Container Contest
1st Place - Terri Clark-Kveton
ALL DAY SUN:
Container Contest
2nd Place Jenn McKinley
Container Contest
3rd Place - Linda Turnbull
View of a Garden
1st Place - Trudy Findlay
This image feels like the epitome of garden hospitality. There's a lot going on in the frame, but rather than feeling too busy, all the elements join together to create a comfortable, peaceful setting. The photographer did well to exclude any distracting bright areas, like the sky, and only show them in reflections in the windows. An excellent portrayal of a wonderfully inviting garden area.
View of a Garden
2nd Place - Brenda Fairfax
There is a diagonal line between the yellow stalks, and the photographer has done well to place the tulip along this line, providing a pleasing balance to the composition. Colours are rich and vivid, and the light feels warm and summery.
A fine image.
View of a Garden
3rd Place - Trudy Findlay
An excellent idea to photograph this scene with snow: it transforms what is likely quite an ordinary view in winter into a rather more magical visage. The birdhouse is placed nicely in the frame, and the snowy evergreens make a pleasing background. Exposure is well managed, maintaining good detail in the white snow, and the shadows retain a good amount of detail.
Well photographed!
Macro Photography
1st Place - Stephen Jay
A great deal to like here. The bee's eye is in sharp focus, as it should be, and the level of detail in the tiny hairs on its body is quite impressive. Composition is good, with the natural lines leading the viewer inward and upward to the wye and antennae which is the most important part of the scene. Everything works to enhoance the subject, rather than distract from it.
An excellent macro in both technical and artistic aspects.
Macro Photography
2nd Place - Stephen Jay
the narrow focal plane is just where it belongs, and silky bokeh makes a perfect background, providing contrast to the sharp details of the subject, and creating a real sense of depth in the photo. Compositionally this works well, with the in-focus part of the flower balancing the bee so that the viewer's eye rests comfortably where i should. The colours are excellent, and I find the way that the bee's colour blends will with the golden yellows in the top left of the frame helps balance the frame.
Terrific macro work!
Macro Photography
3rd Place - Jenn McKinley
Colour and composition maybe the heroes of this image. The rich, luxurious red ties the entire scene together, and the two bloom centers help keep the viewer's attention moving into the frame. The placement of the bee is very effective, leaving space above him to fly easily to the next bloom. The focus on the bee seems to be in the right place; with the details in his hairs being slightly soft, I suspect it's a limitation of the lens rather than technique.
Congratulations on a very pleasing macro!
Macro Photography
Honorable Mention: Brenda Fairfax
This wonderful yellow flower head is a celebration of warm colour and mesmerizing maths, (Fibonacci sequence, anyone?). The central composition is very appropriate for the image, drawing attention to the symmetry and from.
Well seen, and well presented!
Visitors in the Garden
1st Place - Marya McLellan
This bright yellow bird enthusiastically singing its little heart out to all that will listen makes me think of carefree summer days. The layout of the branches forms lines that lead nicely to the subject, and the colours stand out well against the summer blue of the cloudless sky..
Nicely done!
Visitors in the Garden
2nd Place - Lesia Gojda
The photographer did well to come down to the cat's level for this image; it makes the viewer feel a connection to both the cat the the field of crocuses he seems to be enjoying. Using perspective like this is a great way to engage the viewer. There are some visual distractions on the left edge of the frame, and the photographer may want to try reformating it as a 4x6 crop to remove this area, which will also move the cat's eye closer to a "rule of thirds" junction which can be visually pleasing.
A fine image of a furry feline friend.
Visitors in the Garden
3rd Place - Paul Larose
This is a very creative image that made me check the back of my wardrobe, just in case... Adding the figurines is a bit of imaginative whimsy, and immediately transforms the scene from an architectural portrayal of a nice fountain into a scene in an evolving story that piques my curiosity.
Inspired!
Garden Colour - Purple
1st Place - Brenda Fairfax
The descriptor of the moment is definitely "elegant", along with any synonyms I can think of. The grouping of 3 blooms is pleasing, and the way the right-hand flower arches gracefully to the side adds a dynamic sense to the scene. Combine this with the beautiful colours in the silky blurred background, plus a thoughtfully placed transition from light to dark, and you have a winning photograph.
Excellent work!
Garden Colour - Purple
2nd Place - Trudy Findlay
This is one of those photos that I found more and more pleasing the longer I looked at it. There is a subtle diagonal line leading from the bottom left to the top right tat provides balance to the scene, and the taller branch that crosses that line to stand out against the weathered wood becomes a mini-subject in the piece.
A lovely scene that is well portrayed!
Garden Colour - Purple
3rd Place - Edie Ennis
The vivid, flame like splashes of yellow make splendid accents throughout the purple petals. The photographer has composed the scene well with a gentle diagonal line moving from the bottom left to the top right. the intense green of the background is perhaps a little bit distracting, taking attention away from the flowers, so if the photographer is able to try desaturating the green somewhat it may improve what is already a nice image.
A lovely scene that is well portrayed!
Garden Colour - Purple
Honorable Mention - Brenda Fairfax
Allium make such photogenic subjects, and the photographer has captured this potential beautifully. The straight, centered composition is perfect for these symmetrical subjects. The shallow depth of field is very effective in separating the subject from the background to provide a dynamic sense of depth to the image, while the light and colours add interest without distracting the viewer from the star of the scene.
Well taken!