Creative Group A Group B Nature Group A Group B Open Group A Group B Prints Black and white prints Group A Group B Gallery is available Entries due: Nov 29 05:00pm Judging: Dec 6 05:00pm Showing: Dec 8 06:30pm This competition has been judged and shown at the meeting. You can see the results in the gallery below Dreamy Petals A - Creative Maker: Kristi Olson -- 41 points 1st PlaceJudge's comments: Colors are beautiful; each petal is defined; all the parts of image just flowMaker's comments: Glowing Beauty A - Open Maker: Kristi Olson -- 40 points 1st PlaceJudge's comments: Great placement of center in the lower right; great exposure and color; excellent detail; like the color gradient in the petalsMaker's comments: Moss Creek Milky Way Reflection A - Open Maker: Brian Narveson -- 39 points 2nd PlaceJudge's comments: Beautiful; stunning; nicely framed; great reflectionMaker's comments: This image was shot near the Chippewa Flowage outside Hayward, Wisconsin where Moss Creek flows under the highway. Camera is a Canon 7D Mark II with a10mm Prime Lens. Exposure mode was Manual with setting at f/3.5, ISO 6400, exposure 30 seconds. Camera was mounted on a tripod. Post was done in Lightroom Classic. This location is one of the closest to us with dark skies. Morning Fog A - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Kristi Olson -- 39 points 1st PlaceJudge's comments: Mysterious mood; great depthMaker's comments: Fur Trader A - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Doyle Gates -- 38 points 3rd PlaceJudge's comments: Good crop; sharp; good interaction with the camera; nice tonal range; no distractions in the backgroundMaker's comments: Christmas Dreams B - Open Maker: Karen Fischer -- 38 points 1st PlaceJudge's comments: Face pops from red background; sweet pose; face is sharp but viewer can tell the fur is softMaker's comments: Dusty Tools A - Prints Black and white printsMaker: John Zoerb -- 38 points 2nd PlaceJudge's comments: Very sharp; great find; excellent detail; nice lightingMaker's comments: Macro Bee And Pollen A - Open Maker: Sonja Haske -- 37 points 3rd PlaceJudge's comments: Great detail; well-done in the full sun; crop works well; pollen on the legs is a very sharp detailMaker's comments: Wild Rose A - Creative Maker: Sue Retzlaff -- 37 points 2nd PlaceJudge's comments: The rose pops; nice curl to the petals; great color; the blue around the rose sets it offMaker's comments: Dinosaur A - Nature Maker: Daniel McKenzie -- 36 points 3rd PlaceJudge's comments: Great impact; nice framing; great color; a little dark around the eye on the right side of imageMaker's comments: Nikon Z-6 camera1/125 sec, f/4, ISO 640 Kinstone - Stonehenge A - Creative Maker: Brian Narveson -- 36 points 3rd PlaceJudge's comments: Sky and stones each seem to have their own effect; can still see detail; nice colors; interesting formationMaker's comments: The original image was shot at Kinstone near Fountain, Wi. This was shot in October to capture the color in the woods behind the Stone Hendge. The image was shot with my Canon 7D Mark II and 18-135 zoom set to 20mm. Exposure mode was Manual. Setting were f/14 for depth of field, ISO-800 which allowed 1/1250th second to stop an wind motion in ground cover. This was the middle setting for a 5 shot HDR that also captured images at -1, -2, +1, +2 f/stops. Editing of the camera image was done in Lightroom Classic and the effect with done with a Nurel Filter in Photoshop CC. Chickadee A - Nature Maker: Mike Hanson -- 36 points 1st PlaceJudge's comments: Great separation from the background; excellent choice for B&W; great crop; lovely composition; sharpMaker's comments: Nuthatch A - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Shirley Gates -- 36 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Great bokeh background; nice diagonal lines; great lighting; catch-light in the eye; sharp where it needs to beMaker's comments: Surreal Tree B - Creative Maker: Kathy Landsinger -- 36 points 1st PlaceJudge's comments: Nice framing of the tree; effect brings the eye into the tree; great color; nice radiating brightness from behind the tree; interesting treatmentMaker's comments: Bushy Tail A - Nature Maker: Shirley Gates -- 36 points 2nd PlaceJudge's comments: Very good choice for color; squirrel's body is a natural diagonal; very sharp; good background; nice cropMaker's comments: Rest well, I've got this! B - Nature Maker: Paula Clements -- 35 points 2nd PlaceJudge's comments: Whites are done well; good composition; sharp; would like to see a little more detail in the blacksMaker's comments: Submerged Shack A - Prints Black and white printsMaker: John Zoerb -- 35 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Nice tonal range; infrared helped separate the shed from