Club Meeting, Bates Cup Landscape Competition - Tuesday 26th January 2026.

    
         1st. Land, Sea and Sky.                          2nd. Early Morning.                     3rd. Rainbow over Derwentwater.

On Tuesday 27th January, Morpeth Camera Club welcomed judge Glen Lawson from Gateshead Camera Club to
comment upon and announce the results of the Bates Cup Competition. The Bates Cup is awarded to the winner
of the Pdi (Projected Digital Image), for best landscape. Glen opened the evening by explaining the brief: the
genre could include wide-open terrain, air or cloudscape or a seascape, and he was taking this into consideration
when judging.

There were 48 entries by 18 members which included landscapes taken of Scottish lochs, stormy seas, a sweeping
Hadrian’s Wall, the iconic shot of Cragside, the Mallam Dales, a golden Hebridean sunset, and more locally, Middle
Stobswood, Blagdon, Beadnell Harbour, Alwinton and Cullernose Point. On occasions Glen gave advice on removing
distractions and over saturation, sharpening and use of contrast. Some images, he said, felt a bit too enclosed
which brought into question whether the author had followed the brief.

Removal of clutter is usual butwhen one is making a statement highlighting the environment then this is perfectly
acceptable, he said. The judge made no secret of the fact that he had researched many of the locations to get a
better understanding of the areas which had been photographed. Following on we saw the sweeping landscapes of
Cranfield Point, Northern Ireland, Durham reflections, Hindhope pools, Boulmer beach, sunset over the Coquet,
dramatic Wastwater, storm clouds over Sugar Sands and Skye’s Glen Brittle.

The judge went on to announce his Highly Commended choices. Calm Seascape by Jeremy Cooper, for its warm
tranquility and subtle palette; Newbrough Beach, Anglesey by Stephanie Robson, for its receding layers, detail
and depth. To Dunstanburgh Angel by Jeremy Cooper for its cloud formation, detail and texture, and Lakeland
Heaven by Peter Hetherington for its rolling countryside which draws one in.

In fifth place was Glyn Trueman with Walltown Crags for its complimentary format the emphasis solely on the
landscape. Fourth place was given to Dave Bisset for Towards Holy Island, for its vastness, evoking movement in
the waves and grasses. In third place was Rainbow over Derwentwater by Paul Appleby, which the judge admired
for its freshness, movement and depth, where the rainbow held one’s gaze. In second place was Early Morning by
Davy Bolam. An urban open public space in soft monochrome which the judge admired for lead in lines creating a
journey to explore and had both a sense of danger but calm.

Glen went on to announce the winner of this seasons Bates Landscape Pdi Competition to be Davy Bolam with
his Sand, Sea and Sky. A lovely seascape of subtle pastel colours, the judge said that it was peaceful, tranquil,
had movement and subtle space, and the intentional camera movement worked very well with the subject. Club
Chairman Jeremy Cooper thanked Glen for his definition of the brief, his humour and generous advice, after which
refreshments were served ending another interesting evening at the club.

Steph.