Each year our Small Prints Competition gives an opportunity for members to produce their own prints using a standard A4 printer. It’s a way of getting into printing and always generates a great range of images – some from members who don’t usually show off their work. This competition is different, in that it’s the members in attendance who judge the images. Scoring is added up and winners identified. This year the winning print was of a exotic ‘Mandarin Duck’, photographed by John Sommerville. The runners up were ‘Misty Isle’ by Robert Pollock and A Mediterranean Street scene as printed by Alan Stewart
Currently, Kilmaurs Club member’s framed prints are on display in the corridors of Ayr Hospital. The exhibition is looking good with a variety of photographic genres on show including plenty of superb Scottish landscapes. The prints are also available for sale. So if you’re down at the hospital and have time available, please spend a few minutes to look at this superb display.
So, this is the first time that our Club opted for three different subjects for our Rose Urie Competition; each member entering had to choose between ‘Nature’, ‘Close-up’ or ‘Landscape’ photography. Up till now, members have competed for the Rose Bowl Trophy with a single chosen subject, and this trial of three seemed to go down well with the audience this week, providing a superb variety of images.
Andy Stark from Kilbarchan, a professional photographer and good friend of the club, returned to Kilmaurs once again to provide excellent judging and commentary on all 75 images entered.
In the end, Dale Powell’s amazing ‘Puffin’ was picked out as the Best Nature Image, with Ian Johnstone receiving his first honour with the club with ‘Balancing Act’ – an incredible Close-up Image.
‘Balancing Act’ by Ian Johnstone
The image chosen for Best Landscape was ‘Dragon’s Tail Groyne’ by Jim Stevenson, which was entered in the Monochrome Print section. This was the one chosen by Andy Stark as the Best Overall Image in the whole competition. Thus, Jim Stevenson walked away with the Rose Bowl; his second trophy this year already which he has richly having presented a series of top-class prints and projected images since the start of the season. Congratulations, Jim!
‘Dragon’s Tail Groyne’ by Jim Stevenson
The three subject Rose Urie looks as though it might just be something we will now continue in future seasons. Many thanks to all who entered!
Our First Open Competition trophy was awarded to Jim Stevenson for his striking monochrome print titled “The Old Guard” (see above). The competition was held on 7th November and the judge was John McVie from Dumfries Camera Club, who gave expert comments on around 80 images entered.
Jim explained “’The Old Guard’ was taken some years ago in Havana, Cuba, where this fine gentleman was posing for tourists in military style clothing – no money being exchanged. Actually, the cigar wasn’t lit, so I simulated a little smoke with a few strokes of the dodge tool.”
The judge also awarded the maximum 20 points to five other images in the competition.
In the Monochrome Prints section, another Jim Stevenson print entitled “100 on the Back Straight”, a motorcycling shot shared first equal spot. In the Colour Prints section, John Sommerville (“Gold Finch”) and Jim Stevenson (“Scottish Drummer”) were both awarded 20 points. And in the Projected Images section, new member Martin Hancock’s images of a heron (“Nesting Time”) and a swan chick (“Sleeping Beauty”) shared first place on 20 points.
Our first competition of the year, the Quig Quaich, took place on Monday 10th October. As always, Robert Quig gave a thorough and thoughtful review of all the entries, with ideas as to how the images might be improved. The Quaich was won by Kevin Thorne, whose six images scored 108 points from a possible 120. Kevin’s varied entry included an abstract, a sports shot, two bird images, a minimalist monochrome image of the Armadillo building in Glasgow, and a cracking photo of ‘Mary’s Shell’ (a long exposure photo of a shell-like sculpture standing in the sea).
Kevin’s high standard work pushed John Sommerville’s entry out of the top spot, However, John deservedly won second place achieving a great score of 103 points. Fiona Couser and Alan Stewart shared third spot.
Congratulations to Kevin on a well-deserved win, and thanks again to Robert for his careful judging.
