Challenge 3 – “Grovebury Road”

That was it.  Basically, “go and photograph things in Grovebury Road and produce some marvellous and fascinating images”.  Hmm, really?

The whole purpose of our challenges is of course to get us creating new pictures, not merely plucking images from our back catalogues.  Creating marvellous and fascinating images featuring aspects of Grovebury Road is definitely a stiff creative challenge.

But of course, as ever, members rose to that challenge with a wondrous variety of subjects – including the cement works (particularly popular), various parts of various commercial buildings, some exterior staircases, cars (including light trails at night), the speed camera, some CCTV etc cameras, and more – presented in a variety of styles and genres.

The assembled members critiqued each image as they were paired off, and voted for (or not), in a double knockout competition.  First, a knockout contest for the collection of cement works images.  And then another knockout contest for all the other images.

Accordingly, there was much discussion of the relative merits of images and many helpful suggestions for improvement.

And, with such a diverse collection of pictures, there was also some difficult vote-casting.  How do you decide between a night shot of Travis Perkins and a creatively rendered set of window reflections?

The “cement works” contest was won by “The Cement Plant” produced by Graham Meers, beating “The Tower” by Paul Dimitriou in the final round.

The “all the others” contest was won by “Stairs” by Paul Dimitriou, beating “Light Shadow” by Sally Kitchingman in the final round.

And, in a close final decider contest, the winning image was Graham’s classic black and white image of “The Cement Plant” which just pipped Paul’s atmospheric “Stairs”.

Congratulations to all those authors.  All excellent images!

But, of course, special congratulations to the overall winner – Graham Meers with “The Cement Plant”!  Enjoy the glory as there is no prize.

This was another diverting challenge – providing some real creative stimulation as well as producing some intriguing images.

And that is the last Challenge of the 2025-26 season.  Goodness only knows what the Programme Secretaries have been dreaming up for next season!