Competitions
The Latest Competition News
April 20th. 2010
Member’s Challenge Result
A good number of the Members efforts, each taken as colour slides with the use of the Club camera for a week, had been collated and sent off in the post for mounting. Unfortunately, there was no sign yet of their return. As they appeared to have gone walkabout, Chuck Ecclestone had kindly put together a slide show in Lightroom from the “First Choices “of a selection of the member’s digital slide competition entries over the past year. The computer made random selections in pairs from the forty three images loaded and as they were screened, the members voted by show of hands for the best of the pair which went through.
There were many close results as the knockout progressed and voting decisions became even harder as the stronger images started to bunch up. One in particular punched above its weight against all comers and eventually ended up a clear winner. The author was not present so her blushes were spared at taking first and second place again within three weeks.
With another “ snowscape “, this time of a lone tree against a delicately tinted winter sky, Barbara Springall’s striking “ A cold day “emerged the knockout winner of this informal event. Her “ Regretfully scrap metal “, a kaleidoscope of rich colour, came second and Chuck Ecclestone’s “ River Ouse, Bedfordshire “, a serene Constable style landscape, was Third.
It was decided that the screening of the “ Member’s Challenge Results “ would be held back, until a meeting at the start of the new club year in September by which time the postal service would, hopefully, have found and returned the Club slides.
13 April 2010
Competition Report
Both Film Slide and Digital Projectors came into play for the screening of the “ Projected Image of the Year” Competition. Held on April 13th., this “sole winner“ competition was bound to be unlucky, not just for some but for all the entrants bar one. To Judge Dave Loman fell the task of picking that “Best Image” from across both projected formats. Although Dave regularly judges hundreds of uploaded digital images for the “ Photozine “ website, he found it no easy task and held almost half the entries held back for re-screening. While commenting upon the high quality of the entries he felt that it would have been nice to have seen a selection across a wider spectrum of genres. Missing were examples of Abstract, Contre-Jour, Reportage etc.
Dave has a unique style of judging. He invites the audience to think along with him as he audibly ponders in depth the merits or technical issues of what is put in front of him. As expected, some images fall short, receive constructive comments often with suggestions for alternative cropping and are then out of the running. The good points of others are highlighted and are “held back “on to a short list. Nothing much different here, except the way that Dave ruminates inclusively with the audience over all of these, often difficult decisions. He really gets involved with the images and this makes any rejection slightly more palatable and informative to the unlucky competitors.
Digital Projected Images
Some 24 entries were screened first and it was a close call between the thirteen held back for a second screening. “Our Man in the Falklands“, Stuie Bennett, braved the elements to send us “Hooker’s Point Storm “a fine high impact coastal image that took First Place in this section. Harry Bird’s “ White Heron“, a finely detailed portrait of the head and neck in profile, took Second Place. A trip down memory lane with Ian Pratt and his evocative “Last train of the Winter.” For its strong leading line of inward curving track and billowing highly back-lit clouds of steam it was awarded Third Place.
Projected Film Slides
The richness and depth of a good colour slide still takes some beating. Warren Rodgers’ Kodachrome entry, “Field of Gold,” proving the point. Foreground interest from a straw bale and a rich field of golden stubble that seemed to go on for miles, took it into First Place in this section.
Harry Bird’s well defined “ Friendly Robin“ took Second Place and his “ Sunflower “ a clever close up of a single quadrant of the yellow flower head set against a blue Summer sky came Third. The judge commented upon how well these two opposing choices from the colour wheel blended together in this image.
The final winner was now to be decided between Stuie Bennett with “Hooker’s Point Storm “ for the Digital Images and Warren Rodgers’ “Field of Gold”for the Colour Film Slides. Judge Dave Loman “ agonised “ over this one but finally came down in favour of the Falkland image Stuie Bennett’s “Hooker’s Point Storm “ a popular choice.
In closing, he suggested that for the coming year, members set themselves a challenge.
Move out of your comfort zone. Forget what you usually favour… Landscapes, Birds, Animals or whatever and explore one of the many alternative photographic genres.
On behalf of the Club, The President, Eric Mitchell, thanked Dave Loman for coming along to judge the competition. The members then showed their appreciation in the usual way.
