5th march - 3rd mono and colour print comp

Tonight started off with the 3rd Mono Print competition. With only 12 images there were only 5 places and no highly commended. the judge tonight was Geoffrey Bradford, his comments gave us all something to think about .
1st - St Aidens - Colin Livingstone
The composition works very well in that it leaves no part of the picture plane devoid of interest. Everything works in this photograph, nothing can be added or taken away.
2nd - River Breamish - Paul Dunn
The tree acts as a portal through whitch the viewer is compelled to enter.Patterns, forms, and shapes fill the composition.
3rd - Leaving the Perch - Bill Leadbitter
Three images in one .Wonderful use of the format, every part of the print is a feast for the eyes.
4th - The Kirk - Brian Sidney
Very surreal, almost a constructed still from a filmset where the characters are held motionless in anticipation.
5th - Jake - Colin Livingstone
Jakes athleticism whilst also injecting a sense of animation in an otherwise static image. It is a well handled piece of studio work.

3rd Open Colour Print competition had 26 prints entered so enabled us to have our top 5 plus 5 highly commended.
1st - City of Glass Marina - Ray Barnes
Everything about this photograph works. The composition, and all the picture elements combine to catch and then hold the viewers attention.
2nd - Rock Chic - Paul Dunn
Perfect use of the portrait format and the diagonal placement of the figure adds dynamism.The intelligent choice of lustre paper complements the work.
3rd - Preparing to Sail - Bill Leadbitter
Imaginative colour palette combined with an intelligent choice of format result in a beautifully balanced composition.
4th - Over the wall - Paul Dunn
The solid form of the wall running through this photograph is pivotal to the composition. It is the combination of the 'made' coalescing with the natural that makes this work.
5th - Volcanic Vine Pits - Ray Barnes
This is a work that invites the viewer to linger for a while and that will always be a good thing.

Highly Commended:
Love in the Mist - Colin Livingstone
Nice ethereal quality to this piece of work with good colour relationships.
Santa's Grotto - Colin Byrne
Real fairyland, a safe haven and everyone's idea of where Santa might live. I am drawn to photographs that have transformative qualities and that allow the viewer to imagine.
Head towards the Light - Colin Byrne
Moving towards abstraction, the off centre placement of the iron railing injects a counterpoint to symmetry. It's an intelligent piece of work.
Wet Landing- Bill Leadbitter
I like the scale and composition of this, we are held and drawn to the rose and then we spot the beautifully positioned hoverfly.
Spreading the Wings - Bill Leadbitter
I was drawn to this piece of work whilst going through the box when it first arrived. The colours, textures, light, and drawing are reminiscent of Japanese wood block painting.

PDI Competition Secretary
​Colin Byrne