Winners 2025
Judging By The New Westminster Photography Club
Congratulations to all the 2025 winners! This year we were fortunate to have judges from the New Westminster Photography Club. They provided a wealth of incredible feedback, and also submitted their reflections on each category, a must-read for anyone wanting to improve their nature photography skills. This supplemental document can be read here.
The rules for judging can be found here, and Nancy Matheson put together a short document for us entitled The Art of Garden Photography.
Visitors 1st Place: Jenn McKinley
A superb image — beautifully sharp, clean, and composed. The dragonfly is perfectly positioned, and the strong diagonal of the perch leads the eye right to it. The soft blue sky makes an ideal background, letting the delicate wing pattern shine. Excellent use of simplicity — no distractions, just elegant form and detail. The only improvement to note was that the subject, being shot against the bright sky, is deeply shadowed and lacks visible detail. Shooting with some soft flash would address that when shooting. Or, if you are using editing software, we suggest lifting the shadows on the dragonfly. However, that minor flaw doesn’t distract from the excellent image. A clear, well-balanced photograph that deserved its top score. Score: 8.50/10.
Visitors 2nd Place: Lesia Gojda
A delightful and engaging photograph. The raccoon’s direct gaze creates instant connection and emotional warmth — a real “caught in the moment” feeling. The framing among the leaves adds context and texture, making the image feel both intimate and natural. The lighting is excellent, showing clear detail in the fur and expressive eyes. The orange tones in the background compete slightly with the subject. There isn’t much that can be done while shooting, but this image might also be very successful in black and white, removing distraction, as the colour isn’t a significant part of the story here. A beautifully captured, well-deserving 2nd-place image. Score: 8:25/10
Visitor 3rd Place: Lesia Gojda
A strong capture — full of personality and nicely composed. The raccoon’s inquisitive expression and diagonal pose bring real life and movement to the frame. The eyes are sharp, and the natural framing from the leaves adds depth and context without distraction. Exposure is well managed, preserving shadow detail. The image was slightly soft in focus. The very bright top left corner is a bit distracting but not enough to diminish the strength of this image. A subtle crop or darkening of that area would make it even stronger. Overall, a delightful and well-deserved 3rd-place photograph. Score: 8.13/10
Visitor Honorable Mention: Trudy Findlay
Good timing to catch the bee in focus — that’s not easy. The bright colours are handled well, and the dark background gives nice separation from the blossom. Because the bee is flying out of the frame, the picture feels slightly off-balance. Try waiting for a moment when it’s flying into the image instead. It takes patience and many tries, but you’ve already shown good observation skills. Score: 8.00/10
Visitor Honorable Mention: Dawn Dutrizac-Larose
An excellent and imaginative interpretation of the theme — the serene face surrounded by vibrant blooms creates a striking contrast between stillness and life. The colours are rich and well balanced, and the textures of stone and petals complement each other beautifully. Consider trying a slightly lower angle next time, shooting almost through the flowers to deepen the connection between the sculpture and the garden. A strong, thoughtful image — well deserving of its honourable mention. Score: 8.00/10
Colour Pink 1st Place: Paul Larose
A graceful and well-seen image of this elegant plant. The rich pinks stand out beautifully against the dark background, which adds depth and contrast. The curve of the stem leads the eye naturally through the frame. The composition does feel a little tight on the ends — a touch more space would let the line of blooms breathe and enhance the overall harmony. A very pleasing photograph, deserving of 1st place. Score: 9.13/10
Colour Pink 2nd Place: Merril Hall
A vibrant and well-composed image that captures the energy and abundance of these blooms. The triangular cluster of flowers leads the eye naturally into the frame and gives the composition a pleasing sense of structure. The pink petals and green foliage balance beautifully, with the natural white markings adding sparkle and texture. A joyful and well-observed photograph that draws the viewer in. A very deserving second place. Score: 9.00/10
Colour Pink 3rd Place: Paul Larose
A soft and beautifully detailed study of peonies, with lovely control of tone and light. The gentle pinks are very well handled, and the dark background helps the blossoms stand out. The composition feels a little static with the two blooms centered and similar in size Including an odd number of flowers or shifting the placement slightly could create a more dynamic flow. Still, a graceful and carefully executed image. Score: 8.25/10
Colour Pink Honorable Mention: Brigitte Stermann
A cheerful and well-balanced image that captures the beauty of spring blossoms in their natural setting. The branch reaching into the frame creates a pleasant sense of depth, and the soft background gives a nice feeling of place without distraction. The warm light
and golden leaves add contrast to the pinks beautifully. You might look for a slightly cleaner background or shift your position to avoid bright highlights at the lower edge —this would focus attention even more on the blossoms. A lovely, seasonally expressive
photograph. Score: 8.00/10
and golden leaves add contrast to the pinks beautifully. You might look for a slightly cleaner background or shift your position to avoid bright highlights at the lower edge —this would focus attention even more on the blossoms. A lovely, seasonally expressive
photograph. Score: 8.00/10
Colour Pink Honorable Mention: Linda Turnbull
A charming and delicately coloured image that shows the fine structure of these tiny blossoms beautifully. The pinks contrast nicely with the soft green background. The framing feels a little tight, with the flowers pressing close to the edges — allowing a bit more space around the cluster would give the composition a more relaxed and balanced feel. Still, a gentle and appealing study of form and pattern. Score: 8.00/10