the trees; good compositionMaker's comments: Hollyhock A - Creative Maker: Cyndy Thorn -- 35 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Feels electric; the colors work well together; might paint out the 3 green leaves up against the right edge using blackMaker's comments: Old and New A - Creative Maker: Sue Retzlaff -- 35 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Good composition; great textures; good story; nice exposure Maker's comments: Creative Dahlia B - Creative Maker: Paula Clements -- 35 points 2nd PlaceJudge's comments: Image pops; beautiful colors complement each other; like the random-appearing brush strokesMaker's comments: Sand Dunes National Park A - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Brian Narveson -- 35 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Nice depth with the different layers/terrains; good contrast; still detail in the sandMaker's comments: This image was shot in Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. It was shot around 7 PM in September as sun was starting to set. Camera was a tripod mounted Canon 7D Mark II, with a 18-135mm zoom set to 67mm, Exposure mode was Manual. Setting were f/5,6, ISO-400, 1/3200 second. This was the nominal setting for a 5 shot HDR. The additional shots were -2, -1, +1, +2 f/stops. Shots were combined, edited and merged to HDR in Lightroom Classic 2021, with final editing and sky replacement in Photoshop CC. Stuck up a tree B - Nature Maker: Dave Halverson -- 35 points 1st PlaceJudge's comments: Good impact; bear pops; very good detail; nice diagonal; great facial expression; lower right corner could be a bit darkerMaker's comments: Rain Dancing A - Creative Maker: Mary Ann Roesler -- 34 points Judge's comments: Very interesting; curious about the people; good crop; nice colorsMaker's comments: Another Sunset B - Open Maker: Kathy Landsinger -- 34 points 2nd PlaceJudge's comments: Lovely sunset; lines take the eye throught image; cloud looks like a huge bird; good exposure; nice reflectionMaker's comments: Storm on the Ocean A - Open Maker: Austin Miller -- 34 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Wonderful perspective; nice atmospheric effects; sharp from front to backMaker's comments: Mormon Row A - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Austin Miller -- 34 points Judge's comments: Works well as a B&W; good detail; beautiful sky; sharp from front to back; buildings frame the peak in the background; could also be two imagesMaker's comments: Magnificence A - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Brian Narveson -- 34 points Judge's comments: Nice composition; whites well-handled; sharp with good detail; discussion regarding the backgroundMaker's comments: This image was shot in the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge. Camera was a Canon 7D Mark II with an 18-135mm set to 24mm. Camera was Handheld. Exposure mode was Aperture Priority set at f/8, ISO-800, resulting in a shutter speed of 1/1000 sec to compensate for no tripod. Black and White conversion done in Lightroom Classic. Final editing done in Photoshop CC. Pelican Taking Off A - Nature Maker: Al Sheldon -- 34 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Great capture of movement; room to take off; great color; some areas of white are a little hotMaker's comments: Looking Up A - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Kristi Olson -- 34 points Judge's comments: Interesting pattern shot; radial direction of the pattern is very pleasingMaker's comments: Great Blue Heron Catches Bullhead A - Nature Maker: Sonja Haske -- 33 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Very sharp; great action shot; nice framing that keeps the reflection; good exposureMaker's comments: Quick Reflexes A - Open Maker: Austin Miller -- 33 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Beautiful detail; awesome moment caught by the maker; the ripples add to the overall impact; might crop from the topMaker's comments: Christmas Card A - Creative Maker: Jerry Weigel -- 33 points Judge's comments: The path is a great lead in; the candy canes emphasize the line and provide context; the color of the sky does not seem to fit with the rest of the imageMaker's comments: Desert Water Tower A - Open Maker: Mary Ann Roesler -- 33 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Tells a story; many images in this scene; good color and exposure; good depth of fieldMaker's comments: Spring Fiddler A - Nature Maker: Brandon Wanke -- 33 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Very delicate image; sharp where it needs to be; great color; background well-handledMaker's comments: Granddad Flag A - Open Maker: John Zoerb -- 33 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Great