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The breadth of May’s competition subject “The colour red” made for a huge variety of themes and styles, and some very impressive entries.

Here are the top four.

First was Nigel Jolley with this super-sharp macro. Precision meets creativity – a lesson in how to convert a simple subject into a great photo.

Second. Martin Rogers with this abstract twist on the ordinary. (I missed the explanation and I still can’t quite work out the what or the how of this image. Beach-huts gone nuts?

Third. Iain Evans. Contrasts of shape within the muted background  – all contrasted with the bright red subject.

And in Fourth place, St John’s bright and joyful poppy-field. Uplifting!

Apologies for the delay and brevity of April and May updates.

April’s portrait competition was judged by Steve Myall EFIAP BPE5* (of Keyworth Camera Club).
By all accounts it was an enjoyable and informative evening, with some excellent entries from members.

Unfortunately we have only two of the top four – and here they are.

First was Sue W with “Time to Think”.

Third was Veronica with “Love Lights”

2nd and 4th respectively were Iain Evans and Dave Baxter:

Here’s a link to Steve Myall’s website for those that haven’t yet visited: Steve’s website

A very well-attended meeting with a huge breadth of subjects submitted in the monthly competition. The variety made it very difficult to choose and rank photographs – the competition could have gone many ways depending really on personal preferences.

To end the evening, Nigel gave us a very informative and helpful demo-talk on macro skills, techniques and equipment.

Competition results are as follows. [If you upload your images after publication of this month’s post, please let me know and I’ll add them on].

Individual results:

1st equal. Shared by Dave Hodson and Chris Read.

Here’s Chris’s. A semi-tropical Salvia flower at Barnsdale Gardens. (We’ve not got Dave’s images yet.)

2nd Veronica. The contrast between the ultra-modern, waffle-like Metropol Parasol and the baroque-style church – placed just in the right spot – makes for a fabulous photograph.

3rd Chris B (awaiting image)

4th equal – Shared by Nigel Hume and Tom

Here’s Nigel’s Alpine scene, taken (I think) from a chair-lift. The patterns and lines add more interest to a great monochrome photo.

And from Tom, a super misty morning by the river. Stark shadows, bright highlights on the water and eye-catching mist rising. The low sun even low-lights the goose’s path.

Group Results:

1st Chris Read with more images of plants that look a bit like other things.

2nd Dave Hodson with these fine and unusual portraits and architectural shots from Papplewick Pumping Station.

3rd Equal Veronica and Chris B

Veronica’s set of high-contrast architectural photos is a treat.

(Awaiting Chris B’s photos)

4th Was Sue with these impressive and beautiful shots of zebras in their natural habitat in Namibia.

APRIL COMPETION – PORTRAIT

We are very much looking forward to welcoming Steve Myall EFIAP BPE5* to our society on Thursday evening, 17th April. He will be adjudicating our Portrait Competition, and hopefully treating us to some of his own images. Steve enjoys photographing a wide range of images, and, shortly after joining a camera club, became interested in competitive photography. His interests today are less competitive, and he more recently took up a new project, entitled The 100 Stranger Project, as his favourite subjects are people. This culminated in an 8-page feature in the Canon EOS magazine in 2023, which was very well received. The 17th April should be an extremely interesting evening.

Here’s a link to Steve’s website.

All the photos submitted this month were totally unique—some were super creative, and others were simply stunning!
(Sadly some of the best have not been submitted for publication – yet!)

Individual results:

1. Nigel J (No image submitted)

2 Dave H

3. Iain (No photo)

4. Chris

Group Results

1. Tom

2. Dave H

3. Sam (no photos)

4. Chris R

The Wagon Group at Nene Valley Railway have been in contact.

They are organising some “freight-based” photo charters. [Old trains are in the area].

Here’s the specific info.

Friday 28th February:  Flying Scotsman’ hauling freight for the first time in over 30 years on the ‘Scotch Goods’ photo charter. This will be split in to two events – daytime and evening photo charters with the BR ERA demonstration freight rake. The daytime charter will be across the full length of the NVR line and the evening charter will be based around Wansford Station with run throughs and static shots.

Full information and booking: https://nvr.org.uk/product.php/569/flying-scotsman-scotch-goods

Wednesday 12th March. ‘Britannia’ hauling our BR ERA demonstration freight rake on the ‘Rule Britannia’ photo charter – again an all day, all line event.

Full information and booking: https://nvr.org.uk/product.php/567/rule-britannia

[My apologies. I can’t explain further. But they sound like great local opportunities for anybody interested]

Here’s a copy of page 16 of Friday’s (27th December) Rutland & Stamford Mercury – featuring five entries from this month’s competition (including Martins winning image). Thank you Dave.
The images can be viewed a little more clearly here.  December Competition – Print of the Year

(With apologies for reproduction.)

What an evening! A great talk – a real eye-opener – from a fascinating photographer.

Sue Hartley showed us a selection of her photos, many of which had won major awards. Her portraits, particularly, were incredible. Many of us learned a lot, particularly about post-production.

Our members also submitted some great  – and very varied – images. Helen chose here favourite 5 images. All very different.

A worthy first place went to Martin. Great craftsmanship to keep the leaf razor sharp and the rushing water with just enough movement to convey the story.

MARTIN: A Leaf is Rescued

Dave Hodson: Marbled White Butterfly

I think this photo wowed us all. Dave’s marbled white is perfectly captured in profile on (possibly) a yellow pea flower.

SUE: Coming in to Land

Pin sharp eyes and features with a great sense of movement and lovely colour. Sue’s blackbird after rowan berries is a treat.

Chris: The Bothy

A quirky scene pictured at Elsham Hall in Lincolnshire.

Veronica: Mask

Stunning – that’s my opinion.

It was difficult enough to choose a shadowy subject, but capturing or curating four distinct but cohesive images to form a set was possibly the hardest part. The results though, were fabulous and hugely varied.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

First was Iain E. Sorry Ian, I don’t yet have your image.

A worthy second place went to Chris Brooks with this topsy-turvy shopping shadow captured in bright sunlight

Third was Sheila with this striking image of a physalis branch and the strong, clear shadow cast on a wall.

Fourth place went to Chris R with this pic taken at Chatsworth House on a crisp November morning.

GROUP RESULTS

First: Veronica
Second: Iain E
Third: Sue
Fourth: David Naylor

Here’s Veronica’s group entry: A kaleidoscope of vibrant synergy. Two quite different themes that look good individually, good in pairs, but even better as a  group of four.
Every day’s a school day for me!

October’s competition theme, ‘flowers’ inspired some great entries.

Results:

INDIVIDUAL IMAGES: 1st Dave Hodson, 2nd Ian Evans, 3rd, Simon Curley, 4th David Naylor.

GROUP IMAGES: 1st  Dave Hodson, 2nd Ian Evans, 2rd, Tom, 4th Nigel.

Below are all images I have received (on Dropbox) of the top four.

First in the individuals and in the group competition was Dave Hodson. A stunning Orchid was Dave’s individual entry, and a deserved winner. (Personally I love the astrantia.) The four images work very well as a group.

Here’s David Naylor’s dramatic shot of a coastal ice plant.

Undeterred by the flames rapidly engulfing the building, Tom put passion before safety and stopped just long enough to compose and shoot these lovely images.