In many respects this competition is the premier annual competition, given that photographers had twelve months to plan, capture and post-process their very best images.  The images entered in this competition do not disappoint.  There are so many wonderful submissions from which to choose the award-winning entries.  The process has not been an easy one with submissions spanning a wide range of genres; in fact, this aspect makes this competition the most difficult to judge in the competition calendar.  The overall quality of images was exceptionally high with only a small percentage of images displaying a soft focus and over-processing artefacts.

With the prominence of this competition in mind, what are the key elements I contemplated during the judging process.  Firstly, I’m was looking for a novel and creative approach to your photography.  Thereafter, fundamentals such as the visual impact of the composition, sharpness in the critical focal points, minimal digital noise and a clear display in post-processing proficiency, regardless of the software used, have been taken into consideration.

Many of the images submitted fit the classic definition of a bird portrait.  You may be disappointed that I have not selected more images from the ‘portrait’ style; you should not interpret this decision as one that marks these images as being of a lesser quality – they are quality images.  For this reason, I have awarded points to a large number of images through the ‘Special Mention’ category.

Winner:  Pied Stilt, by Jason Moore  (Image ID 39017)

With so many exceptional features this image is the outstanding winner for the Best of 2019.  The photographer has taken on a difficult challenge, capturing the elegance of a perfectly silhouetted subject.  A white bird against a dark background; the background fading to lighter tones around the head and distal wing, enhancing the three-dimensional impact in this image.  The white halo that extends from the nape to the legs, seamlessly draws the form of the bird’s body into the outstretched wings.  The detail in the wings is subtle and superbly illuminated with a grading from gold through coffee to dark grey.  The ­water immediately below the bird is crisp and clean, fading into delicate overlapping circular elements that reveal the reflection of the bird’s body and lower section of the proximal wing.  I particularly like the fact that the photographer has not included a complete reflection of the bird as it encourages the viewer’s eye to circle back to the primary image.  I congratulate the photographer for this sensational image and receiving the top award.

Pied Stilt

Highly Commended:  Long-billed Corella, by Matt Oliver (Image ID 38283 - image no longer available)

This is a sensational image, one I kept returning to for subsequent viewings.  There is a quality about this image that transports me to an exotic location somewhere in the tropics, possibly Central and South America.  The background creates the illusion of a distant tropical rainforest with a V-shaped misty skyline.  Both the sharpness and contrast in this image are superb.  The details in the white tones of the plumages of the two birds are perfectly controlled.  The juxtaposition of two white birds individually preening against an appealing green background adds a further level of interest to the overall composition.  A thoroughly delightful image.

 

Commended:  Red-necked Avocet by Tim Van Leeuwen  (Image ID 38281)

Another image in which the white tones in the bird’s plumage are perfectly rendered.  The beautiful daylight creates an even illumination of yellow, orange and brown tones throughout the image, with an added touch of complementary greens along the upper edge of the image.  The wing angle of the landing avocet creates a commanding ‘action’ composition.  This image is captivating and ideally suited for display in a prominent well-lit position, after printing at A3+ or A2 on a premium lustre or fine art paper.  I congratulate the photographer on achieving this exceptional image.

Red-necked Avocet

Commended:  Black-bellied Crimson Finch, by Mark Lethlean  (Image ID 38934)

Novelty, opportunism and the element of symmetry are the key features that distinguish this image.  For this image the photographer has been prepared to wait for the precise moment when the bird’s bill caresses the surface of the still water, generating a series of rings emanating outward from that single contact point.  Capturing the ventral surface of the bird presents a most interesting aspect in this composition.  The colouration in the tail and the upper background complement each other and the subtle blue-grey hues enables the focus to remain on the key elements in the composition.  The vertical line of the drinking bird and the horizontal perch, in association with the symmetrical crop, provide a most pleasing composition.  It would be interesting to examine the original capture – I might have been inclined to include more headroom and more of the reflection at the bottom of the frame, perhaps even a slightly closer crop on the vertical sides.  However, as to the final crop, this can only be determined by the photographer through trial and evaluation in real time.  Nonetheless, this is a very clever and well-presented image. It could be argued that the main subject could be ‘cleaner’, in that it is unfortunate that the bird is undergoing a facial moult with new pin feathers – but hey this is biology, this is ‘true to life’ photography.  In terms of overall cleanliness, I would have been inclined to use Photoshop’s ‘content aware’ tool to remove the bubbles on the water in the top of the frame; the viewers eye is then not drawn to these 4-5 distracting elements.  These are suggestions and should not be considered as criticisms.

Black-bellied Crimson Finch

Commended:  White-fronted Chat, by Gary King (Image ID 38887)

This is a truly delightful portrait of a male white-fronted chat.  The pose of the bird, including the head angle and direct eye contact, and the colour palette create a visually arousing image.  The white and black plumage of the bird against a green background clearly delineates the outline of the bird.  In terms of the foreground vegetation, the orange and green tones are ideal complementary partners that bring a brightness to the image.  I particularly like the way the photographer has positioned himself so as to capture an image that differentiates the head and bill of the male against an even blue-grey background.

White-fronted Chat

Commended:  House Sparrow, by Bill Harding  (Image ID 39269)

When I reviewed this image last year, I considered it a powerful image of a species that most birders would simply overlook.  After all it is just a Common house Sparrow, right!  Our most common birds, particularly, the unique qualities of our introduced species, are too often overlooked.  The male house sparrow is quite a handsome bird and this image captures these qualities.  The overall brown and grey-green tones create a composition more akin to a monochrome image, which suits this species.  I particularly like the shape and form of the branch with a its fine wavy tentacles that reach out to draw the viewer into the image.

House Sparrow

Special Mentions

Zebra Finch, by Stephen Garth (Image ID 38436) – position of the male finch, colour palette, texture detail in the timber and form of the tree are excellent.

Red-eared Firetail, by Stephen Garth (Image ID 38444) – a more difficult species to photograph. The bird is beautifully depicted against a high-key background.

Osprey, by Peter Quinn (image ID 38849) – vocalisation pose and detail in the raptor are strong elements. Blue skies rarely add drama, but the sky doesn’t detract from this image.

White Tern, by Jill Wilson (Image ID 38440) – a classic portrait of a classy white bird in flight contrasted against a uniform blue sky.

Musk Duck, by Jason Moore (Image ID 39021) – a pleasing monochrome image that unites foraging behaviour and an intimate connection between the adult and the chick.

Rose Robin, by Trevor Bullock (Image ID 39223) – the diagonal composition works well in this image and the vibrant colour of the male’s breast commands a striking position against a neutral-toned background.

White-cheeked Honeyeater, by Glenn Pure (Image ID 38138) – the centrally positioned banksia and feeding honeyeater work well in this image. The neutral bokeh, depth of field, and vibrant colours captured my attention.

Little Kingfisher, by Brian O’Leary (Image ID 38267) – whilst this is a somewhat static image the pose and captured prey item, and subtle hues make for an interesting image.