Thank you to everyone who entered the competition
This is the first time that I have ever been asked to judge other peoples photographs and I must admit that as a relatively new photographer, I don’t feel qualified to do so, other than to say that I know what I like. When it comes down to technicalities I don’t feel able to comment with any degree of confidence or full knowledge.
JOHN - First Crocus. A lovely clear image and well exposed, the orange stamens contrasting nicely with the white throat and the delicate purple petals. The background is slightly distracting and unbalanced by the heavy leaves on the right. The central positioning of the flowers suits the shot nicely.
JANICE - Spring Lambs. Certainly fits the bill as far as the brief is concerned and a change in subject which has the cute factor, however, it would have been nice for the animals to have been in the sun rather than the shade. The background has been gently blurred. I would have liked to have seen a bit of separation between the heads of the first lamb and the ewe. The image is well exposed and sharp where it should be.
MEL – Bluebells A nice mass of blue flowers, gently broken up by the patches of green. The image is quite sharp but focus seems to just fall off on the left hand corner. For me, the trees , being large, are not quite in the right position composition wise. Perhaps a few steps to the right, or a lower view point, putting the trees on the edges of the frame would have been slightly better, The background on the right is a bit fussy and distracting. I would consider cloning out the broken stump a third of the way up on the left. Overall a lovely spring shot which fits the brief.
TRACY – Blossoms A beautiful shot of the Spring Blossoms Sharp as a tack with some lovely detail in the flowers. The light just falls away at the top right, however, I like the strong-coloured but diffused background which sets off the flowers perfectly. The whites are clean and not muddy. The angle at which it has been taken is very nice, leading your eye across the image.
SUE – Spring at Bodnant A very pleasing shot of this lovely Laburnum Arched walkway, the yellow flowers nice and sharp at the front and gently merging together towards the back to give a nice soft feel. I like the way the pathway is slightly offset but then leading your eye to the central point. Some nice dappled light and good contrast. Gives the feeling of an impressionist painting.
NEIL – Moorhens. Well taken and nicely exposed, but does not immediately say Spring to me. Nice sharp image with the birds slightly off centre. Some good detail in the water droplets. A good nature image
JOHNJM – Frog. Again, this doesn’t immediately say spring. It is a pity that the image is not entirely in focus and that the main subject is obscured somewhat by the out of focus grasses. Not easy subject to capture with a clean background. A well seen shot.
IAN YARWOOD - Daffodils. Nice colours and nicely exposed against the blue sky. For me the composition is not quite right with the central daffodil turning away from the photographer. The two large flowers stand out nicely, it just needed the third to balance the scene, and the image is not in focus. I like the low viewpoint and the image certainly shouts spring.
BAZZASMEG – Signs of Spring. Beautiful spring blossoms in a delicate shade of pink. The image would have benefitted from losing the thin branch coming from the top left corner. The group of 3 flowers is nice and with some good details.
GORDON - Spring indoors. Certainly spring flowers, but not quite what I had in mind for a spring image. It would have been nice to have seen the Daffs dominating the scene rather than sitting in the middle of the frame. My eye is drawn more to the apparatus on the left. Good strong colours .
My choice:-
3rd Janice
2nd Tracy
1st Sue -
Congratulations Sue, a lovely shot. Over to you for the next subject please.
Barbara
