16TH APRIL - CHRIS CRANE CUP

Tonight was the final Chris Crane Cup competition and we had the pleasure of Geoff Green from Whickham Photographic Club to judge the 24 images entered for tonight's competition. Even there were fewer images than normal entered the quality of all the images were very high.
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1st place - Dalia - Bob Finlay:

2nd place - Beach - Adam Burness:

​The singular flower set against a natural background gives a fine art or minimalist feeling, which is complemented by the fine secondary boarder which the photographer has chosen.
There is a good transition from the warm golden center to the soft lavender pink  edges. 

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​The first thing that you notice is the wooden groyne on the left hand side that acts as a strong diagonal leading line, taking your eye from the foreground all the way to the horizon, This creates. Great sense of depth and scale, with a strong use of compositional rules.
The side lightning emphasizes the weathered texture of the wooden groyne and the grain of the sand. The repeated vertical posts creating a rhythmic pattern that adds visual interest and a sense of scale to the image.

3rd place - Autumn Colour on the Conon: Iain Chambers

The reflection in the glass like water is the star of the show, as it creates a beautiful symmetrical double of the hill and trees.
The contrast between the warm golden orange birches and the blue tones of the water and sky are excellent.
The sky in the upper slope and its subsequent reflection in the water is soft and adds a great sense of three dimensionality in the mountain.

4th place - Wet day out - Colin Livingstone

There is a good amount of space to the right of the locomotive to allow it to move into, which is essential to create a dynamic feeling. The low level shot making the subject feel even bigger and more imposing.
The image is sharp and the Flying Scotsman headboard and number are clearly legible. Whilst the red buffer beam and the deep green of the locomotive popping well against the muted tones of the moorland and the overcast sky.

5th place - Mist on the Fells - William Leadbitter

​Compositionally wise the ridge lines form a broad V shape leads your eye into the centre of the valley, with there being distinctive layers throughout the image. The textured foreground of the trees, the mid ground valley floor and the imposing mountains in the background.
The horizon formed as the mountains disappear into the clouds has been placed in line with the rule of thirds, which works well as it emphasizes the depth of the valley.

PDI Competition Secretary
​Colin Byrne