Covid 19 - Weekly Friendly Photo-competition, Week Nine Results

Two images jointly received the most LIKES in Round Nine of the competition. The first was GROWTH by Dave Jordan and the second CALOPTERYX SPLENDENS - GREEN BANDED DEMOISELLE (DAMSELFLY) by Maurice Young in third place was PINEAPPLE by Joan Jordan

Many congratulations to Dave and Maurice whose images now goes forward to the FINAL when the weekly rounds come to an end after the TWELFTH week of the competition. We shall however, start a new competition starting in week THIRTEEN. The details of the new competition will be announced shortly.

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Image of the Year selected by Andy Swain LRPS, CPAGB

Andy Swain LRPS, CPAGB last night (2nd June) selected ‘Is the Watehole Safe’ by Nick Lewis to be the NDPS ‘mage of the Year’.

Unfortunately due to the restrictions imposed by the UK Government regarding social distancing and gatherings during the current Covid-19 pandemic the competition was held virtually via Skype and was restricted to just a Digital category with the normal Print category being scrapped this year.

Andy had seen all the images for about a week ahead of the competition which enabled him to look at ‘high quality’ versions of each image and ensured that potential projection issues over the internet were eliminated on the night of the competition. With every member entitled to submit an image along with those that had qualified automatically via earlier rounds of the Photographer of the year competition Andy judged nearly 40 images.

Before starting to give his judgement on each image Andy said he had been impressed by a number of ‘striking’ images and on the general high standard of work submitted in the competition. However, as in all competitions there has to be a winner and so it proved…!

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Covid 19 - Weekly Friendly Photo-competition, Week Eight Results

The image that received the most LIKES in Round Eight of the competition was EVENING LIGHT by Keith Galliford, in joint second place were LOOKING UP IS EXERCISE by Robin Myerscough, and YOUNG HARE WHO DEFINITELY KNOWS I’M THERE by Maurice Young

Many congratulations to Keith whose image won by a mile and now goes forward to the FINAL when the weekly rounds come to an end after the TWELETH week of the competition. We shall howver, start a new competition starting in week THIRTEEN. The details of the new competition will be announced shortly.

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Photography Tour of Scotland - a highly illustrated talk by Ruth Grindrod

The members of Norwich & District Photographic Society were treated to an outstanding evening of photography last night when they hosted a ‘virtual presentation’ by local Norfolk photographer Ruth Grindrod who took us all on a ‘Photographic Journey to Scotland’

Starting in the Western Isles of Lewis and Harris, Ruth shared with us her image ‘Three Rocks’ taken at the Butt of Lewis which was recently the overall winner of the Scottish Nature Photography Awards as well as winner of the Sea and Coast category. What followed was a selection of superb images that were taken in the wide variety of constantly changing weather conditions that this part of the world is renowned for...!

From the Western Isles we travelled to the wild and rugged North West Coast of Scotland, including in particular the areas around Torridon and Applecross before heading to the beaches around Nairn on the Moray Forth and finally Perthshire and the autumn colours of Loch Tummel and around Rannoch.

Ruth clearly loves Scotland and she talks with great passion about the challenges of photographing this beautiful landscape in all weathers. Indeed, many her of her stunning photographs are not taken in the ‘golden hour’ around sunrise and sunset but out during all kinds of weather including high winds and driving rain.

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Photography and the Sublime – an illustrated photo-talk by Thomas Peck

Last Tuesday evening when Thomas Peck finished talking one of the Society’s member’s asked if we could all turn our microphones back on. This request was met with spontaneous applause that rang out across all our screens as we all thanked Thomas for such a great evening.

Thomas’ presentation talked about the influences of landscape painters and how their work now affects Landscape photography. The Photographic Sublime - how artistic traditions of the Sublime influence photography of the past, present, and future…

Thomas Peck showed us how the traditions of the Sublime influenced early landscape photographers through to the modern day. With examples from painters like Turner & Caspar David Friedrich and photographs from Carleton E Watkins to M Kenna to S Salgado to A Adams to H Sugimoto, plus some of his own outstanding pictures.

It was a fascinating insight into a cultural trend which will provoke some debate, especially when we look into the future at how photography and the Sublime might interact in the 21st century.

Thank you Thomas for such an inspiring talk and we hope to see you in person at Norwich in the not to distant future.

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Covid 19 - Weekly Friendly Photo-competition, Week Seven Results

The image that received the most LIKES in Round Seven of the competition was PERFUME by Simon Ciappara, in joint second place were GONE WITH THE WIND by Dennis Hales, BLEAK HOUSE by Tom Watson, annd THE BLACK DAHLIA by Neil Hall

Congratulations to Simon whose image goes forward to the FINAL when the weekly rounds come to an end after the TWELETH week of the competition. WE shall howver, start a new competition starting in week THIRTEEN. The details of the new competition will be announced shortly.

