Judge: Irene Callaghan
MCC Trophy topic. Landscape (editing restrictions). You can submit up to 4 images for the Digital and Print MCC Trophy's.
MCC Trophy topic. Landscape (editing restrictions).
The competition is NOT graded and NO points are awarded - so is different to the other monthly topics.
Two trophies are awarded: .
- The best print image trophy is the Elizabeth Davidson. Entries must adhere the below rules
- The best digital image trophy is the Barbara Wilson. Entries must adhere the below rules.
Seascapes cannot be of just water - to qualify it must have some land content.
Images that have been previously entered in any MCC as "Open" may be re-entered into the MCC Natural History Trophy Competition. Up to two digital entries and two prints may be submitted
Two images per medium (prints and digital images) can be submitted for a total of four images - so a very unique opportunity.
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
From Irene Callaghan APSNZ
REPORT
A wonderful mix of images which I have enjoyed viewing and critiquing very much. Congratulations to the winners and well done to everyone, particularly C graders who I think did exceptionally well.
I would suggest that you, as the photographer, ask yourself what you are photographing and also why are you taking this image? I find many people have been caught up in the emotion of the moment when they pressed the shutter. That emotion is unable to be recorded on to your image in a two dimensional format, so your viewer will be unable to get as excited as you did when you took the image.
Landscapes can be as creative as other subjects and you have to work hard to put together an image that has lasting power. You have to use all the experience and ability you have. Try to visualize the finished image and take more than one option. I often use the very last image I take as I have thought more about the composition and lighting by then. Look at your image critically as you think someone else would do, and then see what you think once you have processed it.
The prints were beautifully matted and presented, and as usual I feel members chose their best work for the print section.
You all know me so I won’t include a bio this time. Sorry I can’t be with you on the presentation night as we leave in a few days for a 5 week tour of the South Island in our caravan with some friends from the Porirua Camera Club which is our old club. The weather is chilling down fast so I am hoping for some exciting storms or snow to photograph. I am not a person who wants clear blue skies
Thank you for trusting me with your images and see you again soon.
Critique to be available after the April club evening
Marlborough Camera Club Landscape - March 2024
A Grade Digital -
A Dusting of Snow: The mist helps to provide some depth to the image and separates the two mountains, however the middle ground predominates in this image and I find myself drifting around the image looking for a point of interest. The foreground shadow feels quite heavy at the base of the image compared to the lightness of the new snow. Try a little more contrast and lightly crop the top and bottom to give a more panoramic feel. Not Accepted.
Bannockburn Sluicings: I like that the eroded hillsides are on the upper third and exude a sense of power. The light shines on them illuminating them against the dark sky. The remainder of the landscape is without any remarkable features. I feel the bright area at the base may be cropped as the bright area pulls attention away from the outcrops. Accepted.
Beached: The seaweed appears to reach back towards the sea which had dumped it on the beach. The lines of the seaweed echo the horizontal lines of the waves and the headland and this helps to meld the image together. The image has quite a bit of noise which could be reduced. Merit.
Chathams geomorphology: This geographical feature is obviously in the process of eroding. I can see the runnels in the sand where the rain has poured down leaving unusual castle like features. I feel the blue works well and balances the intense yellow of the land. If you moved to the right and included more of the sea, I think this may have worked well. Accepted.
Coastal Skye: My eye is drawn into the image along the diagonal line of swampy water, towards the sea and the headland which appears to be dark and gloomy. The sky has moodiness and complements the image giving a contrast of colour and balance. The elements in this image work together to create a landscape with lots of detail. I would like to suggest a small crop off the bottom of your image, but I also like it as it is. Honours.
Subject facing South: The author has made a deliberate choice to present this image in a square format and in black and white, with a large expanse of sky. This was a brave and deliberate choice I feel. I like the tree placed right in the centre of the gap but perhaps the large expanse of sky a bit less so. This is a personal choice. Merit.
Golden Marlborough: A sweeping vista typical of Marlborough taken in the winter before the vines start to get their leaves. The yellow tone may have been used to try to warm the image; however this feels a little too intense and may be best toned down. Not Accepted.
