Astrophotography – Competition 7th May 2026

This competition requires images depicting stars, the moon or the heavens as the main subject.

The Judge for this competion was Susanne Opitz.

The following are Suzanne’s comments and feedback on the top scoring images.

Projected Colour – Set Subject

Meredith Retallack scored highly with two of her photos. Of ‘Salute to the Cosmos’, Suzanne loved the portrait aspect. The Milky Way is very clear and the windmill helps to balance it.

The Judge loved the foreground of the below image as well as the composition. The night sky contrasts well with the desert colours.

Helen Whitford’s ‘With a Touch of Green’ has a beautiful aurora and a good composition as the trees frame the aurora.

‘Icelandic Lights’ by Duart McLean is a good composition showing the reflection of the Northern Lights.

‘Nature’s Display’ by Heather Connolly is a beautiful photo of the Northern Lights.

The below image by Cathy Freestone is also a lovely photo with good composition and a nice reflection in the water.

Projected Monochrome – Set Subject

Once again Meredith Retallack scored well in this section. ‘Heaven and Earth’ is a very pleasant image and is well composed. The tree works well, is not over exposed and has good detail.

Also scoring highly, ‘ Barossa Night’ by Michael Selge was appreciated by the Judge. Suzanne liked the composition with the building on an angle, it is a very different view.

Projected Colour – Open Category

Top scores were given to Paul Rix for ‘Mungo Sunset’ and ‘Tyre Smoker’, Sam Savage for ‘Confined Flight’ and ‘Sunset Walk’ by Michael Selge.

The Judge said ‘Mungo Sunset’ was a particularly beautifuly photo. The clouds are in an ideal position and the colours are beautiful.

‘Tyre Smoker’ has a feeling of speed with a blurred background and tyre smoke.

This is an amazing shot, with the bird in flight. It is a lovely composition and is completely in focus.

‘Sunset Walk is a beautiful shot.

The following also scored highly in this section.

Suzanne loved the colours in this image and the expression of the Galah.

‘On the Move’ has a bland background which emphasises the colours of the lizard.

Angela Cogman’s ‘After the Fire’ has beautiful lighting, it brings out the textures and colours.

‘Parrot’ is beautifully in focus with lovely light on the wings.

‘Morning Flight’ is a lovely composition with good light on the bird.

The birds grab attention and are highlighted by the plain background.

Projected Monochrome – Open Category

Meredith Retallack’s ‘What’s in in for Me’ has quite stark lighting on the side of the subject’s face, but on this type of portrait it helps to bring out the subject’s character.

Suzanne loved the simplicity and shapes of ‘Wind Directions’. The diagonal lines of weeds and the texture of the sand add interest.

The Magpie lark looks as though it has posed for the photographer with his puffed out chest. The light coming through the feathers is lovely.

Michael Selge’s ‘Helmet’ is a perfect shot and he has controlled the lighting well. The viewer can feel the musician’s beat.

‘Visiting Arles’ is a lovely shot of Arles. The wharf bending around towards the bridge and the dramatic clouds in the background are well composed.

Print Colour – Set Subject

‘Aurora Arc’ is a really good, clear, nicely coloured photo.

Suzanne loved the earthy tones of the Milky Way in ‘Just Across the Road’.

Print Colour – Open Category

A well taken photo of the Pardalote with a lot of clarity throughout the bird. The feathers are clear all the way through from front to back.

‘Please Love Me’ is very sharp in beak, eye and feathers.

‘Strummin’ is a lovely coloured photo with good light.

Print Mono – Open Category

The close crop on ‘Morning Darlin’ ensures that the viewers eyes are on the tigers. It is a good, very clear composition.

Michael has done well to to avoid getting a lot of light in the glasses of ‘Just Tex’. The centering of the subject in this case is good and the plain background brings him out.