2021 CWAS Malins

[Peter Ward]

Despite COVID lockdowns and data cables being chewed out at The Dish (causing a YouTube presentation-feed train wreck) The CWAS David Malin Awards were presented yesterday:

The full results of the competition follow:
Note: HM = Honorable Mention and HC = Highly Commended

Nightscapes
Winner and Overall Winner
Marley Butler
Between a Rock and Outer Space
HM
Ian Inverarity
Sheltering From The Starlight
Alex van Harmelen
Stars over the Cathedral
Alex van Harmelen
Lake Catani Moonrise
Alex van Harmelen
Pendergast Hut Display
Jan Breckwoldt
Startrails in the City
HC
Jan Breckwoldt
Barrenjoey Startrails
Ed Hurst
Sky Life (Sydney Central Park)
William Godward
Flinders Dawn
Gill (Gillian) Fry
Keeper of the Light
Jarrod Andrews
Tessellated Synchronicity
Ari Rex
Canberra
Wide-Field
Winner
Ian Inverarity
Rho Ophiuchi Rides Blue Horsehead
HM
Kelvin Hennessy
Witches Head to Cone Nebula
HC
Peter Patonai
Treasures of Sagittarius
Deep Sky
Winner
Paul Montague
The Trifid Nebula
HM
Rodney Watters
Nebula in Corona Australis
Paul Montague
Thors Helmet
Marcus Davies
Bejeweled Oasis NGC 134
Niall MacNeill
NGC 1532 - galaxy distortion action
HC
Dylan O'Donnell
Yoda's Secret Stash
Terry Robison
Centaurus A
Andy Campbell
Blue Chilli Nebula - Vela SNR
Solar System
Winner
Andy Casely
A rippling outbreak on Jupiter
HM
Andy Casely
Mars 2020: Perseverence
Paul Haese
Transits
Stefan Buda
Rugged Moon
Niall MacNeill
Mars - Olympus Mons dominating
HC
Niall MacNeill
Jupiter Symmetry
Kelvin Hennessy
ISS Transit of Moon
Niall MacNeill
A Ringed Jewel of the Solar System
Junior
HM
Zachery Thexeira
Into Shadow: Faces of the Eclipse
Animations – Aesthetic
Winner
Mitch Payne
Totality
HM
David Magro
Welcome Home
HC
Gill (Gillian) Fry
Aurora Borealis Dancing at Hamnoy
Kelvin Hennessy
Rose Moonrise
Animations – Scientific
Winner
Kelvin Hennessy
Studies of Satellite Transits
HC
William Godward
Total Lunar Eclipse Timelapse

Well done to one and all. From a personal perspective it was an honor to be on the judging panel of Australia's premiere Astrophotography competition with Alex and Phil, and of course DM. Remarkably, we consistently scored the hundreds of entries within a few points of each other (until the final round we had no idea how each of us rated the images).

As a final note, we suspected a number of entries would have placed better if only they had used a monitor calibration tool (https://spyderx.datacolor.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6uSv6o_98QIVGTEr Ch3M2gtPEAAYASAAEgJJ4vD_BwE). Also just a wee bit more attention to details such as colour registration errors, noise, sharpening doughnuts etc. will make us picky judges focus on the vista presented rather than wonder about technical glitches. :thumbsup:

Wide field entries were also a little thin this year...but I suspect getting out under a dark sky with incessant COVID lockdowns didn't help.
Again my congratulations to the winners and appreciation for those who had a go, which helps make the "Malins" such a great event on the AP calendar.

[mswhin63]

Unfortunately, money is best spent on telescopes and cameras than these once in a blue moon used items.

[Peter Ward]

So...You wouldn't put on spiked shoes to run the 100m ? :shrug:

[peter_4059]

Only if they were properly calibrated :rofl:

[Peter Ward]

Sorry...you missed the point :D

[peter_4059]

touché :thumbsup:

[Ryderscope]

Thanks Peter and to your fellow judges for your efforts in judging this years competition. It was great kudos to be shortlisted this year and to get an honourable mention :D

You may be interested to know that I’ve finally bitten the bullet and ordered the i1Display Pro Plus calibration tool. I’ve been thinking about getting one of these for a while and David Malin’s comments about image brightness have prompted me to stop thinking and to start doing.

I’m very happy with my current monitor which is the AOC U2777PQU 27” IPS 4K monitor. Not exactly top end but not too shabby either. The calibration tool should arrive this week and I’m looking forward to running it up and to see what difference it makes.

Clear skies,
Rodney

[mswhin63]

When I can get a decent camera then I can expect to get a better monitor then so on and so on....

One day if I have enough Mulla, then I might think about it.

i.e. run on a proper track and get me into better physical shape before I would buy spiked shoes.

[marc4darkskies]

Good move Rodney! I've calibrated my monitors for years. The problem is that even with calibration, unless you calibrate under similar ambient lighting conditions as the judges monitors and then have images judged under similar room lighting conditions, it's still going to be a little hit & miss. I.e. it's possible that well processed images on perfectly calibrated monitors can appear too dark on a not so well calibrated (for the ambient light conditions) monitor. :sadeyes:

[Ryderscope]

Yep, granted. I guess that at least if one can remove some of the variables it all goes to improve the consistency of the output of our processing.

[JA]

Congratulations to all the winners, prize recipients and of course the judges for their hard work :thumbsup:

Peter, are the images you listed posted on line somewhere for public viewing?

Best
JA

[John W]

Thanks Peter, All finalist images were great.

My understanding is that there is no way to tell if someone has used a calibration tool on a single image ? Not many competitions require its use.
Cheers,
John W.

[Peter Ward]

Unlike daylight photography, astrophotography usually involves large swathes of “dark” space.

Yet many objects have faint structures within these dark areas. Some skill is required to reveal
this information in an eye pleasing manner, which if overly darkened, simply because your monitor is too bright,
will be invisible to others when viewed on a different (read: calibrated) monitor.

There is no requirement for entrants to use calibrated monitors….as was touched on earlier you don’t need to don spikes to run the 100m either…
but for the cost of an average quality eyepiece, do you want to post your best effort or not?

I use both calibrated Mac 5k and Windows 4k monitors while judging to ensure what I was looking at was being presented in a consistent
and accurate manner.

P.S. Winning entries now viewable on line here:

https://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/news_events/astrofest/awards/

[Hemi]

Thanks for the link Peter

Truly amazing pieces of work. Congratulations to everyone involved.

[rustigsmed]

congratulations to all those recognised and to the judges who would normally have entered (and at least won one category each) to give their time up - and give others a chance :thumbsup: and i think a mention must go out to Celestron Australia for becoming the major sponsor - I think it really is one of the most prestigious imaging competitions.

cheers

[jahnpahwa]

No junior winner this year?

[Hans Tucker]

Yes there was a Junior Winner

https://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/news_events/astrofest/awards/2021_AstroFest_DMA.html

[jahnpahwa]

Yes, but that looks like a honorable mention to me.

[Peter Ward]

Unfortunately, as there was only one junior entry, the judges were reluctant to give a "Win" when there was no competition, but as it was a very good effort it was given an HM for encouragement, which does also have a prize.

[jahnpahwa]

Seems like a good call :thumbsup: