The Winner!

Congratulations to  Roy Cernohorsky, the winner of the Canon Online round 2 for 2025.  There were 152 entries in this round

A bit of history about Roy:

Many thanks for my image selection. I have now been photographing for 15 odd years and still have no specific genre as I love the process of image creating. Also being a member of the Auckland photography society with a whole bunch of talented photographers has been guiding me on my way.

About the winning image:

This particular photograph was taken in China (pretty obvious) where these woman enjoy getting dressed up in this ancient form of dress and are happy to have pictures taken. I am actually in China now for the next 5 months so hopefully more to come. I must admit I hadn’t even seen the turquoise touches in the building until later.

 

---

The judge for this round was Robyn Carter LPSNZ.

An introduction to Robyn:

I picked up my first camera when I was a child – ok ok – I swiped my brothers camera when I was 6 and got really interested in the subject. But it wasn’t until I was 30, that I finally got my first DSLR, and then in 2001, with the advent of digital that things really looked up for me – imagine – taking as many images you like without the cost of developing the film - I was in heaven!

I shoot all genres, but my love is nature, and in particular birds. If I narrow that down further, I like shooting birds in tropical countries such as Honduras, Costa Rica, Africa and hopefully Colombia next year. Hummingbirds hold a particular fascination for me.

Photography can be such an expensive hobby!! I should have taken up stamp collecting instead! But then again, I may not have such an interesting life or met so many amazing fellow photographers both here in New Zealand and abroad.

---

Judge’s Comments

Thank you for allowing me to judge this prestigious competition. It is my first time and it was challenging in that there were so many high quality images with amazing detail and storytelling. You all bring so much inspiration and creativity to our photography world it was a pleasure to spend time on your images.

1st Touch of Turquoise - Roy Cernohorsky

This image gives me a sense of timeless elegance. The contrast between the ancient brick wall which is a strong architectural backdrop, and the young woman in the soft turquoise robes is striking.

She stands out well against the sepia toned palette.

The beautiful natural light exudes warmth and calmness and the touch of turquoise on the building adds to the scene and gives balance.

2nd Solo - Sue Riach APSNZ ARPS AFIAP

I feel like I’ve landed in a dream and that I'm walking towards an incoming storm!  The moody sky adds drama and the golden light on the grass frames the road and leads your eye through the image.  The warm tones of the grass, and the cool tones of the mountain provide balance and the person in the scene provides the focal point.

3rd Caroline - Hans Hockey

Delightful portrait of Caroline, which brings a smile to my face.

There’s a symmetry at play with her hat becoming one with the clouds, and the pastel blue tones of her dress complementing the sky.

There’s an elegant theatrical essence that you’ve captured and your central placement makes a very strong composition.

4th Tilt - Graeme Skinner LPSNZ

This is an image where ‘less is more’ makes for a strong composition.

The three elements are placed perfectly so the image has good balance.

The colour palette works really well of warm tones against the blue sky.

Every time I look at this image, it makes me smile – it has a surreal whimsical humour which invites the viewer to think about what could happen next.

5th Vaping Sign of the Times - Lynn Hedges LPSNZ

I feel this image has a strong social commentary in a time when we’re being told by the media that vaping done by teens hanging around town, and here’s an image of the complete opposite!

There is a rich contrast between the dark background and the book which draws attention to the subject and her concentration. The detail of the jacket gives a tactile feel to the scene and the choice of black and white removes distractions and gives the image a timeless atmosphere.

6th Black and White Striped Ichneumon Wasp - Toya Heatley FPSNZ ANPSNZ AFIAP

You’ve given great attention to detail in this macro image.  Sharp through out and excellent depth of field.  Great lighting giving superb contrast against the bark’s rough texture.

The simplicity of the composition draws the eye to the subject.

7th Delightful Dahlias - Wendy Pemberton LPSNZ

The textures, shapes, and form of the vase and flowers are really well highlighted in your choice of black and white.

The negative space around the arrangement emphases the symmetry and form.

Great detail in the layers of petals which gives the viewer a wonderful place to explore.  Lovely tonal range from soft greys to deep charcoals.

8th Pig-tailed Macaque - Kirsty  Wilson LPSNZ AFIAP QPSA

You’ve caught the Macaque in a quiet moment and turned this into a compelling portrait of introspection. The lighting creates a sense of calm, and the texture of its’ fur stands out against the dark background, emphasising it’s presence. I like there are no other distractions, and the lighting keeps your eye firmly on the subject.

9th Four Trees - Barbara Lee APSNZ

I feel like I’ve stepped into a dreamy landscape of swirling mist.

Your choice of high key lifts this image into something mysterious.

My eye is led into the image to the line of trees, and up the diagonal slope, and this gives the composition balance.

The tonal range strips everything back to forms and shapes so the details of the trees and branches feel special.

10th from the barren hills to the fertile valley - Val Burns LPSNZ

You have captured a mosaic of circular fields, angular roads, and rugged mountains, allowing the viewer to explore and discover this wonderful tapestry of our land.

The mountains in the upper third give a sense of scale and depth and the repeating circles of green stand out against the more muted browns.

There’s a great rhythm between the shapes and wonderful patterns and details.