Highland camera clubs rise to the challenge at Caithness event
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A HUNDRED photographers from across the region gathered for a prestigious competition in Caithness at the weekend.
Wick’s Pulteney Centre was the venue on Saturday for the Highland Challenge, hosted by Thurso Camera Club.
All the camera clubs in the Highlands and Islands area take part, from Islesburgh in Shetland down to Nairn. Other clubs are Inverness, Dingwall, Cromarty, Mercat (Alness), East Sutherland and Kiltarlity.
Each club submitted 10 images in advance (in print or digital format) and they were sent to an independent judge for scoring. This year’s judge was Al Buntin, ARPS, MPAG, from Monifieth, an experienced photographer and judge who was recommended by the Scottish Photographic Federation.
The club with the highest combined score wins the Highland Challenge shield, while there are also prizes for the best overall image, colour print, monochrome print, colour digital image and monochrome digital image.
Thurso Camera Club chairman James Gunn said: “Mr Buntin travelled up to announce the scores and explain the reasoning behind them. It was a good learning opportunity for all the photographers as it gave a valuable insight into what makes a good photo.
"There was the added bonus of Mr Buntin giving a presentation about his own award-winning photographic images.”
The visitors also learned a bit about the county as Bob Murdoch, Thurso Camera Club secretary, gave an illustrated talk about the history of Wick harbour and the latest developments with the Beatrice offshore wind farm.
The Caithness civic leader, Councillor Willie Mackay, formally welcomed everyone to the county, as well as presenting the winner of the best overall image with a shield he donated the last time the event was hosted by Thurso Camera Club, in 2013.
James said: “The club was keen to make a good impression on the visitors through well-planned organisation, good hospitality, great prizes and promotion of the attractions in Caithness, particularly for photographic opportunities. A number of photographers stayed over the weekend to take photos of the eye-catching scenery, birdlife, flora and fauna."
He added: "Businesses have been very generous with sponsorship via a mixture of money donations and prizes."
The main sponsors were Roc Technologies, Dounreay Communities Fund, AGM Batteries, Norseman Hotel, Ffordes Photographic, Jessops, Wolfburn and Caithness Flagstone.
The Highland Challenge winners were Dingwall with 175 points out of 200. Second place went to Kiltarlity on 171 points and third was East Sutherland on 168 points. Thurso finished sixth with 157 points.
James said: “There was general agreement that the overall standard was the highest ever and the judge thought some of the images were truly outstanding. The competition was just too hot for Thurso this year, but we will take the judge’s comments on board and regroup over the winter for next year’s event in Nairn.”
The winners of the various classes were:
Colour print – Male Cleopatra Nectaring on Lavender, by Lesley Simpson, Dingwall
Monochrome print – On the Lookout, by Bert Bindels, Nairn
Colour digital – Cape Sugarbird, by Bozena Kaletja-Summers, Dingwall
Monochrome digital – Penny, by Wolfgang Bergius, Kiltarlity
Best overall image – Male Cleopatra Nectaring on Lavender, by Lesley Simpson, Dingwall
