‘Aesthetically excellent’ imagery on display as Highland snappers hold first monthly competition
East Sutherland Camera Club held the first of its monthly photographic competitions in October.
Gordon Allison, a professional photographer who used to have a photographic business in Tain, handled the judging, as members set him the demanding task of assessing over 70 colour and monochrome images.
Traditionally the club has set their first competition as ‘Open’, with no set subject, so as to encourage new members to enter.
While it is always nice to have your photographs well placed the important benefit is not winning, but learning from what judges have to say about how your or other members’ images could have been improved in terms of technical or artistic quality.
In the colour class, Jan Charge from Culrain came fourth with ‘Patched Up’ which had an abundance of rusty corrugated iron – so beloved by photographers.
The third placed image was taken by Andy Kirby, from Dornoch, on a trip to Glen Etive.
He caught one of those fleeting moments when shafts of light filter through storm clouds and rain to light up parts of the glen.
An even more moody image came second. This time Louise MacKay from Brora had caught the misty winter evening light filtering through a woodland scene.
The eye was drawn as if through a tunnel to the bright area but enough detail remained in the dimly lit forest.
Again soft atmospheric light had clearly found favour with the judge in The White Chair by Martin Ross, Golspie, which was placed first.
The judge found it a lovely peaceful and balanced image with the white chair providing a visual counterpoint.
In the monochrome class fourth place was secured by Martin Ross with Chain, a gritty monochrome close up image with plenty of detail.
Third place went to Sander Macdonald from Dornoch with Red Deer in Winter.
This was a well exposed image, snow always being difficult to expose correctly, and there was good engagement between the photographer and the animals.
Two Faced Honesty by Alan Butcher, Golspie, came second with what the judge described as a stunningly creative image.
For Andy Kirby his trip to Glen Etive had produced two successful images. The second being his first placed Etive Waterfall.
The judge described it as a technically and aesthetically excellent image. It also demonstrated the benefit of always looking behind you as his third placed colour image was taken at the same time a couple of metres away looking in the opposite direction!
New members are always welcome and details of the club’s programme and the club itself are available on the club web site at eastsutherlandcc.org.uk.
