Most of the images submitted for this competition were certainly well lit.  Some had that warmth of afternoon light, and some featured the enveloping light that added a degree of texture, whilst others used the light to increase the vibrancy of colour in their subject.

Ambient light is difficult to harness, because it isn’t available on a dimmer switch or swivel mount.  We have to contend with the quantity of light, the quality of the light, the colour of the light and the direction of the light.  Depending on how we use these elements can influence our images mood, modeling, subject visibility and selective focus.

In relation to the topic brief, “Capturing the Light”, to me that was a challenge statement.  It said go and find light, and make an image that brings forth an extra dimension within it.  Use light to create that fourth dimension.  Use light like it was an artist's brush.  Light is the essential factor in our photography.  It is tantamount to the air we breathe.  It gives our imagery its life.  Go and make an image that takes my breathe away!

The standout images for this competition went out and harnessed the light, wrangling and wrestling it into submission and making the light a feature of their image, rather than just a passive participant.

Joint Winner: Eastern Yellow Robin - Warren Wilson (Image ID 26891)

Let there be LIGHT!  This image made light where there wasn’t any.  A spectacular capture with the light bouncing all round the image, giving a three dimensional feel, and turning water droplets into “stars” in a mini universe.  I liked the subtle power-down of the flashes.  You captured just enough light to make this image exciting, without overdoing it.  Excellent control.  Completely executed the brief!  Stunning!

Joint Winner: Great Egret - Craig Greer (Image ID 26565)

I personally think this is a superbly crafted artistic image.  It shows the opposite side of capturing the light.  The light in this image envelops the subject.  It is almost a high-key image, using light to eliminate distracting shadows and smoothing out the background.  For me, I’d proudly hang this in a corporate office or a swanky hotel.  The resultant colour palette in this image is brilliant.  In an image where 60% of the image is white, with complementary pastel hues on the Yellow-Green-Blue spectrum, it presents as a clean, crisp picture.  I don’t even mind that the focal slice in this image is so narrow, because I think the depth-of-field softness of both the plumage and the grasses is in concert with the light blue background wash in the bottom third of the picture.  Tender and sensitive use of lighting effects to create a very pleasing image.

Commended: Australian Wood Duck - Glenn Pure (Image ID 26823)

One of those four ambient elements that we can’t control, worked for this image: light direction.  Obviously positioning himself in a way to capture and use the light to great effect, this image gives some nice rewards.  The twin positions of the two ducks one behind the other gives a nice depth perspective.  It looks to me that even with an aperture of f6.3 even the rear duck is in well in focus.  Congratulations as well for the fact that the beautiful “jewelled” water droplets in the image didn’t hijack the autofocus and destroy the image.  Good shutter speed setting gives us the elongated landing splashdown skid path which is always cool to capture.  The light see-through showing off the colour of the wings is a really nice feature and is used to good effect.

Commended: Little Egret - Athena Georgiou (Image ID 26686)

This image displays an acute awareness of where the light source is coming from, but instead of using it in its entirety, the photographer has shaped the light to subtly influence the image.  By controlling the light, the photographer has “modelled” the subject, specifically targeting subject visibility and using light to create selective focus.  The light is coming directly between the outstretched wings, channelling the light to illuminate the head, and give prominence to the eye.  Great vision!

Commended: Black Swan - Byron Samuels (Image ID 26826)

On Golden Pond.  It's hard to not be impressed by a sunrise like this.  The fact that the swans were shot in profile and backlit, really just further emphasizes their blackness and their gracefulness.  This image features three of our light elements to good effect; light quantity, light colour and light direction.