This is a challenging assignment. However, it is one from which we all can learn.  Light is so important in photography.  Good quality light can lift and transform an image, for example by bringing out colour and texture or creating mood.  On the other hand, flat and uninteresting light or harsh light which creates ugly shadows or affects colour saturation can spoil what otherwise is a very good image.

It is important to be able to identify the quality of the available light.  Is the light soft and diffused or is it strong light creating shadows?  Is it cold or warm light?  How may I best use and control it for the image I wish to create?  It is also important to identify the direction of light so we can best decide where to take the photograph from.  Do we need frontal lighting, back lighting or side lighting?  Be aware that light can change suddenly so we may need to act quickly.  Also appreciate that the available light will affect your exposure and ISO settings.

The value of this competition is that it focuses our attention on this very important aspect of photography.  I would encourage everyone to look carefully at all the entries both at this level and the other levels and consider how each image is affected by light.

Turning to the images submitted in this competition, I was impressed by the overall standard of photography for the entry level.  However the challenge here is to capture light.  I don’t think that this was achieved in many of the entries.  At an entry level this is not surprising as the identification, capture and use of available light is a skill that is usually only acquired over time.  However, this competition is a good starting point for this journey.  There were some excellent entries that clearly met the competition’s brief.  I found that choosing a winner was difficult.  There are three entries that stood out; by Anne Burgess, Mal Carnegie and Margaret Bosworth.  Each image has different qualities which makes a comparison difficult.  However, there can only be one winner.

Winner: Great Egret - Anne Burgess (Image ID 26927)

What a beautiful image. It has a magical and serene quality. The warm light provides a lovely golden glow. The image makes me feel warm and at peace. At the end of the day this had to be the winner. I could not go past it. Congratulations, Anne.

Great Egret

As an afterthought, whilst this is an outstanding nature photograph and was reviewed as such, it also has a strong artistic quality.  To further enhance this artistic element, may I be bold enough to suggest two minor adjustments: first, a slightly tighter crop; second, the removal of some of the debris floating in the water, although I accept that this is part of the natural scene.

Highly Commended: Yellow-billed Spoonbill - Mal Carnegie (Image ID 26969)

This is an outstanding image and a worthy runner up.  To capture a bird in flight with a full wing spread and with such detail and sharpness is a great achievement.  The way the light has been captured brings the image to life as well as bringing out great detail in the head and neck as well as well as in the wings and tail feathers.  A great exposure.  The image is further enhanced by the colour contrast of the white feathers against the blue sky.  Whilst the bird fills the frame, sufficient space has been left around it.  An outstanding effort.

Yellow-billed Spoonbill

Highly Commended: Little Egret - Margaret Bosworth (Image ID 26597)
This image appeals to me.  I like the way it captures the decisive moment of the bird taking off.  The back lighting is fairly subtle.  I like the way it highlights the right wing on the leading bird and the left wing on the second bird.  It provides an interesting balance.  The back lighting brings out sufficient detail in the areas of the wings that it affects.  I like the expression of the second bird with its open beak, as if it is saying “Now, where do you think you’re going?”  Well done.

Little Egret

Commended: Common Bronzewing - William Woodhouse (Image ID 26956)

This is an excellent image, making good use of the good quality light to ensure the entire bird is sharp with great detail in the wings, body, head and beak. The angle of the light provides a nice catch light in the eye. I particularly like the pink sections on some of the larger wing feathers. The bird is nicely separated from its background to make it really stand out. An impressive image.

Common Bronzewing

Commended: New Holland Honeyeater - William Woodhouse (Image ID 26850)

When looking collectively through the thumbnails, this image caught my eye. Why? Because of the strong back lighting on the wing and tail feathers. It almost makes the image jump out at you. Whilst the image overall may lack a little sharpness, it meets the requirement of the brief to capture light very well.

New Holland Honeyeater