Results
- Winner Film Slides - Warren Rodgers’ - “Field of Gold”
- Winner Digital - Projected Image and “Projected Image of the Year” - Stuie Bennett - “Hooker’s Point Storm“
6th April 2010
Print of the Year
Introducing himself to a well attended meeting, Judge Roger Smith spoke of his background as a former Naval and professional Architectural, Portrait, Fashion and Press Photographer. Despite having these as his “day job“ over many years, he still retained his enthusiasm to get out there with his camera and take pictures just for his own pleasure. His judging philosophy was to provide constructive advice where needed and encourage entrants to move up the learning curve rather than knock them back with undue criticism of their efforts.
As the Competition aim was to decide one outright winner, the usual points were not given but a “ highly commended “award was made available to the Judge.
Entries were well balanced between 27 colour and 20 Mono prints across a wide range of subjects and treatments and the Judge commented upon the high overall standard of entries.
In the colour section, Barbara Springall entered a fine panoramic image of a “snowscape” entitled “Winter 2010“. With its glistening back-lighting and subtle colour palette it made a compelling print that earned it first place. In second place, Harry Bird’s colour image “Lily ” proved that you don’t need expensive equipment to produce a cracking print. Just a good eye and experience. Although produced under simple window lighting, it brought comments from the Judge as to the fine colour rendering and translucence of the lily petals within a pleasing composition.
Taking third place, Martin Southcott demonstrated how, with a similar good eye for a picture and effective post processing, as simple a subject as a “ Fence Post “ against textured grasses can produce a competitive print in the right hands. The Judge also Highly Commended “ The Couple “ a portrait by Peter Bridle and “ Street in Southampton” and “Old Boathouse“ both by Bill White.
The Mono Section demonstrated the breadth and compass of the work of Barbara Springall. Her architectural image “ Structure “ was seen by the Judge as beautifully composed and rendered and given another first place in this section. In Second Place again, Harry Bird showed the importance of composition in “ Beachcombers “. The Judge commenting on how well the fence to the left of the winding cliff path curved inwards leading the eye around and down to the beach below and to its focal point at the surf’s edge . . the distant figures.
Third place went to Peter Bridle’s high key “Out of the Light“ featuring a lone back lit seagull at the water’s edge fronted by a delicately modulating foreground of reflective wet sand.
The winner of Print of the Year Competition had then to be decided between the best colour print “ Winter “ and Mono print “ Structure “both by Barbara Springall. The Judge awarded first place to “ Winter 2010 “, a popular choice and a worthy winner. Our congratulations are due to Barbara for such a decisive win and to Harry Bird for being runner up in second place in both sections.
Chuck Ecclestone, Hon. Secretary, thanked the Judge, Roger Smith, for travelling across from the mainland to provide a most enjoyable and good humoured evening. Roger responded by commenting again upon the high standard and diversity of the 47 entries which were a credit to the Club.
2nd March 2010
Judge: Keith Walker
To evaluate and mark four different competitions in one evening is no mean feat. Judge Keith Walker was up to the challenge. Results below.
SLIDES
Britten Norman Record Competition
- 1st - ‘Queen Victorian Letter Box’ - Harry Bird
- 2nd - ‘The Pogoria’ - Mary Mosby
- 3rd - ‘Stained Glass Window’ - Harry Bird
Gordon Richards Competition
- 1st - ‘Evening Fair at Sandown’ - Warren Rodgers
- 2nd - ‘The Skies the Limit’ - Warren Rodgers
- 3rd - ‘Leonards Lea Gardens’ - Mary Mosby
PROJECTED DIGITAL IMAGES
Peter Peel Mono
- 1st - 10 points - ‘Stormy Ventnor’ - Barbara Springall
- 2nd - 9.5 points - ‘Freshwater Bay’ - Martin Sothcott
- 3rd - 9 points - ‘Out of Season’ - Peter Bridle
Tom Treacher
Each members submitted three images and below are total points scored:
- 1st - 27 points - Chuck Eccleston
- 2nd - 26.5 points - Martin Sothcott
- 3rd - 25 points - Barbara Springall
16th February 2010
Fifth Monthly Competition - Prints and Digital Projected Images
Judge: Keith Wendes
The monthly club competitions are usually well-attended, and this month was no exception with plenty of images for Keith Wendes to cast his eye over.
