Bexhill Photographic Club

A virtual full house awaited the judgement of the slide set subject and the 2nd Open Print Competition by Jean Holmwood CPAGB from Uckfield Photographic Club.

Jean is a very experienced speaker and down to earth judge.

Jean judged the slide set subject 'Curves'. There were 21 images portraying curves ranging from carnival cleavages to train sets. Jean short-listed three; Paul Hutchings scored two maximum 20s, firstly for the Red Arrows' smoke trails and secondly The De La Warr Pavilion's sweeping staircase. But the winner was Norman King's image of the Edwardian Copulas, showing a low sweeping shadow across a fresh sprinkling of snow. Norman's 20 warranted him Best Slide.

After the tea break Jean had 59 prints to evaluate in just 90 minutes.

She was sharp, efficient, witty and helpful. She knew what she liked and disliked.

The General class included 37 prints from which Jean awarded four top marks (20).

These went to Ray Barry, Brian Hazell and Paul Hutchings, but the outright winner was Ken Plumb with his superb, although quite gory, A Praying Mantis Eating a Wasp.

Small Prints were the next for Jean to judge - 11 prints (max size 7x5) . She only found one picture worthy of a maximum score, that was Paul Hutchings and his beautifully lit 'In the Dales'. This print eventually was awarded the best overall print of the evening.

Well done Paul.

There were 11 portraits for Jean's critique, ranging from a detailed close up of an African lion to a demure innocent little girl. She found two to ponder over and gave them both 20s, but awarded Derek Sanford's 'Ostrich Head' best portrait ahead of David Rossiter's beautiful high key close up of 'Mandy'.

The top four images of the evening will be displayed in the Observer window today and all next week. They can also be viewed on our website www.bexhillphotoclub.co.uk.

The next meeting is a Digital Tutorial by the highly acclaimed Gavin Hoey on December 4. If you wish to attend as a non-member at a cost of 2, please contact our secretary, Ray Barry, on 216297.