Photographers' power play as East Sutherland Camera Club tempts snappers with broad theme
AMATEUR photographers from Ross-shire again made their mark in the latest themed competition organised by East Sutherland Camera Club.
February's theme was ‘Power’ and as with any photographic competition with a specific title it is open to interpretation .Critically the focus of the image should clearly reflect the title. The viewer’s eye should be drawn to the subject and not confused by other objects that are distracting. Sound advice for any photographer: think about what the intent of your photograph is before pressing the shutter button, writes Andy Kirby, club secretary.
The judge was Piers Hemy from Cromarty Camera Club making a welcome return having judged previous competitions for the club.
Zoe Gray from Portmahomack had ventured out with her camera when storm Babet lashed the Sutherland coast to capture the power of the waves. She won first place in the colour section with ‘Babet’s White Horses’. Piers commented that she had done well to capture the development of the
wave form across the image and the power of the sea with just the right shutter speed.
Second place went to Martin Ross from Golspie with his very different seascape, ‘People Power’. This time the power came from the rowers in the skiff which formed the visually dominant element of the image.
Gerald Holdsworth from Tain provided a subtle interpretation of the competition theme with his third placed ‘Seat of Power’. The dominance of the classical building exuded power which was confirmed by the street name: Downing Street.
Willie Skinner, Dornoch, came fourth with ‘Winning Throw’, a well-captured action shot of a Highland Games competitor throwing the weight. Willie Skinner was clearly on winning form as he came first in the monochrome section with ‘Powerful Beast’. He had carefully chosen the angle and proximity with which to photograph the tractor so as to emphasise both the power of the machine’s dominating presence and its beast like qualities.
Martin Ross was also in good form with his ‘Turbine Towers’, a strong graphic image with little to distract which won him second place. Zoe Gray had not only caught stormy seas in the colour section but a stormy, lightening filled sky in the monochrome section with third placed ‘Scary Night in the Offing’.
Peter Smith from Tain came fourth with ‘Power Lines’, a streetscape dominated by wires.
For more details about the club see www.eastsutherlandcc.org.uk and where the wining competition images can be seen.
Results
Colour
1st Babet’s White Horses by Zoe Gray
2nd People Power by Martin Ross
3rd Seat of Power by Gerald Holdsworth
4th Winning Throw by Willie Skinner
Monochrome
1st A Powerful Beast by Willie Skinner.
2nd Turbine Towers by Martin Ross.
3rd Scary Night in the Offing by Zoe Gray.
4th Power Lines by Peter Smith.
