Club meeting 2nd Open PDI Competition Results - Tuesday 17th March 2026

            
On Tuesday 17 March, Morpeth Camera Club met to hear the results of the 2nd Open Pdi (Photographic Digital Image) Competition. Digital images had been sent previously to Photographic Judge, Richard Spiers, DPAGB APAGB BPE*2 APAGB, who holds the office of Judges Sub Committee Chairman of the Northern Counties Photographic Federation. Richard is a member of Dalston Photographic Club and is one of our regions most experienced judges.
The evening was conducted via Zoom and Richard opened by stating that we had produced a great variety of genres and his appraisals were based solely on his appreciation of our images.
Included in the entries were misty ancient woodlands, an obsolete railway bridge Alpine views, street photography, silhouetted fishermen and beach walkers, dark undergrowth, a 1950’s kitchen, beach war defences, colourful insects and a vibrantly coloured skeletal tree abstract.
During his appraisal Richard gave advice on saturation, masking and cropping, placement of the subject, distractions and shutter speeds
Pattern pictures, marble carvings, decaying groynes, bold vibrant abstract images, Morris Dancers,
footprints in the sand, the Kowloon waterfront, a Glasgow footbridge, Chapter House reflections, soft landscapes and waterfalls, weathered tools, ice patterns, a potter at work, glowing stained glass windows and still life creations were also among the entries.
The judge said that he wished it had been possible to have awarded more Highly Commended places and decided that on this occasion he would award Personal Commendations to none-placed images which he had been particularly drawn to and admired. These went to Peter Downs for Last Tree Standing and Sun, Sea & Seagulls, Marble Carvings on Duomo by Malcolm Booth, Oceanus Procellarum by Natalie Wright, Wansbeck View by Dave Bisset and Norway by Stephanie Robson.
He went on to announce his Highly Commended images; A Shaft of Light by Roseanne Robinson,
Nostalgic for his Mining Days by Sue Dawson, Beach Kelpie by Paul Appleby and Under the Stars by Natalie Wright.


            


            

Fifth Place was awarded to Roseanne Robinson with Old and New; an art picture which the judge admired for the skill in finding a good viewpoint which had added emphasis on artistry.
Fourth Place went to Glyn Trueman with Azure Damselflies on the Edge, chosen because it had been well captured, had great depth of field, with the judge adding that its strength took it to another level. Third Place also went to Glyn for Barn Owl Hunting. The judge admired its beautiful wing patterns and colours, the design of plumage with a catch light in the eye. Glyn then went on to be awarded second place with Modern Architecture with a Twist which was admired for its originality and skill.
The judge then announced the winner of the 2nd Open Photographic Digital Image Competition to be Paul Appleby with a triptych of A Bathing Oystercatcher. The judge said it had been a clever idea to present, in three images, the birds’natural behaviour which told a lovely story.
Richard concluded by saying that all three final images had had an equal impact on him, were of superior quality, had expressed an understanding of the subject, had soul and lifted the competition to another level.
Club Chairman Jeremy Cooper thanked Richard for his considered appraisal and generous advice, after which refreshments were served.