Club Meeting, First Open Print Competitions - Tuesday 28th October 2019.
On Tuesday 29th October 2019, Morpeth Camera club were pleased to welcome Keith Suddaby, FRPS MPAGB EFIAP FBPE, a national
and regional photographic judge and fellow member, to announce the results of the First Open Print Competitions of the season. He
opened the evening saying that he prefers to assess the prints on the day to keep them fresh in his mind adding that the prints were
all good at their level and he hoped that tonight’s comments will help the authors to improve. Beginning with the Colour Print Section Keith said that he was looking for design, colour, vision and interpretation, he was looking for photographs which ‘jump out at you’. Among those presented were autumnal foliage, geometric & pattern pictures, steam engines, cathedral reflections, a rain forest scene and a vibrantly lit tree in an Enchanted Forest. Gritty dark scenes, re enactment characters, a sun dappled forest glade, portraits and Scottish landscapes were also among the prints being assessed.
Keith’s four Highly Commended awards went to Blyth Huts by Glyn Trueman for its simple graphic quality, Orchid taken by Pat Wood, describing it as almost floating and ethereal; Forever Changing by Sophie Elliott Edwards for its softness and Greys Monument by Dave Bisset for its original alternative view. Placed Fifth was Evening by Peter Downs chosen for its muted pictorial quality in pinks and greys; Fourth place was given to John Barnes with Banging the Drum, a protest march scene which Keith considered to be of good journalistic quality and Third place was awarded to Pat Wood for Cornflower for its beautiful, sharp visual enjoyment; David Minchin with Snow Dunes was awarded Second place, ice laden grasses silhouetted by a starburst flare from the sun. The winner of the First Open Colour Print Competition was Davy Bolam with Motorcycle Melange which the judge admired for its vision, an art form which communicated to the viewer and which had the wow factor. Throughout the colour section the judge provided advice on contrast, use of the histogram and saturation. He revealed to the audience that while he was assessing the images at home, guests arrived and he encouraged them to contribute to the judging. He found this to be a rewarding exercise by taking into consideration the lay persons point of view.
1st - Motorcycle Melange. 2nd - Snow Dunes. 3rd - Cornflower.
Moving on to the Monochrome Print Section, Keith was looking for harmony, balance and a good range of tones adding that he didn’t want to see hard blacks. He gave useful advice on sepia toning and gentle use of vignetting before taking us through images which included waterfalls, skeletal trees, a Costa Rican fisherman portrait, old cobbled streets, stair cases, abstract studies, and cathedral interiors. Atmospheric cemeteries, abandoned boats, a misty Lakeland tarn and geometric angular cement steps were all included
in the eclectic mix of subjects. Describing himself as a master of the crop tool he urged authors to be ruthless with cropping. Keith
went on to announce his Highly Commended awards as Confrontation by John Barnes, showing a policemen at a demonstration it was admired for its journalistic quality; Do You Come Here Often by Pat Wood of two bikes attached to railings comically facing each other; Grandad, RIP Or Have a Party by Glyn Trueman, of a grave decorated with beer bottles and glasses, and Innocence by Sophie Elliott Edwards, a young elephant nuzzling up to its mother.
In Fifth place was Davy Bolam with The Gallery, three silhouetted figures which Keith said were contained by the design of the doors
and corridors; The Reception Committee by Karin Jackson was given Fourth place, five intimidating ‘Peaky Blinders’ characters which depicted gangland life; in Third place was Rock and Sea by Sophie Elliott-Edwards a seascape of a lone rock and horizon which Keith
said was minimalism which works. Making a Point by John Barnes; a character at a political rally, admired for its humanity was given Second place. The winner of the First Monochrome Print Competition was Davy Bolam with The Last Stop which Keith said had jumped out at him. Featuring an old dilapidated tram, he added that the background supported the subject successfully and he thought this image would do very well in international competition.
1st - The Last Stop. 2nd - Making a Point. 3rd - Rock and Sea.
