Steve Woodley judged the final Open and penultimate competition of the 2019-20 season. Due to COVID-19 there are no print entries in the last two competitions and the judges assessed the digital entries from their own homes.
We shared the entries for this competition yesterday, and here is Steve’s overall assessment:
“I have given some encouraging words, some critical words and some humorous words in order to try and give a varied viewpoint to the whole set of images, which generally speaking has yielded some really splendid results once again.”
The results are as follows:
1st: “Dandelion Drops” by Georgina Shaw – 20 points
2nd: “Fork Line Up” by Sue Clegg – 19 points
3rd: “With Mum” by Dave Salter – 18 points
Here are Steve’s scores and brief comments/suggestions on each of the 52 images, which can be viewed again here. The top three are first, followed by the rest in entry order.
| Dandelion Drops by Georgina Shaw 20 pts and First Place “I love the golden mood and feel of this image” |
| Fork Line Up by Sue Clegg 19pts and Second Place “Created Impact simplicity control” |
| With Mum by Dave Salter 18pts and Third Place “Range of tones are fantastic” |
| Thousand Year Rainbow by James Kelly 15pts “Try to up the colour and crop out the grass at the bottom” |
| A Winter Landscape by Ken Horsley 16pts “Beautiful mood. Crop out the sky to almost panoramic?” |
| Awaiting Dawn by Dave Salter 15pts “Calm and tranquillity, very peaceful” |
| Baton hand over by John Keelan 16pts “That is a big thermometer!” |
| Bluebells by Andrea Thrussell 16pts “Great colour, maybe swing left?” |
| Castletown in the Round by Brian Green 16pts “That’s how I feel! A thinner white border and it’s a little more sophisticated” |
| Cheers by Jenny Shade 16pts “Nice trick, a levitating glass. Fun but false (ouch, that was harsh!)” |
| Chestnut Cheeked Beeeater by Anna Mayall 15pts “Elegant pose from the bird. Maybe try a polarising filter?” |
| Dhoon Glen waterfall by Lynn Ryan 15pts “Looks like ‘Ents’ (Lord of the Rings) taking a shower. Try for a stronger foreground?” |
| Eagle Eye by Lesley Cullen 15pts “Stunning, but evening light would be even more stunning” |
| In Formation by Jim Gibson 15pts “The top one is not close enough to the others! A little darker with a polariser?” |
| Niarbyl Sunset by Lucia Dickson 15pts “The horizon is almost straight. Nice feel and mood” |
| No.42 by Brian Goldie 16pts “The only improvement would be lower evening sun to create more 3D effect” |
| Past Their Best by Sue Clegg 15pts “Great idea. Low light adds to the mood” |
| Raglan Pier by Simon Jennings 15pts “What % Art, what % Photography? Good to be different” |
| Riding the Surf by Jason Quayle 16pts “Great shot. The Village People change the mood of the shot and contrast with the intense, dire role they undertake” |
| The Feather by Georgina Shaw 17pts “Impact and simplicity” |
| The Green Door by Gwen Tuck 15pts “Good use of colour isolation” |
| Bottling It Up by Lynn Ryan 15pts “This would work great as a life sized wall art” |
| Cat’s Eyes by Andrea Thrussell 16pts “Impact and intense, well captured and presented” |
| Ickworth by Anna Mayall 15pts “Try a better time of day/ lighting?” |
| Karesuando Church Sweden by Jason Quayle 17pts “Well controlled lighting” |
| Not Quite A Tower of Refuge by Ken Horsley 15pts “Consider a different focal length?” |
| Port Erin Monuments by Jenny Shade 15pts “I like the contrast between old and new” |
| Pots by Gwen Tuck 15pts “Where is the focal point?” |
| Prairie Dog by Lucia Dickson 15pts “What happens to the background if you move slightly to the right?” |
| Rose Reflection by Jim Gibson 15pts “I would love a tight crop with the four rose centres as the corners” |
| Rusty Key by Brian Goldie 17pts “Nice mood, less colour?” |
| South Uist Plough by Lesley Cullen 15pts “Good composition” |
| Sunset at the Sound by Brian Green 15pts “Nice use of muted colours” |
| Try Coming Up by John Keelan 15pts “Good flow, perhaps a shorter shutter speed might have sharpened his head movement?” |
| Willow Warbler by Georgina Shaw 15pts “3D effect from fore, mid-and background” |
| Winter Walkies by Simon Jennings 15pts “Pow! Vibrant pop art” |
| Concorde Cockpit by Jason Quayle 15pts “Good range of focus” |
| Dead Flower by Brian Goldie 17pts “Love this and the bottle is almost vertical. Should have been second?” |
| Fading Beauty by Andrea Thrussell 15pts “Beautiful range of colours” |
| Fluffy by Lucia Dickson 15pts “Consider the camera height and crop?” |
| I Love Lockdown With You by Jenny Shade 16pts “Sweet and cute. What is he looking at?” |
| IOM Northern Hills by Lesley Cullen 15pts “Again this would look great as a wall sized print” |
| It’s Downhill All The Way by Ken Horsley 15pts “Great idea and colours. Perhaps show more of the striking foreground pattern?” |
| Light Damsel by Dave Salter 16pts “Good light and background” |
| Lilie by Anna Mayall 15pts “Focus stack, selective focus? Good to shoot on a ‘no wind’ day” |
| Looking for Lunch by John Keelan 15pts “Good reflection, but the seaweed!!” |
| Lunch Is Ready by Brian Green 15pts “Great capture. A little more punch to the contrast?” |
| Mirror Image by Sue Clegg 15pts “Expand on – Looks like fire” |
| Orchid by Jim Gibson 15pts “Background is a bit strong for nature?” |
| Sand In Your Shoes by Gwen Tuck 16pts “Why are they leaving? Where are they going? The picture leaves you with intrigue. Should the title be ‘who farted?’!” |
| Take Off by Simon Jennings 15pts “Nice split subject between the bird and the scenery. Maybe get a little closer?” |
| Who’s Looking At You, Kid by Lynn Ryan 15pts “Strong colours for a gentle soul?? Good impact” |
Our thanks to Steve for stepping in to judge this competition and assessing the images from home with his trademark mix of lighthearted, honest and helpful feedback and advice.
We look forward to thanking him in person when he visits for a practical session next season.