Club Meeting, Bates Cup Competition - Tuesday 29th March 2022.

        
     1st.Light Across the Land.             2nd.Coquet Island Evening.           3rd.Light after the Storm.

On Tuesday 29th March Morpeth Camera Club held its annual Pdi Landscape Competition where members
may enter up to three Landscape or Seascape images as they compete for 'The Bates Cup' that is awarded
to the author of the first placed image.

Guest judge David Stout EFIAP, DPAGB, PPSA of Whickham Camera club had the task of viewing the forty
six images for several weeks before attending to comment on each individual entry. David stated that he had
judged the images from his own perspective, that his comments were intended to be constructive and for the
authors to think of it as an extra pair of eyes enjoying their work.

Many of the entries were taken locally and we saw several images of Lindisfarne castle from different angles
and viewpoints, together with coastal scenes of Amble, Cresswell, Druridge Bay, and Hartley Bay. Woodland
and countryside were also popular locations with Coquetdale, Cheviot Hills, the lake district, and the Scottish
highlands all featured. Further afield we were transported to Ouplas South Africa, Zanzibar, Maspalomas and
Florence.

Throughout the evening the judge discussed cropping an image and the importance of removing elements
that do not add to the picture. Foreground interest, leading lines, the art of balance in the frame, composition,
and the role that light plays in any picture had all been considered as David announced that he had selected
six entries to receive highly commended awards; Upper Coquetdale by Dave Bisset, Meandering Blakemoor
Burn, Cresswell by Davy Bolam, View Across the Tees and Lindisfarne Castle by Glyn Trueman, and The River
Wansbeck, Morpeth, and Derwentwater by Sue Dawson.

Moving on to his top five selections David congratulated the authors stating that he had spent many hours on
his deliberations before arriving at the following order; In 5th place, Dale Head from Newlands Beck by Peter
Hetherington, admired for its composition, the author had led the eye right through the scene. In 4th place
Lonely Walk, Zanzibar by Graham Sorrie, a beautiful seascape with the elements well balanced. In 3rd place
Light after the Storm by Brian Morris, a lone tree, well lit with a rainbow adding to the scene that had been
well seen and composed. 2nd place went to Coquet Island Evening by Peter Downs, a square image that had
suited the subject matter with a cloud to die for. In first place and winner of the Bates Cup, 2022 was Light
Across the Landscape by Davy Bolam. The judge stated that the layers of light gave the image depth, it was
pin sharp with perfect exposure and colour throughout, complemented by the letterbox format.

Joint Club Chair, Sue Dawson, thanked David for his observations and a detailed critique that had provided
many points for members to consider in the future.