Celtic Challenge, Gwynfa Pixels, Trip to Venice, RPS Reminder

1. Celtic Challenge Results

The competition took place in the D Hotel, Drogheda, hosted by the Irish Photographic Federation, the Judge was Finn Nielsen Vice Chairman of the Danish Photographic Federation who’s English was outstanding. I will publish the results first and then comment on them afterwards: -

Overall Totals

Region Mono Prints Colour Prints Slides Total
1. Scotland 160 160 173 493
2. S Ireland 143 157 167 467
3. North Wales 121 150 142 436
4. N. Ireland 142 147 142 431
5. Cornwall 143 136 146 425
6. Welsh 130 151 143 424
7. Isle of Man 112 156 142 410

Individual WPF Scores

Mono
1. Nude Triptych John Pile 12
2. 2nd Movement Arfon John 12
3. Do Not Go Gentle Susan Martin 9
4. Beach Huts Bude John Pile 10
5. Old Wreck in Bodie Phil Thomas 14
6. Ball Control Paul Williams 11
7. Niall Griffiths Paul Williams 17
8. Straw Hat Rex Moreton 15
9. Gower Wild Horses Arthur Mallet 17
10. Ian Gough Wins Allen R Lloyd 13

Colour
1. A Night on Thames Margaret Jones 13
2. Winter Reflections Pam Lewis 12
3. Immature Mute Swan Jennifer Ellis 16
4. Softest Pink Jan Cawley 18
5. A Hard Stare Susan Durie 12
6. Desert Storm Graham Harries 15
7. Dave Fluczynski Roy Edwards 19
8. Roy G Biv Arfon John 12
9. Nuthatch on Post Allen R Lloyd 19
10. Wash Day Blues Pam Edwards 15

Slides
1. It’s in my Head Graham Harries 18
2. My Grampa Jason Chapman 16
3. Rain Fresh Tiger Lily Jason Chapman 14
4. Relaxing Lovers Mervyn Pugh 11
5. Solo Graham Harries 11
6. The Runner Graham Harries 14
7. Toasted Andrew Lloyd 16
8. Red Kite Feeding Allen R Lloyd 13
9. Urban Eden Geraint James 14
10. Common Frog Gerry Wells 16

My thanks to all who submitted work for this and for the PAGB Slide Competition and congratulations to those who had the top scores in each section, Mono – Paul Williams & Arthur Mallet (17); Colour – Roy Edwards (19) and Slides Graham Harries (18)

In my opinion the Judge was driven totally by subjective thoughts and paid no attention to quality so was simply judging on the image. He used a full range of scores from 9 through to 20 which made it very difficult to recover 11 points from a poor score, his comments were not however logical. He refused to have the titles read and then complained, for example Susan Martin’s mono image is a great representation of Dylan’s words, the Judges comments were " I don’t understand this, there is no story, I have given up! 9 marks". This image will do well in many competitions national and international but not in this case. I now better understand why results vary so much especially in International Competitions – but that doesn’t mean I know how to deal with it; by the way the Danes don’t understand rugby the Judge didn’t know why players were building a pyramid in Ian Gough wins high ball!

Finally we were extremely disappointed in the quality of slides created from the DPIs we used and this contributed to us having a 30 point gap to the top region. After the event we managed to persuade the other regions that they should replace slides with DPIs which they have agreed to do next year in Dumfries.

2. Gwynfa PIXELS entry date is less than two weeks away!

Your photographs need to be with Leigh Woolford by Saturday 20th October.

With the current postal problems, please feel free to make your entry by EMAIL but please remember to include full details of each photograph and the name of the photographer. This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

All the information you need can be found on www.gwynfa.org.uk under the 'Pixels' Heading.

3. Trip to Venice for Carnival

Does anyone fancy a holiday in Venice?

Western Counties photographers Tony and Jenny Byram run photographic holidays to the Venice Masked Carnival. Next year the trip is from January 30 until February 6.

Gareth Martin of Port Talbot Camera Club has provisionally reserved a place on the trip, but really needs someone to share a room with. The cost of the trip is £550, plus you would need to book a £65 flight from Bristol airport. The hotel has been completely booked by the photographic party. It is just a few minutes walk from where the action takes place.

Anyone interested? If so, please e-mail Gareth on This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or give him a ring on 01639 790041 or 07948 280187.

4. Reminder to book early - RPS Event - John Blakemore lecture

John Blakemore FRPS, "In praise of the Domestic" a.m. & "A Print Lecture, Colour and Mono"
Saturday October 20th, Selwyn Hall in a Box, Wiltshire, SN13 8NT Tickets £10 in advance £12 on the day contact: -

Ron Morgan LRPS, 40 Montague, Road, Saltford, Bristol BS31 3LL
Tel – 01225 872898 email – This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it