GreetingsagainfromWestYorkshire!
Itisalwaysaprivilegetobeaskedto puttogetheranissueofPhotonews andthecompetitionspecialsare probablymyfavouriteonesto produceandedit.Thetag-lineof Photonews, CelebratingthePPCand it’smembers,isneverbetter exemplifiedthaninthesecompetition resultseditions.Eachyearthe externaljudgescommentonthehigh qualityofentriesonshowand,spoiler alert,thisyearisnoexception.
Asever,afewthank-yousareinorder asthesethingsneverappearoutofthe etherwithoutalotofhardwork behindthescenes.Simonand Grahamhaveonceagaindonea sterlingjoborganisingandrunning thethreecompetitionsthatconstitute theFoundersCup:Print,LargePrint andDPI.AlanPhillipskeepsa fatherlyeyeonthesoftwarewhichis crucialtotherunningofthe
competitionsandgeneratingthe slideshowwhichwillbepostedforall toviewatleisure(linkoninside cover).Inaddition,CircleSecretaries havealldonetheirpartuploading imagestothesystemaheadofthe judgingdeadline.Thanksarealsodue toourjudgesandIhopeyouwillall taketimetoreadtheirbiographies. So,onbehalfofthemembershipthankyouoneandall!
Well,that’sitfromme.Many congratulationstoallofyouwhose workisshowcasedhere.Betterluck nexttimetothosewhodidn’tfeature thistimearound,remember,asthe judgessaid,itwasaveryhighclass field!
Enjoythisissue,Ihavemyfavourite image…what’syours?
Hi,mynameisStephenRichardWomackbutIanswertoSteveandI haveapassionforphotographywhichhasbuiltupovertheyears.
MyfatherhadthefamilycamerawhichifIremembercorrectlywas aBoxBrowniewhichtook120blackandwhiterollfilms.This camerawastakenonallfamilytripsandwhenIwasconsidered oldenough,Iwasallowedtohaveago.
IcanrecallbobbingaboutontheSolentinasmallpleasureboat waitingforoneoftheQueen’stosteambyen-routeforAmericaand balancingtotaketheshot.LikewiseatFarnboroughAirshowtryingto pantocatchtheaircraftastheypassed.Sadly,allthesephotographshavebeenlost inthemanymovesduetorelocationsbroughtonbywork.
WhenIupdatedto35mmviatheZenithroute,whichalotofbuddingphotographers did,itwastoembracetheworldoftransparenciesusingAgfaandKodakfilms.The ZenithwassoonoutgrownandaseriesofPentaxbodiesarrivedonthescene.
CameraClubactivitiesweredefinitelythewaybackthentomeetlikemindedpeople andtolearnandtradeone’sexperience.AlifetimefriendsuggestedIjoinhimat DoncasterCameraClubwhereIspentsometimeinthecompanyofsomeexcellent photographers.HavingbeenaskedtotakeontheroleofCompetitionSecretaryIdid thatroleforayearbuttravellingtoDoncasterbecamealittledifficultandIhadto giveupthatandlookforsomethingclosertohome.
EnterWakefieldCameraClub,whereIattendedanightatthelong-goneCityClub. HavingbeengreetedbyoneofthemembersandenjoyingtheeveningIdecidedthat Iwouldjumpinandgetinvolvedwiththisbandofphotographers.BynowIhad starteddoingmyownprintsanditwasgoodtobeabletodiscussthemeritsof variousprintingmethodswithmypeers.TheenteringoftherangeofClub Competitionsenabledmyphotographytoimprove.Weeklymeetingsturnedinto yearsandhavingbeenaskedtojointheCommitteetohelpruntheclubIfound myselfproposedasVicePresident,anhonourindeed.
In2015IwaspleasantlysurprisedtobevotedinasPresidentofWakefieldCamera ClubandwasabletopresideovertheYPUAnnualAssemblyandExhibitionheldin Wakefieldinour125thyearin2016.Thiswasatremendousjointeffortbyabandof myfellowphotographerswiththeclubwhogavetheirtimewithoutquestion.Personal circumstancespreventmefromcompletingmytenureasPresidentwhenImoved awaytotheEastCoastinlate2016butImaintainedmylinkageandmembership.
