Congratulations to Kevin Riley, the winner of the Canon Online round 4 for 2026.  There were 108 entries in this round.

A bit of history about Kevin:

As a member of the Hibiscus Coast Photographic Club I usually shoot Land and Seascapes as my chosen subject. Before retirement I worked as a Cinematographer on Screen Productions, mostly within the TV Drama genre. This background has instilled in me a degree of pre-planning and visualisation for my photography outings. I’ve often looked to other visual artists for inspiration and have admired the Images in “City of Shadows” shot by the russian-born photographer Alexey Titarenko as a counter point to my usual unpopulated Natural Landscapes.

Using his images as a starting point I have long wanted to create a picture that portrays the flow of humanity as a mass of people rather than recognisable individuals. In order to achieve this I needed to find a location that served as a bottle neck of pedestrian foot traffic where everyone was moving in the same direction at the same pace.

In New Zealand it’s quite tricky to find such locations that are densely populated. I had an idea that people flowing into a stadium could work. This led me to note what dates major sporting events were on in Auckland. I circled Eden Park a number of times on a scouting mission but could not locate a pinch point that allowed for the required movement en masse. Some of the best spots had bag and ticket check stations and this broke up the flow of people.

I did have an idea that the rail station at which I had arrived at may work but I had to remain on public property as a tripod was essential. I found my spot and waited as the crowds grew in number. Rather than the people exiting the train, it was the flow of people over the bridge from the bars and restaurants on the other side of the tracks that really ticked all the boxes.

About the winning image

The image you see here is a single exposure of 2 seconds duration. The elements of the crowd, the moving train, the static person wearing a safety vest and the last light in the sky, all came together by chance.

 

---

The judge for this round was Ian Walls FPSNZ.

An introduction to Ian:

I was first drawn towards photography as a high school student. Even then, I found myself attracted to the realms of creative expression within the medium rather than strictly literal representations. I loved watching a latent image materialise in a developing tray and played with solarisation, bass relief and other fun stuff. However the reality of setting up a darkroom found my participation slowing as my career developed. Life, basically, got in the way.

The onset of the digital age served as a catalyst to reignite my enthusiasm for photography. I loved my 3MP Fuji 6900 and the slightly dubious copy of Photoshop 3, that I purchased in a backstreet tech market in Hong Kong, opened my eyes to endless possibilities.

In the late 1990s I joined the Christchurch Photographic Society and later PSNZ. I am currently the President at CPS.

I became an accredited judge after completing one of the early judge training workshops and have spent some years as a member of the JAP. I joined the Honours Board 4 years ago and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

---

Judge’s Comments

It was a really challenging exercise to simply select 10 images from the 5 pages of stunning pictures presented to me. Congratulations to all of you who submitted work. And there were many who slipped in and out of the top ten during the process. However my task was to select 10, so the winners ended up being those images that most successfully showed me something different or something special. Photography is, after all, a storytelling medium.

1st Outbound - Kevin Riley

For me, the man in the orange is the center of this. Everything flows around him, stairs, commuters, train, but he is just still. It feels like he's holding his own space, self-possessed and grounded, while the city streams past. That decision to keep him still is bold, and it gives the whole scene its meaning. The muted colours are perfect and they give a sense of blue hour in the city.

2nd Echoes Beneath the Skyline - Luke Brouwers

This multiple exposure really hums with city noise. All that layered clutter, yet the quiet clarity of the woman in the foreground really holds me. That tension between chaos and simplicity is beautifully judged.

3rd Harvest Mouse - Dr Nick Munnings LPSNZ

This one feels beautifully observed. That tiny mouse poised on the stem, the soft falloff, and that sharp eye work so well. I find the colors really gentle, and the moment itself is quietly captivating.

4th Liquid Glass - Margaret Vickers

This monochrome treatment is superb. The glassy water, those subtle wakes, and that crisp tonality feel strong and assured. I really feel a quiet strength in that pelican story.

5th Walking the Wire - Sue Henley APSNZ

For me, the strength here is its quiet simplicity. That tiny bug against the rusted barb, the soft green backdrop, and that little hint of cobweb, just quietly pull me in.

6th Entoloma Species - Alan  Kerrisk

For me, this tiny fungus feels almost monumental, like a tree in miniature. Those droplets sliding down the stem give a lovely sense of movement, and I love that soft green base, which really anchors its world.

7th City Glide - Sherilee Swanepoel

This image has a gentle, almost reflective calm. The shimmering city reflections feel alive around them, and that central figure really does seem quietly awestruck. I find it thoroughly engaging, as they just take in the moment.

8th Three Hats - Desmond Ngu

For me, what works beautifully here is that little narrative puzzle. The sharply focused figure above, the softer artist below, and the three hats linking them. I just love that sense of quiet connection.

9th Kayla Albany Series II - Peter Rodgers APSNZ

For me, this portrait has beautifully controlled lighting that feels very deliberate. The strength in her face is striking, and that fall of shadow across her shoulder is  just gorgeous. It draws me in, almost as if I'm being invited into her world.

10th End of the Pier - Alastair Robertson

For me, this long exposure has a calm, ethereal mood. The water feels smooth and dreamlike, and those vertical pier supports really stand out. The strong blues first pull me towards the "Snack Shack" and then through the frame toward the small figures at the end, which I find quietly engaging.