For this week’s members competition of images taken in the British Isles, we were pleased to welcome John Williams from Penrith Camera Club to do the judging. As an experienced judge of club, national and international competitions, we were expecting an informed and perceptive critique of our images and we were not to be disappointed. John not only gave a thorough analysis of our photographic achievements and shortcomings but also offered considered and informative advice on how our images could be improved upon both at the taking stage and in their further processing. His scoring of the images was considered accurate and justified and he was enthusiastically thanked by the membership at the end of the evening.
The judging started with photographic prints, many of which were commended for the quality of the printing and for the judicious choice of printing paper used, which can markedly enhance the presentation of an image. The subject matter was as always quite varied and the top scores of 20 were awarded to a stunning landscape by John Macfarlane (StormApproaching Suilven),
Creative portrait studies by Julie Walker (Proud Hunter)
and Alan Walker (A Dark and Sinister Night),
and sensitive wildlife images by Keith Snell (Fallow Deer in Velvet)
and Carol Minks (Alert Brown Hare).
The runners-up, with a 19 score, showed a similar range, with and landscapes by Ken Rennie (Evening Light);
and Richard Jakobson (Reflected Gold);
and a dramatic image of birds of prey by Ronnie Gilbert (Dispute Over Mouse);
The overall Print of Show accolade was given to Carol Minks’ portrait of a hare.
After the break it was the turn of the more numerous projected digital images to be judged. The numbers were enhanced by most welcome entries by newcomers to the club, with many achieving very creditable scores. The range of images gaining top scores of 20 covered landscapes by Ken Rennie (Glen Orchy)
and a creative landscape by Julie Walker (Storm Approaching – cunningly combining a Walney Island lighthouse with Luskentye beach);
a full-body portrait by Julie Walker (Looking Out)
and a wildlife image by Tony Marsh (Kingfisher With Prey);
The overall Digital Image of Show was awarded to Julie Walker for Storm Approaching.
At the weekend the awards day for the Annuals competition of the Northern Counties Photographic Federation had been held in Newcastle. Keswick Photographic Society was awarded trophies for first place club entries in the Projected Digital Images and Monochrome Prints sections, for the second year in succession. The Weir Trophy for best colour print was awarded to Ken Rennie (Fairy Pools) and the Pinkney trophy for the best monochrome portrait was awarded to Alan Walker (Repent Your Sins). Congratulations to all members who submitted entries for these competitions and contributed to our success.