Winner on the Night #1

30th September 2025

Winner on the Night #1

The first of the Winner on the Night Competitions was open to images of all categories and subjects. The members submitted a wide ranging selection of images covering landscapes, nature, wildlife, portraits, creative abstracts and more. Our judge for the evening was Micki Aston who gave a positive critique on the images, ensuring that evening the newest members could learn from how an image is viewed from a judges perspective.

Micki said that there was a high standard of images entered, and after a run through to see the images she launched in to critiquing the first group of photos before the tea break. After the break the remaining images were critiqued before the held back images were awarded commendations and the top three places.

Micki’s critique identified a number of areas that mark out a top performing image from others. Clarity of the subject in relation to the background or environment around them. For single birds in the frame it was important that they were large and not lost in a scene. With a mixture of colour and monochrome images to judge, there were a few suggestions to try a colour image in black and white. Relevant titles helped to give the judge more information about the photo being presented.

At the end of  the individual image critique there were 22 images held back for further consideration. From these Micki awarded six Commended and thirteen Highly Commended. She selected the following three as the best images in the competition.

1. Damon Mitchell – Into the Mist
2. Paul Mee – The Only Living Boy in New Cross
3. Steve Beckett – Waiting Game

Gallery of the top images

Many thanks to the members who entered for providing such a wide range of images.

After the competition was over, members were shown the images that have been selected as the club’s entry for the first round of the CACC Rosebowl Competition where we face hosts Milton Keynes City PS plus Ealing & Hampshire House PS and Maidenhead CC.

Next week

A practical evening to explore techniques and lighting for smaller objects that can be photographed on a table top. Members should bring cameras and tripods – if they have them – plus any lights, and materials, paper that can create a set to photograph their items.