NQ Dunbar trip

 

A group form NQ 2, and one stray HNC, pictured above, braved foul weather for a trip to the seaside at Dunbar. I am concerned for them, as they appear to be displaying the first symptoms of hypothermia - erratic and irrational behaviour. They have organised a competition, where each member of the group produces one photograph by the following week, to be judged by me.

So I declare 'Reparing the Creel' to be the winner. It is a simple, effective and classic study of a man at work, engaged in the type of traditional creel repair that is not so common any more. As well as being technically competent - a shallow depth of field has been used to throw the background out of focus - it is also quite picturesque, and has documentary, factual value. I'm always happy to see some pictures of people, as a lot of photographers seem reluctant to do this. Next, whoever shot this ahs to get invited out onto one of the boats while they're at work.

Second is Crab Cage, which is a good general view of the harbour showing an interesting textured foreground of creel, a complementary middle ground of smooth, reflective water, leading to buildings in the distance reflected in the water. The muted colour palette has given it a pleasing old-world feel that suits the subject. I might have tried to avoid the more modern building on the left, as this clashes a little with the traditional, old-world feel that the rest of the image conveys. 

 

Third is 'Impulse, which sounds and looks like it could be for an eau de cologne advert. "Snappers can't help acting on  Impulse." It is a refreshing study of movement and force, captured with a fast shutter speed. Much time can be spent exploring such movement, producing almost abstract patterns and textures and studies in light.

 

And Highly Commended are - 'Abandoned Boat', which has some good composition technique, but not enough  sky detail.

'Chain and Rope at the Harbour', which shows effective formal composition in one flat plane, but which requires deeper blacks and perhaps a monochrome treatment.

 

'Crab Cage', which shows shallow depth of field  to concentrate the viewer's attention on the textures and shapes of the creels.

 

And, 'The Dock', which employs a similar  technique, with more saturated colour.

Well done to the group of Togs and Shootists for organising this.

I was not informed as to who shot which picture, so I was judging blind - which might explain my decisions. 

Where are you going next?