Position

Reference

Comments

1

21

“Kotuku ngutupapa / Royal Spoonbill hunker down as heavy rain falls.”

This image portrays the spoonbills well showing lots of character and detail.  The different angles of the beaks of the birds show the form of this distinctive feature.   The spoonbills stand out against the simple background and the rain makes an atmospheric photograph.  A great image.

2

14 “What I eat”

A great shot taken at just the right moment to catch the heron with prey in its beak. The lizard is at just the right angle to see the detail in it. The shallow depth of field, creating an out of focus background accentuates the detail in the heron.  Another great image.

3

21

“Poaka Disagreement, A disagreement between poaka / pied stilts at the start of the breeding season”

The image shows the characteristics of the stilts very well, with some of them standing and others in flight.  The blur of the wings contrasts with the sharpness of the heads and bodies of the birds and shows the movement taking place. The image is well composed with a simple background.    

Best “Highly Commended”

15 “White Butterfly”

A very detailed image with the sharp butterfly and yellow flower standing out against the dark background.

Junior

J70

‘Kingfisher”

A well composed close up of a Kingfisher.   

Youth

Y50

“Landing”

Another well timed image showing the position of the wings during landing.  One foot on the ground and one in the air indicates the instability of this maneuver.  The bird is well positioned in the frame and the reflection adds to the story.

Position

Reference

Comments

1

17

“Out of the Music Box”

A stunning silhouette with the low sunlight shining through the dress and the spray of water droplets indicating movement.  The low position of the camera makes the dancer look tall. A great image.

2

17

“Horse in motion 2”

Similar to the winning image. A stunning silhouette with the low sunlight highlighting the spray of water droplets which indicate movement.  The low position of the camera makes the horse and rider appear tall. another great image.

3

21

“Checking out the view, using binoculars to spy on the birds from the hide”

A simple well composed image that works well in black and white. The lighting from the slot in the wall is very effective.

Best “Highly Commended”

18“Untitled”

Similar to the 3^rd placed image, this image shows the interplay between mother and child while birdwatching. The lighting from the slot in the wall is very effective.    

Youth

Y50

“Searching”

A good image showing a photographer getting into the subject matter.  The low light on the grass brings warmth to the image and the background is very simple.

Junior

J70

“Pathways”

An interesting view of the boardwalk, with the shadows of the photographers giving a human element and showing recreational activity. 

Position

Reference

Comments

1

15

“Discarded Snack”

A powerful close up of a decaying apple being eaten by insects.  Side lighting gives shape to the subject and the mounds of seaweed in the foreground and background give depth to the image.  

2

21

“The Concrete Tree”

The central placement of the pole gives prominence to the manmade object and highlights its impact on the natural environment.  The mist separates the different layers of trees and shows the shape of the individual trees.    

3

12

“Pathway to Observation”

The pathway leads the viewer to the hide and the early morning light gives warmth and texture to the image.  The branch in the foreground emphasizes the depth in the photograph but being dark and out of focus it becomes a distraction.

Best “Highly Commended”

11 “Manmade 1”

This image shows the impact humans have on the Inlet using natural materials.  The central placement emphasizes the symmetry of the structure.  The low light gives texture to the branches and rocks, and to the hills in the distance.

Youth

Y50

“Opulence in the estuary”

A good image showing the impact of housing close to the inlet on the landscape.   The link to the Inlet is shown by including the flaxes and grasses in the foreground.  The evening light gives warmth to the image. 

Junior

J71

“Plunder the ocean and dump the remains”

This image shows well the impact of humans dumping rubbish in the Inlet as well as overfishing the marine resources.   There are some interesting patterns within the randomly placed shells. 

Position

Reference

Comments

1

12

“Bokeh of Flowers”

A beautiful backlit image.  The shallow depth of field emphasis the sharpness of the close flowers and creates the out of focus bokeh of the flowers that are further away.  The rich tomes add to the image.

2

12

“Remember the Harvest”

Another beautiful image created by the use of a shallow depth of field where only a single piece of grass is in focus, making a simple, high impact image.  The curve of the grass is emphasized by the direction of the lean of the out of focus grasses in the background.

3

14

“Ship in a bottle”

An interesting interpretation of a classical theme.  The distortion of the boat through the glass bottle makes this image.

Best “Highly Commended”

21 “One blade”

A simple treatment of this common plant makes a high impact image.  The shallow depth of field isolates the leaf from the background and the water droplets and the light rain add atmosphere to the image.

Youth

Y50 “Circles”

The combination of the image in the glass sphere and the out of focus highlights in the background create an image that is appropriate to the title.   The monochrome (black and white) treatment simplifies the image.

Junior

J70

“Artistic”

A good image showing strong perspective.  The simplicity of the path through the long grasses is enhanced by the inclusion of the shadow of the photographer.

Position

Reference

Comments

1

13

A beautiful view of the Inlet enhanced by the broken clouds and the sun’s rays coming through the clouds.

2

18

“Untitled”

A classical view of the colourful boatsheds enhanced by the warm early morning light contrasted with the dark clouds.  A simple and very effective image.

3

16

“A quiet day on the Inlet”

The intense blue sky reflected in the still water and the interesting cloud patterns add to this image. The inclusion of the boat in the foreground provides a three dimensional aspect to the image. 

Best “Highly Commended”

11 “Morning on the Inlet”

Another simple composition making a striking image.  Low light on the hills, the low cloud and the reflections add to this image.  Inclusion of the beach in the foreground gives depth.

Youth

Y50“Rolling Hills”

The low evening light proves shadows in the hills giving them shape and contour and showing their ruggedness.  The evening light also gives warmth to the image.  The inclusion of grasses as a foreground gives depth to the photograph and because they are out of focus the viewer is led to the hills.

Junior

J71

“The rivers bend” One of the local rivers leading into the inlet.

The river leads the eye into the center of the image and the fluffy clouds add interest to the sky.  The close grasses make a good foreground.

A moody and atmospheric image showing the Inlet on a gloomy day.