Our third and final print league competition of our season once again had a very high standard of prints for us to savour. Experienced Judge Adrian Lines MPAGB FBPE EFIAP ARPS had the difficult task of choosing the winners. There were 40 prints made up of 15 Colour General, 10 mono and 15 nature prints, so Adrian had plenty of time to advise us on how they could be improved. He was particularly critical of distractions in the background.
In the Colour general section, Peter Robinson took the top spot with is ‘Winning Jump’ photo. Adrian told us that the action was well caught and the subject was well framed, but could have had better expression. Wallace Baxter’s motorcyclist print of ‘Kyle Ryd Yamaha R1’ scored 19. Adrian liked the impact and told us seeing the strong eyes added emotion and contact. Keith Mulliner’s studio portrait ‘Lady in Red Cape’ also scored 19, and Adrian thought the model had a good expression, was well lit and had a good colour pallet. Peter Robinson’s ‘Polocrosse Duo’ was awarded 18. While Adrian told us the moment was well caught, he thought the rear rider didn’t look interested enough. Wallace Baxter’s canoeist photo of ‘Alex Jones’ also scored 18. Adrian like the eye contact and expression. The splashing water added to the action and made the atmosphere.
Adrian told us that monochrome photography removes the distractions of colour and was more about shapes and texture. However, bright highlights would be more prominent and could be distracting. Peter Robinson’s woman’s football photo called ‘Wizard on the Wing’ won the Mono Competition. This time Adrian thought that the background added some atmosphere to the action. He liked the facial expressions and the shape the players made. Peter Robinson also came equal second with his character portrait of a ‘German Sentry’ photo taken at Tutbury Castle. Adrian told us the solider was well framed by a stone arch and had a stern expression. Keith Mulliner’s studio portrait of a ‘Sad Maiden’ scored 19, and Adrian told us she had a thoughtful expression and well positioned hands with a good background. Peter Robinson also had a third placed image with his panned equestrian photo of a ‘Young Rider’. While Adrian though liked the action, he though the background was too busy and could have been toned down. Keith Mulliner’s studio photo of two professional ballerinas, ‘Black and White Swans’ was awarded 18. Adrian thought it was a good idea and liked the separation and plain background, but wasn’t too keen on the shape the dancers made.
Keith Mulliner’s ‘Plucking Feathers’ won the Nature Competition. Adrian told us the bird of prey in the snow was of high technical quality with plenty of detail and was well exposed. Keith also came second with his similar photo of a ‘Northern Goshawk having a feast’. Adrain liked the natural environment and the fitting background. The bird was doing something which always helps. Peter Robinson’s ‘Chimpanzee Squabble’ scored 19 and Adrian liked the story it told. The animals had good expressions and interactions, but Adrian thought the background could have been subdued. Peter Robinson’s ‘Mischievous Orangutan’ was awarded 18. Although Adrian thought it could be improved technically, he enjoyed the moment caught and emotions it generated, so gave it a higher mark. Ray Hill’s ‘Cormorant in Evening Light’s scored 18 and Adrien liked the relaxing pictorial scene with a subdued colour pallet.

All the images that scored 18 and 20 can be seen in the slideshow above. All the results are in our Results page here.