Congratulations to Robert Bilbie who correctly identified all the ‘caharades’ and wins a bottle of wine.
1 - Penny Lane by Bill Daniels

2 - Vanishing Point by David Jordan

3 - Gone with the Wind by Dennis Hales

4 - The Thin Red Line by Joan Jordan

5 - Eyes of the Forest by Maurice Young

6 - The Black Dahlia by Neil Hall

7 - The King and I by Paul Cowcher

8 - The Thirty-nine Steps by Paul oliver

9 - Under Milk Wood by Robin Myerscough

10 - Perfume by Simon Ciappara

11 - Revenge of the Sith by Stuart Woodcock

12 - Network by Sue Badger

13 - Bleak House by Tom Watson

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Photography from the End of the World – Julian Elliott

Patagonia - Landscape Photography at the end of the World highlighted the first part of an epic journey professional landscape and travel photographer Julian Elliott took down to the fjords of Chile in South America.

In this virtual presentation the members of the Society were able to sit back and relax whilst they accompanied Julian on a commissioned trip for a cruise liner. Cruising between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas along the Beagle Channel we were able to explore the fjords, wildlife, stunning mountains, and ancient glaciers of Tierra del Fuego.

Julian told us – “to say the scenery was mind blowing is an understatement. Even breath-taking does not do it justice. It was quite simply awe inspiring down there and it is a journey that can only be described as epic”.

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The results of this season’s Photographer of the Year competition are announced...

In what turned out to be a very close finish to this season’s POTY competition just one-point separated the top four photographers after the five rounds had been concluded.

Congratulations to Neil Hall who retains the trophy he won last year with an aggregate 74 points for his best four rounds just half a point ahead of Gary Hagg with 73.5 points with both Nick Lewis and Maurice Young both with 73 points. Nick, however, took third place on count-back with Maurice fourth overall.

The result means that all four photographer scored an average of more than 9 points out of a possible 10 for the eight images that counted towards their total in the competition.

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Covid 19 - Weekly Friendly Photo-competition, Week Five Results

The image that received the most LIKES in Round FIVE of the competition was Image A – DANDELION SEED HEADS by Sue Badger, in second place was Image P – RIOJA BOTTLE by Bill Daniels with Image K – FENDER STRATOCASTER by Joss Sibbering in third place.

Congratulations to Sue whose image goes forward to the FINAL when the weekly rounds come to an end after the Government’s current 'lock-down' measures are relaxed.

Bill Daniels also correctly identified more of the objects photographed than anyone else who sent in an email containing their guesses and wins a bottle of wine. No doubt a bottle of Rioja would be appropriate...!

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Covid 19 - Weekly Friendly Photo-competition, Week Four Results

The image that received the most LIKES in Round FOUR of the competition was SPIKY by Ian McIntosh, in second place was PEAS PLEASE ME by Neil Hall with AFTER BESHTY by Robin Myerscough in third place.

Congratulations to Ian whose image goes forward to the FINAL when the weekly rounds come to an end after the Government’s current 'lock-down' measures are relaxed. The Theme for this week's competition which closes at 20:00 (8:00PM) on Friday is - ‘WHAT IS IT..?’ and the title of the image MUST identify the subject.

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Results of POTY Round Five are announced...

In anticipation that the projected image using Skype would not be to the usual standard obtained using a PC/projectorat a normal meeting Andy Wilson was sent high resolution copies of all the images a few days before. This enabled him to look through the images and formulate this scores and eliminated the risk of inconsistent projected images on the night. Although generally image quality was not too bad this nevertheless proved to be a good idea as it led to Andy providing great feedback on each of the images which all the members appreciated. Many thanks Andy and willlook forward to greeting you back in Norwich under more normal circumstances in the not toodistant future.

A great evening of photography resulted in Adrian Richmond winning a POTY round for the first time with his excellent monochrome image Silent Reflections in the Rain. In second place was Dennis Hales’ image Time on my Hands with Brendan McCarney’s image Great View being placed third.

Another four images were held back by Andy in the first round of the competition and these are all shown below.

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Covid 19 - Weekly Friendly Photo-competition, Week Three Results

The image that received the most LIKES in Round THREE of the competition was CHEQUERED TIPPLE by Robin Myerscough, in second place was YELLOW FLOWER BEHIND TEXTURED GLASS by David Jordan with SPOILT FOR CHOICE by Gary Hagg in third place.

