Letters and Numbers – July 16th Competition

No, not the TV Show (although I did consider taking a photo of my galah watching the show on the TV.)  The Set Subject was quite well subscribed, providing more than half of the entries.

There was a variety of interpretations including a couple of obscure  entries from James Allan and Helen Whitford.  (When collating the images I googled Ascii 1 to check that it was what I thought it was!)  Our judge, Robert Dettman, was impressed with both the creativity and technical skill in Splash of Lemon.  I knew I was taking a risk with an image about numbers which actually showed no numbers!

James Allan_Ascii I

James Allan_Splash of Lemon

Helen Whitford_7.55 They’re in your Head!

Sheila Gatehouse impressed with Welcoming and Heart of the Festival State.

Sheila Gatehouse_Welcoming

Sheila Gatehouse_Heart of the Festival State

Although our numbers were down a little, both in terms of images and participants in the meeting, it was a great night.  Robert gave thoughtful comments on every image and we thank him for his efforts!

Below are all of the entries and the Top images can be found here.

David Hancock_As Time Goes By

Duart McLean_ Waiting for Mail

Howard Seaman_Happiness

James Allan_Splash of Lemon

Libby Moore_Its Coming

Meredith Retallack-Water gives life

Paul Hughes_Before the Euro

Sheila Gatehouse_Heart of the Festival State

Vicki Kramer_A is for Artierial Line

James Allan_x is for Exit

David Hancock_Is That So?

Vicki Kramer_Bistro C

Paul Hughes_Quite a Mouthful

Vicki Kramer_Wine Barrell

Sheila Gatehouse_Welcoming

David Hancock_Reduced to Sell

Judy Sara_Monopoly

Howard Seaman_Autumn Colours

Paul Hughes_Newly Emerged Monarchs on Milkweed

Helen Whitford_Pearls

Duart McLean_Hills Sunrise

James Allan_Rain is Expected

Meredith Retallack-The Bee’s Knees

Libby Moore_All Blown Up

Helen Whitford_Stretching my Gular

Libby Moore_Raindrops

Sheila Gatehouse_A Place to Dry Out

Duart Mclean_Twin Pelicans

Helen Whitford_Bonney Light

Howard Seaman_Summertime Blues

Judy Sara_In the Forest

Judy Sara_Rapid Bay

Paul Hughes_HMS Victory

Vicki Kramer_No Pooping

Sheila Gatehouse_It’s an Order

James Allan_Ascii I

Duart McLean_Numberplate

Vicki Kramer_Bar Hum Bug

Helen Whitford_7.55 They’re in your Head!

Libby Moore_Games we Play

Vicki Kramer_Japanese Text

Judy Sara_5

Sheila Gatehouse_A Place of Contemplation

James Allan_State Bank of SA Kadina

David Hancock_Building Lines

Meredith Retallack-Face to the Front

David Hancock_Lovers at Play

James Allan_Sun on the Water

David Hancock_My Boat

Judy Sara_Tenji Block

Judy Sara_The Bird and the Sculpture

17/07/2020 | Categories: Blackwood Photography Club News, Competitions | Leave a comment

The Colour Black – Competition June 4th 2020

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!

04/06/2020 | Categories: Blackwood Photography Club News, Competitions | Comments Off on The Colour Black – Competition June 4th 2020

Social Documentary Competition April 23rd 2020

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.

23/04/2020 | Categories: Blackwood Photography Club News, Competitions | Comments Off on Social Documentary Competition April 23rd 2020

Multiple Exposure – Competition March 12th

Following our inspiring and educational workshop on Multiple Exposure (thank you James, Judy and Ray) it was great to see the number of members venturing into this creative genre and exciting to see the variety of applications and techniques employed.  Although many of us had felt challenged by the idea of creating Multiple Exposure images, Set Subject entries significantly outnumbered Open category images and two thirds of entries were prints!  This trend sets BPC apart from many other clubs where prints are giving way to PDI’s (Projected Digital Images).

Here are some of the different interpretations of the subject.

Helen Whitford – Hope

Di Gage – Deep Sea Folklore

Vicki Kramer – Alternate Dimension

James Allan – Sam the Man

Bruce Nankivell – Cosmic Walk

Ray Goulter – Born Again

Judy Sara – Dragonfly

Meredith Retallack – Through the Arch

Paul Hughes – Benjy on the Beach

Steve Wallace – Pnohm Penh Statue

Kerry Malec – Leisurely Walk on Crumpled Paper

Helen Whitford – Goddess of Nature

Vicki Kramer – Double Trouble

James Allan – Cool Gucci

Paul Hughes – Going for a Spin

James Allan – Front and Side

Our judge, Keith Seidel, shared many useful tips and suggestions, carefully explaining the reasons for the scores he gave.  He appreciated storytelling, good composition and creativity when well executed.  The most common  flaws he noted were distracting elements such as bright patches or lines leading the eye away from the subject or out of the frame. It was encouraging to see the awards were spread among 10 of the 17 members who entered the competition.