2020sawanothermovebacktotheWestRidingandagaintobeabletophysically joinWakefieldCameraClubranksagainalbeitinavirtualcapacityduetothe Covid-19situationwhichhadplayedhavocwithClubsandSocietiesalloverthe country.UponreturningIwasaskedifIwouldrejointheCommitteeandtakeonthe roleofCompetitionSecretaryapositionIstillaminvolvedwithasIwritethispiece.I amimmenselyproudtobeamemberofWakefieldCameraClubandtohaveserved andtobeservingthecurrentmembership.Beingamemberofacameraclub definitelydoesalteryourperspectivesonphotographyandcanbehighly recommended.
ItwasmypleasuretobeaskedtojudgethiscompetitiononbehalfofThePostal PhotographicClub.Thestandardoftheworkpresentedwasofahighqualitywhich madefortheselectionofthoseauthorswhowerechosenforthesectionwinners difficult.Indeed,thefinalselectionoftheoverallwinnerwasnotmadeeasybythe othersinthefield,butintheend,ithadshonefromearlyintheprocessand continuedtodosorightuntilthefinalcurtain.
ThereiscertainlyavastwealthofphotographictalentinthePPCandthathasbeen ondisplaythroughoutthiscompetition.
Iwishyoualltheverybestinyourcontinuedendeavoursinyourphotography.
Awell-craftedmonochromeimagewithan emotionalimpactfortheviewer.Thelightingfor thethreeelementsoftheimagehavebeen thoughtouttoconveythehandingonofthe roses.Imageissharpwithdetailsinall elements.Theseparationfromthedeepblack backgroundishandledwell.
Overall,anoutstandingpresentation.
Thisimageformewasoutstandingfromthe startandtheauthorshouldbewellpleasedwith thefinishedpresentedimage.
Itgrantsthevieweranemotionalimpactwhich attimesishardtocapture.
Welldone.
Anextremelydetailedimagewhich presentsafullrangeoftonality acrossthewholeframe.
Author’spositioningforthis viewpointoftheCloisterswhilstnot exactlysymmetricaldoesnotinmy opiniondistractfromtheoverall experienceinviewingtheimage. Theviewercanexploreeitherthe LHsideortheRHsideandgaina depthofinformationfromthat.The handlingofthemixedlightinghas beenwellexecuted.
Excellentpresentationbytheauthor.
Awellcapturedcandidfeeling portraitofthisstrikingmodel.Author hascapturedthatmomentwhere thesparkofhumourisinthe expressionwhichalwaysaddstoa portrait.
Theimageiscrispthroughoutwith thesubjectwellseparatedfromthe background.Themonochrome conversionhasbeenwellhandled givingafullrangeoftonestothe image.Allthistogetherwiththe choiceofpaperselectedforprinting gavethistheedgeoverthe competitioninthissection.
Alandscapeimagehavinghuge fronttobackdepthoffield sharpness.Viewerisattractedtothe scaleofthemountainrangeinthe backgroundwiththehintsofsnow capping.Thendownthroughthe imagetakinginthehomesteadjust belowthecentreofthescenetothe foregroundstandsoflittrees.The darkerbandoftreesaddsasense ofseparationtothescene.
Theconversiontomonochromehas beenhandledwellwithafullrange oftonesthroughout.
Goodchoiceofpapertopresentthis imageon.
MaleKestrelLanding:CliffFerguson
Subjectcapturedjustpriortotheactof landing.Thesoftwarmillumination fromtheearlymorninglightaddsthat extralevelofviewingpleasurewhen combinedwiththetextureofthe plumageofthekestrel.Themuted backgroundhasalsobeenlittogood effectandcreatesthetexturetohave thesubjectsetagainst.
Subjectiscapturedcrisplytoshowoff thedetailintheunder-wingplumage andbody.
Averyminorobservationbutnotto lessenthequalityoftheimageisthe landingposthasjustdroppedoutof theplaneoffocus.
Adcock,Terri(C1)SmokeyEngineShed
Adcock,Terri(C1)Emily
Bown,Richard(CP1)AMuddyLanding
Bown,Richard(CP1)GoingForSix
Couder,Pat(DP)ClosedForTheSeason
Couder,Pat(DP)Sharing
Couder,Pat(DP)Ambrosia
Couder,Pat(DP)CanaryWharf
Downes,Len(DP)Yellow
Edwardes,Roger(C19)TheCradleOfNobility
Ferguson,Cliff(DP)CloseFormation
Harvey,Graham(C1)Where'sMyBra!
