Page 37 - Cape-Camera-May-June-2025

Cape Camera May-June 2025

Winner Print – Set (Advanced) Groot Constantia Dawn by Mike Stricker (25).

Kyle Goetsch said: Visually impactful with an attractive story of a beautiful sunrise scene in the distance. Well ex-
posed and well balanced.
Mike commented: Close friends (Sophia & Paddy Lindop, recently introduced to the Society), and I were invited to
participate in a weekly early morning hike through the vineyards at Groot Constantia. With autumn colours devel-
oping and the grape harvest in progress, there were ample photo opportunities. However, what I was missing, were
high-level cirrus clouds at sunrise. On the day in question, they materialised in accordance with Windy’s forecast.
The image was taken before sunrise —the dawn blue hour with the pre-sunrise colours on the clouds won the day.
Sony A1, Lens : Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8. ISO 100, 24mm, 1/30sec at F2.8

Below are the winners in the Open category with comments by the judge and authors.

Winner PDI – Open (Salon) Squacco Heron on the attack by Dave Gordon (30).
Francois Oosthuysen commented: Everything in this image is perfect – the exposure, the shutter speed and the
positioning of the bird in the frame, the handling of the whites, and the soft background.
Dave Gordon explains: Prior to Barbara and I relocating full time to Langebaan, my dear late friend and mentor,
John Coumbias, and I would regularly be at the Marievale Bird Sanctuary’s Hadeda Bird Hide (near Nigel in Gauteng)
by 5:30 am. It is ideal and very popular for bird photography, and one has to get there early to bag a good seat.
Several photographers are such regulars that it has become an unofficial club. This image was taken after watching
two Squacco's for more than an hour, waiting for the shot. Then they both took off simultaneously! For bird photog-
raphy, patience is essential, and also a pain in the proverbial! Canon 1Dx. 500mm prime, f5.6, 1/2500 sec, ISO 400.

Cape Town Photographic Society 37