This was our second online competition, this time using Zoom which was well-accepted by all participants.  Our judge, Peter Barrien from Adelaide Camera Club, was very comfortable with the format and gave serious consideration to, and thoughtful comments on, every image.  There were 63 images, evenly divided between Set Subject – The Colour Black – and Open.  While it was apparent that there was some variation in interpretation of the definition it was good to see the range of styles.

In Set Subject Peter was most impressed by James’ Bella and Suzie’s Reynisfjaara.

James Allan_Bella

Suzie Smith_Reynisfjaara

In Open the following images gained a 10.  James Allan’s Sheep made a real impression on Facebook with several comments about the sheep appearing powerful or menacing – unusual attributes for sheep.

James Allan – Sheep

Helen Whitford_Two Chicks to Feed

Suzie Smith_Sunday Morning Train

Meredith Retallack – Fibonacci at work

Di Gage_The Barbican, Plymouth

Meredith’s Drought -stricken took the judge by surprise but was very popular in post competition discussion.  I’ve never seen sand look so much like trees!

Meredith Retallack-Drought Stricken

And my Editor’s Choice is this beautiful Pink Robin (who knew they existed?) by Suzie Smith.  The wispy moss complements the exquisite little bird and the knotty bough balances him perfectly.

Suzie Smith_Pink Robin

Below is a gallery of all of the images entered.

David Hancock_The Job Ahead

Heather Connolly_Bad Move

Helen Whitford_Black Cat

Howard Seaman_Ambrax Butterfly

James Allan_Bella

Judy Sara – Ducking Out

Libby Moore_All Blown Up

Meredith Retallack – Passion

Paul Hughes_Black Catalina

Sheila Gatehouse_In Bloom

Steve Wallace_Reflecting on Red and Black

Suzie Smith_Low Key Tulips

Libby Moore_Low Tide

Helen Whitford_Blackened Earth

Steve Wallace_Three Pointed Star

Paul Hughes_The Goth

Heather Connolly_Linear Detail

James Allan_Spout

Paul Hughes_Paint it black – Venice boatyard

Judy Sara – Exoskeleton

Libby Moore_Bonney Bird

Suzie Smith_Sunday Morning Train

Di Gage_Madagascan Lizard

David Hancock_Balmy Evening

Howard Seaman-_Seaview

James Allan_Purple Emperor

Meredith Retallack-Drought Stricken

David Hancock_Sports Day Heroes

Di Gage_Port Noarlunga Sunset

Eric Budworth_Honeyeater Bathing

Helen Whitford_Two Chicks to Feed

Howard Seaman_Candle Bark

Judy Sara – Water Drops

Suzie Smith_Pink Robin

Meredith Retallack – Stop Scribbling

Eric Budworth_Water Colours_Colour

Di Gage_Witton Bluff

Heather Connolly_Trees

Steve Wallace_Falling White

Suzie Smith_Shadows in Kuitpo

David Hancock_Reconciliation Week

Helen Whitford_Red Tailed Black

Judy Sara – Coot

Suzie Smith_Nala Profile

James Allan_Black Lacking

Di Gage_Silver Shards

Helen Whitford_White Cheeked Gibbon

Meredith Retallack – Perfection

Suzie Smith_Reynisfjaara

Di Gage_A Black Profile

Meredith Retallack – Fibonacci at work

James Allan_ Leaning to the right

Paul Hughes_Kangaroo Island – After the Fires

Judy Sara_Bare

David Hancock_Safe Haven

Di Gage_The Barbican, Plymouth

Paul Hughes – Elder Park Bandstand

James Allan – Sheep

Howard Seaman_Botanical

Judy Sara – Steps

Sheila Gatehouse_Second Valley

Eric Budworth_Mannahill Station

Paul Hughes_1940s Weekend – The Undertaker

All of the Top Images can be found here.
For those still sitting around with time on your hands you may be interested to view the galleries of Top Images from recent years

It was great to see a good number of members entering this month’s competition and good to know that going online has not dampened our enthusiasm!  Our next competition is Letters and Numbers so it’s time to start thinking outside the box and looking at things around us in an innovative way!  Keep enjoying your photography whether you’re home or starting to venture out and about!

Well this is our first competition amid COVID 19 restrictions but I’m pleased to say that we had around the same number of entrants as in the previous two competitions!

Our competition structure has been completely revised as we obviously cannot hold a print section.  Aggregates for the normal sections have been abandoned and tonight we begin special new aggregates for 2020 only.  Members can now enter three colour images and three Monochrome images, spread across Set Subject and Open in the usual way.

The Set Subject is Social Documentary, defined for this competition as “A Social Documentary Image can be described as one that captures the brutal reality of life around us.  Closely aligned to Street Photography, SD is more ‘edgy’ or ‘gritty’, generally showing pathos.  See how you interpret this subject.”

Below are all entries in the order of judging.

Di Gage – Young Madagascan Fruit Seller

Helen Whitford – Clearing Floating River Blockage

James Allan – What’s wrong with Social Isolation?

James Allan – Snag in the BBQ Plans

Judy Sara – Enchained Playground

Paul Hughes – Dahab, Sinai, Egypt

Sam Savage – Earning a Euro

Steve Wallace – Loaded Down

Suzie Smith – Drought relief in Gammon Ranges

Helen Whitford – Hope

Judy Sara – Play Suspended

SteveWallace – Floating Vendors

David Hancock – There is always Someone

Helen Whitford – It’s Our Fault

Howard Seaman – East of Java

James Allan – What’s wrong with this World?

Di Gage – Eileen Donon Castle

Judy Sara – Autumn on Vardon Ave

Julie Goulter – Lines & Curves

Paul Hughes – Breakfast at Wittunga

Sam Savage – Toldorol Singer

Sheila Gatehouse – Hazy Sunset

Suzie Smith – Going Up

Di Gage – On the way to Loch Ness

Howard Seaman – The Dolls House

Julie Goulter – Shapes & and Sizes

Howard Seaman – Waddle

Suzie Smith – Pincushion perch

Julie Goulter – Togetherness

Judy Sara – COVID Entanglement

Helen Whitford – Or not…Do what you like….

Paul Hughes – Hong Kong Back Street

Steve Wallace – Grab Sleep Wherever you Can

Suzie Smith – Fancy a Guernsey?

Helen Whitford – Centrelink Queue Day 1

Suzie Smith – Prosperous no More

Di Gage – Hallett Cove

James Allan – Board Walk

Judy Sara – Sinclair Dunes

Helen Whitford – Curious Macaque

Julie Goulter – Bricks vs Nature

Paul Hughes – Infra Red Bintree Mill

Suzie Smith – Alone

Di Gage – KI Salt Lake

James Allan – Sandy Track

Julie Julie Goulter – Illusion

James Allan – Triffids gonna get Me

Sheila Gatehouse – Whoosh

Judy Sara – The Web

Di Gage – Orkney Serenity

Julie Goulter – Travelling through History

Heartfelt thanks to David CG Smith who has kindly learned new technology and got out of his comfort zone to try live judging on Facebook for us!  Your efforts are really appreciated David! Unfortunately technology got the better of us and David was unable to judge live but he was able to give scores and write comments which Helen was able to read out live so we were half way there!

There was a pretty good turn out to watch the live feed.  For any members who are in the Facebook forum group you can still watch the video and see and comment on all of the images.  It would be good to see more comments on images, just as you might have done after a live judging in the hall!

Congratulations to everyone who entered for being part of this brave new world!  Well done to those who received top scores!

All of the Top Images can be found here.