This whole section was really good – I am so pleased to see such good work from beginners – really well done to everyone, you’re all highly commended really!
Cactus In Bloom – A lovely subject, I’ve not seen these succulents in flower before (I keep one or two here myself!) – lovely. The photo is a little grainy, and I think I’d like a lower angle and a bit more space around the subject, but it’s a good effort and pretty good light and exposure
Rocky Structure – This is a very interesting subject, and I do like the use of diagonals. Nicely taken, but the image is a little soft, could be heavily cropped? But I feel it would benefit from really good clarity, sharpness and structure to really make it pop. Great effort!
Sleeping Dog – I quite like the light in this, and it’s a nice mono conversion, though a touch more contrast could help here. Beautiful subject matter and nicely observed. I do feel a little more space next to the paw could be an improvement too. Nice image.
Tasty Creation – This is a nicely exposed photograph, good colour as well, and some nice sharpness and detail. The composition isn’t bad at all, though slightly off centre or a different angle could really give the image an extra bit of clout. Really good effort!
Tropical Skyline – I quite like this image, though my eye finds it hard to find a focal point and wanders around the image a bit. The centre tree does keep drawing me back though, and the colour and feel of the image is quite lovely.
Highly Commended – Lord Steve The Cat – I love the subject, he’s beautifully caught, but the image is a little grainy and soft, which is why this didn’t place higher, but an otherwise lovely shot. Good placement of the subject in the photo too, and nice focus on the eyes as far as I can tell.
3rd Place – Fishy Cactus – This is a cracking observation! Really keeps you looking. Good light and exposure and a very interesting image to boot. Well done.
2nd Place – Green Green Grass Of Home – this is a great image, the composition is nice, with some really nice layering going on and good attention to the thirds in the image. Lovely colour and exposure, with no obviously blown highlights. Well done.
1st Place – Peach Beauty – I really like this image a great deal. Great exposure, focus, sharpness, colour. Really really nicely done. If I had any suggestion it would be to pull the subject more to the right of the frame, as it would feel a bit more balanced, but a minor niggle in an otherwise really lovely shot.
Intermediate:
Another excellent set of images, I really struggled to pick my winners and commended images among a super set. Well done everyone!
Among The Rocks – I like the placement of the subject in this one, but the whites are quite blown out which somewhat spoils the overall image. A nice close encounter though, and quite sharp.
Cardinal – this is one of my all time favourite birds which I finally saw in 2020, but got no passable photos! This is a little grainy, but the focus is pretty good and there’s a nice catchlight in the eye. Good colour too.
Exit Right – I quite like the artistic feel to this one, although it’s blown out and grainy and not quite in focus, the colour and the light actually lends something to the overall image. I am never overly fond of birds flying away from the camera, I think it loses some of the connection between photographer and subject. Good effort. Birds in flight can be tricky!
Feeding The Pollinator – I rather like the bokeh in this, it’s nice and sharp where it needs to be, but the hoverfly/bee feels a little too distant in the frame for me, so I think getting closer would have helped (though I know this is easier said than done!). Pretty reasonable control of exposure here, and the slightly blown highlights don’t detract.
Looking For Lunch – Egrets are often a little tricky to photograph as they are quite wary and always seem to be moving away from you! This is quite blown in the highlights which does somewhat spoil the overall image, though the exposure in the shadows is pretty good. It does look sharp, but the exposure lets it down a little. Good effort.
Mom Baby – This is very cute and the colour and light and exposure are great – the thing that lets this down is the plant in front of mum’s face . I might have straightened the horizon a pixel or two, but that’s a minor niggle. Good effort and what an exciting image!
Pomegranate – I like the colour and textures here, really nicely observed and lovely tones – the unfortunate thing is the strange composition where all the pomegranates are awkwardly cut into at top or bottom and the eye can’t find a focal point. I think a different composition would have elevated this a lot.
Red – This is a beautiful bloom, and nicely exposed in some tricky colours. I’m intrigued by the composition, and the use of quite a wide angle. I don’t know if I like it for me personally, but it’s a brave move, so well done. Always good to try new things and thinking outside the box.
The Dead Hot Chilli Peppers – I love the title and the idea. This is a good image for thinking outside the box, showing decay and darkness, which I really like. A different composition could have improved this further as the eye has no focal point to settle on as such here, but a great effort!
Warthog – I really like this image, really lovely colour and light again, which a great subject. Lovely movement caught and nice sharp detail. I’d like to either get closer to the main subject or slightly further out to show more of the environment rather than copping into the bushes, but either way a minor niggle. Well done.
White – Nicely exposed, pretty nice composition (maybe a touch higher and to the right would help?), and lovely soft colours. This is a really pretty image with a nice depth of field and good separation of subject from background.
Yellow – This is an interesting composition but it doesn’t quite work for me. The colours are really good and the focus on the main subject flower is good. I think a different angle could have helped here.
