Canon Online Results

PSNZ Canon Online Results from Round 3, 2020

THE WINNING IMAGE, chosen from 132 entries, is Karen Moffatt-McLeod LPSNZ, a part time photographer from Whitianga. Over the last few years Karen has developed a passion for creative portrait photography and particularly for the monochrome image. She explained her intention for this image:

“I wanted to convey a sense of mystery, mystique, with viewers creating their own story around the image. And, even though the image was very colourful as you would expect of a gypsy, I feel the monochrome tells more of a story and showcases the subject.

“I try to engage the viewers, draw them into the image and make them ask questions and think about who the person is, what is being doing, and how the image tells its story.

The judge for this round was Alison Viskovic FPSNZ, an accredited PSNZ judge and member of the Kapiti Coast Photographic Society. She has a long history in photography.

“I was given my first camera in 1951 when I was ten. I had my own darkroom from the mid-1970s to the late 1990s when there was a pause before my photography went fully digital in 2006. I like working on projects with subjects from around me, such as informal environmental portraits, and experimenting with quirky things like illusions and kaleidoscopes.

“Thank you for inviting me to be a selector. I consider it an honour, and it was a pleasure to be offered such a range of quality images to select from.”

Paul Willyams APSNZ AFIAP MNZIPP Canon Online Coordinator

Comments from the Judge

1st

Teller of Fortunes by Karen Moffatt-McLeod

The thoughtful gaze, engaging directly with photographer or viewer, and the flow of lines linking hands and face, make this a strongly composed portrait. It really suits the monochrome treatment, and the details of the jewellery add to the theme.

PSNZ Canon Online

2nd Ascent of Imagination by Julia

De Cleene LPSNZ

I love the subtle tones throughout, and the way all the parts complement each other, coming together to tell the story of a magical staircase. The flying birds made of book pages add just the right final touch.

3rd Autumn Airshow by Alison Denyer LPSNZ

A really nice idea, beautifully executed to merge the various parts into a coherent design, with pleasing colour and shapes. Simple but memorable.

4th Tasman Remnants by Mark Chamberlain LPSNZ

This looks like a fairytale landscape, with its other-worldly colours and the glassy surface of the glacial lake, the reflections, and glimpses of light coming through the ice. I like the sense of depth and the subtle sky colours, too.

5th

Hallway by Peter Rodgers LPSNZ

I see this as a study of shapes, planes and lines, subtly lit by soft light from different directions. The monochrome treatment draws attention to the composition; I think colour would be a distraction. This image puts me in mind of some Mondrian paintings.

PSNZ Canon Online

6th The Green Eyed Monster by Bryan Lay Yee

This image is great fun – the bold, bright head, sharply focused, looms out of the blurred background, and the angled lines add to the drama. The contrast between the green and red tones is also very dynamic.

7th

Coming in to land by Richard Laing

The flying bird stands out well against the blue tones and lines of the sea surface, and I feel as though any moment it will bounce as its feet touch down. The fine details of the bird and its reflection are well caught; the side lighting is just right for this image.

8th

Tuturiwhatu, NZ Dotterel by Deborah Martin

The soft tones of both subject and background, and the rounded shape of the bird, complement each other. Yet, within that softness the feather details and light in the eye are sharp, and I love the way the wings curve round in an enclosing pattern.

9th Last Rays by Greg Thompson LPSNZ

There is a dramatic contrast between the clouded and shaded areas of this landscape, and the central slopes caught in a low band of warm sunlight. There is also contrast between the linear man-made elements – the windmills and the lines on the road - and the softer natural features. The whirring vanes add extra detail to complete the picture.

10th Fading Tulips, in the Style of Robert Maplethorpe by Joan Caulfield LPSNZ

The pattern of the strongly lit white flowers and green leaves against the black background, with a hint of the vase shape, makes a very effective composition for me. The reference to Mapplethorpe’s style is well considered – inspiration rather than imitation.