Harvey,Graham(C1)BridgeOverTheRiverTweed
Haslam,Reg(C1)Tulips
James,David(DP)WoodlandDream
Maddison,Roy(C19)OldAlan
Rawlinson,Bob(CP1)BlueTit
Rawlinson,Bob(CP1)CoalTit
Ward,Peter(C19)PhotoShop
Waters,Jeff(C19)OldNab
ThemostsuccessfulcircleandwinneroftheEllisMartin CupisCircleDP
OldNab:JeffWaters
CanaryWharf:PatCouder
PhotoShop:PeterWard
Where’smybra!:Graham
Harvey
CoalTit:BobRawlinson
Yellow:LenDownes
Goingforsix:RichardBown
SmokeyEngineShed:Terri Adcock
BlueTit:BobRawlinson
TheCradleofNobility:Roger Edwardes
AmuddyLanding:Richard Bown
Sharing:PatCouder
Emily:TerriAdcock
Ambrosia:PatCouder
Tulips:RegHaslam
CloseFormation:CliffFerguson
CloseFormation:CliffFerguson
BridgeovertheRiverTweed:GrahamHarvey
Animpactfulabstractimagewellconceivedbytheauthor.
TheIntentionalCamera Movementstylingofthe cityscapewiththeboldbandsof complimentarycoloursand brightnessevokesthesenseof high-risebuildingsinthe viewer’smind.Thefiguresjust off-centreontheroadway simulationcarriesthestory further.
Wellpresentedbytheauthor.
Ifirststartedtakinganinterestinphotographyin theearlytomid-1970’s.
Familyholidaysatthattimewereusuallyspent hillwalkingintheLakeDistrict,andIwas attractedtolandscapephotography,asan interestthatcouldbepursuedwhilstwalkingin themountains.
Iusedtrade-processedcolourtransparencyfilm (EktachromeandthenFujiVelvia),butsoon startedworkingwithblack-and-whitefilm(Ilford Pan-FandthenAgfa100)whichIdevelopedand printedinthedarkroom.
Icontinuedtousefilmforseveralyearsafter digitalphotographycamealong.Iwasveryhappywiththequalityofagoodprojected transparency,andthatofamonochromeprintproducedfromfilm.However,Inow useadigitalcameraforthemajorityofmyphotography.
Landscapephotographyhasremainedaprimaryinterest,butIhaveincreasingly soughttoexploreothergenreswhenevertheopportunityarises.Icontinuetohavea particularlikingformonochromeprints,whetheroriginatingfromfilmordigitalmedia.
In2008,IwassuccessfulinachievingCPAGBand,bycompletecoincidence,was askedtojointheL&CPUJudgesListlaterthesameyear.
IwasamemberofColneCameraClubforover40years,butunfortunatelytheColne clubhasnowbeenwoundup.IamcurrentlyamemberofIlkleyCameraClub.
Thankyouforinvitingmetojudgetheentriesinthisyear’sFoundersCupcompetition.
Iconsiderittohavebeenaprivilegeandapleasuretoreviewthe235images.
Theimagescoverawidevarietyofphotographicsubjectsandgenres,inbothcolourand monochrome,andareofagenerallyhighstandardthroughout.Itmustbesaidthattheoverall entryprovidedquiteachallengeinarrivingatmyfinalselection.Theimagescertainly deservedanappropriateamountoftimetobespentintheprocessofselection,andIhave verymuchenjoyeddoingso.
Somesubjectsareparticularlystronglyrepresented,andtherewasstrongcompetitionforthe CertificatesofMeritandAwards.
WithregardtotheCertificatesofMerit,IcanonlysaythatIwouldhavelikedtoawardafew more!Butthen,thenextcut-offpointwouldhavebeenequallydifficult.Thereareprobably aroundadozenimageswhich,unfortunately,hadtobeleftoutduringthefinalstagesof selection(Iwillleaveyoutospeculateonwhichimagesthesemightbe).Inthissituation,an elementofpersonalchoicebecomesinevitable,butIhavegivendueconsiderationtoall subjectsandphotographicstyles.
TheentrieswhichIhaveeventuallychosenforCertificatesofMeritareall,inmyopinion, excellentimages.
TherewasanevengreaterchallengeinselectingthecategoryAwardWinners-ineachofthe Portrait,Nature,andLandscapecategories,thereweresomeveryworthycontenders.
Atthispoint,Iamsureeveryonewillhavetheirpersonalfavourites.
Inclosing,mayIthankyouonceagainforallowingmetheopportunitytojudgetheFounders Cup.TothosewhohavereceivedAwards,and/orCertificatesofMerit,mycongratulations.To everyonewhoentered,beassuredoncemorethattheoverallqualityofentrieswasexcellent. Mostofall,continuetoenjoyyourphotography.
