[Results announcement] Australian Native Bonsai Awards 2011
Posted: June 14th, 2011, 1:58 pm
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Australian Native Bonsai Awards 2011 have concluded, the judges scores have been compiled and the People’s Choice voting has taken place.
Last year when I was a judge I struggled to see the best in a bonsai that was not displayed particularly well. While overlooking the photography skills (or lack thereof), presentation did weigh heavily in my mind. To me, the bonsai photographed with stands, accents, non-distracting backgrounds or shadows, good lighting etc did present much better and therefore scored higher in the areas of 'image' and 'presentation'. They simply look better!
Again this year, although I wasn’t judging, I was disappointed with the presentation of some entries. I'd really like to emphasise how important the finishing touches are in providing the optimum viewing experience. While photography is not judged, it can greatly improve the presentation. If you feel you need some tips, please review our photographing bonsai section.
The Australian Native Bonsai Awards is an annual event so I encourage you all to start now in preparing yours for next year. If you don't yet have any Aussie natives in your collection, why not get some and start training them now for category 2 (less than 12 months in training).
Our Judges Pup, Tony Bebb and Lindsay Farr have graded the entries by point scoring based on Horticulture (very hard to judge from pictures), Artistic features (their individual opinion of the aesthetics) as well as design, total image and presentation (pretty much everything else to do with creating and showing bonsai). The combination of differing experiences, taste and ideals has hopefully created a pretty balanced and objective outcome. The scoring has been added together then averaged and we now have clear awardees in each category.
'Awardees, not winners?' you might ask. Everyone who entered is a 'winner' by helping to raise the profile of our art and awareness of the high quality native material we have to work with. There were however 3 in each category that stood out in the pictures and 'shined on the day'.
To recap the prizes, the awardees in each category will receive;
Category 1 -
Australian Native Bonsai Award
1st - Professional Grade set of Japanese made bonsai tools in a suede tool roll ($350.00 RRP) and certificate
2nd - Janet Selby limited edition AusBonsai.com bonsai pot and certificate
3rd - 42 Mice handmade bonsai pot and certificate
Category 2 -
New stock awards (Stock must be less than 12 months in training and isn't required to be in a bonsai pot)
1st - Custom made for your bonsai, a one of a kind Janet Selby bonsai pot and certificate
2nd - Janet Selby limited edition AusBonsai.com bonsai pot and certificate
3rd - 42 Mice handmade accent pot and certificate
Category 3 -
Newcomer encouragement award (For bonsaists with less than 1 year experience)
1st - Janet Selby limited edition AusBonsai.com bonsai pot and certificate
2nd - 42 Mice handmade accent pot and certificate
3rd – Certificate
I am extremely pleased and honoured to announce the awardees of this year’s Australian Native Bonsai Awards are. . .
Category 1 Australian Native Bonsai Award
1st Place: PeterH Banksia integrifolia 2nd Place: Paul Od, Melaleuca rhaphiophylla 3rd Place: PeterH Eucalyptus nicholii 2 Category 2 New stock awards
1st Place: Alpineart, Australian Native Landscape 2nd Place: Bretts, Casuarina torulosa 3rd Place: Alpineart, Eucalytus camaldulensis Category 3 Newcomer encouragement award
1st Place: Izzykay, Melaleuca s. 2nd Place: Khoa, Ficus benjamina 3rd Place: Deepeetee, Melaleuca linarifolia This year, Category 1 submissions were also judged by the AusBonsai members for the People’s Choice award. The recipient of this award will receive a Tiny Tiny Display Table by jozaeh, an accent pot by MattA of 42 Mice and a certificate.
I am pleased to announce that the recipient of the People’s Choice award, with a majority vote of 17.93% goes to...
Ash for his Leptospermum polygalifolium Salisb. I will be in touch with all awardees shortly to get details of where to send your goodies.
A big CONGRATULATIONS to the awardees in each category and to everyone who took the time to submit!
We have created a gallery of all submissions in category 1 which you can view HERE.
Thank you very much Tony, Lindsay and Pup for your time in judging the awards. I really appreciate your assistance guys!
