Ross-shire photographers capture their home in poignant new images for East Sutherland Camera Club challenge
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Inspiring amateur photographers rose to the challenge of capturing their home and its essence in a photo.
East Sutherland Camera Club secretary, Andy Kirby declared the January competition as 'excellent' and 'full of interest'.
He said: "We all know the town or village where we live but how would you set about capturing what it means to you in a single photograph? That was the challenge for members of East Sutherland Camera Club in their recent competition: My Town or Village. Mark Janes from Tain, who is also president of Dingwall Camera Club, came along to critique and judge the images.
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"The answer to this challenge came in various ways. Some members selected a particular event, feature or view that meant something to them about where they lived, while others adopted the postcard approach by constructing a collage or compilation of photographs that fitted together on a particular theme or feature.
"In the colour class Martin Ross came fourth with a stormy scene of his local Golspie pier. This was an atmospheric, almost monochromatic, shot with strong leading lines taking the eye to a crashing wave at the end of the pier. The North Sea in a mood we have all become too familiar with of late!
"Third was Emma Deeth with Snowy Evening in Tain depicting a well known landmark clearly identifying her home town. The strong streaks of blowing snow were nicely framed in the composition.
"Andy Kirby chose the postcard approach with his second placed Dornoch Pipe Band. Mark commented that the critical aspect of this approach, beyond the quality of the five individual photographs, was that they should cohere to provide a good sixth image of the whole, which this did.
"Peter Wild, also from Dornoch, with first placed Feathers took what Mark described as a photographer’s photograph. The essence being what is left out rather than left in; a minimalist approach but one which still had a context. In this case the Sutherland Show.
"In the monochrome class Peter Wild went on to gain his double first with Dornoch Diner. Mark commented that it was an excellent example of street photography being full of interest and posing questions for the viewer about what might be going on.
"Emma Deeth was again in the honours with Drummer, a well framed portrait of the Tain Pipe Band drummer. The critical bits were all pin sharp and the out of focus elements helped frame and emphasise this.
"Jan Charge from Culrain came third with A New Dawn? a dramatic dawn sky. This had all the hallmarks of a layered misty and moody monochrome photograph. The leading line of a track took the eye to the distant skyline silhouette of Carbisdale Castle. Emma Deeth claimed her hat trick of honours with fourth placed Mansfield Castle, a well framed wintery view."
Winners in the colours category were:
- 1st Feathers by Peter Wild
- 2nd Dornoch Pipe Band by Andy Kirby
- 3rd Snowy Evening in Tain by Emma Deeth
- 4th Golspie Pier by Martin Ross
Winners in the monochrome category were:
- 1st Dornoch Diner by Peter Wild
- 2nd Drummer by Emma Deeth
- 3rd A New Dawn? by Jan Charge
- 4th Mansfield Castle by Emma Deeth
East Sutherland Camera Club meets in Dornoch Social Club on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, where all are welcome. For more details about the club see www.eastsutherlandcc.org.uk and www.facebook.com/EastSutherlandCameraClub.
