Smethwick 39th International Exhibition of Photography 2014
This is an annual event whereby photographs, both prints and digital images, are submitted from all over the world but principally from the UK and judged on a stand alone basis. Each image is displayed for a matter of seconds until the 3 judges have scored. Scores are from 2-5 per judge and usually a score in excess of 12 is deemed an Acceptance. Medals, Ribbons, and High Commendation are selected from the pool of acceptances. Clearly with 12,000 images for the judges to work through only those which had immediate impact or were different made the grade. It was interesting to view the exhibition to see the successful entries and decide what set these ones apart from the run of the mill photograph. Below are links to view some of the award winners entries which are landscape. It is clear that a simple composition with dramatic weather found favour with the judges. Mostly they elicit an emotional response in me, whether it is a sense of wanting to be in that landscape, or a sense of awe for the weather or space shown. Then I question whether they are formulaic - the lone tree in the snowy landscape, the big sky over the sea or the power of the raging ocean, or the beauty of an evening sky. Then I think not, because the variety of subject matter beyond landscape on display is huge and photographers from all over the world must be subject to very many different influences both from Art and Photography and what is important in ones own culture.
UPI_Gold_medal-Winter_Trees_Robert_Fulton_EFIAP_MPAGB.jpg (This one is reminiscent of Darren Almond'sNight + Fog (Mongchegorsk 8) 2007 mentioned in 'Staring into the Contemporary Abyss' by Simon Morley)
RPS_Silver_medal-Winter_Tree_Gerry_Priest.jpg
FIAP_Ribbon-Lone_Tree_Hayden_Valley_Peter_Clark_FRPS_EFIAPp_APSA_MPSA.jpg
RPS_Ribbon-Storm_Light_Robert_Fulton_EFIAP_MPAGB.jpgSPS_Members_MedalHighly_commended-Horsey_Windpump_David_Rayner.jpg
Sand_Racer_Dave_Bowen_MPAGB_EFIAP_ABPE.jpg
UPI_Ribbon-Yucca_Elata_Leo_Palmer.jpg
Highly_commended-Standing_Firm_Andrew_Nicoll.jpg
Another reason for success in the Exhibition is the quality of the editing and printing of the images. I found that my own work is lacking in some of the quality aspects and the opportunity to look closely at a large number of prints was invaluable.
This is an annual event whereby photographs, both prints and digital images, are submitted from all over the world but principally from the UK and judged on a stand alone basis. Each image is displayed for a matter of seconds until the 3 judges have scored. Scores are from 2-5 per judge and usually a score in excess of 12 is deemed an Acceptance. Medals, Ribbons, and High Commendation are selected from the pool of acceptances. Clearly with 12,000 images for the judges to work through only those which had immediate impact or were different made the grade. It was interesting to view the exhibition to see the successful entries and decide what set these ones apart from the run of the mill photograph. Below are links to view some of the award winners entries which are landscape. It is clear that a simple composition with dramatic weather found favour with the judges. Mostly they elicit an emotional response in me, whether it is a sense of wanting to be in that landscape, or a sense of awe for the weather or space shown. Then I question whether they are formulaic - the lone tree in the snowy landscape, the big sky over the sea or the power of the raging ocean, or the beauty of an evening sky. Then I think not, because the variety of subject matter beyond landscape on display is huge and photographers from all over the world must be subject to very many different influences both from Art and Photography and what is important in ones own culture.
UPI_Gold_medal-Winter_Trees_Robert_Fulton_EFIAP_MPAGB.jpg (This one is reminiscent of Darren Almond'sNight + Fog (Mongchegorsk 8) 2007 mentioned in 'Staring into the Contemporary Abyss' by Simon Morley)
RPS_Silver_medal-Winter_Tree_Gerry_Priest.jpg
FIAP_Ribbon-Lone_Tree_Hayden_Valley_Peter_Clark_FRPS_EFIAPp_APSA_MPSA.jpg
RPS_Ribbon-Storm_Light_Robert_Fulton_EFIAP_MPAGB.jpgSPS_Members_MedalHighly_commended-Horsey_Windpump_David_Rayner.jpg
Sand_Racer_Dave_Bowen_MPAGB_EFIAP_ABPE.jpg
UPI_Ribbon-Yucca_Elata_Leo_Palmer.jpg
Highly_commended-Standing_Firm_Andrew_Nicoll.jpg
Another reason for success in the Exhibition is the quality of the editing and printing of the images. I found that my own work is lacking in some of the quality aspects and the opportunity to look closely at a large number of prints was invaluable.