Club Meeting, Bates Cup Competition - Tuesday 26th March 2019.
1st. 
2nd. 
3rd. 
On Tuesday 26th March 2019, Morpeth Camera Club were very pleased to welcome Stephen Fowler from Ryton & District
Camera Club, to announce the results of this season’s Bates Cup, a projected digital image Landscape competition. He is
a well-respected NCPF judge for both club and interclub competitions and we looked forward to hearing his comments on
our images.
Among the Fifty entries submitted, were scenes of Rothbury, Alnwick Castle, rocky shorelines, marinas and villages, rolling
sunlit Lakeland fells, and autumnal foliage framing new snowfall, which contrasted with two multicoloured urban night shots
taken of the Tyne bridges. There were many seascapes, some serene, with azure bands of colour under crystal clear skies,
others with dark seas under storm clouds approaching from the horizon. Also included were green mossy hollows with peat
coloured streams, typically English pastoral scenes, and a humorous lone tree in snow, with an almost lavender winter sky,
framed by a goal post. There were peach, pink and mauve coloured sunsets, sunbursts through ancient woodland, and an
iconic view from Holy Island with late afternoon sun glistening on the water below vast rolling cloud patterns. Further afield
we saw the amazing lunar landscape around Mount Teide, an ornate French church reflected in a gently flowing river, a New
York cityscape from above, Tuscan olive groves, colourful terracotta tiled rooftops in an old Mexican town, and snow laden
craggy mountain peaks. Prominent in this year’s competition were huge dramatic skies with unbelievably beautiful cloud
formations, reflecting the varied weather patterns that we enjoy in this lovely part of the country.
Stephen then went on to announce his Highly Commended selections. Glencripesdale, Loch Sunart by Sophie Elliott-Edwards,
a rusty barge which had been used as a temporary jetty for timber loading, which Stephen admired for it lovely textures and
composition; Winter Skies by Alan Harle, a range of snow laden hills awarded for its subtle shades of gold, grey and blue;
A View to Dunstanburgh Castle by Mark Harrison, meandering water leading the eye to the castle, admired for its soft gold
and blue hues and good composition; and Kyle of Tongue by Stephanie Robson, a peaceful composition of glistening water
leading the eye to grey mountains in the distance.
Fifth place was awarded to Mark Harrison for Rydal Hall Grot, which Stephen described as a powerful image of a waterfall,
and with a slow shutter speed to soften the water, Mark had maintained the detail in the surrounding rocks. In fourth place
was Sophie Elliott-Edwards with a seascape entitled Howick, the swirls of water through the rocks, the judge said, had lovely
textures and subtlety and included a lovely sky. Third place with Mumbai Sunrise was given to Paul Appleby; describing it as
different, the judge loved the row of ferry boats moored up and the ghostly cargo ships in the distance, all set in pink shot
shimming water, set off by a perfect pink sun. Sophie Elliott-Edwards came second with Bamburgh Castle; awarded for the
stunning colours of mauves and purples, its great depth of field, the detailed rocks in the foreground, rippling effect of the
water, glorious sky and the detail in the castle.
First place and the winner of this years’ Bates Cup Landscape Competition was Davy Bolam with Sugar Sands Seascape. The
judge was drawn to the banks of horizontal colours of blue and gold, clouds gently reflected in the sand and for its subtlety
and texture. It had really appealed to him, adding that he would gladly hang it on his wall. On behalf of the club, Secretary
Dave Bisset, then thanked Stephen for undertaking the onerous task of assessing so many images and providing constructive comments, especially as there was such a variety of work in the competition, after which coffee and much conversation ended
another interesting evening.
Steph.
2nd. 3rd. On Tuesday 26th March 2019, Morpeth Camera Club were very pleased to welcome Stephen Fowler from Ryton & District
Camera Club, to announce the results of this season’s Bates Cup, a projected digital image Landscape competition. He is
a well-respected NCPF judge for both club and interclub competitions and we looked forward to hearing his comments on
our images.
Among the Fifty entries submitted, were scenes of Rothbury, Alnwick Castle, rocky shorelines, marinas and villages, rolling
sunlit Lakeland fells, and autumnal foliage framing new snowfall, which contrasted with two multicoloured urban night shots
taken of the Tyne bridges. There were many seascapes, some serene, with azure bands of colour under crystal clear skies,
others with dark seas under storm clouds approaching from the horizon. Also included were green mossy hollows with peat
coloured streams, typically English pastoral scenes, and a humorous lone tree in snow, with an almost lavender winter sky,
framed by a goal post. There were peach, pink and mauve coloured sunsets, sunbursts through ancient woodland, and an
iconic view from Holy Island with late afternoon sun glistening on the water below vast rolling cloud patterns. Further afield
we saw the amazing lunar landscape around Mount Teide, an ornate French church reflected in a gently flowing river, a New
York cityscape from above, Tuscan olive groves, colourful terracotta tiled rooftops in an old Mexican town, and snow laden
craggy mountain peaks. Prominent in this year’s competition were huge dramatic skies with unbelievably beautiful cloud
formations, reflecting the varied weather patterns that we enjoy in this lovely part of the country.
Stephen then went on to announce his Highly Commended selections. Glencripesdale, Loch Sunart by Sophie Elliott-Edwards,
a rusty barge which had been used as a temporary jetty for timber loading, which Stephen admired for it lovely textures and
composition; Winter Skies by Alan Harle, a range of snow laden hills awarded for its subtle shades of gold, grey and blue;
A View to Dunstanburgh Castle by Mark Harrison, meandering water leading the eye to the castle, admired for its soft gold
and blue hues and good composition; and Kyle of Tongue by Stephanie Robson, a peaceful composition of glistening water
leading the eye to grey mountains in the distance.
Fifth place was awarded to Mark Harrison for Rydal Hall Grot, which Stephen described as a powerful image of a waterfall,
and with a slow shutter speed to soften the water, Mark had maintained the detail in the surrounding rocks. In fourth place
was Sophie Elliott-Edwards with a seascape entitled Howick, the swirls of water through the rocks, the judge said, had lovely
textures and subtlety and included a lovely sky. Third place with Mumbai Sunrise was given to Paul Appleby; describing it as
different, the judge loved the row of ferry boats moored up and the ghostly cargo ships in the distance, all set in pink shot
shimming water, set off by a perfect pink sun. Sophie Elliott-Edwards came second with Bamburgh Castle; awarded for the
stunning colours of mauves and purples, its great depth of field, the detailed rocks in the foreground, rippling effect of the
water, glorious sky and the detail in the castle.
First place and the winner of this years’ Bates Cup Landscape Competition was Davy Bolam with Sugar Sands Seascape. The
judge was drawn to the banks of horizontal colours of blue and gold, clouds gently reflected in the sand and for its subtlety
and texture. It had really appealed to him, adding that he would gladly hang it on his wall. On behalf of the club, Secretary
Dave Bisset, then thanked Stephen for undertaking the onerous task of assessing so many images and providing constructive comments, especially as there was such a variety of work in the competition, after which coffee and much conversation ended
another interesting evening.
Steph.