Keith carefully scrutinised each image and gave constructive comments. Positive remarks were received on many images such as, good composition, good detail, good exposure, good detail in features. A few things to perhaps take more care over when taking images are detailed below:
- Watch out for distracting backgrounds taking the viewer’s eye away from the main subject.
- Titles should reflect the image content.
- Careful not too make the image too busy.
- When taking natural history shots, be careful of foliage either side and make sure main subject stands out.
- Try and make sure that colour backgrounds don’t clash with the subject.
- Give the subject space.
- Check view points.
- Think about the impact of the image.
WINNERS AND HIGH POINTS
Class B Mono Prints
- 10 points - ‘Cat Eyes’ - Peter Burrows
- 9.5 points - ‘Bembridge Windmill’ - Peter Burrows
- 9 points - ‘Gampy’ - Peter Burrows
Class B Colour Prints
- 10 points - ‘Deserted, Nearly’ - Barbara Springall
- 9.5 points - ‘Riding the Wave’ - Peter Burrows
Class A Mono Prints
Congratulations to Bill White who achieved TWO scores of 10 points!
- 10 points - ‘Driftwood Luccombe’ - Bill White
- 10 points - ‘Tree at Scotland Farm’ - Bill White
- 10 points - ‘The Couple’ - Peter Bridle
- 9.5 points - ‘Carving Kian’ - Gavin Chadwick
- 9.5 points - ‘The Church’ - Dennis Wavell
- 9 points - ‘Out of the Light’ - Peter Bridle
- 9 points - ‘A Swiss View’ - Harry Bird
Class A Colour Prints
- 10 points - ‘Leaf’ - Bill White
- 10 points - ‘Tulips’ - Harry Bird
- 10 points - ‘Robin’ - Ian Pratt
- 9.5 points - ‘Cheetah Cub’ - Campbell MacFarlane
- 9.5 points - ‘Venice Carnival’ - Cynthia Morris
- 9 points - ‘Beach Walker’ - Campbell MacFarlane
- 9 points - ‘Arctic Tern’ - Cynthia Morris
- 9 points - ‘Open Air Lesson’ - Peter Bridle
Projected Digital Images
Congratulations to Chuck Eccleston who achieved THREE scores of 10 points - and well done to Barbara Springall, a Class B member (not for long), who achieved a highly respectable 9 points!
- 10 points - ‘Scorpian Fly’ - Chuck Eccleston
- 10 points - ‘Peacock Butterfly Caterpillar’ - Chuck Eccleston
- 10 points - ‘Hawthorne Shield Bugs’ - Chuck Eccleston
- 10 points - ‘Grey Heron’ - Harry Bird
- 9 points - ‘Mating Glanville Fritillaries’ - Ian Pratt
- 9 points - ‘A Cold Day’ - Barbara Springall
19th January 2010
Fourth Monthly Competition - Prints and Slides
Judge: Dave Betts
The snow now melted, members piled into the Pavillion at Newchurch with prints and slides tucked under their arms for the first meet of 2010. Our judge, Dave Betts, had very kindly agreed to come back this week after last week’s meet had been postponed due to the inclement weather.
It’s always a treat having Dave Betts to cast his eye over our efforts. His easy and friendly approach to critiques puts everyone at ease straight away, and his humorous tales of trials and traumas at camera clubs as a nipper never fail to fill the room with laughter.
With quite a few inches of snowfall across the Island, the obvious subject for images in this open competition would be snow - but not one Island flake was to be seen! Instead, the display boards were lined with colour and black and white images of portraits, landscapes, sports action, seascapes and wild animals, birds of prey - images with nautical themes, natural history, floral, and even a flying pig!
Dave’s comments are always constructive and encouraging - his is sure to find something positive to say about any image. Dave says that he tries to make comments as if it were his own work - he’s honest but not brutal. Obviously, we all need to know where we’re going wrong and how to try and improve our images. Some of the points mentioned were:
An image with separate subjects around the picture needs to have them connected otherwise the image appears to be disjointed. When taking images of wild birds, try and capture the menace and spirit of the creature to make it stand out. Watch out for disappearing detail in dark areas. Don’t forget when taking images to look at the subject from different angles; look at separate sections of the subject rather than the whole to try and achieve something different and creative. Presentation of an image really helps overall. Think about borders and mounts; and don’t forget the condition of the mounts - tatty mount edges reflect on the presentation of the image.
