Club Meeting, 1st Open Print Competitions - Tuesday 7th November 2023.
On Tuesday 7th November 2023, Morpeth Camera Club welcomed back photographic judge, Bill Broadley from Blyth
Photographic Society who had come to comment upon and announce the results of the First Open Print Competitions
of the season. Bill opened by saying that he always enjoyed looking through Morpeths’ work as there are always a
good set of prints to view.
He began with the Monochrome section, which included a stone folly, the spiral staircase in Souter Lighthouse, church
furniture, a Whithorn harbour panorama, street photography, stormy skies over rocky shores, Blyth quayside evening
shots, mannequins seen through a dirty window, minimalistic abstract bottles, and raindrops on a fallen leaf. He offered
advice on removing distractions, especially those on the edge of the picture and on experimenting with tonal colour, to
marry the tone to the subject matter. He suggested cropping to allow more focus on the subject and he stressed that
presentation, when judging, is equally important; if one has taken the time to create a good print, then it deserves to
be correctly mounted.
He went on to announce his four highly commended prints, The Stare, by Sue Dawson which the judge described as a
classic portrait of a gorilla and was chosen for its good light, detail and for its sharpness throughout. Steps Shadow by
Paul Appleby, a creative abstract, chosen for its almost 3D quality with beautiful tones and textures. You can’t take it
With You also by Sue Dawson of a skeleton gargoyle selected for its use of good contrast, its textures and shadows to
create atmosphere. To Davy Bolam with Subway Silhouettes of people silhouetted, chosen for the light which bounced
on textured walls, a clever vignette and depth to draw the eye.
Fifth place was awarded to Sue Dawson with The 2.23 is Late Again, a shot of two people on a bench where Sue had
captured the critical moment when a train was passing in the background. Fourth place was given to Davy Bolam with
A Classic View, of an upturned boat which led the eye to Lindisfarne Castle. This was chosen for its sharpness and great
use of depth of field. Paul Appleby came third with his Window Organ Pipes which the judge admired for its phenomenal
detail, its portrait orientation giving it added depth. Davy Bolam was in second place with Bleak House, Weardale which
the judge described as a brilliant landscape with great lead-in lines, using rocks as an anchor point. He then announced
the winner of the First Monochrome Print Competition to be Dave Bisset with Long and Winding Stair which the judge
had admired for its creative, graphic quality and gorgeous detail of flaking paint, which was also beautifully mounted.
1st. The Long & Winding Stair. 2nd. Bleak House. 3rd. Window Organ Pipes.
The Colour section followed and included colourful flora, a fire eater, weathered wood on canvas, snowdrops at Belsay,
a storm damaged door, misty autumn woodland, a jetty with light reflections, ghostly abstract flowers and waterfalls,
and verdant landscapes.
He went on to announce his highly commended choices; Breaking Waves Triptych by Dave Bisset, which the judge said
was a well-thought-out and creative print. Dying Tulips by Sue Dawson was appreciated for its clever technique which
had a watercolour quality. The Beauty of Decay by Davy Bolam for its subdued colours which had perfectly captured the
sense of decay in a broken window, and Don’t Mess with Me by Glyn Trueman; a beautiful orange eyed owl which the
judge said was contrasty, punchy, tight in the frame and powerful.
In fifth place was Glyn Trueman with The Juggler; a triptych of jugglers in sequence which was chosen for its excellent
focus. Fourth place was awarded to Sue Dawson with Echinacea which he said had phenomenal detail, great exposure
and depth of field, and was simple and beautiful. Third place went to Paul Appleby with Moon over Frigliana, a minimalist
scene, sunlight on whitewashed walls, a blue window and sky with a suggestion of the moon which balanced it out with
the judge adding that it was razor sharp with natural colours. The second placed print, also by Paul was Hydrangea Petals.
This was considered to have unbelievable quality; a cluster of interlocking pressed blooms which jumped off the paper.
He then announced the winner of the First Colour Print Competition to be Sue Dawson With Stepping Stones at Dusk
which was admired for its lead-in line of steps, strong shadows, river-like molten lava with good balanced light provided
by street lights. A lot of thought had been put into this print, the judge concluded.
1st. Stepping Stones at Dusk. 2nd. Hydrangea Petals. 3rd. Moon over Frigliana.
