Club Meeting, Set Subject Print Competitions - Tuesday 10th December 2019.
On Tuesday 10th December 2019, Morpeth Camera Club welcomed Kevin Hilton, photographic judge and member of
Hexham & District Photographic Society, to comment on and assess the prints which had been entered in the club’s
annual Set Subject competitions. The theme for this year was The Colour Red in the colour section and Alleyways,
Corridors or Tunnels in the Monochrome section, where members were invited to submit up to three images in each.
Commencing with the colour entries, Kevin said that he was looking for images which tell a story, are creative, not
too fussy and are without distractions. There was a wide range of subject entered, including colour popped telephone
boxes and beach huts, a retro style red hatted girl, Herd Groyne lighthouse, a minimalist high key Leaper Jaguar car
mascot, a birds eye view of red canoes, gift boxes, flower abstracts, poppies, a symmetrical view of escalators, red
detail of the Swing Bridge, smoke trails, and back lit red maple leaves. A stunning Eagle Owl with vibrant red eyes
and plumage, Fly Agaric fungi contrasting with angular tractor spokes were also among the entries. The judge went
on to announce his Highly Commended choices; Shades of Red, by Paul Appleby for its painterly, artistic effect of a
red bike with geraniums, The Pout by Stephanie Robson, for its lip detail, and Very Red also by Stephanie of a single
red rose, awarded for its petal detail and to David Wilkin for From Bamburgh to the World for its story telling content.
Fifth went to Roseanne Robinson with Red Chard which the judge admired for its almost textile texture and crispness;
in forth place was Red MG by Alistair Cooper, caught after a shower, the globules of rain added texture, which the
judge said added more to the sense of red. Third place was awarded to Sue Dawson for Hot, Hot, Hot; three red
chillies on white dishes. The judge said that the abstract form had a lot of creative thought behind it. Paul Appleby
with Red Brick Steps was given second place, Kevin saying that the texture, depth of field and shadows were very
appealing. The winner of the Set Subject Colour Print Section was Glyn Trueman for Old Door, New Decoration; the
judge admired it for its sloping path, the autumn leaves which gave it a sense of time of year, its textured brickwork
and the door itself which was covered in graffiti.
1st. Old Door, New Decoration. 2nd. Red Brick Steps. 3rd. Hot,Hot,Hot.
Moving on to the monochrome section, the judge said he was looking for a sense of story and mystery; for unfussy
images with no distractions, adding that any treatments used should be subtle and not overdone. Lights and traffic
through a road tunnel, wet reflections in a dark underpass, old Newcastle’s Dog Leap Stairs, an intriguing ‘haunted’
alley complete with an eerie figure, tonal ranges of arches in the Tyne Tunnel, a narrow Venetian waterway and a
sepia toned Mexican alleyway were among the entries. Patterns and light reflections in a passage at Seaton Delaval
Hall contrasted with the sun, shade and randomness of a Mediterranean alley, a glossy ceilinged walkway producing
liquid-like reflections, creepy, graffitied underpasses, grim and sad station subways were also among the subjects.
The judges’ choices of Highly Commended were then announced. Abandoned Hospital Corridor by Davy Bolam for
its detailed peeling paint and detritus, Sight for Sore Eyes by Roseanne Robinson of an alleyway with an opticians
store at the end; Backstreet Dublin by John Willmore, for its great tonal range; Toledo Metro, Naples for it sense of
depth which draws you in. Fifth place went to Pat Wood for York Tunnel which the judge said was a piece of graphic
art; fourth place was Atomium Exit by Alistair Cooper for its striking symmetry; Paul Appleby was given third place
with Naturally Lit Corridor; light shining through a Jali filigreed window screen which was admired for its textures of
light and shade; 2nd place was given to Stephanie Robson with Cats Alley, Troyes for its definition and tonal range,
together with lots of interest. The judge went on to announce the winner of the Set Subject Mono Print Section as
Stephanie Robson with Villefranche Alleyway. Two people meeting on dappled lit steps, the judge said that it had a
sense of a greeting and storytelling, admiring the quality of printing and paper used.
1st. Villefranche Alleyway. 2nd. Cats Alley, Troyes. 3rd. Naturally Lit Corridor.
Hexham & District Photographic Society, to comment on and assess the prints which had been entered in the club’s
annual Set Subject competitions. The theme for this year was The Colour Red in the colour section and Alleyways,
Corridors or Tunnels in the Monochrome section, where members were invited to submit up to three images in each.
Commencing with the colour entries, Kevin said that he was looking for images which tell a story, are creative, not
too fussy and are without distractions. There was a wide range of subject entered, including colour popped telephone
boxes and beach huts, a retro style red hatted girl, Herd Groyne lighthouse, a minimalist high key Leaper Jaguar car
mascot, a birds eye view of red canoes, gift boxes, flower abstracts, poppies, a symmetrical view of escalators, red
detail of the Swing Bridge, smoke trails, and back lit red maple leaves. A stunning Eagle Owl with vibrant red eyes
and plumage, Fly Agaric fungi contrasting with angular tractor spokes were also among the entries. The judge went
on to announce his Highly Commended choices; Shades of Red, by Paul Appleby for its painterly, artistic effect of a
red bike with geraniums, The Pout by Stephanie Robson, for its lip detail, and Very Red also by Stephanie of a single
red rose, awarded for its petal detail and to David Wilkin for From Bamburgh to the World for its story telling content.
Fifth went to Roseanne Robinson with Red Chard which the judge admired for its almost textile texture and crispness;
in forth place was Red MG by Alistair Cooper, caught after a shower, the globules of rain added texture, which the
judge said added more to the sense of red. Third place was awarded to Sue Dawson for Hot, Hot, Hot; three red
chillies on white dishes. The judge said that the abstract form had a lot of creative thought behind it. Paul Appleby
with Red Brick Steps was given second place, Kevin saying that the texture, depth of field and shadows were very
appealing. The winner of the Set Subject Colour Print Section was Glyn Trueman for Old Door, New Decoration; the
judge admired it for its sloping path, the autumn leaves which gave it a sense of time of year, its textured brickwork
and the door itself which was covered in graffiti.
1st. Old Door, New Decoration. 2nd. Red Brick Steps. 3rd. Hot,Hot,Hot.
Moving on to the monochrome section, the judge said he was looking for a sense of story and mystery; for unfussy
images with no distractions, adding that any treatments used should be subtle and not overdone. Lights and traffic
through a road tunnel, wet reflections in a dark underpass, old Newcastle’s Dog Leap Stairs, an intriguing ‘haunted’
alley complete with an eerie figure, tonal ranges of arches in the Tyne Tunnel, a narrow Venetian waterway and a
sepia toned Mexican alleyway were among the entries. Patterns and light reflections in a passage at Seaton Delaval
Hall contrasted with the sun, shade and randomness of a Mediterranean alley, a glossy ceilinged walkway producing
liquid-like reflections, creepy, graffitied underpasses, grim and sad station subways were also among the subjects.
The judges’ choices of Highly Commended were then announced. Abandoned Hospital Corridor by Davy Bolam for
its detailed peeling paint and detritus, Sight for Sore Eyes by Roseanne Robinson of an alleyway with an opticians
store at the end; Backstreet Dublin by John Willmore, for its great tonal range; Toledo Metro, Naples for it sense of
depth which draws you in. Fifth place went to Pat Wood for York Tunnel which the judge said was a piece of graphic
art; fourth place was Atomium Exit by Alistair Cooper for its striking symmetry; Paul Appleby was given third place
with Naturally Lit Corridor; light shining through a Jali filigreed window screen which was admired for its textures of
light and shade; 2nd place was given to Stephanie Robson with Cats Alley, Troyes for its definition and tonal range,
together with lots of interest. The judge went on to announce the winner of the Set Subject Mono Print Section as
Stephanie Robson with Villefranche Alleyway. Two people meeting on dappled lit steps, the judge said that it had a
sense of a greeting and storytelling, admiring the quality of printing and paper used.
1st. Villefranche Alleyway. 2nd. Cats Alley, Troyes. 3rd. Naturally Lit Corridor.