Congratulations to Kirsty Wilson LPSNZ AFIAP QPSA,, the winner of the Canon Online round 2 for 2026.  There were 115 entries in this round.

A bit of history about Kirsty:

I'm a fairly new photographer based in Hokitika, having joined the Greymouth Photography Club in 2020. Prior to that I enjoyed taking snapshots of my boys playing sport with my wee Sony (in auto setting lol). After joining the club, I realised that I had a lot to learn - and so I did. I immersed myself in all things photography based. Monthly judges' critiques and honest comments were invaluable. I am also surrounded by some incredible photographers in club, who I look up to for the best advice, guidance and support!! I take all sorts of genres of images, but I particularly love portraits, as eyes hold so much power - they can mesmerize you, convey emotion and depth!

About the winning image

This image 'The Watcher in the Frost' is a double exposure - made for the purposes of a club monthly set subject. The base layer is a simple portrait in a red cloak, and a texture layer on the top. It has had the opacity reduced and then turned white. I used a mask to bring out her eyes, and intensified the red cloak to create a bit more drama...but it's those eyes!! I'm very fortunate she lives locally - as she's an absolute dream to photograph!

 

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The judge for this round was Margie Coplestone APSNZ.

An introduction to Margie:

Hello, my name is Margie Coplestone, and I live in Palmerston North. I have dabbled with photography for a number of years starting my journey at university with film and darkroom and have now progressed to a mirrorless camera which is very state of the art from my early beginnings.

I call my style of photography ‘Painterly’ as I initially wanted to be a painter above all else but alas I failed so many times that I gave up. When I purchased my camera however I realised that I could use it along with post processing editing skills to paint pictures.

I like to set myself a photography challenge every year to focus on various arms of my photographic journey. In 2025 I received my Licentiate Honours and in 2026 my Associate Honours.

I have been judging photography for the past 18 months and I really enjoy seeing the wide range of styles and genres. Assessing images is subjective and my comments come purely from my personal viewpoint. Initially when looking at an image I try to find a story within it. I search for the feelings it gives me and then secondly search for the technical aspects. In both the storyline and technical aspects, I try to be considerate, helpful and kind as I am aware of the emotional energy each photographer invests into their photography. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to assess your images.

 

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Judge’s Comments

I enjoyed judging this set of images as I felt it was a wonderfully diverse selection of genre and a range of various techniques. I feel these images have truly showcased the photographic talent of New Zealand photographers.

 

1st Watcher in the Frost - Kirsty  Wilson LPSNZ AFIAP QPSA

A striking image which creates an intriguing storyline as the piercing blue eyes look out from the frosted window. The emotional connection between the subject and the viewer is intense and insists on holding ones attention. The red hood adds to the mystery and the soft freckles on the subjects nose signify youth and vulnerability.

2nd Between Us - Karen Moffatt-McLeod APSNZ

A powerful portrait of two young boys possibly twins in a pose which shows deep friendship and brotherly protection. The sepia treatment and the boys matching white singlets gives this image a classic timeless feel and could have been taken in any of the previous generations. The contrasting eye direction with one boy looking at the other and one looking at the photographer has created a triangular connection between all three and a sense of a tight bond.

3rd Refuge - Dave Hart APSNZ AFIAP

A strong emotive portrait suggesting healing, transformation and hope. The concept of zipping off your outer self to allow the warmth of your interior to emerge is striking and draws the viewer into the narrative. The monochrome facial region against the golden inner self helps to tell the story as does the left side of the face falling away as if to give in to the the transformation. A compelling narrative.

4th Lake Kaniere Under the Milky Way - Adrian Jefferson-Brown

A masterful example of astrophotography using long exposure showing the milky way draped in a perfect arch across the night sky. The calmness of the lake, the absence of humans and the softness of the colour palette give this a feeling of surreal stillness as if time is standing still. The dock going out into this vast stillness feels like an invitation to venture into this scene. I find the contrasts of land sea and water are married together perfectly.

5th Twin Moss Heads - Roy Cernohorsky

A wonderful macro image of moss where the colour, light and shapes gives it an otherworldly effect. The droplets of rain or dew have created bright bokeh in various sizes in both the background and foreground to give the image an abstract feel. The strong colour palette has created a depth to the image and some wonderful contrast. It is quite overwhelming to think that the subjects in this image are so microscopic that they are able to live in a world that we are generally unaware of. Images such as this show us exactly how extraordinary nature is.

6th Toutouwai Ptiloerection - Louise Bobbitt LPSNZ

A stunning image of our dear little Toutouwai posing especially well for the camera. The feathers are sharp and pull the viewer in to examine their detail. The colours and tonal variations in the natural habitat are engaging and balance well with the colouration of the Toutouwai. The leg band helps to tell the story of this bird and that it is tracked and important.

7th Land Lubbers Now - Helen McLeod FPSNZ GPSA ARPS

A moody cinematic style image that shows the ravages of age on man made items. Beached and decaying and in the face of storms, high and low tides and hot sun the boats have maintained their integrity of shape and tell a story of resilience and endurance. The lighting is dramatic and the sky foreboding looking which gives the central placement of the boats a feeling of power and strength and for me a sense that nature hasn't won yet.

8th The Walnut Offering - Wendy Pemberton LPSNZ

A lovely image showing two kaka about to share a walnut. I sense this by the look in the eye of the kea on the left. The colour tones are soft and have showcased the colourful plumage on the birds. The birds appear to be engaged in an almost conversational moment where they seem to be quite comfortable in each others presence.

9th Below the Bridge - Lynda Leng LPSNZ

A strong intentional motion blur image with enough recognisable elements to give us a sense of the shape and dimension of the structure. The image has a strong sense of flow and movement and carries the viewer along from the front to the curved corner at the rear. The blue/grey monochrome works beautifully to give the viewer information about the industrial materials this bridge has been constructed with. The levels of layering in this image help us to develop our own story with the soft atmospheric look of mist or fog. A wonderful abstract with a strong storyline.

10th Blush - Brian Turner LPSNZ

An image of a pink rose with a perfect balance of soft focus on the petals and sharper focus on the edges of the petals. The soft shade of pink has given the rose a dreamy romantic feel that is both gentle and elegant. The background colour, in a lighter shade of the same pink, has allowed the petals to blend out into it to make the rose and the background one whole image. The lighting has softened certain areas of the rose to help highlight the overlapping areas of the petals.