Come back in a few days to see more of the Top Prints and you can find the Top PDI’s here.

13/03/2020 | Categories: Blackwood Photography Club News, Competitions | Comments Off on Multiple Exposure – Competition March 12th

Transport – Competition January 30th 2020

We were transported to a new era with some relatively new members flashing past the old guard in our Transport competition.  With 100 entries we made a great start to the year and I’m pleased to see that we are one club in which Prints are thriving, comprising  60% of entries in this competition.

Judy Sara was not outdone, with many stunning images among the tops including Air Warfare, Turning and Duke of Edinburgh. Paul Hughes, Wayne Carruthers and Vicki Kramer also impressed with Ready to Go, Tucker’s Schooner and Vibrant Vespa.

Judy Sara – Air Warfare

Paul Hughes – Ready to Go

Wayne Carruthers – Tuckers’s Schooner

Vicki Kramer – Vibrant Vespa

Judy Sara – Turning

Judy Sara – Duke of Edinburgh

Di Gage made a cruise liner look small in Dwarfed, James Allan captured the splendour of a day on the water with Kayak, Eric Budworth made the mundane spectacular in Any Seat and Suzie Smith captured beautiful symmetry and detail in Moskova.

Di Gage – Dwarfed

James Allan – Kayak

Eric Budworth – Any Seat

Suzie Smith – Moskova

Our judge, David Rowlands, gave carefully considered comments on all images, providing many hints and tips along the way.  Thanks David!

Bruce Nankivell demonstrated his talent for beautiful landscapes in the Open section of PDIs with Out There and Open Spaces.

Bruce Nankivell – Out There

Bruce Nankivell – Open Spaces

Come back in a few days for more Top Prints!  And find all of the Top Projected Images here.

31/01/2020 | Categories: Blackwood Photography Club News, Competitions | Comments Off on Transport – Competition January 30th 2020

BPC 36th Annual Exhibition 2019 – November 21st

The BPC Annual Exhibition and awards night was opened by Hon. Sam Duluk, our local MP.

Club President Julie Goulter with Sam Duluk MP

The Annual Exhibition entries were judged by Peter Maystrenko AFIAP FAPS, Tim Newbery AFIAP AAPS Hon EFIAP Hon FAPS and Brenda Rocklyn ESFIAP.

The Bill Templer Award for service to the club was awarded to Judy Sara who has given her time as Secretary – always a demanding role – and in collating the 2020 Calendar along with Di Gage and Bruce Nankivell.

Judy Sara receives the Bill Templer service Award

Other Awards were as follows.

ANNUAL EXHIBITION

Projected Images

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1st – Hutt Street Photos Award – Helen Whitford  Oyster Catcher Treasure Hunt
2nd – Helen Whitford Preening Tern
3rd – James Allan  Breakaways
Merits
– Kerry Malec Angle of the Sun
– Suzie Smith Insignificant
WEA Australiana Landscape Award – James Allan Breakaways

Monochrome Print Division

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1st – I’ve Been Framed Award – Helen Whitford Red Throat
2nd – Helen Whitford Curious Macaque
3rd – Duart McLean Iceberg Swirls
Merits
– James Allan Redbanks
– Paul Hughes Snowstorm at Snowshill, Gloucestershire
– Judy Sara Gelada

Colour Print Division

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1st – Fotoswift Award – Helen Whitford Wipe your Beak
2nd – Helen Whitford Got any more Mum?
3rd – Judy Sara Caught You!
Merits
– James Allan Reed Warbler
– Glenn Langley Scoop
– Helen Whitford Que?

Album Print Division

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1st – Edge Malpas Award – Helen Whitford Greet the Morning
2nd – Di Gage Picking Flowers
3rd – Helen Whitford Hey Baby!

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ANNUAL AGGREGATES

A sample of 2019 work from each place winner is shown.

Projected Images

1st – Photographic Wholesalers Award – James Allan
2nd – Judy Sara
3rd – Helen Whitford

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Projected Images – Novice

1st – Glenn Langley
2nd – Trent Riddle

Monochrome Print Division

1st – Blackwood Times Award – James Allan
2nd – Mark Pedlar
3rd – Judy Sara

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Colour Print Division

1st – Blackwood Photographic Club Award – Helen Whitford
2nd – James Allan
3rd – Jenny Pedlar and Judy Sara

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Album Print Division

1st – JV Spick Award – James Allan
2nd – Bev Langley
3rd – Gordon Lindqvist

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Thank you to all club members who entered regular competitions and the Annual Exhibition.  By entering you challenge and inspire one another and everyone wins by gaining experience and insight into how others see our work.  Congratulations to all award winners!

Click these links to view all Top Prints and Top Projected Digital Images from all competitions in 2019.

A video slideshow of all of the Projected Digital Image entries in the Annual Exhibition 2019 can be found here.

23/11/2019 | Categories: Blackwood Photography Club News, Competitions | Comments Off on BPC 36th Annual Exhibition 2019 – November 21st

Making Connections – Competition October 24th 2019

Our competition on Thursday was all about Connections and the Set Subject was embraced by entrants, accounting for 60% of entries.

