Tools of Trade – Competition 18th June 2026

The tools of trade are the star attraction for entries in this competition.

The Judge for this month’s competition was Andy Mitchell. The following are the top scoring photos and his comments

Projected Colour – Set Subject

The image shows a machine in use with the flames flaring from the grinding wheel. It also shows the rotation of the left hand wheel. The detail on the machine shows it is old, a little rusty and vintage. The Judge said he liked this photo.

The Judge liked the thought that has gone into creating this image. It works well as an abstract representation of tools. It has good focus so that you can see the hairs on each individual thread.

This photo grabs the attention with the obvioous motion in the wheel and the sparks.

Projected Colour – Open Category

Nice lighting painting in this photo. The sparks radiating from the central halo work well. The sparks fragmenting when they hit the ground adds interest.

A great capture of the paradlote in flight. It is sharp and the action is frozen. With the subdued background the bird is the hero of the image.

The bland background emphasises the bird which is the hero of this photo. The whole impact is contained in the blur, emphasising the motion.

Projected Monochrome – Open Category

The photo below has an abstract quality to it. The photographer has gone in close so that the background is excluded.

Good Action in a concert shot. The guitar players look like they are giving it their all. The lights add to a sense of chaos and action.

The author has done a very good job. The stars are on point, sharp, and there are streaks from passing satelites.

The chaotic pattern gives this photo a slightly abstract feel.

Print Colour – Set Subject

A well planned photo with nice colours.

Print Monochrome – Set Category

There is good contrast in this photo with the dark skin tones and bright clothes and with the net in between the photo works well.

Print Monochrome – Open Category

This is a good shot, the exposure on the birds is perfect. There is nice detail in the wings, and the image is sharp. There is a lot of detail in the capture. The photographer has really caught the action.

This photo works well compositionally with the use of the light beam. The double bass is parallel to the line and the musician’s legs are splayed so that converging lines focus attention.

An interesting portrait shot. The expression is engimatic and the viewer wonders what the subject is thinking about. The photo works well with the dark background and clothing, so the focus is on the subject’s face. Her dark eyes become an important feature of the photo.

A technically well taken shot, exposure and sharpness are good. It is well composed with nice, subtle shades of grey. The birds have a bit more contrast so the viewer focuses on them.

The photographer has caught the performer mid song. The lighting works, well highlighting the face of the musician and his instrument.