Last Thursday brought Monthly Competition No. 4 of this 2022 – 2023 season and our sincere thanks go to Kenneth Goodfellow LRPS CPAGB from the Dunfermline Photographic Association who kindly judged. The task is a significant undertaking and the results will appear later on our website under the Competitions tab.
Our judges are usually accredited by either the Scottish Photographic Federation or the Glasgow & District Photographic Union. Experienced photographers from outside these fields can be invited to judge too and will often offer a fresh and original view to the event. The aim of the judge is to recognise those skills of the photographer which have had a positive impact on the image, to highlight areas for improvement, and to make helpful and constructive suggestions which the photographer can use in the future. The photographer should leave their critique session motivated and Kenneth’s ability to analyse an image and then communicate with each entrant ensured that he certainly fulfilled those criterion.
In the Print sections he took the time to discuss the type of paper used. There are a wide range of photographic printing papers available and when we consider the vast array of subjects we photograph the choice of printing paper is important. For example a high gloss paper will show the fine detail of a photograph. That might suit a landscape or a macro photograph, but might not be appreciated in a portrait. In the 19th century when paper was more of an artisan product William Henry Fox Talbot, who formulated the first negative / positive process, experimented with many different types of paper before settling on papers from the firm of Whatmans. So, while W.H.F.T. sought the best paper to suit the chemistry of the day we now seek the best paper to suit the subject.
Judges also monitor highlights and shadow detail and consider whether or not the photographer has chosen the best composition for the subject. Post-processing, rather than work in the Darkroom, is a part of today’s photography so the photographer will be appraised on that too. Our thanks again to Kenneth.
In this Digital age photographers produce either Projected Digital Images, known as P.D.I.’s and which replaced Slides ( also known as Transparencies ) , or Prints. Rather like other pieces of physical artwork a Print has a physical identity which can be appreciated. Our club has a history of exhibiting in the town, and since 2009, have used the Gallery at Falkirk Town Hall. That gallery was instigated by Falkirk Community Trust soon after its formation and we have used it, sometimes running several exhibitions a year since. The advantage of such a facility for our club was that it encouraged improvement in Print production in the same way that performing groups in the town were able to expand their capabilities on the Town Hall stage. The loss of the centrally situated Falkirk Town Hall affects many groups in the town and we sympathise with them all.
Take care and thanks for looking in.