Club Meeting, 1st Open Print Competitions - Tuesday 6th November 2018.
Guest Judge Keith Suddaby FRPS, MPAGB, EFIAP, FBPE, came to Morpeth Camera Club on 6th November 2018 to give his
comments on the prints submitted to the clubs’ 1st Open Print Competitions of the season and to select his award winners.
Keith began by saying that there were so many commendable prints in the collection it was hard to whittle down the final
nine places, in both the colour and monochrome sections.
Monochrome Prints.
Among the diverse subject matter in the monochrome section was a forest carving, seascapes with big thunderous clouds,
statuary depicting war heroes, wildlife, shapes and patterns, and street scenes. Keith went on to announce his four Highly
Commended places and provided reasons for his choice. Firstly Paul Saint with Wreck at Corpach chosen for its powerful
sky and foreground; Davy Bolam with Treescape Different View, a viewpoint looking up to branches which converge in the
centre, which worked well with lead in lines from each corner; Rough Hewn, a statue of a miner, by Sue Dawson which he
admired for the grittiness and provided a voice for this area; Looking for the Next Picture by Glyn Trueman; a silhouette
of a photographer standing on patterned tiles which the judge said was a simple but storytelling image.
1.
2. 
3.
Fifth place was awarded to Glyn for Crossrail Place, a symmetrical walkway with merging angular walls, which was clean,
crisp and visually satisfying. In fourth place was Christine Wilson with Goatsbeard, a delicate seed head printed on silver
effect paper which Keith said added magic to the delicate plant. Through the Round Window by Dave Bisset was given
third place; a porthole shape in a restaurant area which the judge described as powerful. Second place was awarded to
Mark Harrison for Storm Approaching; limestone pavements with a lone tree below dramatic skies which Keith said was
memorable and a very satisfying picture. The winner of the 1st Open Monochrome Print Competition was Ethereal Woods
by Mark Harrison which Keith admired because the author had used the mist to create a mystical presence.
Colour Prints.
The Colour section included Robin of Pegswood at sunset, impressionistic poppies, steam engines, dramatic cloud formations,
an unusual abstract flowerscape, ancient archways, an Ansel Adams take on a vending machine, local scenes, birds of prey,
weathered shutters and muted seascapes. Keith’s four Highly Commended choices followed with Filling up by Alan Harle,
chosen for its pictorial quality of steam encircling the engine driver; Dennis Locorriere by Alistair Cooper, the Dr Hook guitarist
in spotlight which would not have been easy to capture; Going Home by Glyn Trueman, a glass covered, curving walkway
which had a pleasing quality of colour, and Winter Sky, again by Alan Harle snowy hills under wonderful skies which Keith
said he could almost feel the crispness of the scene.
1.
2. 
3. 
Fifth place was given to Davy Bolam for Figure in a Street, a scene of a man with an umbrella which appealed to the judge
saying it was photography turned into impressionism. In fourth place was Glyn Truman with View from Tynemouth Lighthouse,
a view of the town which Keith liked for its unusual circular format achieved by using a fisheye lens. Davy Bolam’s Simple Still
Life gained third place with three tulips in a vase which Keith said had been turned into a work of art and was simple and strong.
Second place was given to Dave Bisset for Arctic Tern; a Tern in flight which the judge thought was a perfect piece of photography beautifully presented. The winner of this years 1st Open Colour Print competition was John Barnes with The Patriot, three
figures behind a Union Flag which was singled out for its great treatment and muted saturation. Keith said that it took effort to
create simplicity and that we should be all recording life as it is now in our world. Photographs such as this will be valued and remembered long into the future.
Chairman Mark Harrison thanked Keith for his considered opinions on this tough set of prints and for his constructive advice
on which club members can build. Each print was exhibited around the room for a closer view following a very enjoyable
evening at the club.
Steph.
comments on the prints submitted to the clubs’ 1st Open Print Competitions of the season and to select his award winners.
Keith began by saying that there were so many commendable prints in the collection it was hard to whittle down the final
nine places, in both the colour and monochrome sections.
Monochrome Prints.
Among the diverse subject matter in the monochrome section was a forest carving, seascapes with big thunderous clouds,
statuary depicting war heroes, wildlife, shapes and patterns, and street scenes. Keith went on to announce his four Highly
Commended places and provided reasons for his choice. Firstly Paul Saint with Wreck at Corpach chosen for its powerful
sky and foreground; Davy Bolam with Treescape Different View, a viewpoint looking up to branches which converge in the
centre, which worked well with lead in lines from each corner; Rough Hewn, a statue of a miner, by Sue Dawson which he
admired for the grittiness and provided a voice for this area; Looking for the Next Picture by Glyn Trueman; a silhouette
of a photographer standing on patterned tiles which the judge said was a simple but storytelling image.
1.
2. 3. Fifth place was awarded to Glyn for Crossrail Place, a symmetrical walkway with merging angular walls, which was clean,
crisp and visually satisfying. In fourth place was Christine Wilson with Goatsbeard, a delicate seed head printed on silver
effect paper which Keith said added magic to the delicate plant. Through the Round Window by Dave Bisset was given
third place; a porthole shape in a restaurant area which the judge described as powerful. Second place was awarded to
Mark Harrison for Storm Approaching; limestone pavements with a lone tree below dramatic skies which Keith said was
memorable and a very satisfying picture. The winner of the 1st Open Monochrome Print Competition was Ethereal Woods
by Mark Harrison which Keith admired because the author had used the mist to create a mystical presence.
Colour Prints.
The Colour section included Robin of Pegswood at sunset, impressionistic poppies, steam engines, dramatic cloud formations,
an unusual abstract flowerscape, ancient archways, an Ansel Adams take on a vending machine, local scenes, birds of prey,
weathered shutters and muted seascapes. Keith’s four Highly Commended choices followed with Filling up by Alan Harle,
chosen for its pictorial quality of steam encircling the engine driver; Dennis Locorriere by Alistair Cooper, the Dr Hook guitarist
in spotlight which would not have been easy to capture; Going Home by Glyn Trueman, a glass covered, curving walkway
which had a pleasing quality of colour, and Winter Sky, again by Alan Harle snowy hills under wonderful skies which Keith
said he could almost feel the crispness of the scene.
1.
2. 3. Fifth place was given to Davy Bolam for Figure in a Street, a scene of a man with an umbrella which appealed to the judge
saying it was photography turned into impressionism. In fourth place was Glyn Truman with View from Tynemouth Lighthouse,
a view of the town which Keith liked for its unusual circular format achieved by using a fisheye lens. Davy Bolam’s Simple Still
Life gained third place with three tulips in a vase which Keith said had been turned into a work of art and was simple and strong.
Second place was given to Dave Bisset for Arctic Tern; a Tern in flight which the judge thought was a perfect piece of photography beautifully presented. The winner of this years 1st Open Colour Print competition was John Barnes with The Patriot, three
figures behind a Union Flag which was singled out for its great treatment and muted saturation. Keith said that it took effort to
create simplicity and that we should be all recording life as it is now in our world. Photographs such as this will be valued and remembered long into the future.
Chairman Mark Harrison thanked Keith for his considered opinions on this tough set of prints and for his constructive advice
on which club members can build. Each print was exhibited around the room for a closer view following a very enjoyable
evening at the club.
Steph.