Cromack to the rescue

“A big thank you to Dave Cromack for standing in as judge for last night’s competition! It really was very much appreciated.

For those who don’t know the whole story; our original judge emailed us last week to tell us she couldn’t make it due to work commitments and so Jamie pretty much phoned or emailed just about every judge in the book to try to find a replacement and finally, late on Wednesday evening he received a positive a judge who could help us out. Great!

Then at 6:30 on the evening I get a phone call from the judge to tell me that he’s trapped in St Albans as his wife has gone to the O2 but left her car in front of his on the drive and taken the keys with her!

So began the hunt again! A few quick phone calls were made but were ultimately unsuccessful.

So thanks Dave for standing in at the last minute, it was really much appreciated and you did a sterling job for a first time judging! (and that’s not just cos I won!)”

Colin Mill

Motor Sport Talk

Last Thursday, 7th November, we enjoyed a talk by Dave Barratt about motor sport and photography. It was lavishly illustrated with photographs, many of which were taken by Dave!

He has been busy participating in several types of motor sport since 1970, apart from a gap of several years while he was a SCUBA diving instructor. He has done racing and rallying, autotesting and navigating. He is still active as a navigator in stage rallying - the mad stuff in the Welsh mountains and forests.

Dave covered each of the dozen or so varieties of motor sport and explained how and where a photographer can take photos of the action. It seems that the faster they go the more difficult it is to get close enough to photograph due to the understandable importance of safety.

Dave says he didn't even take up photography seriously until 2012 when he retired and joined MKU3A. Now he runs at least 2 U3A photographic groups which several of our NCPS members attend and I can vouch for his great pictures though I can't speak for his driving or navigating!

Thanks Dave and see you on Tuesday!

2019 Jubilee Trophy Print Competition

This event was hosted by New City Photographic Society on Thursday 31st October at Stantonbury, Milton Keynes.

The Jubilee Trophy consists of three rotating competitions that cover Prints, Projected Digital Images and Audio-Visuals. Two of the three mediums are held each season and the winner of each competition holds the Jubilee Trophy until the next competition (about 4-8 months).

Being at the northern end of the Chilterns Association of Camera Clubs, New City and Leighton Buzzard want to open these competitions to other clubs in the extremities of the adjoining Federations (East Anglia Federation and Midland Counties Photographic Federation) to promote a wider experience for club members than is offered by internal competitions, but maintaining a local camaraderie that would be lost in the national competitions and salons.

Eight clubs participated this time: Ampthill & District Camera Club, Bedford Camera Club, Buckingham Camera Club, Kempston Camera Club, Leighton Buzzard Photographic Club, New City Photographic Society, Olney Camera Club and Towcester Camera Club.

This is a competition for printed images, entered by members individually (i.e. not a club panel). There is no theme or subject for the competition, with a maximum of 3 images per person. Natural history pictures are judged on a pictorial basis. Images are awarded First, Second, Third place, and as many Highly Commended and Commended as the judge deems appropriate.

The photographer of the first place image also receives the coveted Jubilee Trophy.

91 entries were received and evaluated by independent judge Don Byatt ARPS EFIAP APAGB MPAGB BPE5. Don carried out the judging during the week before the event and provided valuable and constructive feedback on each print on the night followed by the resulting awards - first, second and third place, highly commended and commended.

The results were as follows.

Commended prints:
Shut It by Nick Steadman (Buckingham CC)
Gull and Turtle by Neil Schofield (New City PS)
Christmas Shopping Costs by Tricia Meers (Leighton Buzzard PC)
Playtime by Peter Silver (Buckingham CC)

Highly Commended prints:
Seasonings by Roy Bird (Olney CC)
Marina Beach, Chennai by Anne Gray (Towcester CC)
Black Country Bargee by Colin Mill (New City PS)
Taxi, Havana by Tim Gould (Leighton Buzzard PC)

Placed prints:
3rd - Sleepy Bunny by Tracy Simpson (New City PS)
2nd - Grasses by Jim Waddington (Buckingham CC)
1st - Old Lady in Kacchpura by Richard Burn (Ampthill & District CC)

Congratulations to all the above and thanks to everyone who participated.

1st place - Old Lady in Kacchpura by Richard Burn (Ampthill & District CC)

2nd place- Grasses by Jim Waddington (Buckingham CC)

3rd - Sleepy Bunny by Tracy Simpson (New City PS)