Dave said that overall many images were pleasant and technically good and would fair well if incorporated as say a series of images for an article, but stand alone images need to do exactly that - they need to stand out on their own. In this digital age where so many people can now produce good images with comparative ease, a stand alone image needs to have, what Dave describes as, the ‘wow factor’ - in essence, it needs to be dynamic.
Slide Results:
Using slide film requires technical ability. Dave commented that unlike digital images that can be easily corrected, if the exposure and composition of a film slide isn’t right, then the image won’t work.
- 9.5 points - ‘After the Storm’ - Harry Bird
- 9 points - ‘Lighting Up Time’ - Warren Rodgers
- 8.5 points - ‘Above the Surf’ - Warren Rodgers
Results for Class B Prints:
Mono
- 8.5 points - ‘Bourbon Street’ - Peter Burrows
Colour
- 9 points - ‘Grandpa Elliot’ - Peter Burrows
Results for Class A Prints:
Mono
- 10 points - ‘Cold Connemara’ - Cynthia Morris
- 9.5 points - ‘Ryde Seat’ - Bill White
- 9 points - ‘After Deck’ - Peter Bridle
Colour
After holding several images back for final scrutiny, Dave had narrowed it down to five. We could see he was struggling and clearly had a dilemma on his hands. Each one was totally different but worthy of merit. Dave paced back and forth a few times and said that from such a diverse mixture of images it was really difficult to choose. But in the end of course he did. The results are below:
- 10 points - ‘Catching a Wave’ - Bill White
- 10 points - ‘Green-Veined White’ - Chuck Eccleston
- 9.5 points - ‘Coming Through’ - Campbell MacFarlane
- 9.5 points - ‘Corncockle in Wild Flower Meadow’ - Chuck Ecclestone
- 9 points - ‘Fence Post’ - Martin Sothcott
I suppose out of all of Dave’s comments, the ones that stood out most for me were: think about presentation; try and be creative; look to see if there are any images within an image; try shooting from different angles; and - aim to achieve something dynamic!
8th December 2009
Jessops Cup Isle of Wight Inter-Club Competition
Judge: Rosie Armes FRPS
Chairs were scarce as members from the seven Island clubs packed into Newchurch Pavillion to battle it out with 70 prints. Not that there was a battle of course, we all get on really well (no, really, we do!). Our Chairman, Campbell MacFarlane (who goes back a few years), said that he couldn’t remember the last time there had been seven camera clubs on the Island. Announcements were made, and there was an excited hubbub as we waited for our judge Rosie Armes to arrive, only slightly delayed by the ferry.
Rosie’s style of judging is thought-provoking. Rosie has been a Guild Commended Framer for 15 years and is also now an award-winning photographer. She looks at the picture as a whole, including the size of an image and the size, colour, and condition of its mount. An image may be spot on, but let down by a poor mount. She believes that the author should aim to achieve more than just record an image. Photography, she says, is a creative art.
A good standard of images were submitted for this competition with subjects ranging from Portraits of children, nudes, a male torso, silhouettes; Natural History images of butterflies and dragonflies, flora and fauna; Wildlife studies of squirrels, an eagle; Landscapes and Seascapes; Architecture - office buildings, Canary Wharf, an urban street scene; Still Life - bird cages, an array of metal jugs - plus many more - submitted in both colour and black and white.
All clubs attending would agree that Rosie was very thorough with her analyses of images, and very fair. Her comments were constructive and encouraging. No one would have gone away feeling that their image had no merit at all. Everyone felt as though they had achieved something. Rosie instilled her enthusiasm for photography and inspired all those present to aim to achieve even more.
During tea break, I asked Brian Williams LRPS, our judge from the previous week and this week a competition participant, how he thought the evening was going, ‘It’s nice to see what a wonderful array of talent there is on the Island’, said Brian. ‘The competition has been well-supported by everybody, and the judge is very thorough in her examination of the images. I’m really enjoying the evening!’
