PSNZ Canon Online Photographer 2022 Round 6 Results

By John Hawkins PSNZ Canon Online Coordinator

The Winner! Congratulations to Susan Henley, the winner of the Canon Online round 6 for 2022.

There were 95 entries in this round.

About Susan..

Firstly, thank you! I feel extremely honored! I started my photography journey back in 2018 when a professional photographer friend (David Watson) put me onto a Sony mirrorless entry level camera as I wanted something relatively small to take on hiking trips. Since then I've owned several Sony cameras and lenses but now use full frame. For the most part I learn photography through watching tutorials, reading books and the valuable critique at camera club.

My main passions are landscape and wildlife. I will often return to the same spot waiting for the right conditions or sit for hours in order to capture images that are unique.

Susan writes about the winning image:

This image was taken on the banks of the Wairau river in Marlborough, after heavy rain. I finished work and looked at the sky, I arrived at the site to find a sea of mud and silt instead of the little beach I had expected!

I quickly decided though, that this mud provided an excellent foreground to the still water with a developing sky, and after about eight long exposure shots I was rewarded. Luckily my gumboots were handy!

The judge for this round was Sheryl Williams APSNZ

My love affair with photography began at age 10 when I first picked up my grandfather’s Box Brownie camera and was allowed to take some photos. When I saw the images coming to life on the paper, I was hooked and have been ever since. At 15, I started out with a Kodak Instamatic, graduated to a little 35mm Hanimex before finally having enough money to buy my first SLR, a Pentax KM in 1977.

Marriage and children came along in my twenties so photography took a back seat for a while.

After completing an on-line course with the Photography Institute I joined the Howick Photographic Society in 2011. I have been on their committee since 2012, serving as President from 2014 to 2016 and again from 2020 to 2021. I gained my LPSNZ with prints in 2016, my APSNZ with digital in 2018 and my PSNZ judge accreditation in 2021.

It is an honour to judge this competition; for me judging is an opportunity to give positive feedback to help other photographers grow and embrace this wonderful art form that we all love. It also helps me in my own photography; taking the time to really read other people's images helps me to learn more about my own.

Judge’s comments

Thank you so much for the opportunity to judge this round; I thought the overall standard was very good. It was quite tough to whittle it down to just ten images! There were several other images outside the ten that were very worthy but…the rules say it has to be ten.

I enjoy all genres of photography and reading images is a real pleasure. I was looking for light play, story telling, creativity, different approaches, compositional strength that adds to an image and how they make me feel. I generally don’t get too caught up with technical issues if the image is strong enough to keep them minor.

This beautifully captured, restful landscape grabbed me from the outset; the lighting is superb with great depth. The composition works very well to give a nice balance of foreground interest leading my eye to the reflections, warm autumn colours and that stunning sky. The colours and sharp detail are lovely throughout and I feel that I am there enjoying this. Well done.

3rd - Born to Fly

by Deborah Martin APSNZ

This has been well captured, a pleasing spread of the bird's wings and tail showing all the detail of its body; nicely placed in the frame with room on the left to move into. The square crop suits the subject. All the elements are working nicely here with great detail and sharpness in the bird. I like how it is looking right at the photographer. The background is subtle and supports the bird nicely.

Oh my gosh, those eyes and that smile! They just draw you in. Great lighting and DOF. I like how the author has gotten in close to give us detail of her makeup, jewellery, costume and tattoos to give context about her culture. Her arms are framing her face nicely. A vibrant, sharp, well composed image of a beautiful woman. Nicely blurred background helps her to stand out.

I love the action here; the panning technique has been very well handled giving a strong impression of a close finish! I can just feel the tension. The horse on the right is sharp where it needs to be, giving a pleasing composition and a sense of a fast paced race. Very well done.

- Beothuk is My Tribe

I get a strong feeling of wisdom and calm here. What a striking capture of this gentleman; I love his expression. The detail in his clothing and head-dress is superb and gives good context about his culture. Beautiful lighting has brought out depth and strength to his face. I think the background has enough detail and blur to be interesting and supportive. A lovely feeling image.

These horses are majestic, what a great story. The composition is good, focussing just on the horses and driver. The low perspective gives an impression of power and strength, and the slight blur in their hooves adds a dynamic element showing them hard at work. The muted background is nicely supporting with the other team giving context. I like how the judges are framed by the left horses legs.

8th - Own Mind by Sheree Davidson LPSNZ

I really enjoyed this image, the story and the creative thought gone into it. The lady’s expression does give me the impression that she is not to be messed with, standing out from the crowd! Great lighting and well composed. I don’t mind the central placement, it works well here. Good sharp detail.

9th - Ice Bubble Struggling to Form by Wendy Pemberton

I found the perspective and simplicity of this image very appealing and the low perspective shows not only the ice bubble but the frosty ground around it. The lovely coloured blurred background is nicely supporting the bubble with its beautiful, delicate detail. The subject is well placed in the frame and nicely backlit. This image has a nice dreamy, otherworld feel for me.

10th

This image appealed to me because of the times I have been on a boat watching the play of the ripples. It is so relaxing and thats the feel I get here. I think the main subject of the ripples works well with the lovely, warm monochromatic bush tones supporting the scene nicely. I enjoy the inclusion of the little boat which helps the eye to rest in this lovely scene. Nice, subdued lighting.