Highly Commended – Rose – this is really lovely, despite the soft focus (which may be intentional?). The colours and depth of field is really nice, and you could see this on a greetings card or hanging up in a big print. Really well done.
Highly Commended – Sea Spurge – this is a fabulous image, I love the focus and the depth of field, I think the light and colour is really wonderful. Beautiful work, the only niggle being the trailing plant going off to the left is a little cut short and it would have been lovely to have it all in. Good angle as well.
Highly Commended – Kestrel – this is a lovely sharp image of a beautiful bird. Lovely different background too – though what a shame it couldn’t have chosen a more natural perch! Always the way! A really nice image though, and one to be proud of.
3rd Place – Looking For Dinner – I really like this, there’s a lovely light and colour here, and the focus is pin sharp where it needs to be. A really thrilling encounter I’m sure, and one that has been nicely documented.
2nd Place – Woodland Walk – this is the kind of image I love. Fabulous angle, nice and low with excellent depth of field. The colours and light are gorgeous, and the subject matter is enticing. The framing is really lovely and gives our eye plenty for follow. A really balanced image!
1st Place – Wading Bird – this is a cracker. A nice tiny catchlight in the eye, the bird in the background, just out of focus, the approach of the main subject, all really good. It’s sharp, not overexposed and a generally really good image to be proud of.
Experienced:
Another stunning set. Everyone should be so proud of their efforts, I have had such a good time judging!
Aloe Fresca – the colours are just brilliant! Such a lovely subject ,and I really like the close crop, but it feels a little missed in focus and the highlights are quite over bright.
Artichoke – Nice colour and exposure, however the image feels a littl close cropped for me, I’d liek to see more of the head of the artichoke to give some perspective. On the whole a nice image though, and a nicely centred bloom.
Ascending – This image doesn’t quite work for me, but it’s a really good observation and effort. I think moving a tiny bit more into different positions may have given a better effect, but it’s a great idea, and one worth revisiting. I think it could work well in a stark mono as well, especially if you got in a little closer.
Baby Cucs – I quite like the composition here and the colour is good but the image is quite grainy and flat feeling. Maybe playing with additional lighting could help this alone, but a good effort and pretty good exposure.
Cactus – this is a sharp image (badum tish!), and the colour and light is good too. I feel it needs a little more space in the frame compositionally, but otherwise a nice image.
Chicken El Hierro – Lovely composition here, and the inclusion of the flowers really adds something. It’s a scene and it tells a story almost. Lovely colour and pretty nicely exposed. Unfortunately it’s slightly soft, and maybe a touch blurred due to camera shake perhaps? Quite a slow shutter speed.
Chiff Chaff – A nice image overall with good composition and a really nice setting. I love the angle and it’s not the easiest bird to photograph. There’s a pretty good catchlight in the eye and generally the image works very well. It’s a shame about the blown highlights on the underparts, but otherwise it’s well controlled.
Christmas Cacti – I really like the composition here, a nice angle and lovely colour. A nice exposure which would have been very easy to blow the highlights but has been well controlled. It feels a little grainy to me, whether due to crop or equipment. Good effort.
Fan Palm – this is a really interesting plant! Lovely subject, well exposed and observed and a good setting with no real distractions. Well done, good image.
Green – I really like this layering of different shades ofgreen, the soft buds with the spiky leaves, the fact that due to a lovely depth of field, the spiky leaves and soft and the buds are sharp. Nice work indeed.
Hibiscus – a really interesting colour on this, feels like it’s been pulled black from blown highlights quite successfully. Nice composition and subject placement. Really pleasing photo.
ICM – I’m not at all sure this works for me, I think I see what the photographer was going for, but I’m not sure it fully works. A good effort at using motion blur for artistic purposes though, one to revisit for sure.
Just Right – this is indeed Just Right. Lovely exposure, red can be especially hard to expose, and quite a sharp shot. Great background and composition. All in all a really good image to be proud of.
Napping Mouse – this is a cute image. Nice catchlight in the eye and nice light in the image. The fur is nice and sharp and it has a good depth of field. Well observed and nicely done.
No Joker – the title works with the image, since it would have been tricky to clone out the background wheels – so well done at using the title as a workaround! Nice image with a really thrilling sight to see, though it could be a bit sharper, and the background is a shame. Great effort!
Nuthatch – this is a lovely image, nice light, lovely colour and exposure, no blown highlights etc. Lovely sharp shot, but I feel there may be a bit too much space around the subject and I would move in a little closer. Great shot.
Oasis – This has good colour and light, and a nice exposure, and I think I know what the photographer was aiming for, but it feels a little cluttered. There’s no really strong focal point and the eye finds it hard to settle. Good try though, and nice idea.
Palm Tree – lovely colours in this and a really interesting angle with attention paid to having some of the palm fronds extending into the corners which helps the eye to move around the image. It’s a pleasing shot and has a really colourful, vibrant tropical feel.