composition; breathing room all around; good exposure and color Maker's comments: Dangling feet A - Open Maker: Daniel McKenzie -- 32 points Judge's comments: The dirty feet tell a story; great moment; good in B&W Maker's comments: NIkon Z-50 camera1/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 900 White Waterlily A - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Eileen Roesler -- 32 points Judge's comments: Good detail in the whites; good focusMaker's comments: Tucked away A - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Sue Retzlaff -- 32 points Judge's comments: Nice composition; sharp; the trees frame the building nicely; the bottom is very brightMaker's comments: Heading Down the Mississippi A - Open Maker: Phyllis Feiock -- 32 points Judge's comments: Interesting composition; unique perspective with subjects in the upper third; great reflectionsMaker's comments: Spider Web Spider B - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Karen Fischer -- 31 points 1st PlaceJudge's comments: Great overall impact; excellent bokeh; whites may be a bit brightMaker's comments: Wild Geraniums A - Nature Maker: Doyle Gates -- 31 points Judge's comments: Beautiful color; sharp; nice backgroundMaker's comments: Frosted Tree B - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Paula Clements -- 31 points 2nd PlaceJudge's comments: Good tonal range; good detail in the shadows; lower right corner is quite bright; could crop a little on the right or darken itMaker's comments: Farm with creek A - Open Maker: Eileen Roesler -- 31 points Judge's comments: Beautiful scene; the stream leads in to the farm; good sky; nice fall color; could darken the bottom/foregroundMaker's comments: Butterfly A - Open Maker: Shirley Gates -- 31 points Judge's comments: Perfect composition; the flower is brighter than the butterfly which detracts a little; interesting flowerMaker's comments: Peaceful A - Nature Maker: Phyllis Feiock -- 30 points Judge's comments: Nice quiet reflection; the potentially harsh lighting was well-handled; a restful sceneMaker's comments: There He Goes Again A - Nature Maker: Jerry Weigel -- 30 points Judge's comments: Seems to tell a story about the interaction between the two swans; overall color is good; could crop up to the weed from the bottom and some from the top; some detail is missing in the bright white areasMaker's comments: S-curve stream A - Nature Maker: John Zoerb -- 30 points Judge's comments: Good composition and framing; stream takes the eye through the entire image; the greens and distant rocks seem to lack contrastMaker's comments: Brotherly Love B - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Karen Fischer -- 30 points 3rd PlaceJudge's comments: Tells a wonderful story; nice interaction; good crop; could play more with the lightingMaker's comments: Female Common Merganser A - Nature Maker: Al Sheldon -- 30 points Judge's comments: Subject is sharp; might want to see a little more brightness in the head; could boost saturation just a bitMaker's comments: His shoulder on the wheel already A - Open Maker: John Schilling -- 30 points Judge's comments: Very engaged subject; viewer needs to see the rest of his right hand; the bright background removes some potential distractionsMaker's comments: Last Cast A - Creative Maker: Debbie -- 29 points Judge's comments: Great color; lovely effect; nice storyMaker's comments: Why the Cali Temple? A - Open Maker: John Schilling -- 29 points Judge's comments: Interesting idea; composition and color are very good; not sure about the diagonal blur on the building (lower right) and the odd color in the sky on left edgeMaker's comments: The Cali temple is next to Mother Theresa's shelter for death and dying. The Temple is beautiful and peaceful in contrast the the sites on the street. Golden Leaf A - Nature Maker: Eileen Roesler -- 29 points Judge's comments: Very nice backlighting; nice detail in the leaves; background is a little distracting; consider rearranging the elementsMaker's comments: Tree Frog A - Open Maker: Mike Hanson -- 29 points Judge's comments: The head is sharp; focus falls off into the frame; pleasing position of the frog; eye toward the left merges a bit with the backgroundMaker's comments: Lunch Time! B - Nature Maker: Karen Fischer -- 29 points 3rd PlaceJudge's comments: Lots of detail in the bird; well-separated from background; overall image is a little over-exposedMaker's comments: Reaching for the sky B - Open Maker: Kevin Millard -- 28 points 3rd PlaceJudge's comments: Good detail in the tree; interesting sky; good impact; fog in the background; sharp where it needs to be; perhaps just a touch darkMaker's comments: Cranberry Harvest B - Open Maker: Nancy Olds -- 28 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Nice