Club Meeting, Browell Trophy - Tuesday 26th November 2019.

         
    1st - One Small Step.                          2nd - Female Hawker Dragonfly.           3rd - Arctic Tern with Catch.

On Tuesday 26th November Morpeth Camera Club welcomed back George Ledger ARPS, DPAGB, from Consett and District
Photographic Society, to announce the results of this seasons’ Browell Trophy Natural History Competition. A subject close
to his heart, George has previously won a wildlife trusts ‘Photographer of the Year’ award, so we were particularly looking
forward to hearing his comments on our images.

Fifty-nine images were submitted which he said was exceptional in such a specialised subject and without notes to prompt
him he commented on and gave technical advice on a wide range of wildlife. Black plumage is a photographer’s nightmare,
he said, adding that it is better to have more than one creature in a shot to provide interaction, to watch out for conflicting
backgrounds and that shooting at eye level is always advantageous. A catch light in the eye, he added, is one of the most
important aspects of wildlife photography. Swans, red squirrels, shell ducks in flight, dandelion seed heads, a macro shot
of a red Lily Beetle, a Chiff-Chaff among pink blossom, a Cabbage White butterfly on lavender, and mating toads, were all
commented upon.

George noticed that few foreign animal shots were entered into the competition but images of a stealthy alligator, the fixed
stare of formidable vultures, a charging lion using motion blur, wary cheetahs after the kill, an anhinga amid the Mangroves,
an Oxpecker on a giraffe and a Costa Rican Tiger Heron added an exotic aspect to the contest. Kingfishers, seabirds, snails,
robins, a dramatic salmon swimming against the tide, young Spotted Fly Catchers nesting, dragonflies, bees and butterflies,
cuckoo spit, fungi and a young hedgehog completed this eclectic mix of wildlife.

Throughout the evening George provided useful advice, saying that Macro shots don’t have to be totally in focus, just the
important aspects; Birds which are placed slightly offset look more pleasing to the eye, and distracting backgrounds should
be avoided. He concluded by saying that frame filling pictures used to be in vogue but now it has become important that the
creatures’ environment be included.

The judge’s four Highly Commended places went to Roseanne Robinson with Squadron of Pelicans, Coot nesting with young
by Mark Harrison, Feeding the Youngsters by Glyn Trueman and A Full Catch by Sophie Elliott-Edwards. Fifth place went to
Paul Appleby with Squabbling Mute Swans, for the shapes of the wings, spray and action; in fourth place was Rose Chafer
Beetle by Alistair Cooper, for its spot-on focussing and camera technique. Third place was given to Dave Bisset with Arctic
Tern with Catch, which the judge admired for its lovely form and catch light in the eye; in second place was Paul Appleby
with Female Hawker Dragonfly for the detailed eye, mouth and barbed legs. George then declared the winner of the Browell
Trophy Natural History Competition for this season to be Glyn Trueman with One Small Step. The judge considered it be a
perfect puffin image. A slight blur on one leg implied motion, the rest of the bird was pin sharp, it was perfectly exposed
and simply exquisite.

Joint Club Chair, Roseanne Robinson thanked George for his constructive comments on the images, adding that he must
have given a lot of thought to each entry, after which coffee was enjoyed.

Steph.