Gore Bay: Taken from high above the bay this image presents an unusual view of the cliff face which I think has nice curves leading us down to the homes at sea level. The colour seems to lean towards strong yellows and some colour management with some blue/greens added may help. Saturation is a little strong. Accepted.
Mackenzie Slivers: On my calibrated monitor this image appears rather dark with a green tinge, however when it is projected I suspect it may come up lighter. The foreground could be lightened to bring out the detail and a small amount of brightness and contrast overall would open up the elements in this image. I like the sky where the long low cloud echoes the shape of the mountain ranges. The very top of the image feels heavy and a crop of half the area above the cloud would benefit the image in my opinion. Accepted.
Martins Bay, Warkworth: The image has foreground, middle ground and distance although I would ask what is the subject about? You need to own the landscape by either using the time of day, i.e. the dawn or dusk, or some other way of creating a point of difference. For a landscape competition I would advise to not include so many houses. Accepted.
Maclean Falls: I will be visiting these falls shortly. The Catlins is a marvelous place for waterfalls. I like the composition taken with a slow exposure which feels to me to be a little too slow, as some areas have lost some detail. A small crop at the bottom would remove the log at the right side. The water is overexposed in places possibly due to photographing at a bright time of the day. Accepted.
Moody Blues: A lovely simple colour palette gives this image a really peaceful feel. My only suggestion might be to bring in some more foreground detail. The slow shutter speed has smoothed the sea until most of the detail and texture has been reduced, and I feel I would like to see just a little more. I loved the rocks. Merit.
Mountains and Hay bales: The light is even and subtle and the exposure is great, particularly on the snow which is difficult to do. I like the contrast between the white snow and the dried golden grasses. The bales are rather small but do act as a focal point. This image grew on me each time I looked at it. Honours.
Okarito Tidal Flats. There is more potential in this image. I love the curves of the water runnels through the mud flat however the mud appears quite bright. The flax in the foreground appears to block the image somewhat, and something else needs to be chosen as foreground interest in my opinion. Perhaps just use the runnel of water. Accepted.
Sunrise on the Bay: The slow exposure in the early morning light has smoothed the water. The rocks where the uplift has occurred have a lovely texture. The pier is touching the horizon and I would prefer a gap above if possible. The rock at bottom left is a little distracting to my eye. Accepted.
View From Rarangi Lookout: The lines of grape vines converge in the distance to create a wide, rather empty feeling vista. However I am looking for foreground interest and/or a focal point to give my eye somewhere to rest. Not Accepted.
The Wake: I feel the mist has been placed too close to the top of the frame and needs room to breathe. The image is rather dark on my monitor, and I feel a small amount of brightness and contrast will bring out the details in the wake. Not Accepted.
Windswept: This landscape is rather barren with the large expanse of grass. My eye goes in search of an interesting feature and reaches the tree in the distance. This is not enough to hold my attention for long. Think about what are you photographing as sometimes simple is all you need. Accepted.
B Grade Digital -
Calm Seas, Morning Shadows: The morning light has created nice shadows on the hills which are exposed nicely, however the lighting needs attention in the foreground. Some dodging of the rocks and the water may reveal more detail and interest. A rock or similar in the foreground would lead us into the image. Accepted.
Kawarau Gold Tailings: The winding path leads us to the tiny huts the miners once lived in. The surroundings are barren and the image has a cluttered feel as though the subject has not been defined well. It feels like the image has been taken during a bright time of the day. Not Accepted.
Lindis Pass: The large hill would have felt impressive to you at the time of capture. Unfortunately this does not always convert to an image that holds our attention when we are looking at something that is two dimensional. Remind yourself that you are composing a story, usually with foreground, middle ground and some distant object so that your viewer moves around in your image. I do like the way the shadows fall on the angle. Accepted.
Lindis Pass Evening Drive: I think the panoramic presentation suits this landscape. The grass in the foreground on the right is detailed and introduces us into your image. I like the glimpse of road leading to the distant hill. The blue sky contrasts well with the golden grass. Merit.