Pandering Down – This is a very nice sharp image, very cute, great subject placement and exposure control. I’m not sure about the panda looking down, I think it loses the connectiong between subject and photographer, but it’s a really nicely controlled shot nonetheless.
Peacock – A nice sharp image of a lovely example of a peacock butterfly. The highlights are a bit blown here and it feels a little bright and oversaturated. I suspect this may be due to the settings or even the quipment used (phone?). Nicely composed though and a good effort.
Pink Beauty – this is a really pleasing image, what a gorgeous bloom! Really like this and it’s a great exposure with a nice depth of field. I’m not too sure about the sharp focus leaf in the left top corner, I think that is aa little distracting, but other than that, it’s a great shot.
Ragwort Friends – this is a nice image, and a lovely example of how much nature relies on all its friends. This is a lovely idea for a shot, I’d just move in a little closer, or try a slightly closer crop as there’s a pretty sizeable backgroudn area at the moment, and it would be nice to have more connection with the subjects.
Ready – this is a nice angle and nice colour and exposure, but none of the image feels fully sharp to me. The focus feels slightly missed. Good composition though, just one to revisit.
Rhodanthemum Casablanca – this is a really nice image. There’s a clear focal point in the centre flower and it feels presented in its environment. I love the colour and light, the muted tones are lovely. Well done.
Squirrel Proof – love the title! They are canny little divils! I think it’s a shame we aren’t able to see the whole scene, as it feels awkwardly cropped – but it’s nice and sharp and there’s a nice catchlight in the eye. It also tells a definite story, which I always like in a photo. Good effort.
The Queen – I like the title, and I love the fact that we have a bird behaving naturally and doing something rather than just sitting. It’s a shame about the grain, a very high ISO to cope with challenging light I imagine? Still a lovely shot. Well done.
Toad In The Holey – lovely pin sharp image, lovely bokeh, great texture. Really nice work, and lovely connection between photographer nad subject too. Getting a bit lower could have had a really interesting effect too – but great shot.
Wren – lovely sharp image (though I feel the focus is a little bit strong on the tail and not as strong on the eye – easy done!), with a classic pose for this dapper little bird. Love the angle and the light, but the slight back focus lets it down a touch. Good effort though.
Young Coot – a nice sharp image, the feather texture is really interesting, all curly and wavy! I like the placement of the bird in its environment, and I don’t find the leaves too distracting, but I would like him facing more towards the camera, as it would help with the connection between the photographer and subject.
Highly Commended – Amaryllis – this is a beauty. Really nicely exposed with good colour and soft light. Nice and sharp where it needs to be and lovely composition. Great work.
Highly Commended – Anthurium Mono – I love the starkness of this image. The bloom just floating in the blackness with excellent use of blown whites to give great contrast and produce an excellent artistic image. I can see this in a gallery.
Highly Commended – Dying For Winter – this is a really lovely image. Great depth of field, lovely and sharp, incredible sky, really good exposure, good colour and good diagonals. It has a sombre feel, but it’s still really beautiful in a dark and moody way. Well done.
Highly Commended – Grub Up – this is a corker. Really nice and sharp, lovely bokeh, nothing blown out, great story told, very nice behaviours caught. A really beautiful image to be proud of.
Highly Commended – Miniature Daffodil – this is a cracker. Really beautiful light and exposure, lovely and sharp, great image placement. An excellent shot, nothing I would seek to improve, it’s a really good image.
Highly Commended – Pollinating The Flora – this is a corker. A really lovely image, pin sharp on the bee and a really nice exposure everywhere with no blown areas. I would love to see it cropped just a bit closer to really bring the bee out, but it’s a really great image. Well done!
Highly Commended – Sunflower Colour Burst – a lovely image with beautiful detail and texture. Really well exposed with great colour and light. Fantastic shot.
3rd Place – Male Pheasant – this is a really interesting image with a really artistic feel. Keeping that sharpness on the eye was a stroke of good luck or precision, and it works beautifully. Even the off kilter placement in the frame works well for me. Really well done, smashing image.
2nd Place – Sunflower Bee – this is a really lovely image. The colours and textures are smashing. The inclusion of the bee really adds to it as well, but it’s a really beautifully controlled image that I would be happy to hang on any wall. Well done indeed.
1st Place – Male Kingfisher Portrait – this is an absolutely astounding image. Good fieldcraft to get this close, super sharp image, wonderful catchlight in the eye and beautiful exposure. There is absolutely nothing I would improve – it’s a belter and a deserving 1st place.
OVERALL RESULTS:
Joint 4th Place – Peach Beauty (Beginners) Woodland Walk (Intermediate)
3rd Place – Sunflower Bee (Experienced)
2nd Place – Wading Bird (Intermediate)
1st Place – Male Kingfisher Portrait (Experienced)
Many Thanks to Laura Woods our judge for this month who has done a fantastic job for us. From all the members