Thisimageimpressedonmyfirst run-throughoftheentriesand,as timehaspassedandthenumberof imageshasnarrowed,ithasonly grownstronger.
Itisasimpleimageinsomeways, butsuperblydone.Thelightingis faultless.Thereisnothinginthe imagetodistracttheviewerfromthe eyesandfaceofthesubject.The colourintheclothingaroundthe headenhancetheportraitand complementthesubtleskintones.
Theimageis,inmyview, compelling.
TheNaturesectionreallywasveryclosely contested,withthreeorfourimageshaving strongclaimsontheaward. However,adecisionhadtobemade.
Ifoundthisimagetobeveryattractive.The surfaceofthewaterisessentiallyverycalm, butthedisturbanceinthewater(madeas theternmovesoverthesurface)indicatesa senseofmovement.Theotherwisecalm surfaceofthewatergivesanattractive reflectionofthetern.Thelightinghasbeen usedtobestadvantage,andthereisdetailin alltonesfromwhitetoalmostblack.Atthe precisemomentwhentheimagewasmade, thetern’sbeakisalmosttouchingthewater.
Averysatisfyingphotograph.
Underground:MartinPatten
Iseethisasaverystrongimage,which lendsitselftomonochrome.
Thereareavarietyofshapesintheimage, fromstraightlinestocurves,andtheycome acrossverywellinthemonochrome presentation.Intermsofcomposition,the lightstandard(?)inthecentreisthedarkest tone,andactsasananchorforthewhole image,ratherthandividingit.Somecarehas beentakentoachievesymmetry.
Therealpowerofthisphotographliesinthe abilitytodrawtheviewerintoandthrough theimage.
DriftwoodOnTheTraethAbermawBeach,Barmouth: EricLadbury
Thismaybeacontroversialchoice(but aren’ttheyall?).
Ihavechosenthisimagebecause,inmy view,itisanexcellentrepresentationofa wildcoastallandscape.Thedriftwoodinthe foregroundisindicativeofthestormsthat occurfromtimetotime.Thereisjustenough oftheseainthedistance,andthenthereare theraincloudsabovetocompletethescene.
Ifeelthatthisisastrong,atmospheric landscape,andthecontrastypresentationin monochromeworkswell.
Atkinson,Michael(IC1)GreenfinchOnBramble
Atkinson,Michael(IC4)Goldfinch
Barton,Gary(IC4)EmeraldDamselflyOnSpineyRush
Barton,Gary(IC5)AvocetExperiencingAnAwkwardLanding
Barton,Gary(IC5)ShortEaredOwlHuntingInNorthLancashire
Burton,Jason(IC2)SuzukiRgv500Xr75
Couder,Pat(IC7)Ambrosia
Couder,Pat(IC7)OutInFront
Couder,Pat(IC7)BlueSwirl
Demaerschalk,Ingrid(IC5)AquarelMorning
Gray,Steve(IC10)CanaryWharf
Ladbury,Eric(IC3)AWelcomeCuppa
Law,Maxwell(IC7)BlackrockCottage
Nissen,Ann(IC2)It'sTrueIReadItHere
Patten,Martin(IC11)CuckooLaunching
Patten,Martin(IC11)HighJump
Patten,Martin(IC11)FightingFoxes
Patten,Martin(IC3)ShardAndBridge
Patten,Martin(IC3)TheDoorman
Snowden,Graham(IC3,DSO)GWRNo9466UnderBridgeAtArley
Snowden,Graham(IC3)ChaddockFieldAndWood
Wentworth,Harry(IC11)FishWhisperer
Wentworth,Harry(IC11)Laila
Wetherley,Carole(IC2)Skylight
Yates,Stephen(IC4)RosemaryBeetlesMating
TheDoorman:MartinPatten
EmeraldDamselflyOnSpineyRush& AvocetExperiencingAnAwkward Landing:GaryBarton
GWR9466UnderBridgeat Arley:GrahamSnowden
AWelcomeCuppa:Eric Ladbury
HighJump:MartinPatten
ChaddockFieldandWood:GrahamSnowden
BlackrockCottage:MaxwellLawSkylight:CaroleWetherleyGoldfinch:MikeAtkinson
Ambrosia:PatCouder
GreenfinchonBramble:MikeAtkinson
TheFishWhisperer:HarryWentworth
