Competitions are common in many pursuits. From Writers groups to Model Railway societies, Art Clubs to Gardening Clubs, they are a common feature of club life. In addition BAFTA’s, Mercury Prizes, Booker Prizes et al fill the national calendar.
Of course clubs are not all about competitions. Our club in particular has a long tradition in exploring different genres and uses of photography. Last week’s 3 From 6 event is one example and next months joint meeting with Falkirk Writers Circle is another. We have club members who merely want to pick up snippets of new information while maintaining a general interest in photography and others with particular interests such as Natural History, the use of Colour or in Exhibiting their work internationally.
Of course some are prepared to work and stretch themselves in their chosen genre and groups like ourselves operate in a county, national and international structure. There are workshops and tutorials which, if you wish, can help improve your photography. Working and stretching ourselves means gaining feedback, and one path to feedback is through competitions.
Competition Judges come either from within the photographic club and society structure or the wider field of photography. Comments can be frank, but encouraging and there is one often overlooked factor. The comments made about photographs from other photographers are just as valid when applied to our own images.
Last Thursday we held the 4th Monthly Competition of this season. The Judge was Campbell Skinner MPAGB BPE2*, President at Greenock Camera Club in Renfrewshire.
Agnes Clark LRPS took 1st Place in the Monochrome Print league with Test Tube Flowers. Graeme McPhee was 2nd= with The Wood Merchant along with Elaine Woodford and Upwards Glance. Agnes Clark LRPS was also 3rd= with Trio With Anemone along with Elaine Woodford and The Cook.
David Jones took 1st Place in the Colour print league with Red Squirrel In Winter. Agnes Clark LRPS was 2nd= with Pink and White along with David Jones and Orange Tip Butterfly. Catherine Anderson was 3rd= with Harbour Light along with Gordon McCuaig and Autumn Blaze.
David Jones took 1st Place in the PDI league with Giant River Otter Eating. Catherine Anderson was 2nd= with Rugged along with Harry Sullivan and Bends In and Hedges. Catherine Anderson was 3rd= with Explosion along with Douglas Ross and Deep In Thought.
You will find all the results, including Highly Commended and Commended ratings, under the Competitions Tab > Current Competition Tables > Season 2023 – 2024 Image Scores. Then select Monthly Competition No. 4.
Also this week club President Bob Black reported on the progress made during a very busy 2024. Since January the club’s meetings have been held in Falkirk town centre at Trinity Church, an EGM was held to elect a new General Secretary and Trustee, we auctioned surplus equipment to club members, we carried out testing and procured a new Projection Screen, we are becoming accustomed to the sound system in the Church and have made significant progress in compiling the Syllabus for Season 2024 – 2025 which starts on 12th September 2024.
Take care and thanks for looking in.