Container Contest
1st Place - Terri Clark-Kveton
ALL DAY SUN:
Container Contest
2nd Place - Terri Clark-Kveton
Container Contest
3rd Place - Linda Turnbull
View of a Garden
1st Place - Sherry Springall
This is a simple composition, and when simple things are done well, they acquire elegance. A very pleasing arrangement of blossoms which feels balanced and dynamic. The photographer has done well creating a significant sense of depth in the image, and the light is well controlled. Well seen, and well taken!
View of a Garden
2nd Place - Wynne Simmer
This photo is a celebration of form, colour, and light that reminds me of work by Georgia O'Keeffe. The blooms make an arching line that leads the viewer gently from the bottom left to the bottom right, where a slightly more prominent flower acts as
the subtle subject. Impossible to be in a bad mood while looking at this uplifting image!
View of a Garden
3rd Place - Audrey Barnes
Comments: A riot of form and colour that nonetheless feels balanced and intentional. The rich tapestry of textures draws the viewer’s eye further into the frame from any starting point. The cluster of red spirals in the upper left of the frame make an understated subject which the photographer has positioned well.
View of a Garden
Honourable Mention - Paul Larose
Comments: This image has a wealth of rich textures and colours, but what keeps bringing a smile to my face is the (unintentional?) self-portrait of the photographer peeking into the scene. This bit of whimsy coupled with the almost somber mood makes an engaging juxtaposition.
Macro Photography
1st Place - Stephen Jay
Comments: This bee portrait is, quite frankly, amazing! Exposure and focus are perfect, resulting in incredible detail along the entire length of the insect. The arc of the petal complements the curve of the bee, and acts like a spotlight to accentuate the minute structures.
I trust the photographer is appropriately thrilled with this excellent macro.
Macro Photography
2nd Place - Stephen Jay
Comments: An attention grabber for sure, this spider and web image is very well done. Tricky to focus, I expect, but the photographer has done well to have the body and head (I suppose more correctly the carapace and abdomen) in the focal plane, with the legs just slightly out of focus which gives a sense of depth to the image. Lighting is nicely managed, with the dark background allowing the subject to stand out.
Terrific image!
Macro Photography
3rd Place - Cathy Henderson
Comments: A fascinating riot of shapes and colours... if you told me this was a colony of aquatic creatures seen through a microscope I would readily believe you. A riot it may be, but the photographer has done a very good job of composing the scene so that all the elements feel intentional and appropriately positioned, and the mysterious black areas create a great sense of depth. The result is a most engaging image.
Splendid work!
Macro Photography
Honorable Mention: Linda Turnbull
Comments: Backlight through leaves can make very interesting subjects, and that is certainly the case here. The veins contribute some strong lines to follow, and the almost ethereal swirls and arcs in between are most pleasing to the eye. I like the way the photographer has composed the elements so that there is a definite diagonal flow from the top right corner which then spreads out across and down the image. There are some small distractions along the top right side which would be better if removed, but the photo is certainly a success in any case.
Well seen and well taken!
Visitors in the Garden
1st Place - Stephen Jay
Comments: This is a remarkable image. The quite intimidating bird of prey makes a definite connection with the viewers, staring defiantly directly at us. The focus is tack sharp on the entire bird, and the razor-thin depth of field isolates and emphasizes the subject beautifully. Well placed in the frame, with enough room ahead of the bird so it doesn’t feel crowded.
An amazing capture!
Visitors in the Garden
2nd Place - Stephen Jay
Comments: A very effective image. The viewer is being warned by the call and the direct eye contact, making the experience feel very dynamic. The focus and detail on the bird is impressively sharp, and the out-of-focus foreground elements add some nice depth to the scene.
Well framed and executed!
Visitors in the Garden
3rd Place - Paul Larose
Comments: The richly saturated colours in this image feel very welcoming. The “visitor” is well placed in the frame, consistent with the rule of thirds, and the meandering line of poppies makes a path the rooster can follow (though I expect there would be some surprised gardeners if he did...) A nicely balanced and pleasing image!
Inspired!
Garden Colour - Orange
1st Place - Paul Larose
Comments: Lovely light, rich colours, and some deft post-processing has produced a very pleasing image. I’m quite partial to photographing backlit flowers on a black background, so this strikes a chord with me.
A beautiful, artful image!
Garden Colour - Orange
2nd Place - Sherry Springall
Comments: An excellent use of depth of field here... there is no doubt which bloom is the main subject, and the entire frame leads the viewer to that point. Well exposed, effectively composed, and full of elegant beauty.
Garden Colour - Orange
3rd Place - Cathy Henderson
Comments: Water droplets often add a great deal of interest to flower images, and that is certainly the case here. The composition is simple and uncluttered, with excellent exposure, and the droplets elevate the whole scene beautifully.
Garden Colour - Orange
Honorable Mention - Trudy Findlay
Comments: The luminance and saturation of these wonderful flowers make a strong contrast with the dark background, and thereby create effective depth to the scene. The light is well controlled, and the intricate details on the petals are quite wonderful!