colors; tells a story; very tightly cropped; good stop action in the falling cranberries; needs more room all around to more effectively tell the storyMaker's comments: Hidden Gem B - Open Maker: Dave Halverson -- 28 points Judge's comments: Great colors; center of interest is through the arch; left side rocks are a bit bright; waterfall is over-exposedMaker's comments: Blue Borage B - Open Maker: Judith Bautch -- 28 points Judge's comments: Very interesting flower; good exposure; might try to position the purple flower differently as center of interest; could clone out leaves in upper right backgroundMaker's comments: Columbine A - Nature Maker: Doyle Gates -- 28 points Judge's comments: Flower is nicely framed; very nice leading line; use of a diffuser would result in softer lightMaker's comments: Bridal Veil Falls A - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Austin Miller -- 28 points Judge's comments: The waterfall is nicely framed; nice ribbon effect to the water; the dark trees seem to over-power the waterfall; would like to also see a color version of this printMaker's comments: Happy Helene A - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Sonja Haske -- 28 points Judge's comments: Good focus; subject well-placed; pleasant picture with a natural smile; the forehead and parts of the sweater are very brightMaker's comments: ScenicView Foal A - Open Maker: Cyndy Thorn -- 28 points Judge's comments: Good exposure; nice color; lots of detail in the ears; could consider a different crop to include more on the left sideMaker's comments: Turkey Vulture B - Nature Maker: Kevin Millard -- 28 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Impact; good framing; sharp subject; good depth of field; good detail in the feathersMaker's comments: winery castle B - Creative Maker: Donnalee Hoelzen -- 28 points 3rd PlaceJudge's comments: Nice composition; great tonal range; medieval feel; might like to see more on the rightMaker's comments: White Mushroom A - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Eileen Roesler -- 27 points Judge's comments: Nice composition; interesting lines and texture in the stem; good exposure; could crop significantly on the left to make a verticalMaker's comments: Creative Pinecone A - Creative Maker: Brandon Wanke -- 27 points Judge's comments: Good color in the pinecone; nice repeating pattern; the green and purple corners seem to clash and take the eye away from the pineconeMaker's comments: By the Light of the Silvery Moon B - Creative Maker: Joni Welda -- 27 points Judge's comments: Lots of impact; good framing; the moon shows through the eagles and should probably have been masked outMaker's comments: Masking...or not!? B - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Paula Clements -- 27 points Hon. MentionJudge's comments: Great depth of field, yet people in background still add to the story; good exposure throughout; discussion about croppingMaker's comments: See Me Now? B - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Gary Olds -- 26 points Judge's comments: Great idea; good silhouette; subject is not sharpMaker's comments: The Whetstone B - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Dave Halverson -- 25 points Judge's comments: Sharp; good detail; overall a little bright; mat cuts off a portion of the bottom; consider straight-on shotMaker's comments: Serenity B - Nature Maker: Joni Welda -- 25 points Judge's comments: Beautiful pose and reflection; ripples in the water add; lovely colors; branch across the face is distracting; is the strong vignette camera effect or added? Maker's comments: Country Stream B - Nature Maker: Nancy Olds -- 25 points Judge's comments: Nice colors; good lead in line; image appears over-exposed; could use a polarizer to take shine off the waterMaker's comments: 1930's CC Campfire Pit B - Open Maker: Gary Olds -- 24 points Judge's comments: Very nice color; nice scattering of yellow leaves; nice angle; the background is busyMaker's comments: Flower in the woods B - Open Maker: Donnalee Hoelzen -- 24 points Judge's comments: Like the pop of red; nicely angled log; great color; could crop significantly from the top and the left to emphsize subject; suggest taking the image at the level of the jack in the pulpit fruitMaker's comments: Grazing Time B - Prints Black and white printsMaker: Nancy Olds -- 22 points Judge's comments: Good composition; horse is looking at the maker & engaged; overall image is soft and a little bright; might want to try a color version tooMaker's comments: Sunflower B - Creative Maker: Judith Bautch -- 22 points Judge's comments: Very colorful; feels tropical; nice canvas texture; question regarding the gray area and whether it was intended to be cropped outMaker's comments:
