Club Meeting, A4 Print Competition - Tuesday 30th November 2021.
On Tuesday 30th November 2021, Morpeth Camera Club held its annual A4 print competition where members
were invited to bring along up to four unmounted prints to be judged by other members on the night. Prints
for this competition could be of any subject, in monochrome or colour, but were not to exceed A4 in size. At
the start of the meeting members had the opportunity to view all the prints and select their top five in order
of preference, (excluding their own).
The clubs display boards were used to exhibit the eclectic mix of prints which were untitled and anonymous,
and included portraits, street life, abstracts, landscapes and seascapes, woodland scenes, social gatherings,
storm clouds, wildlife and industry. After making their choices members were requested to place coloured
stickers on the prints they would like to discuss. While the votes were being counted, Steve McDonald led
an informal and interactive discussion on many of the prints in the competition. Being a photographic judge,
Steve said that when there is such a diversity of subject matter it can be very difficult and comments have
to be based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.
Photographs up for discussion included Bamburgh lighthouse beneath an Auroral sky, a sinister portrayal of
the Knife Angel in abstract, the Bigg Market Memorial using the Pep Ventosa effect of blending images of a
subject from many angles, a story telling photograph of a forest glade with sunlight glowing through trees,
a Lakeland boathouse reflected in autumn hues, and an image of a scrap yard where the detail remained
evident and selected colour had been retained. An abstract of wave and sand dunes using an oil painting
effect was followed by a highly stylised abstract of the Woodhorn Museum Cutter.
During the discussion the authors revealed what they were trying to achieve and communicate to the viewer
and what influenced their decision making in producing the images. In addition Steve suggested that, in a
much photographed subject, one has to produce something new, to take it to the next level to make it one's
own, to make it stand out from the others. The subject of paper arose and it was agreed that different grades
of paper can make a massive difference to the resulting print.
Once the totals were added up the results were as follows; in joint 5th place were Dave Bisset with Cutter
Tendrils and Paul Appleby with Ropes & Mooring Cleat, in joint 3rd place were Dave Atkinson with Rae Tongue,
Swan Reflections by Kate Phillipson and Heading for Berth by John Thompson. Two prints tied for first place,
After the Storm by Steve McDonald and Fading Beauty by Sue Dawson.
1st. After the Storm. 1st. Fading Beauty.
Club Chair Sue Dawson thanked everyone who contributed to the evening and to Steve for providing his
knowledge and suggestions as to how we may all improve our prints. It was an opportunity for members
to place themselves in the shoes of a photographic judge and to realize what a complex undertaking it
can be.
Steph.
were invited to bring along up to four unmounted prints to be judged by other members on the night. Prints
for this competition could be of any subject, in monochrome or colour, but were not to exceed A4 in size. At
the start of the meeting members had the opportunity to view all the prints and select their top five in order
of preference, (excluding their own).
The clubs display boards were used to exhibit the eclectic mix of prints which were untitled and anonymous,
and included portraits, street life, abstracts, landscapes and seascapes, woodland scenes, social gatherings,
storm clouds, wildlife and industry. After making their choices members were requested to place coloured
stickers on the prints they would like to discuss. While the votes were being counted, Steve McDonald led
an informal and interactive discussion on many of the prints in the competition. Being a photographic judge,
Steve said that when there is such a diversity of subject matter it can be very difficult and comments have
to be based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.
Photographs up for discussion included Bamburgh lighthouse beneath an Auroral sky, a sinister portrayal of
the Knife Angel in abstract, the Bigg Market Memorial using the Pep Ventosa effect of blending images of a
subject from many angles, a story telling photograph of a forest glade with sunlight glowing through trees,
a Lakeland boathouse reflected in autumn hues, and an image of a scrap yard where the detail remained
evident and selected colour had been retained. An abstract of wave and sand dunes using an oil painting
effect was followed by a highly stylised abstract of the Woodhorn Museum Cutter.
During the discussion the authors revealed what they were trying to achieve and communicate to the viewer
and what influenced their decision making in producing the images. In addition Steve suggested that, in a
much photographed subject, one has to produce something new, to take it to the next level to make it one's
own, to make it stand out from the others. The subject of paper arose and it was agreed that different grades
of paper can make a massive difference to the resulting print.
Once the totals were added up the results were as follows; in joint 5th place were Dave Bisset with Cutter
Tendrils and Paul Appleby with Ropes & Mooring Cleat, in joint 3rd place were Dave Atkinson with Rae Tongue,
Swan Reflections by Kate Phillipson and Heading for Berth by John Thompson. Two prints tied for first place,
After the Storm by Steve McDonald and Fading Beauty by Sue Dawson.
1st. After the Storm. 1st. Fading Beauty.
Club Chair Sue Dawson thanked everyone who contributed to the evening and to Steve for providing his
knowledge and suggestions as to how we may all improve our prints. It was an opportunity for members
to place themselves in the shoes of a photographic judge and to realize what a complex undertaking it
can be.
Steph.