[PeterM]

Let's be fair here, the winning image is simply stunning to look at on a big monitor. He won and he was judged as deserving to win, it is a damn good image to look at. Labelling one competition as creative and another technical seems to me to be an each way bet...oh I didn't gong this year because....There are some nice amateur images out there, but that's all they mostly are.. pretty pics and almost always the usual suspects cooked in a different oven. Sure, this years winner presented M31 but it wasn't boring. Seems to me that it's caused a bit of disruption in the "old guard" a needed breathe of fresh air. Bravo to the winner.
If imagers want to be in the game next year then their game needs to evolve...it maybe the only venue left to present their talents...and win some big pesos!

Conratulations also to Peter Ward and of course all some 5000ish who entered.