Photonews - 2023 TE Special (prints)

Photonews Celebrating the Postal Photographic Club and its Members

August 2023 - TE Special (prints)

From the General Secretary Once again, the hard work behind the scenes by Graham Harvey and Simon Rhodes has brought another Travelling Exhibition competition to fruition and I thank them both for their efforts.

The Travelling Exhibition and indeed the Rally have been fixtures in the Club calendar for as long as I have been a member, approaching 20 years now. The Rally marked the first venue for the prints to be hung before beginning its journey to various clubs around the country. Indeed, it was the TE, brought to Torbay PS by John Maule, PPC member and then TPS Programme Secretary, that introduced me to the club. I joined C19 with John and still deliver pouches to him regularly.

The first Rally I attended was held at Rydal Hall in 2010 and we haven’t

missed many since.

Enough reminiscence!

With no one stepping forward to organise the Rally and the circulation of the TE, and in view of the marked decrease in entries in both sections this year, the competition will be discussed at the next Committee Meeting. Indeed, please feed back any comments, suggestions, offers to take on a role in the Club through your Circle Secretary or directly to me via email.

None of which, of course, should detract from the quality of work entered, and many congratulations to all with accepted and awarded images. And well done, also, to our Photographers of the Year - who will be revealed in a Photonews POTY Special.

In addition to those below, the PPC website has links to the AV and can I, once again, ask members of local clubs to steer their programme secretary in that direction?

I will be emailing award certificates out in due course and Simon Rhodes has indicated he is happy to return prints on receipt of an SAE. His address was on the TE invitation.

And finally, a very heartfelt thank you to Dave for putting together this edition of PhotoNews.

er g o R The PRINT slideshow is at https://youtu.be/YpmiwdSjvgw The DPI slideshow is at https://youtu.be/S887rSR38rU

t s e Gu

EDITORIAL With no Rally this year (as we have no Rally Organiser) it is uncertain how many, if any, of you will get to see the Travelling Exhibition this year.

In addition to the main Award winners, Certificates of Merit were awarded and a further selection of entries were accepted for the Exhibition. In addition. with no touring exhibition this year (owing to the fact that we have no Travelling Exhibition Secretary) those of you who usually see the TE at your own club will also miss out.

Fortunately the Competition Secretaries are still in place so we can at least bring you this year’s results and we will also provide a link to a slideshow hosted on the Club’s YouTube channel so you can view the forty images at your leisure. I will post the links at the foot of the General Secretary’s editorial.

One other change for this year is that we are presenting the results as three separate issues. I know many of you simply read the PDF version but a reasonable number also enjoy the page-turning version on ISSUU too.

Changes to their charging model however limits the number of pages we can upload without buying a professional package - something we could not justify for a few issues of Photonews a year. You will have received appropriate links for each of the competition specials from Roger via email.

So, in closing can I draw your attention to Roger’s comments regarding Club Officials … we really do need you!

e v a D

The Travelling Exhibition - 2023 (Print) Selected by John Riley

John has been a freelance photographer since being made redundant, but has always been a keen photographer.

First published articles were for Pentax User Magazine, now online only as pentaxuser.com, and where he continues to moderate the forums. Over the years, work has been published in Amateur Photographer, Practical Photography, Photography, Photo Technique, Black and White Photography and others.

John has been the lens and camera reviewer for ePHOTOzine for over five years and does all the technical tests as well as the location shoots.

He is also a camera club judge for the L&CPU and for many years was Chairman and Treasurer and before that Syllabus Secretary for ADAPS. Currently a member of Swinton Photographic Society and still an L&CPU judge. John remains dedicated to photography and continues to enjoy it just as much as he ever did.

Image credit: Sue Riley

Judges Choice, Best Colour & Best Action The Lineout: Chris Wood

“

There is a magnificent painterly feeling to this image. All the components fit together – the colour palette, the sense of action, the pyramid composition and the placement of the ball. All those involved are properly on board, with nobody's eyes straying from the single point.

The image deserves its place as a colour winner because of the strength of its very harmonious colour palette. Colour does not have to be garish, it can be subtle and still have enormous impact. Just as the best monochrome images are those which cry out to be monochrome, so too with colour. This image cries out to be in colour and it then becomes elevated thanks to the sheer imaginative skill the photographer has shown in handling the muted but still dramatic range.

So, a fine image that combines action, fine composition and gorgeous printing with its magnificent colour palette.

The photographer is truly master of their craft.

Best Monochrome Formal Garden, Castle Drogo: Roger Edwardes

“

The standard of monochrome images in this exhibition is amazing, and at the pinnacle we have this extraordinary landscape.

