Photographer: Ibis Hillencamp

Group A - Score 91.5

Judges:

Robert Suarez  97  |  Tom Collins  86

This is a photo of a partially wilted Lilly.
EXPOSURE: ISO 200 f 32, though with my set up it's more like f 128, exposure duration of 50 seconds.
Equipment: Canon - 5D MkII, 100mm Macro lens with a 2X extender and a Macro Ring Light MR14 set at 1/8 power
Equipment mounted on a tripod and used a cable release. Mirror Up to avoid vibration.
Light processing g with PS and LR

Photographer:  Frank Jimenez

Group A - Score 86.5

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  90  |  Tom Collins  83

This is a near macro photo of a tiger swallowtail butterfly that I took last May 3rd at Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, FL. This happy little fella was just perched on his leaf, basking in the sun with its wings open. The fact that he was not moving, made it easy for me to get close enough to take an almost Macro photo. In terms of edits, I cropped it a little bit to remove some unwanted items that were around the edges. I improved the exposure, contrast, texture and colors.

Shot on Nikon D7500 paired with a Nikon 200mm f/4 micro lens.
f/14
1/250 sec
ISO 1600

Photographer:  Dustin Quiel-Athanasiadis

Group B - Score 87.5

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  87  |  Tom Collins  88

This fiber piece was lying on the ground after a rain storm.
after looking at it, I began to see some interesting patterns and used a macro lens to get the picture. Photoshop camera raw and Photoshop were used for editing . This was made from the original file of one picture.

Photographer:  Yevette Shapiro

Group A - Score 90.5

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  87  |  Tom Collins  94

Taken in the Everglades
1S0 500; 98-280 @280 mm; f/5; 1/1000s
Who knew their throats are blue too????

Photographer:  Barbara Thompson

Group A - Score 91.5

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  95  |  Tom Collins  88

Just a little weed (Danelion) with a whole lot of charm, I came across walking around the neighborhood and thought what a great idea for this theme.

35mm Macro lens
1/160
f1.8
ISO 100

Post processed in LRC.

Photographer:  Maribel Gonzalez

Group B - Score 87

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  88  |  Tom Collins  86

Photographer:  Bradford Beaver

Group B - Score 83.5

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  87  |  Tom Collins  80

I have several hibiscus bushes and enjoy taking pictures of the flowers. This was one image and edited in Photoshop

Photographer:  Yevette Shapiro

Group A - Score 88

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  94  |  Tom Collins  82

This is an almost macro closeup of a birdwing butterfly that I took last weekend (May 3rd) at Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, FL. This one was hanging out sideways on the leaf, but I rotated the image for a more standard perspective. The original, sideways orientation added unnecessary tension to the image. In terms of editing, I increased the exposure, contrast and colors to match the original scene.

Shot on Nikon D7500 paired with Nikon 200mm f/4 micro lens
f/16
1/200 sec
ISO 3200
200mm

 Photographer:  Dustin Quiel-Athanasiadis

Group B - Score 89

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  95  |  Tom Collins  83

Vanda orchid in bloom.

Photographer:  Tracie Dickerson

Group B - Score 85

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  85  |  Tom Collins  85

1/160s
f506
157mm
25 image focus stack

Photographer:  Richard Rusak

Group A - Score 85

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  88  |  Tom Collins  82

Taken with a Nikon D3400 camera, 70 mm lens, f10, 1/320s, ISO 1600

Photographer:  Doris Kraus

Group B - Score 74.5

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  70  |  Tom Collins  79

ISO 3200;100 mm (MacronLens) f/10; 1/320s
Hand Held
Available Light

Photographer:  Barbara Thompson

Group A - Score 89

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  94  |  Tom Collins  84

Photographer:  Claudia Masella

Group A - Score 86.5

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  87  |  Tom Collins  86

This was shot last year. The image was of the whole flower but I liked it cropped in tight like this. Yellow is my favorite color so I like this one. I borrowed Donovan's song title, Mellow Yellow for this image

Photographer:  John McKnight

Group A - Score 94

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  94  |  Tom Collins  94

This image was taken last month in an urban outdoor setting. I found the composition and lighting interesting. I like the way the dark background makes the subject pop. The simplicity of this image gives me joy.

Photographer: 

Group A - Score 82

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  82  |  Tom Collins  82

Photographer:  Bradford Beaver

Group B - Score 85.5

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  88  |  Tom Collins  83

Photographer:  Claudia Masella

Group A - Score 84

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  84  |  Tom Collins  84

Nikon D850

Group A

Exposure Time: 1/10

F-number: 3.2

Focal Length: 105

Photographic Sensitivity (ISO): 250

Lens Model: Nikon 105 mm

This photograph was taken at home, natural light, object placed next to a window at mid-day, with macro lens.

Photographer:  Pilar Geada

Group A - Score 90

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  95  |  Tom Collins  85

Captured in my backyard, where Blue Jays frequently swoop in for their morning peanut feast. This particular jay paused unusually close, fixing its gaze on me as if studying the photographer. Taken with a Fujifilm X-H2S and the 100–400mm Fujinon lens at 400mm, settings were 1/2500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1000. Edited in ON1 Photo RAW and Nik Efex Pro, with final refinements—including noise reduction, color balance, and 1.5x upscaling—done in Topaz Photo AI to ensure sharpness and detail.

Photographer:  Walter Rojter

Group A - Score 88

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  94  |  Tom Collins  82

1/30 sec at f/5.6 ISO 100; 36mm

Photographer:  Norene Monahan

Group A - Score 84

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  88  |  Tom Collins  80

Photographer:  Ibis Hillencamp

Group A - Score 85.5

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  87  |  Tom Collins  84

Paphiopedilum (Lady Slipper) orchid in bloom.

Photographer:  Tracie Dickerson

Group B - Score 86

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  85  |  Tom Collins  87

A tiny 8-legged orb weaver spider crawling upwards as fast as he could after I came along and destroyed half of the web. Poor thing, I didn't realize I walk right into it.

35mm macro lens - 1/400, f22, ISO 320

Post process in Lightroom

Photographer:  Maribel Gonzalez

Group B - Score 83

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  87  |  Tom Collins  79

Nikon D850

Group A

Exposure Time: 1/400

F-number: 4

Focal Length: 120 mm

Photographic Sensitivity (ISO): 64

Lens Model: Nikon 24 - 120

This photograph was taken at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. It a was rainy day, not the best light but I was pleased with the result.

Photographer:  Pilar Geada

Group A - Score 90

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  88  |  Tom Collins  92

A tender moment between two tulips captured in a simple pot, illuminated by soft window light, two small silver reflectors, and a gently bounced video light. Shot with a Fujifilm X-H2S and a Lensbaby Velvet 56mm on a tripod, at 1/25 sec, f/4, ISO 160. Post-processed in ON1 Photo RAW, where a textured background was blended at 60% transparency. Final touches added in Nik Efex Pro, using the Lighten Center effect to draw focus to their quiet conversation.

Photographer:  Walter Rojter

Group A - Score 85.5

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  86  |  Tom Collins  85

Macro shot of a Daisy flower that was beginning to wilt.
EXPOSURE: ISO 200 f 32. at 20 seconds.
Equipment: Tripod mounted Canon 5D Mk II with Canon 100mm Macro lens, Canon 2x Extender,
Canon Macro Ring Light MR 14X

Photographer:  Frank Jimenez

Group A - Score 87.5

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  86  |  Tom Collins  89

1/200 Sec at f/5.6 ISO 1600; 34 mm

Photographer:  Norene Monahan

Group A - Score 84.5

JUDGES:

Robert Suarez  87  |  Tom Collins  82