Opawa River: An idyllic lazy flowing river image complete with some ducks swimming along. The level of the water needs straightening as it feels as though there is a slope down to the right. It is harder to pick up the correct level of a river than the sea horizon. This image needs something more to keep my interest. Not Accepted.
Roaring Coastline: Wow what a wave. It is quite impressive and I can feel the power of the water. You are almost too close to give a true sense of the scale here however as the wave obscures the coastline and rocks which would have given more context to the image. Accepted
C Grade Digital -
Brighton Pier: This long exposure and has flattened out the sea. I like your composition and the panoramic crop. I feel the saturation is quite intense but this is a personal preference and I think it does give this image a painterly feel. Merit.
Castle Hill: This is a fascinating place but every time I visit here it is raining! This image feels to me as though it has been taken during the afternoon when the light is still quite bright. Some darkening of the rocks will help to bring out detail. I like that you have included the figure walking into the frame. Accepted.
End of the Day: An interesting image however the tire tracks tend to disrupt the natural feel of this scene for me. My advice would be to crop the bottom of your image to just below the small rock for a panoramic presentation. The image is over exposed where the light breaks through the clouds, so expose for these areas when taking the image and brighten shadows later in post production. I like the way the water runnels lead you into the image. Accepted.
Hawkdun Range 1: You have an eye for the melodramatic. I like the way the dead branches lean into the light of the rising sun which is trying to shine through the fog. The rocks lead me into your image. An unusual image and I will trust you when you say that the Hawkduns are in the distance. There is a line around the branches possibly caused in post production. Merit.
Hawkdun Range: I love this part of the country and I can’t wait to see it again soon. You have captured the feel of the wide open spaces in this image and I like the way the road leads us in. The sky feels a little too big as it doesn’t have enough interesting detail for the space you have allowed it, so think about cropping by half. This image would have potential. Accepted
Into The Valley: The wide open gates invite us into the image to explore the country ahead. The middle area feels slightly cluttered with the trees having been milled, but the image combines all the elements into a whole that draws you in to explore. The colour is slightly over saturated and the snow on the mountains looks quite blue. Use a white neutralizer. Merit.
Lights on Lake Te Anau: A small reduction in brightness and an increase in the contrast will bring out those lovely bands of light we can see. Keep an eye on your horizon to make sure it is straight as it currently leans to the left. Accepted.
Port Underwood: I feel this image may either be from a heavily cropped file, or perhaps it was not sharp image to begin with. The progressive headlands march into the distance into a blue haze. Aim to take a landscape image in the time period close to dawn or dusk, and use a tripod as potentially your speed will be slower. I like the way they are spaced evenly on the angle. Accepted.
Round The Bend: The road is a strong line driving us into your image. The barren peaks contrast well with the colour of the blue sky and the straw coloured grasses. I would tend to bring the road in more from the front, from the bottom of the left corner. Merit.
Scars on the Landscape: Keep an eye on that horizon line, as although it is in the hazy distance I believe I can see it slope to the left. The scaring left by the milling of timber creates a statement about how we have used the land. I don’t feel it is conducive to a landscape I would put on the wall but I like the contrast of the blue sky and sea. Accepted.
Spray: The repetitive landforms create quite a statement in your image. I like the way the light has caught the edges of the rocks and contrasts with the dark sky creating drama. The spay bursts upwards and stands out starkly against the darker background. Quite a moody feel in this image. Honours.
A Grade Prints -
A Wintery Stormy Morning: I feel a shiver when I look at this image. You can feel the cold wind and the need to zip up your jacket. I like the way the light is striking the branches of ‘that Wanaka’ tree and highlighting it against the gloomy background. A good early morning shot and well done for getting out early. Merit.
Kahikahti Wetlands. I enjoyed how the early morning light has caught the flaxes and the trunks of the trees. The water has a soft look and the mist rises behind the trees. I would like to have seen the tops of the trees as they feel cropped too tightly. Accepted.
