Monthly Image Challenge

 

MARCH 2023 - LANDSCAPE

 

Adrian Richmond’s name came out of the hat this month and here is what he had to say about this month’s entries:

I was asked out of the blue to judge the image of the month competition and it was a hard choice this month with some excellent images. In my choices I have tried to reflected the theme of the month, Landscape and in my opinion some images didn’t fully meet that brief. Others were down marked because I perceived them to be over-processed. So to my choices:

First goes to BUTTERMERE MIST bu Kevin Morgan, the reason being I like the painterly quality of the image and for me the mist evokes the emotion of a cold morning.

Runners up STORM by Tom Watson. Again, I went for the emotional trigger in the image and the sway of the trees and the dark sky here evoked the wind and cold ahead of a coming storm.

Next, HORSEY MERE REFLECTIONS by David Powley which I felt captured the atmosphere of the location very well. However, I felt the sky was a bit darker than it should have been, possibly a grad was used which was a little too strong? It didn’t look entirely natural anyway.

 
 
 

BUTTERMERE MIST by Kevin Morgan

 
 
 

Monthly Image Challenge

Each monthly challenge begins on the first day and closes at midnight on the 24th day of each month.  The ‘image of the month’ and two runners-up will normally be announced before the end of the month.  The theme for the APRIL (2023) CHALLENGE is shown below.  It is a ‘PICTORIAL’ challenge meaning there is no restriction regarding the composition of the image and post-processing techniques you may use.

MOOD - This can be achieved by emotion or shadows. Get creative

Members can enter a maximum of TWO images in the challenge

When submitting images for the APRIL challenge the reference to be added at the end of the file name is MC04.

About the challenge

The Society’s Monthly Image Challenge is the perfect opportunity for members to test their photography skills, and to compete with other members in a friendly environment without the rigours of formal competitive photographic competitions.  It is, therefore, a perfect challenge for anyone who has recently joined NDPS, particularly if they are just starting out on their photographic journey, and/or, have not entered a photo-competition before.

The Monthly Image Challenge is open to all CURRENT members of the Society including eMEMBERS

The THEME for each challenge will be confirmed at the start of each challenge but for those who prefer to plan ahead they can also be found along with everything else you need to know about the Monthly Image Challenge below.

Selector/Judge’s Choice

When each monthly challenge closes a ‘ballot’ will be held to pick at random the member who will be asked to select the ‘image of the month’, two runners-up, and to provide a few words explaining their choices.

INCLUDED in the ballot will be the names of those members who entered images in the monthly challenge that has just closed but in order that everyone get a chance to be a ‘selector’ the names of those members who have been the selector for any of the last three closed monthly challenges will not be included

Selectors will be reminded that the ‘Monthly Image Challenge’ has everything to do with being fun and inclusive.  It is not about winning or losing but rather should reward those members who take a chance, are bold with their composition, try something new or simply invoke emotion in the mind of the viewer.

 

Gallery of all March’s Images

Monthly Image Challenge

As with all other photographic competitions, there are few rules to follow.  These are required to create a ‘level playing field’ for all who participate and because it is much easier and quicker to handle and store the images if they all arrive correctly named in the same format and size.  In addition, for members who are less familiar with submitting images into formal competitions it is also good practice, under no pressure, for the real thing...!

The ‘image of the month‘ will be displayed on the Society’s website together with a gallery showing all the other images entered that month’s challenge.  There will also be an archive so members can look back through the galleries of past monthly challenges.  The ‘image of the month’ will also appear on the cover of In Focus (the Society’s monthly newsletter) and on the Society’s Facebook page @ndpsinfocus.