Sue Liebow Memorial Trophy 2019
​Results

Picture
Judged by Tony Byram
​I bought my first camera almost exactly 60 years ago and spent the next few(?) years doing the usual youngster things - occasionally taking some pictures of friends, family and holidays - not necessarily in that order though.
I finally started to get my act together photographically in 1987 after I returned from a stint working in Canada and joined a Camera Club - Hanham Photographic Society - where I settled in for a number of years.
I found I enjoyed this new way of looking at pictures and soon started to expand beyond the Club.  A couple of years later I gained my LRPS, going on the become the Exhibition Secretary for the WCPF and after about 6 years progressed to be President of the WCPF in time for the 'New' Millennium.
Photographically I am a bit of a 'generalist' not having any real preference for any subject matter, which I enjoy as going for my 'letters' meant I had a good range of images to use.  It also means that I enjoy looking at a wide range of subjects when judging.
I suppose, though,  that nowadays my main 2 subject areas these days are Venice Carnival, along with the various figures, and Canal Boats as Jenny and I have Time Share on a canal.
FIRST: A Quick Drink Before I Wilt by ​Eileen Scantlebury
​This is a well composed and captured image.  I felt that this was another humourous image with a good attention to detail, for example, the stalks coming out of the frame at the bottom.  With all that glass and black background, the exposure has been very well handled.  
SECOND: Gone Swimming by  Alan Grynyer
​A really good, atmospheric image.  The treatment works well especially as the umbrella and sunbeds are clear.  However, it is let down slightly by the sloping horizon. 
THIRD: Gannet by ​ Alan Grynyer
​A good action shot which makes a change from seeing the gannets plunging into the water.  Possibly slightly over-exposed, but sharp. 
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Flyeater by Maggs Henson 
​An interesting and unusual approach which works well.  The picture is pin-sharp and is certainly different.  Bright and cheerful. 
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Beauty Pageant Who will be the Next Queen by  ​Paul Kessler
​A cheerful shot capturing the emotions of the women and a variety of expressions. 
COMMENDED: Spoon2 by  David Farnam
​There are some very nice elements in this picture which I thought worked well together.  Although humourous, the “fingers” on the table edge give a creepy feel to the picture. 
COMMENDED: Crab Eating Macaque in Phra Prang San Yod Temple by ​ Paul Kessler
​This is a good Natural History shot with a good NH title as well.  Unfortunately its' tail would not fit in the frame, so the image lost out slightly.  
Captivated audience by  ​Betty Billingham
​I am not sure about the background for this one – especially as it made my eyes go “funny”.  The cutting out of the figures lets this image down, in particular around the guitar/musician and the cat's feet.  An interesting and humourous idea.
Drops of colour by  David Edwards
​This is a nice idea.  Well carried out, but, for me, a little on the pale side.
 
Eagle by  ​Jaan Maivel
Generally a pin-sharp portrait, but the beak is somewhat soft.  Having the bird across the frame is good for the depth of field here.
Elephant Hawkmoth on sun flower by  ​Mike Smith
​A good, accurate Natural History title.  The range of colours works well and the moth is
pin -sharp.
Gerber by  Ken Wild
​This image gives the impression of being slightly soft, but the flower itself is generally
pin-sharp.  The colour of the petals is very good, the lighting works well and the image is well-framed.
Girl with Lamp by  ​Dave Owen
Another nicely sharp image, but it is very dark, so the figure fades out below her waist.
​
Girl with Roses by ​Dave Owen
​This is an interesting idea, although the girl looks a little uncomfortable.  She seems to be somewhat “tight” into the left hand corner.  The screw fixing on the mirror is distracting and probably should have been cloned out.
Grotto by Night by  ​David Edwards
Grumpy by  ​David Farnan
​This is a “fun” image with lots of fine detail.  The “monster” with the watering can was well inserted and, as a result, well placed.
Heart of Stone by  Dave Owen
This is an interesting idea.  It is sharp and well-exposed.  The darker colour in the centre makes a good focal point.
 
Hunting Short Eared Owl by ​​ Mike Smith
​Pin-sharp where it needs to be and well placed in the frame.  The angle of the bird is dynamic, but the sky across the top is somewhat distracting.
 

I think it's the Mark II by  ​Alan Grynyer
​This one is a good idea which is humourous.  The mirrors in front of the horse on the right are somewhat intrusive.  Well captured background.
 
Kaleidoscope from flowers by  Yvonne Moore
​Well produced image which is sharp with good colours.  It also disguises the fact that there are flowers in the picture.
Keukenhof  yellow tulips by  ​Yvonne Moore​
The tulips are a little tight in the frame, especially on the left.  There is good colour and back-lighting and the petals are sharp.  The slightly de-focused background helps here.
dit.
Lilly by  ​Ken Wild
​I am not sure about the “tray”, as the lily is small in the frame as a result of including it.  The image is sharp and the lighting works well.
Little Owl  by  ​Mike Smith
​The owl itself could be larger in the frame.  Although the head and eyes are sharp, the feathers near the tail are going a little soft.
 
My Bling by  ​Jaan Maivel
​The head is beautifully sharp, but I did find that the food box in the lower left corner somewhat distracting.  The black background is somewhat dominant.
Naughty Girls  by  ​Betty Billingham
​”Why are they naughty?”  The treatment is a little heavy, especially on the faces.  However, it is a colourful image.
 
Never Forgot by  ​David Farnan 
​Another humourous image.  The composition works well and concentrates the eye on the elephant and the flying man.  The colourful clouds in the background add vibrancy to the image.
Off to Battle  by  ​Betty Billingham
​The group of soldiers is well framed but the main flagpole is going out of frame at the top of the picture.  I suspect the image would have been stronger had you cropped out the figure on the bottom right.
 
Oldtimes  by  ​Ken Wild
An interesting set of items for a “classic” table-top.
​
Once Upon a Time  by  ​Eileen Scantlebury
Another well executed and interesting “classic” image
Peardrops  by  ​David Edwards
​The wire on the extreme left is a distractor.  The pear and the upper leaves are nicely sharp with the leaves acting as a frame.
Rocket Festival Chiang Mai When things Go Wrong  by  ​Paul Kessler
​“Fireworks” are always unpredictable and can be difficult to photograph.  The trails from the rocket are off-centre towards the right of the picture.  I found the man-made structures across the centre and on the lower right to be somewhat distracting.  A nicely sharp image however.
The Line To Nowhere  by  ​Eileen Scantlebury
​A simple, sharp image which is well-exposed.  The composition works well giving a sense of depth.
The Lonely Duck  by  ​Yvonne Moore
​Another sharp image with the duck forming a good shape in the centre of the picture.  The head is a little too close to the top of the frame.
Thoughtful  by  ​Maggs Henson
Whereas the face is well-exposed, a light in the background probably would have helped as the dark clothes merge into the background.
​
Time for Reflection  by  ​Maggs Henson
As with the last image, this would have benefited from a backlight to lift the figure from the background.
​
Tranquility  by  Jaan Maivel
​The elements in the image are, I feel, a bit too separated.  The flower is well-lit and sharp, as is the rest of the image.  The reflection works well.