Interclub Competition with South Manchester CC
On Tuesday 29 September 2009 NCPS hosted a new form of Projected Digital Image competition with South Manchester Club whereby members of each club were allowed to provide no more than two images to the 30 images per side. The Judge for this occasion was Adrian Lines from Wigan. Adrian introduced himself as a recent photographer who began photography in the Digital age. He told of his almost accidental introduction to judging through having attended an L&CPU judging seminar, one that he very nearly missed! He refused both the £5 sweetener from S M/Cr club and the counter offer of £10 from NCPS. Adrian proved to be a level headed and thoughtful judge who had both sides commending him at the end of the close contest. The standard of images was very high and Adrian commented that, inevitably, a judge’s preferences would be crucial here. There were no great technical issues to be raised over the images, so small things like hair covering a subject’s eye would be deciders. He kept back 13 of the 60 images for later consideration, giving marks from 14 to 17 for the others. Eventually four images were selected for 20 marks each, and when pressed to produce a best image Adrian plumped for “Gannet in Flight” by Alan Saunders. When the marks were totaled the final score was NC PS: 499 ; South Manchester CC: 502. Given the known uncertainties in marking NCPS considered this an honorable draw.
Ray Grover from the Manchester Club proposed two votes of thanks; one to NCPS for proposing and organizing the competition; and one to the judge for doing a superb job, with measured comments and with humour