Here are just a few of the comments Rosie made; and a few of her tips that we can all learn from:
- The viewer needs to be drawn into the picture. Think about what is drawing the viewer to the image.
- Crop unwanted space. Sometimes it’s good to crop out the background which may be distracting.
- Take note of bright areas in an image that may draw the viewer away from the main subject.
- Careful not to enlarge images too much creating pixelation. There is nothing wrong with small images in big mounts.
- At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what technique has been used. Ask yourself, ‘Does the image look right?’.
- It’s good to think about the type of paper to use - it makes a difference to the image, gloss, matt, art etc - art paper can make images look like pencil drawings.
- Although graining works great with black and white images, graining in colour digital images imports elements into an image that we don’t want to see.
- A comment on locations: ‘Don’t forget there is plenty to shoot locally.’
- You don’t always have to shoot images of people from the front. A shot taken from behind can still tell a story.
- When taking Natural History shots the subject really does need to be sharp, especially for Natural History competitions, as they follow a certain criteria that has to be met.
- Light is important - bright sunshine casts hard shadows - the scene may be right but perhaps taken at a different time of day.
Sandown, Shanklin & District Camera Club achieved the highest score of the evening with 86 points, with Wight Balance Photography + close behind with 84.5 points. Full results were posted last week. (See previous News item.)
Two prints achieved the highest score of 10 points each:
‘Yarmouth’ by Eric Mitchell - Sandown, Shanklin & District Camera Club; and ‘Dead Calm’ by Mark Thirlwall - Wight Balance Photography.
By the end of the evening, poor Rosie had given so much detail in her reviews of prints that she was coughing a lot and had almost talked herself speechless! After presenting our President with the Jessops Cup, Rosie rounded up by saying that she thought the images were great and they showed that everyone had been exposed to everything going on around them. She encouraged us to not leave it there but to get even more exposure by crossing the Solent to see what’s happening over the water - and internationally - because that’s when we can learn to push ourselves forward as photographers. She said it had been a great evening. We thought so too and are looking forward to her next visit!
Detailed below are the competition results for the Jessops Cup Isle of Wight Inter-Club Competition.
- 86 points - Sandown, Shanklin & District Camera Club
- 84.5 points - Wight Balance Photography +
- 82 points - Isle of Wight Photographic Society
- 81.5 points - Niton & District Camera club
- 81 points - Isle of Wight Digital Imaging Group
- 76 points - Ryde Focus Imaging Group
- 74 points - East Wight Photographic Group
1 December 2009
Third Monthly Competition
‘Wheels’ was the set subject for the Prints and Digital Images competition this month, and a varied assortment of wheel-related, creative compositions were set before our fair judge Brian Williams.
A remark had been made by someone that ‘Wheels’ was a boring subject, but a subject which had stretched members’ imaginations … reflections in wheel hubs, fair ladies at a motor rally, wheel pumps, old cars, steering wheels not only in cars but on the deck of HMS Warrior, a naked cyclist, golf trolleys, steam train wheels, vintage cars, a scrapyard, tractors, wagon wheels, cog wheels, ferris wheels, a racing cyclist (with clothes on), traction engines, horse and cart, old milk carts, and a car crashed into a tree - to name but a few of the images set before us.
As always, Brian took care to scrutinise each image, analysing all the elements making up the picture, pointing out which areas worked and giving constructive criticism on areas that didn’t work so well. Comments made on areas that worked included: good perspective; some pin-sharp images; good depth of field; good contrast between dark and light and good detail in dark areas. Some of the areas we should be careful to consider when taking pictures: the brightest area of an image should be the main subject matter and not surrounding areas; be careful of distracting backgrounds; the viewer needs somewhere for his/her eyes to settle within an image so be careful not to make it too busy; and check to see if any unwanted/unnecessary areas in an image can be cropped.
Brian also pointed out that some images work better as projected images than they do as prints, and he was pleased to see that the colours of images on our monitor were a good match to the colours on the screen. As with many judges, Brian discussed lighting and how it affects an image. Many of the competition images had been taken in bright sunshine and he did comment that there were some good images taken in difficult conditions.
