Contest Winners 2024
Container Winners 2024
1st Place Terri Clark-Kveton
2nd Place Terri Clark-Kveton
3rd Place Linda Turnbull
Photo Winners 2024
Photos: View of a Garden
Can be an over-all or partial view (even of just one plant) of any NWHS member’s 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!
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!
3rd Place - Audrey Barnes
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.
Honourable Mention - Paul Larose
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.
Photos: Macros
Must be a macro photograph, can be of any subject matter in any garden. aka “extreme close-up”. If a photo is printed 4”x6” and the subject is life size or larger, it is a macro image. Macro images cannot be entered in visitors, colour or view categories—only in the macro category
1st Place Stephen Jay
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.
2nd Place - Stephen Jay
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!
3rd Place - Cathy Henderson
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!
Honourable Mention Linda Turnbull
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!
Photos: Garden Colour Orange
Orange in all its hues. Best capture of the colour orange in plant material in any garden.
1st Place Paul LaRose
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!
2nd Place - Sherry Springall
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.
3rd Place - Cathy Henderson
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.
Photos: Visitors in the Garden
Can be something living or a representation of something living. i.e. may include humans, animals, insects, fish or even gnomes and statues. The photograph must be taken in your own garden. “Visitor” does not include plants which are visiting.
1st Place Stephen Jay
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!
2nd Place - Stephen Jay
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.
3rd Place - Paul LaRose
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!
Honorable Mention: Terri Clark-Kveton
This is quite a busy scene, with a variety of colours, textures and lines, but the photographer has done a good job of making everything feel as though it belongs in the scene. The central placement of the subject is appropriate in this case, helping to tie the elements together. The colours and details on the bird are great, and overall, this is a very nice image!