Ross-shire photographers in frame at East Sutherland Camera Club competition
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East Sutherland Camera Club chairman John Alderson has stood down after more than 10 years.
Tributes were paid by the committee for his fundamental contribution to the club's development and the encouragement and guidance he had given members in the pursuit of their photographic hobby.
“John has always been active in the Brora community and these demands as well as his own wish to devote more time to his other interests lie behind his decision,” said a spokesman. “Alan Butcher from Golspie has agreed to stand in as interim chair until matters can be formally resolved at the club’s AGM next April.”
In other news, the club plans to begin holding one of its regular twice monthly meetings in person again from January – following a switch to Zoom-only online sessions at the start of the pandemic. Its in-person meeting will restart on the fourth Tuesday of January (January 25) at Brora Community Centre.
Club secretary Andy Kirby said: “We recognise that an important element of any club is the social benefit that face-to-face meetings. We also plan to use the internet at the community centre meetings to enable those who for various reasons prefer not to come along, to join in over Zoom.”
The club’s November Open contest attracted nearly 40 entries.
Gerald Holdsworth’s ‘Sunset over Glenelg’ topping the colour category and ‘Puffballs’ by Sheila McKenzie taking the monochrome.
Results: – Colour – 1, ‘Sunset over Glenelg’ by Gerald Holdsworth; 2, ‘Fog Bank’ by Martin Ross; 3, ‘Red Kite’ by Alan Butcher; 4, ‘Edinburgh Festival Fireworks’ by Zoe Gray. Monochrome – 1, ‘Puffballs’ by Sheila McKenzie; 2, ‘Jen – Back on the Road’ by Zoe Gray; 3, ‘Adelaide Skyline’ by Gerald Holdsworth; 4, ‘Storm Clearing’ by Andy Kirby.
A club spokesman said: “With almost 40 entries to the colour and monochrome categories members had a difficult choice to make in selecting their top four in each class.
“As ever many excellent images didn’t make the final cut but those that did amply demonstrated the photographic talent in the club.
“In the colour category Gerald Holdsworth, Tain, came first with his Sunset over Glenelg depicting one of those glorious west coast sunsets. Second was Martin Ross, Golspie, with a very atmospheric and moody shot taken from the Mound capturing at just the right moment a totally different sunset.
“Martin’s photo demonstrated well both the need for patience to capture the decisive moment and the compositional technique of an off-centre focal point balanced by a large area of negative space. Third was Alan Butcher’s close up of the head of a Red Kite with its piercing eye and detailed plumage. It was good to see that two of the new members were yet again featured in the selection. As well as Martin Ross, Zoe Gray, Portmahomack, gave members an atmospheric view of the Edinburgh Festival Fireworks with her fourth placed image.
“Monochrome photography is not simply about removing colour from an image but more about choosing a subject or image that is enhanced by removing the sometimes distracting colour. This section did not disappoint in this respect.
“The very character of Puffballs is essentially monochrome and Sheila McKenzie, Bonar Bridge, amply demonstrated how the detail can be enhanced by removing the distracting colour of the surrounding woodland detritus with her first place macro image.
“Story telling and posing questions is important in photography and Zoe Gray achieved this brilliantly with her second-placed sepia image of Jen – Back on the Road. Third-placed Adelaide Skyline was very much in the genre of grainy urban landscape, in this case actually shot on black and white film by Gerald Holdsworth. In fourth place was Storm Clearing, an appropriately titled landscape of Loch Lochy by Andy Kirby, Dornoch.”
Further details about the club’s move back to Brora Community Centre in January can be found on their website and a discounted membership rate will be available for new members joining. See eastsutherlandcc.org.uk for details.
