Our second internal league competition of the 2026-27 season took place on Wednesday 4 November.

The set subject, for both prints and projected digital images, was “Abstracts”.

The Programme notes outlined this rather different and exciting subject.  “Abstract photographs.  Speaks for itself; multiple exposures, ICM, detail shots of peeling paint or rust, reflections in windows or water or just fashion your own image (no AI though).  A broad subject, be adventurous.”  And we were encouraged to interpret this “as you will while still embracing the basic concept”.

Accordingly, what we got were liquorish allsorts!

Where actual subjects could be discerned, the entries included abstractions of all sorts of things – corrugated iron, a Spitfire, peeling paint, reflections, neon lights, people, and puddles, to name just a few.  And they involved all sorts of techniques including intentional camera movement (ICM), long exposure, compositing, Photoshop filters, special effects, and more.

Our independent judge for the competition was Peter Cox LRPS CPAGB, a CACC judge and President of the Tring & District Camera Club.  He explained that abstracts are conceptual, not real depiction, and so he was looking for art and pictures that elicit emotion.

He wanted to see the “elements of art” (ie, the building blocks used to analyse, interpret, and create visual works) being deployed.  These are line, shape, form, colour, texture, space, and value.  And a good title should add another dimension to an image.

He was particularly impressed by our “really good set of prints”.

Each entry was marked out of 20.  Marks for this competition count towards the season’s Print and Digital Image Championships.

The top performers in the competition were as below.

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For details of the competition rules  CLICK HERE.

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

NB: Members can watch the competition in full on the ‘Members Only’ section of the website.

Prints (15 entries)

  • 1st – “Triangle of Light” by Sally Kitchingman – 20 mars

  • 1st – “Phantasm” by Mike Kitchingman – 20 marks

  • 1st – “The City’s Pulse” by Tricia Meers – 20 marks

  • 2nd – “Where the City Melts” by Carol Curd – 19 marks

  • 2nd – “Frozen Puddle Study” by David Manning – 19 marks

  • 3rd – “Old Boats Don’t Die, They Merely Fade Away” by Paul Stokes – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “The Wishing Pool” by David Manning – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Midway to Madness” by Graham Meers – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Discs” by Sally Kitchingman – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “In the Surf” by Wendy Taylor – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Rheadr Falls‐Giants Causeway” by Paul Stokes – 18 marks

First Place

Second Place

Third Place

All Print Entries (click image for full size)

Digital Images (33 entries)

  • 1st – “Cascade” by Sandie Rawlings – 20 marks

  • 1st – “Flora” by Mike Kitchingman – 20 marks

  • 1st – “Seven Shades of Grey” by Rob Delahunty – 20 marks

  • 2nd – “Echoes of Geometry” by Tim Crabb – 19 marks

  • 2nd – “Dissonance” by Patrick Linford – 19 marks

  • 2nd – “Reflection” by Val Bolam – 19 marks

  • 3rd – “Bunsen Burner” by John Booth – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Spitfire” by David Saunders – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Flying with the Grain” by Martin Wood – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Reality Reflected” by Tim Crabb – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Waterlilies and Brighton Pavilion” by David Saunders – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Golden Faces” by Darren Fletcher – 18 marks

  • 3rd – “Sand Blast” by Val Bolam – 18 marks

First Place

Second Place

Third Place

All Digital Image Entries (click image for full size)