Winners and high points:
Class A Colour Prints
- 10 points - ‘Spoked Wheels’ - Peter Bridle
- 9.5 points - ‘Warrior Wheels’ - Peter Bridle
- 9.5 points - ‘Don’t Try this at Home Kids’ - Dick Loaring
- 9 points - ‘Scrapyard’ Campbell MacFarlane
Class A Mono Prints
- 10 points - ‘Backlit Biker’ - Peter Bridle
- 9.5 points - Wagon Wheel’ - Bill White
- 9 points - ‘Cycleway’ - Peter Bridle
- 9 points - ‘Mobil F1’ - Campbell MacFarlane
Class B Colour Prints
- 9.5 points - ‘MG Dashboard’ - Peter Burrows
- 9 points - ‘Tethered Wheels’ - Barabara Springall
Class B Mono Prints
- 10 points - ‘Wagon Wheels’ Barbara Springall
- 9 points - ‘Two’s Company’ - Barbara Springall
Digital Projected Images
- 10 points - ‘Seven Hills Killer’ - Chuck Eccleston
- 9.5 points - ‘Flying High’ - Martin Sothcott
- 9 points - ‘Spinning Wheel’ - Ian Pratt
17 November 2009
Club Competition: - Justin Gordon Challenge
Warm affection is always held for this annual club competition. Many years ago our judge, Justin Gordon, and one-time member and club treasurer, very kindly donated a trophy to replace the former Kodak Challenge trophy. The competition had found its natural end due to retirement of its Newport judge. It was only fitting therefore that this new competition be named after its founder, Justin Gordon.
‘Isle of Wight Landscapes and Seascapes’ was the subject set by Justin for this year’s competition, and he was not disappointed with the number, or quality, of images presented to him. We have so much on our doorstep. Just a short drive (or walk - depending upon where you live) and we can be on top of rolling downs, hanging from dramatic cliffs, surfing waves - not to mention being mesmorised by those gorgeous sunsets - and capturing all the beauty and wonder of nature. The Isle of Wight has it all - and we don’t have to drive miles and miles to find it!
Images for the competition fall into three categories, Colour, Mono and Slides. An image is allocated a FIRST position from each category and then an overall winning image is chosen from those three. Sounds simple - but our judge found it just a little bit tricky this year …
Justin commented straight away that he was going to find it difficult to select the winning image as the standard of entries was very high. Anyone who has regularly taken landscape and seascape images of the Island will know the ‘best spots’ and most appealing shots, and our members had found them too: The Needles, Freshwater Bay, Brighstone Village, Round the Island Yacht Race, Yarmouth, Bembridge, Newtown … the list is endless. A few of the images submitted however were taken from different perspectives, had dramatic skies, good available light, and interesting compositions. Justin rendered constructive and encouraging critiques. He commented on the high quality of printing on many of the images, texture, detail in shaded areas, diagonals, good composition and good exposure - he also emphasised that sea horizons should always be straight! Overall he was presented with a varied selection of eye-catching images. Tip to take away from this session - and perhaps it can’t be emphasised enough - capturing at the right moment to illuminate the subject at its best - the light.
Overall Winner of the Evening was:
- Barbara Springall with her dramatic black and white print of ‘Hightide at Steephill Cove’.
Overall Joint Second Place went to:
- Harry Bird with his detailed black and white slide image of the ‘Church at Yarmouth’ and
- Dick Loaring with his wonderful moody, colour rendition of Newtown ‘After the Rain’.
Winners and high points scored in each category were as follows:
Colour:
- First - ‘After the Rain’ - Dick Loaring
- 9.5 points - ‘Shorwell Hills’ - Cynthia Morris
- 9 points - ‘Mist Over Sandown’ - Chuck Eccleston
Mono:
- First - ‘High Tide at Steephill Cove’ - Barbara Springall
- 9 points - ‘Freshwater Bay’ - Barbara Springall
- 9 points - ‘Bembridge Windmill’ - Chuck Eccleston
- 9 points - ‘Ryde Beach’ - Bill White
Slides:
- First - ‘Church at Yarmouth’ - Harry Bird (mono)
- 9 points -‘Shanklin Sunrise’ - Warren Rodgers (colour)
- 9 points - ‘The Western Tip’ - Warren Rodgers (colour)
After some reminiscing with the Chairman, who thanked Justin on our behalf, Justin added that it had been a great pleasure to judge images purely of Isle of Wight landscapes and seascapes. It had made him appreciate even more what a wonderful place this is where we live. I’d second that!
