Courier Report 061120
The IOM Photographic Society had a filled-to-the-brim audience for the latest meeting a judging of the delayed Annual Projected Digital Images competition, one sponsored by the Arts Council whose support is very gratefully acknowledged. Our judge was Pat Tutt from the Western Society, well known as an excellent photographer whilst her experience as a lecturer gives her good presentational skills together making her the ideal judge for what is one of the highlight events of our calendar. She emphasised the need for competition photographers to make the extra effort - not just to offer our normal snapshots but to explore new techniques and to plan for and take risks with our work, and to stretch our skills and which will be very evident to a judge when evaluating an image. She was particularly critical of the creative entries, pointing out that when using computer tricks in software, the changes need to add to the image, not just be used for their own sake.
A large entry of over 120 images in four sections (Open Mono, Open Colour, Nature and Creative) split between our advanced and intermediate members gave Pat a significant workload, each image given a brief but effective commentary, strengths and weaknesses identified and the judges points rationale clear.
The Intermediate group started our evening, the Mono section (Glen Darragh Trophy) being won by Martin Sanderson with Dramatic, an aptly titled seascape, an enormous wave breaking over the pier. The Colour section (Brockenhurst Cup) provided great competition, Pat finding it difficult to make a final decision, but Lara Howe taking the honours with an exuberant portrait Party Time which also won the best digital image in competition award and the Mistral Trophy. Steve Johnstones lovely deer portrait Stag in the Morn won the Nature section and the Jensen Trophy, whilst the Creative section saw Martin Sanderson again taking the podium and the Sheiling Cup with his water droplet shape The Opera Singer.
The Mono section in the Advanced group saw perennial winner Ron Shimmin yet again on top with Fountain, a dynamic water sculpture well captured, take the Glendown Trophy. Sue Blythe also showed her quality, winning the Colour section with Seeing the Light, a delicate and beautifully lit image of a novice monk in Thailand. She then repeated her success in the Nature section with Emerging Kingfisher, taking the Kelly Cup, and later the same image winning the Spiers Trophy as the best nature image, whether print or digital. Ian Pilbeam's "Instamatic In Pieces" (literally) finished our evening, winning the Creative section and the Malew Cup.
Club President Jeremy Broome-Smith gave the vote of thanks.
Our next meeting is on Wednesday 11th November when local professional Andrew Barton will be judging the first Open Competition of our new season, both prints and digital images. The meeting will be held the St John Ambulance HQ on Glencrutchery Road, with a new start-time of 7:00 pm. Full details of our programme may be found on our Facebook page or on our website www.iomps.com Our meetings are open to the public (non-members with a modest entry fee), and all will be given a very warm welcome.
By Chris Blyth
CAPTIONS:
IMAGE 01: "Party Time" by Lara Howe won the Best Digital Image in our recent Annual Competition
IMAGE 02: Emerging Kingfisher by Sue Blythe won the Best Nature Image in the Annual Competition
