The second internal club competition of the 2018-19 season took place on Wednesday 17 October.

The set subject, for both prints and projected digital images (PDIs), was “Natural Abstracts” to which the programme notes added – “This set subject competition can depict anything that occurs in nature but has an abstract form eg, sand patterns, leaf veins, tree bark, convoluted tree branches, close-ups of insect wings. In short, anything that produces a pleasing natural form. As usual, the entries displayed a wide variety of subjects, approaches and styles

The second internal club competition of the 2018-19 season took place last Wednesday, 17 October 2018. The set subject, for both prints and projected digital images (PDIs), was “Natural Abstracts” to which the programme notes added – “This set subject competition can depict anything that occurs in nature but has an abstract form eg, sand patterns, leaf veins, tree bark, convoluted tree branches, close ups of insect wings. In short anything that produces a pleasing natural form. This subject is ideal for manipulation or to play around with. No man-made objects allowed (just to make it harder).”

Our judge for this competition was Julia Cleaver ARPS – a portrait photographer based in the Chilterns. Julia is a member of ImageZ Camera Club (in Weston Turville). She helpfully explained that in assessing images she considers five broad areas. She has distilled these down from a 76-point CACC checklist of matters judges should consider. They have the acronym TOOPA – Technical Excellence, Overall/Immediate Impact, Originality, Powerful Composition, Artistic Merit. Julia also promised to put aside her own personal photographic likes and dislikes!

The entries displayed an extremely wide range of interpretations of the set subject, ranging from a more illustrative approach through to the totally abstract. And one or two entries were marked down for not quite meeting the brief.

Julia expressed her delight at the variety and quality of the “beautiful” images as she subjected each to her detailed examination.

Each entry was marked out of twenty.  Marks for this competition count towards the season’s Print Championship (Sections One and Two) and the Digital Image Championship (Sections One and Two) – see the Internal competitions, Rules for entry page on the website for details CLICK HERE.

If you didn’t know, you can post your comments at the bottom of the page. Engage with other Members and share your thoughts on the entries and judging. 

Unfortunately, there were no Section Two Prints entries. For a full list of results and the League Table CLICK HERE.  The top performers were as follows:

Section One Prints (12 entries)

  • 1st – “Tree Magic in Autumn Colours” by David Marlow – 20 marks

  • 1st – “Whorls and Valleys” by Sally Kitchingman – 20 marks

  • 1st – “Ripples” by Tim Gould – 20 marks

  • 1st – “Spring Greens” by Carol Curd – 20 marks

  • 2nd – “Whorl Art” by Tricia Meers – 19 marks

  • 2nd – “Metamorphic Veins” by Mike Kitchingman – 19 marks

  • 3rd – “Bronze on Silver Birch” by David Marlow – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Waterfall Close-up” by Tim Gould – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Frills” by Tricia Meers – 18 marks

All Print Entries (click image for full size)

Section One PDIs (34 entries)

  • 1st – “Navajo Sandstone” by Steve Knight – 20 marks

  • 1st – “Natural Sand Patterns” by Barbara Fleming – 20 marks

  • 1st – “Headstone Lichen” by Terry Godber – 20 marks

  • 1st – “Davidson Glacier” by Steve Knight – 20 marks

  • 2nd – “Behind the Cascade” by Martin Wood – 19 marks

  • 2nd – “Man of the Woods” by John Curd – 19 marks

  • 2nd – “Water Lily” by Lynette MacNicol – 19 marks

  • 2nd – “A Subtle Twist” by Patrick Linford – 19 marks

  • 2nd – “Feather” by Paul Dimitriou – 19 marks

  • 2nd – “Fish Eye Lens” by David Bolam – 19 marks

  • 2nd – “God’s Paintbox” by Chris Warby – 19 marks

  • 2nd – “Small Scale Symmetry” by John Curd – 19 marks

  • 3rd – “Rose” by Paul Needham – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Vortex” by Graham Meers – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Greek Harbour” by Chris Warby – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Fast Flowing Stream” by Barbara Fleming – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Sand Patterns” by Paul Searle – 18 marks

All PDI S1 Entries (click image for full size)

Section Two PDIs (19 entries)

  • 1st – “Patterns of the Sea on Sand” by Carole Procter – 20 marks

  • 1st – “Gore” by Hilary Clarke – 20 marks

  • 1st – “Welcome to my Parlour” by Geoff Hawkins – 20 marks

  • 2nd – “Butterfly Patterns” by Mick Brown – 19 marks

  • 3rd – “Tulip” by Malcolm Guy – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Microcosm” by Phil Pope – 18 marks

All PDI S2 Entries (click image for full size)