The formal approach to the composition is perfectly pitched for what are indeed formal gardens. The graphic nature of black and white is an excellent choice here, but even more so as the photographer has decided to go one step further and employ infra-red effects. This adds a surreal element to the image, making a wonderfully dramatic landscape something even more special.

Best Landscape Lady of Legend: David James

“

What a brilliant railscape.

This works so well, as the rails lead us into the main part of the image, but also the clouds of steam surround and cosset the train and carriages, holding the attention firmly into the central area.

Add to that a beautiful print that exudes quality, and we have a sure winner.

Best Natural History Squawk: Chris Wood

“

The eyes have it, but also that evil looking beak and the splendid detail right into the tongue.

This image is all about impact and in every respect it grabs the attention. The bokeh of the background is sublime, smooth as silk, with just enough texture to make sure it doesn't become a boring, plain backdrop.

Best Architectural Chetham's Library: David James

“

An impeccable black and white image of the highest technical quality, this is a splendid rendition of what is a challenging location to photograph.

The detail throughout is superb and the tonal range positively sumptuous. This evokes the great traditional past of black and white photography, which totally reflects the nature of the subject matter, and shows what the genre is capable of at its very best.

Best Portrait Faded Memories: David Ridley

“

This beautiful high-key portrait shows how important it can be to present an image as a print.

The image itself could not be done justice on a computer screen as integral to its success is the inspired choice of textured paper. This completes the effect, and shows off the tactile nature of a fine print.

The pose is lively and yet elegant, the subject is actually doing something rather than being a passive sitter and there is an uplifting feeling of joy throughout.

Certificates of Merit (Print)

Bob Rawlinson Bob Rawlinson Chris Wood Chris Wood David James David Ridley Graham Dean Jon Allanson Jon Allanson Roger Edwardes

A Local Jay Rugby Mascots Blackpool The Wall The Singers Ascending The Castle Records Rusty Roman Numerals Lone Tree, Llyn Padarn Tawny Owl Of Pipes And Tweed

A Local Jay Rugby Mascots Blackpool Bob Rawlinson

The Wall The Singers Chris Wood

Ascending David James

The Castle Records David Ridley

Lone Tree, Llyn Padarn Tawny Owl Jon Allanson

Rusty Roman Numerals Graham Dean

Of Pipes And Tweed Roger Edwardes

The Travelling Exhibition - 2023

Sadly the decision was taken not to run the panel competition this year as we had just two entries. We would like to thank the two members who did submit Carole Wetherley & David James and we have included their submissions here.

David's was a splendid panel of the Whitby Goth weekend - I'm sure he could have submitted 44 images let alone 4. His selection of portrait images showing the simple yet elegant costumes of the Goth ladies to the elaborate costumes and makeup that go on during the weekend. These Goth/Steampunk events are also a photographer's dream in that the subjects are more than happy to be photographed.

Beverleys submission was a very different take on the panel. The close up view of some very weathered stone showed off some wonderful pattern and details presented as a triptych style with the forth panel a combination of the other three as a triptych was very clever.

This is a call to all members. The reason to showcase these two entries is not only that you see the talent of these two photographers and that anything goes in the panel competition, but to highlight the competition is in very serious danger of disappearing from the TE. So to those who do and do not submit to the TE competition PLEASE you have a year to think about and print off your panel and TE entries so plan now for next year or we are in danger of losing the panel competition.

Print Panel Competition

Print Acceptances David Ridley

Two Old Soldiers

Bob Rawlinson

African Spoonbill

Bob Rawlinson

Sparrow Hawk Surveying

David James

Fountains Abbey Cloisters

David James

Passin' the time o'day

David James

Autumnal Morning

Bill Hughes

Angular Angler

Roger Edwardes

Setting the Pace

Roger Edwardes

A Quiet Corner, Snowshill Manor

Graham Dean

Fantastic

Graham Dean

Piece Hall

Jon Allanson

Gannet hanging on the wind

Chris Wood

Dad And Lad

Chris Wood

Into The Void

Chris Wood

The Fell Runner

Richard Bown

My Treasure

Richard Bown

A Pair of Gannets

Richard Bown

The Fab Three

Richard Bown

Autumn

Carole Wetherley

The Wee Blue Boat

Carole Wetherley

Traigh Ghearadha (Gary Beach)

Carole Wetherley

Entwined

Carole Wetherley

Badger Reflection

BUT … who won “Photographer of the Year?

Watch for a POTY Special featuring both the Print and DPI photographers of the year 2023