Moody Coast: Congratulations for braving this inclement weather. This is a good example of the foreground leading us into the image. The central rough water echoes the white of the daisies, as does the brighter sky behind the promontory. The rain cloud gives us a moody atmosphere. Honours.
Exposure: I like the way you played with the name in this image and I hope you did not get exposure while taking this image. I love the way the tawny golden browns contrast with the darker mountain, and the hint of cool blues in the sky. I feel the image is slightly cramped and I would like to see slightly more of the view at both sides. Perhaps a square or landscape format would have shown this vista more suitably and earned it an honours. Merit.
The Medway: This is an image of layers and each layer tells me a story. It is a little complicated but I enjoyed exploring it. The icy blue/greens of the river stand out and the curving shape is repeated by the green area above which divides the grapes. The eroding hill is well depicted in the background. Merit.
Across The Vineyards: The leaves are just beginning to turn to autumn tones. The repetitive layers of the vines are broken by the rows in the middle area showing just past the cabbage tree. The small amount of sky suits the image. It is an image my eye floats around liking the colours but looking for something more. Accepted.
The Wairau Diversion: I love the way the light has been controlled in this image. The water has been smoothed by the shutter speed and the gray/blues which are fairly dark at the base of the image contrast with the tawny gold light that is striking the hills. The sky is lighter and helps to draw the eye upwards. Honours.
Ward Beach: You have controlled the speed beautifully to keep some lovely detail in the water, and to lead my eye through the gap and towards that lone rock on the horizon. The light in the sky glows and is perfectly exposed. The light also catches the edges of the darker rocks. Honours.
A Puff Of White: The foreground at first glance looks barren until you get caught up in looking at the detail in the plants. The little white cloud is a magnet to the eye and helps to drag my attention upwards and to the rear of the image until I am called back by the detail at the bottom. Merit.
Behind The hill: This image has me thinking something supernatural is happening in the sky but maybe it’s the trails planes leave behind in the sky once the air movement has drifted somewhat. Whatever it is it creates interest and livens up this stark landscape. I find the yellows a little too saturated. Accepted.
B Grade Prints - (Judged from Digital files)
Clifford Bay: I like the way the footsteps take us through the image to the person who I think is looking for shellfish on the beach. The sky is given a lot of room and does not contribute much to the image. Everything in your image needs to earn it’s keep. Not Accepted.
Lake Wakatipu, The Earnslaw: I am not sure how so much noise got into your image unless it was getting dark. This can be removed in many programmes now. I feel the composition might be improved by cropping from the left top corner until the Earnslaw is about on the third and the sky comes down to just above the mountain. Good bones here and the mist is great. Accepted.
Lindis Pass: A lovely spot to stop and contemplate nature. I like the way the road curves around the hillside. I believe this image would benefit from a crop of most of the sky leaving about half an inch above the peak. Perhaps if you had crouched down lower and made the most of the texture of that vegetation for a stronger foreground. Accepted.
Mt Aspiring is There: I like your image but think about changing these things that will make your image even stronger. First move to the right when taking the image and include all of that rock that is at the right edge of your image, or eliminate it entirely. Secondly crop about half of the sky. Thirdly use a polarizer filter near the water if you have one so that you can see the stones clearly under the water, particularly when the light is brighter. Accepted.
C Grade Prints -
The Wairau: A print that is well matted and mounted. The composition is balanced with the gap in the hills on the third. It appears slightly dark to me and a small increase in contrast and brightness will give a boost to this image. Merit.
The Promise: The road enters the image at a nice angle and disappears into a relatively empty distance. I can’t help feeling this image needs a subject of interest just before the bend of the road, as I feels it needs an anchor point to hold my attention for longer. Acceptance.
The Road to Aoraki: You have used the fence line to lead us nicely into your image. I feel the composition does not need the small area of road hard to the left as it is too close to the margin of the image. Also the colour feels too intense and could be reduced slightly. I feel I need to point these things out, but even so you obviously have a good eye for landscapes so keep taking them. Accepted.
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