Our fourth and final competition of the 2025 internal season took place on Tuesday 2nd December, with many members making it to the Hall and a few on Zoom. This round had a 'Monochrome' theme and the judge was Sarah Leigh Lewis, who made a welcome return too the Society, having spoken on this theme at the Society on 21st October.
Our Chairman being called away to judge elsewhere, ex-Chairman, Paul Shelley re-introduced Sara.
Print Competition
Entries were extremely high, with 'monochrome' obviously proving a popular theme. Twenty-two members presented prints in the first half of the evening.
Sara stated that she was very impressed by the submissions. Sara commented on good choices made in depth of field, composition and subject but felt a number of images lacked a 'moment'. Sara confessed to finding some landscape images a bit dull and warned against a number of images which shot into the sun. Sara pointed out a few blown highlights and a few which needed a sharper focus.
Eight images were held back. The maximum 20 points were awarded to 'Roberto' by Dan Waller, 'Watchful' by Rob Wilkinson & 'Fanal Forest, Medeira' by new Society member, Seb Harcombe :
Dan Waller - 'Roberto' (20)
Rob Wilkinson - 'Watchful' (20
Seb Harcombe - 'Fanal Forest, Medeira' (20)
DPI Competition
Thirty-eight members entered the DPI competition in the second half of the evening.
Sara again commented on some photographs that needed a sharper focus or different crop. Sara felt that occasionally photographers could have moved to get a better angle on their subject or waited for a better subject to enter the frame. Sara commented positively on compositions and the use of monochrome to enhance texture.
Seven images were held back. Four images were awarded the maximum 20 points: Gerard Ryan - 'PRARIE FLOW' (20), Sarah Cartwright - 'Mother and Girl Child, Bukinda' (20), Michael Ciancia - 'He told me that the dog was the star of the show' (20) & Soraya Cerio - 'Descent to the Reading Room' (20).
Gerard Ryan - 'PRARIE FLOW' (20)
Michael Ciancia - 'He told me that the dog was the star of the show' (20)
Soraya Cerio - 'Descent to the Reading Room' (20)
Sarah Cartwright - 'Mother and Girl Child, Bukinda' (20) (IMAGE WITHELD)
2025 Competition Winners
This being the final competition of the 2025 Season, the competition winners were announced.
Firstly, the Print Competition -
In 3rd place with 73 points was Michael Ciancia.
In 2nd place with 74 points was Sonny Doonga.
In 1st place with 77 points and thus the winner of the Marston Trophy was Dan Waller.
Secondly, the DPI Competition -
In =3rd place with 71 points were Sarah Cartwright & Michael Ciancia.
In 2nd place with 72 points was Dan Waller.
In 1st place with 73 points and thus the winner of the Howe Trophy was Matthew Taylor.
Finally
You can see all the entries for this fourth and final round of our internal competition in the Galleries section of this website.
The Results of the Session and the results/cumulative totals for this 2025 Season are accessible from the Internal Competitions Page of the Society Website (and the Documents Section).
Thanks to John Murray and Dennis Law, for managing the IT/image projection, & to Rob Wilkinson for handling the Prints.
Dan Waller
Competitions’ Secretary