It’s the second and final NDPS print competition of this season.
The theme for this round is ‘Taken in Norfolk’.
The rules for this round were:
Entries must reflect the ‘landscape’ (land, sea or urban) of the county and/or its people as they go about their daily life. For example, anonymous landscapes and studio shots are not allowed. Images can be in colour or monochrome. Beware the judge will be asked to strictly observe the theme when judging entered images.
Image 1 – Early Morning on Cromer Pier
My first choice was this image of Cromer Pier from a sunrise shoot I did in late December with a fellow photographer.
We were surprised to see the pier lights on and headed over there to grab some awesome shots.
On previous visits, the pier lights were off which meant such photographic opportunities were not on offer.
I’d never captured this pier shot and it was a bucket list item for me so I’m thrilled to have it in my collection.
I chose this image because I think it’s awesome.
I know that sounds arrogant and big-headed but I love everything about it.
I love the symmetry, the monochrome conversion, the edit, the lighting, the starburst effect on the lights and the wet decking.
Prior to final printing, and somewhat ‘lastminute.com’, I had cropped a little off the left and right bottom of the image as I felt there was too much black space.
I also ensured there were no visible “blackout blacks’ and I lifted the blacks and shadows a little on Pavilion Theatre sign in the background.
Below is the mounted print which is printed on Permajet Portrait White Fine Art Matte paper.
Self-critique (pre-judging)
In my mind, this is a 10/10 all day long! I’ve thought this from the moment I shot it, and especially when I found a Nik filter to give it that binocular vignette.
I have declared such thoughts before though and been disappointed but I really can’t see any faults in it.
It’s already in a frame on the wall in our living room no matter what!
Judge’s verdict
The judge said the monochrome was good and they liked the wet boards on the pier.
They said the symmetry works well.
The said the mono print is good and the blacks and whites are nice and contrasty.
The judge held the image back and in the final shortlisted review, they scored the image 10/10 and said it was a simple but effective image.
Post-judging thoughts
Needless to say, I am well chuffed to get a ten and pleased the judge enjoyed the image.
I felt this image did not have a lot of potential for criticism, but judges always seem to find something wrong.
There’s not a lot more to say really! Bish, bash, bosh, winner, winner, chicken dinner!
Image 2 – High Tide at Thornham
My second image from Thornham is a shot I took at sunrise back in October.
I chose this shot but it was a second choice behind a shot from Overstrand – unfortunately that shot had some blown highlights which I did not have time to try and clone and repair, therefore this was my next best choice.
A photography friend of mine suggested I crop the grass area out at the bottom which I’ve done.
The printed version once again is on my favourite paper, the famous Permajet Portrait White.
Self-critique (pre-judging)
It’s a different view point and lovely colours.
I do think it has flaws though.
The composition is a little flat, square on.
I can imagine a judge saying I should’ve taken some steps to the left to get the boat unhindered by the posts. However, I would need swimming trunks or waders to get that angle!
I can see a comment about too much water.
I can see the view of the road up to the end being a distraction.
There are so many flaws and trapdoors to this capture getting a top mark, it is heading to the bang average pile.
To be fair, I think this is yet another image which is probably an 8/10.
Judge’s verdict
The judge said they knew the location of this scene and described it as a classic scene.
They liked the pastel tones and felt the image had a soft look but was right. They said there was detail in the brick work of the building (coal barn).
They said their eye moved into the image from the left and through across to the right.
They held the image back, and in the final shortlisted review, awarded the image 9.5/10. They said the image didn’t quite have the visual impact as the 10/10 images.
Post-judging thoughts
Wow, I thought an 8/10 would be fair so have been pleasantly surprised to get 9.5/10.
I personally don’t like it as much as my Cromer Pier shot, but my wife Kathryn thinks this is the stronger image. But she very rarely likes monochrome to be fair.
Reflections
I thought I would get 18/20 so to get 19.5/20 is an amazing result.
There’s not much more to say other than I “must’n grumble”!
Well it wouldn’t be a competition blog if there wasn’t something to moan about, and I have a grumpy old bastard persona to upkeep!
Club rules and mystery
The Good
Everyone would’ve been pleased to see scores being given to images, as the rules claimed this would be a knockout round.
We all need scores to understand where our images are at.
If they’re not top marks, are they anywhere near or for the bin? Without scores, we would have no idea.
The Bad
One fellow photographer had to withdraw an image and print on the evening as they hadn’t realised both rounds, or rather the whole evening was on theme.
While the club can rightly say this was stated in more than one weekly news circular, we can trace the root cause of the confusion to the changing of the rules in the last round ‘Traffic’.
Perhaps a theme within our county should always be, and remain, a whole evening theme so that everyone knows, and it does give everyone more opportunities to present images?
In wider mitigation, only this one photographer that I am aware of wasn’t aware of the change so obviously didn’t read the weekly updates and spot the change.
Although they were on holiday and probably had their images prepared and printed a few weeks ago before the rule change.
If the rules weren’t being changed along the way, then this would not have happened.
The Ugly
I’ve mentioned before the topic of POTY (Photographer of the Year), and the confusion amongst members as to whether or not such a thing even exists this year.
it’s been said informally that POTY does exist, but what is it and what is the mystery?
It’s a mystery, it’s a mystery, I’m still searching for a clue, It’s a mystery…. to me (Toyah Wilcox, 1981) YouTube video, jump to 1:04)
Ideally, such awards with the winning criteria and outcomes need to be decided and announced at the start of a competition season.
To simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary, so that the necessary may speak. (Hans Hoffman).
Onwards and upwards…