Judges Comments
Interesting exercise, enjoyed that.
I took note that images could not be processsed, and in that respect some people did very well producing images in difficult lighting conditions. This was a good test of what people could achieve straight from camera. Some images could be enhanced with a little processing, but I have selected ‘winners’ that I feel can stand alone as they are.
Under 16s – it is good to know that there are some budding photographers out there. For me, the winner is Alys Harrision and her ‘Church Stretton Weather’.
The title can be important in a competition and she has it just right. All the weather we might expect in one day captured in a moment: sunshine in the foreground then storm cloud and rain in the middle distance before we see hints of blue sky and light cloud above the distant hills. The path leads us into the picture and, although the horizon is in the mid frame, there is good focus throughout. She has also done a good job to keep detail in the sky – it would be easy to burn out the whites in the cloud in such contrasty conditions. Church Stretton Weather indeed.
Animal Section – there are some very cute images and some ‘well seen’ compositions. The owl shots are very compelling and I was drawn to the pony by Helen Holden – but just wanted a stronger pose. But for dynamism and engagement my winner is Ebony in the Snow, by Helen Stowell.
It looks (to me at least) that Ebony is shaking off some fresh snow – having presumably been frolicking about. There is a good story in this alone, close up, wide angle, movement in the snow, and the dog’s coat. But Helen has also managed to incorporate some beautiful light over Caradoc. The one element that would turn this image into an absolute stunner would be a little more eye definition, but in these condidions capturing black against snow is a technical nightmare. This is an image full of life.
All Stretton – There was some ambitious stuff in this section and I thought the Milky Way and the Frost near Jinlye noteworthy for that. Shots at Novers and on Ragleth had some lovely light but I settled on Lawley from the Row as the image that perhaps best fulfills the brief of capturing a representation of the the area. Dick Ward has settled on a warm and tranquil composition that places the village within it’s geogrpahical context, with the vale in the mid ground and Lawley prominent in the distance. Good focus and tonal range.
How to enter
- Competition is open for submissions from 14 February to 19 March 2021
- Submit your photos in electronic form to webadmin@allstrettonvillagesociety.org
- The photos will displayed on this page.
- The competition has three categories
- Photographers under 16 (on the 19 March 2021)
- Animal photographs
- All Stretton photographs
- You may submit up to three photographs into each category, but you can only enter a maximum of two categories. That’s to keep it fair because older photographers can’t enter photo’s into the under 16 category.
- With your entry please state –
- Your name
- Which category you’d like your photo(s) to be entered into
- A title or caption that you’d like displayed with your photo
- Entrants are encouraged to donate £1 per photo entered via the PayPal button below. Alternatively please drop your monies into Essex Lodge, All Stretton marked “photography competition” and your name.
Make a bank transfer to “All Stretton Village Society”
Sort Code 309204 Account number 13498860
Rules of the competition
- All photos must be original work, taken by the entrants.
- No third party may own or control any materials the photo contains.
- The photos must not infringe upon the trademark, copyright, moral rights, intellectual rights, or rights of privacy of any entity or person.
- The photo must be in its original state and cannot be altered in any way, including but not limited to removing, adding, reversing, or distorting subjects within the frame.
- Entries will be judged and the winners of each section will be announced on 26 March 21. All decisions are final.
- Any inappropriate entries will not be entered into the competition.
- By entering the contest, entrants agree that photos submitted can be displayed in the galleries on this page and printed and displayed in physical form in the village should that be possible.
- Submissions will not be accepted once the deadline lapses.
- The winners in each category will be contacted via the email address provided during entry.