Several new members entered successfully with images among the top scores – well done  Paul Hughes and Vicki Kramer!

Our judge, Robert Dettman, deliberated over every image, making a genuine effort to see the image from the photographer’s perspective and trying to understand the story they were attempting to convey.  He seemed to like our work, leaning toward high end scores, but also carefully explaining how he felt images could be improved, particularly in technical aspects and composition.

The type of connections ranged from strong emotional images involving people and/or animals to physical/mechanical connections such as chains, links, locks, machinery and Huw Rosser’s clever image Connection, Old and New which combined the physical, invisible and metaphorical and clearly took a lot of thought to create.

Sisters – Helen Whitford

The Falconer – Paul Hughes

Connection Old and New – Huw Rosser

In the Open category James cleaned up with a record average score of 9.58 across a full set of 12 entries! (Yes,  all 10’s or 9’s!)  His images demonstrate remarkable versatility and creativity.

Bee Eaters – James Allan

Red Car – James Allan

Reed Warbler – James Allan

Arum – James Allan

Death Adder – James Allan

Come back in a few days for an update on this post, with more great images and to check out all of our Top Prints and Top Projected Images.

25/10/2019 | Categories: Blackwood Photography Club News, Competitions | Comments Off on Making Connections – Competition October 24th 2019

Adding a Touch of Colour to Life! – Competition September 26th 2019

The notion of Spot Colour was embraced by members, with more than half of entries falling in this category, excluding mono of course which was excluded from the Set Subject.  (That didn’t stop James from entering an all-red image and a suggestion of yellow in mono.)

There was a great variety of interpretations and applications of Spot Colour, ranging from a minor single element to quite a large amount of selected colour in some scenes.  It was clear that a lot of thought went into all of the images which were selected for this subject and the results were impressive.

Meredith used architectural detail to create interest, complemented by a bright but worn-looking sign.  Mark drew attention to the beautiful light falling through the window on apples with his touch of colour and Helen brought attention to a lion’s very effective grooming tool.

Rather Rustic – Meredith Retallack

Heligan Apples – Mark Pedlar

Grooming Tool – Helen Whitford

Suzie kept quite a bit of colour to draw attention to the river in an otherwise blue image of Paris, Di made us really look at the bumblebee and Kerry used pattern effectively to show  a rainbow bow tie in a pile of CDs.

Summer Night in Paris – Suzie Smith

Yellow Bumble Bee – Di Gage

CD Rainbow – Kerry Malec

Judge, Susie Lipert, made thoughtful comments, giving time to each image, and gave lots of useful suggestions although she may be more fond of a tight crop than many of our members.  Thank you Susie!

We had a very strong contingent of nature and animal images again and in the Open category it was great to see Kim Brumfield’s Luv U Mum and Gordon Lindqvist’s Open Wide and Just Resting among the top scorers.

Luv U Mum – Kim Brumfield

Open Wide – Gordon Lindqvist

Just Resting – Gordon Lindqvist

Want more?  Go to Top Prints.  The Top Projected Digital Images can be found here.

Our next competition is “Connections.”  Tune in again after October 24th.

27/09/2019 | Categories: Blackwood Photography Club News, Competitions | 1 Comment

Lit from Behind – Competition August 1st 2019

We had a great turnout of both members and images on Thursday for our Lit from Behind competition, with roughly equal numbers of photos in our Set Subject and Open categories.  It was great to see that Prints were strong, making up over 2/3 of entries.

Relatively new entrant Suzie Smith produced a beautiful study of light through trees with Misty Sunrise in McLaren Vale. Helen Whitford confused the judge, Geoff Smith, with Stuck Down but he liked it anyway. (Yes, it is a piece of down and it’s stuck.)  Meredith Retallack’s Sailor’s Delight was the best received of the sunset images with lovely golden ripples in a panoramic format.

Misty Sunrise in McLaren Vale – Suzie Smith

Stuck Down – Helen Whitford

Sailor’s Delight – Meredith Retallack

James Allan’s Cocky Alarm was a delightful study in light and birds, Di Gage’s Italian Chapel was a beautiful composition and Suzie Smith’s Umbrellas of Carcassonne was impressive.

Cocky Alarm – James Allan

Italian Chapel – Di Gage

Umbrellas of Carcassonne – Suzie Smith

In the Open section Meredith Retallack’s Leave Nothing but Footprints, Judy Sara’s Echidna, Helen Whitford’s Wipe Your Beak and James Allan’s Mateship were among the top scorers.

Leave Nothing but Footprints – Meredith Retallack

Echidna – Judy Sara

Wipe Your Beak – Helen Whitford

Mateship – James Allan

It was great to see entries from 17 of our members in this competition, with a wide range of subject matter and styles.

For fuller coverage of the night come back in a few days to check out more of the images and visit the Top Prints and Top Projected Images pages.

04/08/2019 | Categories: Blackwood Photography Club News, Competitions | Comments Off on Lit from Behind – Competition August 1st 2019