The Club Chairman then thanked Bill for his considered comments and opinions after which club members were able to
view all the entries over refreshments.
Steph.
Photographic Society who had come to comment upon and announce the results of the First Open Print Competitions
of the season. Bill opened by saying that he always enjoyed looking through Morpeths’ work as there are always a
good set of prints to view.
He began with the Monochrome section, which included a stone folly, the spiral staircase in Souter Lighthouse, church
furniture, a Whithorn harbour panorama, street photography, stormy skies over rocky shores, Blyth quayside evening
shots, mannequins seen through a dirty window, minimalistic abstract bottles, and raindrops on a fallen leaf. He offered
advice on removing distractions, especially those on the edge of the picture and on experimenting with tonal colour, to
marry the tone to the subject matter. He suggested cropping to allow more focus on the subject and he stressed that
presentation, when judging, is equally important; if one has taken the time to create a good print, then it deserves to
be correctly mounted.
He went on to announce his four highly commended prints, The Stare, by Sue Dawson which the judge described as a
classic portrait of a gorilla and was chosen for its good light, detail and for its sharpness throughout. Steps Shadow by
Paul Appleby, a creative abstract, chosen for its almost 3D quality with beautiful tones and textures. You can’t take it
With You also by Sue Dawson of a skeleton gargoyle selected for its use of good contrast, its textures and shadows to
create atmosphere. To Davy Bolam with Subway Silhouettes of people silhouetted, chosen for the light which bounced
on textured walls, a clever vignette and depth to draw the eye.
Fifth place was awarded to Sue Dawson with The 2.23 is Late Again, a shot of two people on a bench where Sue had
captured the critical moment when a train was passing in the background. Fourth place was given to Davy Bolam with
A Classic View, of an upturned boat which led the eye to Lindisfarne Castle. This was chosen for its sharpness and great
use of depth of field. Paul Appleby came third with his Window Organ Pipes which the judge admired for its phenomenal
detail, its portrait orientation giving it added depth. Davy Bolam was in second place with Bleak House, Weardale which
the judge described as a brilliant landscape with great lead-in lines, using rocks as an anchor point. He then announced
the winner of the First Monochrome Print Competition to be Dave Bisset with Long and Winding Stair which the judge
had admired for its creative, graphic quality and gorgeous detail of flaking paint, which was also beautifully mounted.
1st. The Long & Winding Stair. 2nd. Bleak House. 3rd. Window Organ Pipes.
The Colour section followed and included colourful flora, a fire eater, weathered wood on canvas, snowdrops at Belsay,
a storm damaged door, misty autumn woodland, a jetty with light reflections, ghostly abstract flowers and waterfalls,
and verdant landscapes.
He went on to announce his highly commended choices; Breaking Waves Triptych by Dave Bisset, which the judge said
was a well-thought-out and creative print. Dying Tulips by Sue Dawson was appreciated for its clever technique which
had a watercolour quality. The Beauty of Decay by Davy Bolam for its subdued colours which had perfectly captured the
sense of decay in a broken window, and Don’t Mess with Me by Glyn Trueman; a beautiful orange eyed owl which the
judge said was contrasty, punchy, tight in the frame and powerful.
In fifth place was Glyn Trueman with The Juggler; a triptych of jugglers in sequence which was chosen for its excellent
focus. Fourth place was awarded to Sue Dawson with Echinacea which he said had phenomenal detail, great exposure
and depth of field, and was simple and beautiful. Third place went to Paul Appleby with Moon over Frigliana, a minimalist
scene, sunlight on whitewashed walls, a blue window and sky with a suggestion of the moon which balanced it out with
the judge adding that it was razor sharp with natural colours. The second placed print, also by Paul was Hydrangea Petals.
This was considered to have unbelievable quality; a cluster of interlocking pressed blooms which jumped off the paper.
He then announced the winner of the First Colour Print Competition to be Sue Dawson With Stepping Stones at Dusk
which was admired for its lead-in line of steps, strong shadows, river-like molten lava with good balanced light provided
by street lights. A lot of thought had been put into this print, the judge concluded.
1st. Stepping Stones at Dusk. 2nd. Hydrangea Petals. 3rd. Moon over Frigliana.
The Club Chairman then thanked Bill for his considered comments and opinions after which club members were able to
view all the entries over refreshments.
Steph.