3 November 2009
The weather was kind to our judge Maurice Hammon this week, who made it safely across the Solent, arriving on time to start the competition judging. The club had no problem in encouraging members to submit prints in colour, or black and white - in both A and B Class - so he had plenty of work to do, and the slides followed after tea break.
The open competition of prints and slides presented an interesting mix of images including: portraits, steam trains, water, nature and wildlife studies. The judge was generous with his comments, encouraging and with useful comments. As with most judges, the use of cropping to maintain the focal point and eliminate distractions, and the importance of keeping the viewer’s eye in the picture were comments we had heard from previous judges. The size of the image in relation to its mount, and the colour of the mount, could add or detract from the actual image. Bringing out the brilliance of a colour in an image could also enhance, which he said was very easy to achieve. Correct use of contrast was also highlighted, taking care to make sure that detail is maintained in black and dark areas.
The judge was definitely decided on his choice for ‘Print of the Evening’, a portrait by Peter Bridle entitled ‘Friends’.
A warm vote of thanks was given to Maurice Hammon by the Secretary, Chuck Eccleston, and club members showed their appreciation with a hearty round of applause.
Class A Colour Prints
- 10 points and ‘Print of the Evening’ - ‘Friends’ - Peter Bridle
- 9 points - ‘Water on Moss Seed’- Bill White
- 9 points - ‘St Colman’s Cathedral’ - Peter Bridle
- 9 points - ‘Lonely Tree’ - Dennis Wavell
- 9 points - ‘Heron’ - Harry Bird
- 9 points - ‘River Ouse Bedfordshire’ Chuck Eccleston
Class B Colour Prints
- 10 points - ‘On the Beach’ - Barbara Springall
- 8.5 points - ‘Sunset Florida’ Chrissie Clark
- 8.5 points - ‘Lest We Forget’ - Chrissie Clark
Class A Mono Prints
- 10 points - ‘The Old Farmhouse’ - Dick Loaring
- 9 points - ‘On the Roof’ - Peter Bridle
- 9 points - ‘Easter Lily’ Harry Bird
Class B Mono Prints
- 9 points - ‘Modern Landscape’ - Barbara Springall
- 8.5 points - ‘Sky Line’ - Chrissie Clark
Slides
- 9.5 points - ‘Sunflower’ - Harry Bird
- 9.5 points - ‘Caught in the Spotlight’ - Mary Mosby
- 9 points - ‘At Anchor’ - Warren Rodgers
- 9 points - ‘Laburnum Walk’ - Cynthia Morris
13 October 2009
First Digital Image Competition
Following delays caused by stormy weather, last week’s digital image competition was postponed until this week. At very short notice, David Loman very kindly agreed to be our judge.
Once again there were a good number of submissions in colour and black and white - 42 in total. Images ranged from lizards, architecture, junk yards, and rough seas, to summer meadows, birds of prey, otters, fireworks and mountain ranges.
David gave constructive comments on all the images noting sharpness, the importance of cropping to obtain a main focal point, and eliminating objects which take the viewer’s eye out of the picture.
The three winning images were:
- First - ‘Cornflower and Corn Marigolds’ - Chuck Eccleston
- Second - ‘Osprey Fishing’ - Ian Pratt
- Third - ‘A Quite Drink’ - Harry Bird
David said he chose ‘A Quiet Drink’ because it had a classic black and white feel, it was a timeless location and a simple but very pleasing picture. Harry Bird, the author and one of the longest-running members of the club, explained that the image had been taken in his younger cycling days during a visit to Switzerland, and was originally a slide. ‘Osprey Fishing’ was a very worthy image - The author explained it had been taken from a hide in Aviemore, where 40 to 50 birds flew by over a three-hour period. Taken with a Canon 10D, 300 mm F4 lens at 1600 ISO. ‘Cornflower and Corn Marigolds’ - David said that the true colour rendition of the blue cornflower draws the viewer’s eye to the subject, it is very sharp and the photographer was lucky with the field being heavy with flowers. The author’s aim was to accentuate the blue cornflower against the brilliant yellow of the corn marigolds. Taken with a 17-40 mm zoom lens at the 17 mm end, in a field where the flowers have been grown naturally for over 100 years.