WHS Garden View 1st Place: Paul Larose
This image has excellent tonal balance and detail. The bee adds life and context, but the bright stamens hold the true focal point. Beautiful colour harmony between the soft purples and vivid orange. Focus and depth of field are well judged — sharp where it matters, soft around the edges. This is a beautifully seen and rendered image. It would have place well in the “Visitors” and the “Macro” categories. While this image placed first under the rules of this category, the judges urge the photographer who made this, who clearly has strong skills, to challenge themselves – in a future competition - to enter an image that captures a garden scene, rather than just flowers. Score: 8.88/10
NWHS Garden View 2nd Place (tie): Cathy Henderson
A gentle and well-composed image that feels true to the garden. The soft light and quiet colour palette, lifted with sparks of warmth, create a calm, engaging atmosphere. Good sharpness throughout, with the cosmos providing a strong and engaging foreground that leads the eye into the scene. A few areas are a bit busy, but the overall balance and flow are pleasing. A quiet, well-observed photograph — A magazine worthy garden scene and well-deserved 2nd place. Score: 7.88/10
NWHS Garden View 2nd Place (tie): Cathy Henderson
A well-observed and thoughtfully composed garden vignette. The mix of colours, shapes, and textures is handled with care, showing an eye for balance and rhythm. Each plant contributes to the whole, yet nothing dominates. The framing is strong, though a touch more space at the top might have given the composition a bit more breathing room. A pleasing, cohesive study in pattern and harmony — and a fine companion to the other second-place image. Score: 7.88/10
NWHS Garden View 3rd Place: Terri Clark-Kveton
Beautifully seen and composed image. The overhead view highlights the rich textures and harmonious colour palette — cool greens and purples against the warm browns below. The interplay of shapes and tones is very effective. The edges are a little crowded, with the top slightly clipped and some empty space on the left; a small compositional adjustment could give the subject more breathing room. Still, a striking study in pattern and texture. Score: 7.75/10
NWHS Garden View Honorable Mention: Jenn McKinley
A very evocative and unusual image — not the typical bright, sunny view of a garden, but something quieter and more contemplative. The cool tones and dim light suggest evening or early night, giving the photograph a moody, almost painterly quality. The single warm light in the distance adds a gentle focal point and contrast that draws the viewer in. The challenge here is that the low light makes much of the scene soft and indistinct, so the flowers and structure lose some of their presence. An ever-so-slightly earlier moment, with a touch more light, could preserve that lovely atmosphere while bringing out more detail and texture. Still, this is a poetic interpretation — an image that captures a feeling rather than simply showing a place. Score 7.63/10
Macro Image 1st Place: Paul Larose
A superb macro image — technically refined and visually striking. The bee is sharply rendered, with beautiful texture and clarity in the fur and wings. The choice of viewpoint gives the subject real character, and the careful placement of the bee against a neutral, contrasting background shows sensitivity and skill — the soft background tones let the subject pop without distraction. Score: 9.13/10
Macro Image 2nd Place: Paul Larose
A bold and vibrant macro image with excellent focus and detail on the bee and flower. The textures of the bee’s fur and the spiky flower centre are beautifully rendered, and the colours are lively without feeling garish. The background petals add context and colour harmony, though they do compete slightly for attention. A well-handled, energetic image that pulls you right in. Score 8.88/10
Macro Image 3rd Place: Brigitte Stermann
A striking and well-seen close-up with wonderful contrast between the creamy whites and magenta tones. The central forms are intriguing and draw the viewer right in. The lighting is soft and flattering, showing good attention to exposure control. Focus is well placed at the core, with the outer petals gently fading away — a nice use of depth of field. You might watch the brightest highlights on the upper petals, which verge on losing texture, but overall, this is an elegant and skillfully handled macro. Score: 8.5/10
Macro Image Honorable Mention: Audrey Barnes
A bold, close-up look into the heart of a flower — vivid, detailed, and full of energy. The repeating pattern of stamens draws the viewer diagonally across the frame, and the sharpness holds beautifully in the critical plane. The texture and repetition make this image both graphic and organic. The depth of field falls off gently at the back, creating depth without distraction. Strong work that shows confidence in composition and control. Score: 8.25/10
Container 1st Place: Gina Ng
Growing Conditions: Morning shade, late afternoon sun. Under porch overhang. Cyperus papyrus ‘Prince Tut’ Colocasia esculenta ‘Royal Hawaiian Black Coral’ Impatiens rockapulco, white Senecio candicans ‘Angel Wings’ Heuchera ‘Black Pearl’ Euphorbia ‘Diamond Mountain Silver Falls’ Chives Parsley
Container 2nd Place: Terri Clark-Kveton
SUCCLENTS & STONECROPS & AGAVE: Growing Conditions: Full sun. Origanum ‘Kirigami’ Aeonium arboreum Agave scnidgera ‘Royal Flush’ Hylotelephium ‘Bernard Anderson’ (Blackleaf Stonecrop) Echevaria ‘Black Prince’ Agave utahensis
Container 3rd Place: Sherry Springall
Growing Conditions: Morning shade, 3hrs afternoon direct sun. Observations: Lime/Burgundy Coleus grew larger than anticipated (leaf size & spread). It overpowered the other plants. White Cosmos was expected to be tall but was dwarf and did not survive long. Euphorbia worked well. Flowering times did not coordinate as expected. Euphorbia ‘Breathless Blush’ Lobelia Regatta, white Verbena ‘Vepita Polar’ Alyssum Cosmos White Potato Vine ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Mahogany’ Diascia Trinity ‘White Grace’ Viola ‘White Perfection’ or “Clear Crystal’ Coleus ‘Itty Bitty’ Coleus, Lime leaf with burgundy marks Epimedium