The hint of white snow is adding pop and strength to this balanced composition. To make it stronger I would try lightening those grasses on the right and perhaps bring up some highlights in those middle trees. | MERIT |
| Picton New Years Eve | The contrast here is making the subjects stand out well with good whites, depth and interest. The lighting is well balanced and adds a great mood to these performers. I find the composition quite busy and I wonder if you need the chap on the far right? I feel the other four have a tighter connection. Try cropping him out as I feel he is disconnected and not adding anything. I think that will make a stronger composition. I also feel the image could be sharper. | ACCEPTED |
| Split Apple Rock | A very striking image with good whites, contrast and detail throughout. Nicely composed with the split rock placed in a strong position. The detailed dramatic sky is a good counterpoint to keep the eye in the image. Good foreground interest. My only comment is the shadow areas in the middle are very black and tend to draw the eye, I feel bringing up some detail there will help balance the lighting. | MERIT |
| Street Reflections | My eye is drawn straight to those umbrellas, a great focal point in this unusual perspective. I do like how the author has seen this and put their own stamp on it. It is framed well by the darker elements at the side to keep the eye in the scene, but I do wonder if cropping the left side to just on that post will help remove the distraction of that white sign and car there which is distracting being on the edge of the frame. | MERIT |
| Surfs Up | Using those lovely detailed and interesting rocks as a lead in line to this beautiful scene has worked very well. I find all the elements making up this composition well balanced and pleasing. The shutter speed on the water is good adding a sense of power in those waves. The whites on them pop out nicely keeping the eye in a and around the scene in a harmonious flow. | HONOURS |
| The Falcon | The simplicity and treatment of this capture is making it work for me. A feeling of majesty and pride. I like the high key effect and the bird is contrasting well with sharpness and detail. Though it is centrally placed the curve of the cable adds a sense of flow and balance. I suggest lightening the birds head around that eye and perhaps a catchlight in the eye could make it stand out | MERIT |
| The Home Paddock | A peaceful, simple rural scene which has been composed rather well. My eye is taken to that gate and the nicely lit area beyond it with the trees as a good counterpoint A nicely muted and detailed sky. Including the dead thistles by the gate adds interest for me. I think that a crop from the right to just before that third tree and perhaps some off the top would strengthen the composition. I find the field there is not as interesting and rather bland, I feel you don’t need so much of it | MERIT |
| Ward Beach | The water is framed nicely by those rocks keeping my eye on that wonderful action of the water. Good lead in line of the surf going out from the left. The slow shutter speed has worked, slowing the water while still adding some drama and I just love the lighting on the right rocks adding depth. Good whites. Overall a balanced and pleasing composition with great lighting and detail. | HONOURS |
| Wetland Canal | The lead in of the nicely detailed river is balanced well by the frame of the flax and trees, good counterpoints. A well contrasted image with a strong composition leading the eye on a journey through this lovely scene. I like the moody sky. it is a pity for me that the image is not sharp and there is quite a lot of luminance noise especially in the sky. | ACCEPTED |
| Wyperserfontein | The impact and gritty derelict feel of this image is great. It has the wow factor for me. Sharp with lots of interesting depth and detail, good contrast and a lovely moody sky. The dynamic angle it has been taken on has given me lots of information along with a sense of depth. The composition is spot on and overall there is nothing I would change about this. | HONOURS |
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