Vice Chair Roseanne Robinson thanked Keith for his constructive comments, anecdotes and generous advice after which coffee
was served and the prints displayed.
Steph.
and regional photographic judge and fellow member, to announce the results of the First Open Print Competitions of the season. He
opened the evening saying that he prefers to assess the prints on the day to keep them fresh in his mind adding that the prints were
all good at their level and he hoped that tonight’s comments will help the authors to improve. Beginning with the Colour Print Section Keith said that he was looking for design, colour, vision and interpretation, he was looking for photographs which ‘jump out at you’. Among those presented were autumnal foliage, geometric & pattern pictures, steam engines, cathedral reflections, a rain forest scene and a vibrantly lit tree in an Enchanted Forest. Gritty dark scenes, re enactment characters, a sun dappled forest glade, portraits and Scottish landscapes were also among the prints being assessed.
Keith’s four Highly Commended awards went to Blyth Huts by Glyn Trueman for its simple graphic quality, Orchid taken by Pat Wood, describing it as almost floating and ethereal; Forever Changing by Sophie Elliott Edwards for its softness and Greys Monument by Dave Bisset for its original alternative view. Placed Fifth was Evening by Peter Downs chosen for its muted pictorial quality in pinks and greys; Fourth place was given to John Barnes with Banging the Drum, a protest march scene which Keith considered to be of good journalistic quality and Third place was awarded to Pat Wood for Cornflower for its beautiful, sharp visual enjoyment; David Minchin with Snow Dunes was awarded Second place, ice laden grasses silhouetted by a starburst flare from the sun. The winner of the First Open Colour Print Competition was Davy Bolam with Motorcycle Melange which the judge admired for its vision, an art form which communicated to the viewer and which had the wow factor. Throughout the colour section the judge provided advice on contrast, use of the histogram and saturation. He revealed to the audience that while he was assessing the images at home, guests arrived and he encouraged them to contribute to the judging. He found this to be a rewarding exercise by taking into consideration the lay persons point of view.
1st - Motorcycle Melange. 2nd - Snow Dunes. 3rd - Cornflower.
Moving on to the Monochrome Print Section, Keith was looking for harmony, balance and a good range of tones adding that he didn’t want to see hard blacks. He gave useful advice on sepia toning and gentle use of vignetting before taking us through images which included waterfalls, skeletal trees, a Costa Rican fisherman portrait, old cobbled streets, stair cases, abstract studies, and cathedral interiors. Atmospheric cemeteries, abandoned boats, a misty Lakeland tarn and geometric angular cement steps were all included
in the eclectic mix of subjects. Describing himself as a master of the crop tool he urged authors to be ruthless with cropping. Keith
went on to announce his Highly Commended awards as Confrontation by John Barnes, showing a policemen at a demonstration it was admired for its journalistic quality; Do You Come Here Often by Pat Wood of two bikes attached to railings comically facing each other; Grandad, RIP Or Have a Party by Glyn Trueman, of a grave decorated with beer bottles and glasses, and Innocence by Sophie Elliott Edwards, a young elephant nuzzling up to its mother.
In Fifth place was Davy Bolam with The Gallery, three silhouetted figures which Keith said were contained by the design of the doors
and corridors; The Reception Committee by Karin Jackson was given Fourth place, five intimidating ‘Peaky Blinders’ characters which depicted gangland life; in Third place was Rock and Sea by Sophie Elliott-Edwards a seascape of a lone rock and horizon which Keith
said was minimalism which works. Making a Point by John Barnes; a character at a political rally, admired for its humanity was given Second place. The winner of the First Monochrome Print Competition was Davy Bolam with The Last Stop which Keith said had jumped out at him. Featuring an old dilapidated tram, he added that the background supported the subject successfully and he thought this image would do very well in international competition.
1st - The Last Stop. 2nd - Making a Point. 3rd - Rock and Sea.
Vice Chair Roseanne Robinson thanked Keith for his constructive comments, anecdotes and generous advice after which coffee
was served and the prints displayed.
Steph.