Best regards,
Steven
The Australian Native Bonsai Awards 2011 have concluded, the judges scores have been compiled and the People’s Choice voting has taken place.
Last year when I was a judge I struggled to see the best in a bonsai that was not displayed particularly well. While overlooking the photography skills (or lack thereof), presentation did weigh heavily in my mind. To me, the bonsai photographed with stands, accents, non-distracting backgrounds or shadows, good lighting etc did present much better and therefore scored higher in the areas of 'image' and 'presentation'. They simply look better!
Again this year, although I wasn’t judging, I was disappointed with the presentation of some entries. I'd really like to emphasise how important the finishing touches are in providing the optimum viewing experience. While photography is not judged, it can greatly improve the presentation. If you feel you need some tips, please review our photographing bonsai section.
The Australian Native Bonsai Awards is an annual event so I encourage you all to start now in preparing yours for next year. If you don't yet have any Aussie natives in your collection, why not get some and start training them now for category 2 (less than 12 months in training).
Our Judges Pup, Tony Bebb and Lindsay Farr have graded the entries by point scoring based on Horticulture (very hard to judge from pictures), Artistic features (their individual opinion of the aesthetics) as well as design, total image and presentation (pretty much everything else to do with creating and showing bonsai). The combination of differing experiences, taste and ideals has hopefully created a pretty balanced and objective outcome. The scoring has been added together then averaged and we now have clear awardees in each category.
'Awardees, not winners?' you might ask. Everyone who entered is a 'winner' by helping to raise the profile of our art and awareness of the high quality native material we have to work with. There were however 3 in each category that stood out in the pictures and 'shined on the day'.
To recap the prizes, the awardees in each category will receive;
Category 1 -
Australian Native Bonsai Award
1st - Professional Grade set of Japanese made bonsai tools in a suede tool roll ($350.00 RRP) and certificate
2nd - Janet Selby limited edition AusBonsai.com bonsai pot and certificate
3rd - 42 Mice handmade bonsai pot and certificate
Category 2 -
New stock awards (Stock must be less than 12 months in training and isn't required to be in a bonsai pot)
1st - Custom made for your bonsai, a one of a kind Janet Selby bonsai pot and certificate
2nd - Janet Selby limited edition AusBonsai.com bonsai pot and certificate
3rd - 42 Mice handmade accent pot and certificate
Category 3 -
Newcomer encouragement award (For bonsaists with less than 1 year experience)
1st - Janet Selby limited edition AusBonsai.com bonsai pot and certificate
2nd - 42 Mice handmade accent pot and certificate
3rd – Certificate
I am extremely pleased and honoured to announce the awardees of this year’s Australian Native Bonsai Awards are. . .
Category 1 Australian Native Bonsai Award
1st Place: PeterH Banksia integrifolia 2nd Place: Paul Od, Melaleuca rhaphiophylla 3rd Place: PeterH Eucalyptus nicholii 2 Category 2 New stock awards
1st Place: Alpineart, Australian Native Landscape 2nd Place: Bretts, Casuarina torulosa 3rd Place: Alpineart, Eucalytus camaldulensis Category 3 Newcomer encouragement award
1st Place: Izzykay, Melaleuca s. 2nd Place: Khoa, Ficus benjamina 3rd Place: Deepeetee, Melaleuca linarifolia This year, Category 1 submissions were also judged by the AusBonsai members for the People’s Choice award. The recipient of this award will receive a Tiny Tiny Display Table by jozaeh, an accent pot by MattA of 42 Mice and a certificate.
I am pleased to announce that the recipient of the People’s Choice award, with a majority vote of 17.93% goes to...
Ash for his Leptospermum polygalifolium Salisb. I will be in touch with all awardees shortly to get details of where to send your goodies.
A big CONGRATULATIONS to the awardees in each category and to everyone who took the time to submit!
We have created a gallery of all submissions in category 1 which you can view HERE.
Thank you very much Tony, Lindsay and Pup for your time in judging the awards. I really appreciate your assistance guys!
Best regards,
Steven