6 October 2009
First Monthly Print Competition with Judge Jon Mitchell
Rain and wind did not deter members from attending the first monthly open print competition. Nor did the inclement weather prevent our fair judge from braving stormy seas to be with us, albeit half an hour or so later than scheduled due to ferry delays.
Over 50 entries, both colour and black and white, lined the display boards and Jon wasted no time in studying each one carefully. The open competition attracted the usual eclectic mix of prints including: landscapes, portraits, seascapes, reflections, still life, natural history (at this point everybody made a swift note when Jon mentioned that he absolutely loves dragonflies and built his pond especially for them!), animals, urban images of street scenes, with and without the human element. Jon highlighted here that care should be taken when photographing people and that permission should be sought.
Each image was given its due and fair attention, and comments were made with regard to overall presentation, the type of mounts used, use of borders, and the mood and atmosphere that an image can evoke. The importance of cropping was again stressed, and how the positioning of light can affect the image. Jon remarked that a polarising filter could also be used to control reflections and tone down bright spots.
A few images submitted had been digitally altered and Jon mentioned that this is a hot topic of debate - should these type of images be treated as photographs or graphic art? The debate continues.
As always, Jon’s constructive comments, delivered with his usual good sense of humour, were welcomed by members.
Bill White gained 10 points in both colour and black and white for the A Class members, with Chuck Eccleston also gaining 10 points in the colour category, and Barbara Springall gained 10 points for her images in colour and black and white for the B Class members. (See competition results for more details.)
Unfortunately there was insufficient time to run the digital competition scheduled, and this has been postponed until next week. Judge to be announced.
April 14 2009
Projected Image of the Year Competition
This years Projected Image of the Year Competition saw a large increase in the number of digital images entered, a total of 42, after an informative round of Judging by Bill Flood the following images were chosen, Harry Bird was a clear winner of the slide section taking first, second and third places, Harry also won the overall challenge between digi images and slides with his superb photo of a Kingfisher titled ‘Waiting For A Meal’
Digital Images:
- 1st. Mist Over The Bay - Chuck Eccleston ARPS
- 2nd. Orchid – Ian Pratt LRPS
- 3rd. Abstract Lily – Jasmine Royl
Slides:
- 1st. Harry Bird – Waiting For A Meal
- 2nd. Harry Bird – A Fine Set Of Antlers
- 3rd Harry Bird – Umbrella Man
Projected Image of The Year
Harry Bird – Waiting For A Meal
April 7 2009
Print of the Year Competition
This years Print of the Year Competition was a Whitewash in more ways than one! Bill White won the colour print competition, the mono print competition and also inevitably the PRINT OF THE YEAR. Well done Bill for a clean sweep. After a superb round of very informative and entertaining judging by Rosie Armes FRPS http://www.rosiearmes.com she awarded the final results as below:
Colour Prints
- 1st. Crocus Bill White
- 2nd. Power Boat Peter Bridle
- 3rd. Common Blue Chuck Eccleston
Mono Prints
- 1st. HMS Warrior Bill white
- 2nd. Lake revetment Bill white
- 3rd. Credit Crunch Peter Bridle
Print of the Year
Bill White - HMS Warrior
Inter-club Competition 2009
This event which requires clubs to submit a panel of five images all based on a theme of their choice was well attended and judged by Roger Smith AIBPP, who marked the images individually and then gave a mark for the whole panel, scores were added together and gave the following results:
Digital Projected Images
- 1st Sandown Shanklin and District Camera Club - 44.5 marks
- 2nd Wight Balance - 42.5 marks
- 3rd Isle of Wight Photographic Society - 31 marks
- A 10 was awarded to Chris Weston of Wight Balance for his image ‘Free Air’
Prints
- 1st Focus Ryde Imaging Group - 46 marks
- 2nd Sandown Shanklin and District Camera Club - 43 marks
- 3rd Wight Balance - 41.5 marks
- 4th Isle of Wight Photographic Society - 40 marks
- A 10 was awarded to Kevin Etherington of Focus Ryde Imaging Group for his image ‘ Seaview’
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Sandown Shanklin and District Camera Club