Congratulations to Robin whose image goes forward to the FINAL when the weekly rounds come to an end after the Government’s current 'lock-down' measures are relaxed. The Theme for this week's competition which closes at 20:00 (8:00PM) on Friday is - SHAPES that you are able to photograph within your home environment. A reminder about the THREE important rules in the competition:

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Maurice Young
Special Presentation by Julian Elliott – Patagonia, Landscape Photography at the End of the World

Norwich & District Photographic Society are delighted to host a virtual presentation from international photographer Julian Elliott entitled A Journey to the End of the World.
The trials and tribulations of working on commission in the Patagonian fjords on a cruise ship. Very often from an outsider's point of view the life of a travel photographer looks glamorous and exciting. What is not seen is the battles against ‘Mother Nature’ when working on the job.
The talk will last about 90 minutes during which there will be a short break and afterwards there will be an opportunity for a Q&A session.

The following images are the copyright of Juilian Elliott and are being shown with his permission.

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Covid 19 - Weekly Friendly Photo-competition, Week Two Results

The image that received the most LIKES in Round TWO of the competition was IN THE SLOT CHALLENGING FOR THE LEAD by David Jordan, in second place was FE35 VINTAGE TRACTOR by Nick Lewis with THE DAILY GRIND by Bill Daniels in third place.

Congratulations to David whose image goes forward to the FINAL when the weekly rounds come to an end when the Governments current 'lock-down' measures are relaxed. The Theme for this week's competition which closes at 20:00 (8:00PM) on Friday is - GLASS

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Maurice Young
VIRTUAL MEETINGS

Whilst the Society is unable to meet at the Methodist Hall due to the Government’s new measures to tackle the spread of coronavirus, including a ban on public gatherings of more than two people we shall be where possible holding Virtual Meetings to keep the members of the Society connected.

Please keep an eye on the Official Programme programme on the website as it will contain details of everything that is going on.

The In Focus team meets every Thursday on the web to go through the current situation and to develop next week’s plans but unfortunately, it is a fluid situation so things could change . Prior to each Virtual Meeting all members will be sent an email with a link to join the meeting. Please use this link and when you join the meting mute your microphone and turn-off your video link until the meeting starts.

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Covid 19 - Weekly Friendly Photo-competition, Week One Results

The image that received the most LIKES in Round One of the competition was PRONGED by Neil Hall, in second place was EVERYONE HAS A FAVOURITE MUG by Maurice Young with MENACE by Adrian Richmond in third place.

Congratulations to Neil whose image goes forward to the FINAL when the weekly rounds come to an end when the Governments current 'lock-down' measures are relaxed. The Theme for this week's competition which closes at 20:00 (8:00PM) on Friday is - My hobby (excluding photography). A reminder about the first two rules in the competition:

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Maurice Young
IMPORTANT MESSAGE - UPDATE REGARDING CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC

As members of the Society are aware there was a video meeting of the entire committee on Monday evening during which the current situation regarding the on-going coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic was discussed.

Reluctantly, in the light of the latest strict new measures introduced by HM Government to tackle the spread of coronavirus coupled with the advice from the NHS the committee unanimously agreed that there is no alternative but to suspend ALL meetings of the Society for the foreseeable future.

The committee would also urge all members of the Society to follow the new rules from the Government – ‘staying at home and away from others’ – which is the single most important action we can all take, in fighting coronavirus, in order to protect the NHS and save lives. Please continue to be safe and protect yourselves and your families at this difficult time.

A significant consequence of the decision to suspend meetings of the Society means that the Annual General Meeting cannot now be held before the 30th June deadline as required by our Constitution. The committee has therefore undertaken the authority (as set out in Clause 56 of the Constitution) to decide upon the actions that must be taken to manage the on-going affairs of the Society until such time as a General Meeting can be properly convened.

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Flowers Alive…!

The results of this year’s International Garden Photographer of the Year awards have been described by the Royal Photographic Society as awe-inspiring. For those who are interested there is a feature in the recent RPS journal (March 2020/Volume 160/Number 3) and the full results can be viewed here.

Congratulations go to NDPS member Robin Myerscough whose high quality work resulting in the judges selecting him as a finalist - Portfolios in the competition. One one Robin’s portfolio of images called Tulip Twirl is shown below. .

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Review of the EAF Annual Championships - PDI

The Society produced a strong performance in this seasons EAF Annual PDI Championships and although fewer clubs entered the competition this year all the top 25 clubs from previous years were present and therefore our overall position has to be reviewed taking those factors into account.

This season only the top thirteen clubs went through to the second round leaving us tantalisingly close to the cut but more importantly ahead of five well established clubs who both normally beat us and normally do make the cut.

All in all, we put up a very strong performance and gives us something to build on for next season. If we could achieve an average improvement of between a half to one point per image which clearly is achievable, we would establish NDPS in the top ten photographic clubs in East Anglia.

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