This week we are having a look at the results of the Irvine Camera Club Landscape competition which was judged for us by Rob Davis of Ayr Photographic Society.
Rob was treated to a good submission of photographs from our membership demonstrating a wide variety of locations and styles for him to consider. This week I am presenting you with the images that Rob enjoyed the most from the competition.
For the purposes of this competition our definition of landscape encompassed everything from seascapes to urban cityscapes with just about everything and anything in between.
Rob discussed the importance of using light and composition to present landscapes as three-dimensional places. Somewhere that the viewer can imagine themselves being and giving the sense that they could walk into the shot.
Rob was unable to split four of our images which awarded each with a joint 3rd Place.
Fiona Walace’s moody “Glencoe in Autumn” was praised by Rob for the atmosphere generated by the misty mountain tops and the subtle but interesting foreground showing a decayed old bridge leading us into the scene.
My “South Stack” was taken in Anglesey in North Wales and although Rob commented on it being a little too green, he appreciated the drama in the image of the lighthouse on a precarious and windswept headland.
Sandra Parker’s “Misty in Mull” demonstrates an ethereal landscape with mist encompassing the forest and shafts of light separating the trees which draws us into the image
Our final joint 3rd place image was “Silent Seas” by Tracy Ross. Rob praised the careful and considered composition with obvious attention paid specifically to the rock pool in the foreground.
Once again, when it came to 2nd place, Rob was unable to split two images. My turbulent seascape image “My boat will come in” was only let down by the ship being too central in the image with Rob saying he would have preferred it to be positioned to the left where the lines of foreground rocks converged.
Also in joint 2nd Place was Fiona Wallace’s peaceful and calming view of Loch Venachar in the mist, which takes on an almost abstract and surreal appearance. It was admired by Rob for the subtle variations in tone and atmosphere portrayed.
That only left us with the winning image to be declared and, with a warm round of applause from the audience, Jim Mason’s stunning, stormy Skye panorama, “Quiraing Walk”, took the top spot and the Irvine Plate award. Rob had spoken about the importance of light in landscapes all evening, and he said that Jim’s image was a great example of how light can transform an already dramatic landscape.
I hope you enjoy looking at this small selection of images from the competition, and in particular, the top scoring photographs. Until next week, keep taking photos and enjoy the light!
