Thanks to everyone who participated and entered the #CMflattenthecurve photo challenge. It was fantastic to see so many people taking part and keeping themselves occupied in a creative way through lock down. The judging process was difficult as there were so many quality images. Thanks everyone for being a part of this, it was a lot of fun and I hope it helped brighten your days as much as mine! A big thanks also to the suppliers of the great prizes! Rab New Zealand, Nikon New Zealand, Manfrotto and Lowepro Bags.

Winner - Nikon Z50 Camera with 16-50mm Lens
Sady - @sady_k_photography

This image just kept drawing me back again and again! To me it really epitomises the emotions of lock down and solitude. I found myself staring at the image and trying to imagine the thoughts of the child. It has real emotion and intrigue to me. - Chris

A few words from Sady on why and how she created this image.

"When I saw your lockdown photo challenge, I thought what an amazing idea to try and keep people focused on their creative side and give them a positive way to mark the days passing in lockdown.

Our home in Dunedin has no view so most of my photos ended up being of my energetic toddler. Chasing her around, trying to get her to stay still for photos provided endless laughs and gave us a bit of madness to look forward to everyday.

This photo was taken on a rainy day where she was looking out the glass doors longing to go out and play, I think the thumb in her mouth is her way of showing us she knew she wouldn’t be able to just yet." - Sady

Winner - Manfrotto Befree GT Carbon Fibre Tripod.
Deborah - @deborah.stokes

I really love the creativity of this image and it was especially meaningful on Anzac day under isolation. I love the the sense of movement created on the second soldier and the way Deborah has thought outside the square whilst at home. - Chris

A few words from Deborah on why and how she created this image.

"Taking part in #CMflattenthecurve was a huge amount of fun, and I learnt so much! Being confined to home meant having to look at things a little differently, and pushed me to create something every day that I felt happy with, given the fabulous pictures being posted by others.

For my 25th April post, I wanted something that was specifically ANZAC. My grandfather’s two brothers were killed on the same day at Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli. They never had the chance to live their lives, get married, have families, so it’s important to me that they are not lost, and we remember them. My husband has an interest in war history and modelling, and has two die cast models of ANZAC soldiers, and he suggested I use them for my photo for ANZAC day.

I tried a few things, but their silhouette worked best. I needed to get above the trees and have some clear sky behind them, so in the end I popped them on top of a ladder, and stood on the lower rungs to take the photo against the sky. I used leaves and twigs to disguise the flatness of the surface and look more like natural ground, set the aperture wide and focussed on their faces. By now it was early evening and the sun was setting in the background, and the end result looked like they were running into battle.

Thanks Chris for setting up the competition and to Manfrotto, LowePro Rab and Nikon for providing such great prizes." - Deborah

Winner - Lowepro Pro Trekker BP 550 AW II
Jo Ottey - @jo.ottey.photography

I love the gorgeous details and subtle pallet of this image. Not much more I can say apart from an exceptional image that draws you into the finer details. I am sure a lot of effort and planning went into this image. - Chris

Winner - Rab Microlight Down jacket
Jeremy - @jeremywongphotography

This image just grabs your attention with those expressive eyes! It's as if he is silently begging to get out of lock down and go for that walk! - Chris

A few words from Jeremy on why and how he created this image.

"This is my pet cavoodle Otis, who like everyone else needs a haircut and was giving me that look, Oh no not another photo. Haha

The competition was great fun to let me be creative and challenge me to take a photo each day of lockdown. I really enjoyed it!" - Jeremy

Winner - Signed 90cm x 60cm Chris McLennan Print
Cherie - @whampumgood

This image really caught my eye with the subtle tones and the sharpness if the centre of the image softly drifting off into the background. - Chris

A few words from Cherie on why and how she created this image.

"Photography is my passion and lockdown left me with no obvious opportunities so I welcomed the challenge to take part in #cmflattenthecurve. I didn’t manage to post every single day due to weather and light but most days I was out and about. Although I rarely do it these days I love the world of macro and how it opens up a whole new world of the unseen, things you walk past everyday but don’t notice. With just a small camera and macro lens in hand I spent many hours poking around in my backyard. This image is the noxious weed Old Mans Beard seed (clematis Vitalb), its something we often see out and about but ignore without noting it raw beauty and form. This plant is rampant on our neighbours property and no matter how many times we try to stop it encroaching on our hillside section if manages to wander over the boundary line." - Cherie

Winner - Signed 90cm x 60cm Chris McLennan Print
Jill - @jillcliffephotography

The simple graphic lines of this image really are eye-catching. Great simplicity, planning and fantastic use of light. It was a close choice between this and another image of Jill's - of two forks - but this image shone through for me because it is something I have not seen before. - Chris

A few words from Jill on why and how she created this image.

"I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the competition during the lockdown. It gave me a great reason to get my camera out and play with it. I tried to find something new and creative around the house and garden each day to take a photo of. Some worked, some didn’t. With this particular shot I folded two sheets of paper and placed them on top of a glass table which was lit from below by a flash with a blue gel on it. I was pretty happy with the result." - Jill