Sharp Focus December 2024

FROM THE CLUB

End of Year Awards and Acknowledgments

Fish Hoek Photographic Society celebrated their 2024 successes at the Simonstown Country Club with the festive tables beautifully decorated with love and attention by our very own Coral Surtees.

Points garnered throughout the year were tallied by Jane Bursey, and the awards presented by the Clubs Chair, Betzi Pierce, and visiting Judge, Theo Potgieter who awarded the Picture of the Year to Derek Goldman for “Petes Wagon”, closely followed Johan Kloppers “A Huge Catch” and Didi Franklin “Fisherhaven”.

Digital August 2024 first place: Petes wagon, by Derek Goldman — Petes wagon by Derek Goldman

Digital 1st place April: Fisher haven, by Didi Franklin — Fisherhaven by Didi Franklin

Trophy winners for most progress in the One Star category was awarded to Geora Zadoc, Two Star, Margaret Silk, and Three Star Peter Franklin with Peter Brandt taking the award for the most photographic progress.
The Eric Barnes Trophy for the most Theme point also went to Peter Brandt, while Peter Franklin took the Johan Kloppers Trophy for the most Digital Points.

The PSSA award for outstanding dedication was presented to the outgoing chair Geoff Jamieson.

Keith’s excellent pictures from the dinner can be viewed as well as downloaded here.

Title	Recipient	Details	POINTS
Grimes trophy	Geora Zadok	most progress 1 star	262
Waite trophy	Margaret Silk	most progress 2 star	321
Surtees trophy	Peter Franklin	most progress 3 star	347
C.O.M	Peter Brandt	most progress	366
PSSA Cup	Geoff Jamieson	Dedication to club

ERIC BARNES TROPHY	MOST THEME POINTS		POINTS
1st place	Peter Brandt		121
2nd place	Derek Goldman		114
3rd place	Margaret Silk		105

JOHAN KLOPPERS TROPHY	MOST DIGITAL POINTS		POINTS
1st place	Peter Franklin		250
2nd place	Lorne Sulcas		247
3rd place	Peter Brandt		245

IMAGE OF THE YEAR	FHPS CUP
1st place	Derek Goldman	Petes Wagon
2nd place	Johan Kloppers	A Huge Catch
3rd place	Didi Franklin	Fisherhaven

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Judges comments and corrections – examples!

Over a drink at the monthly meeting, we take a break, and along with general catching up, the months photographs are discussed.

Techniques, praise and situations recounted, and, inevitably the judges comments are also debated.

The judges have a huge wealth of experience and knowledge which they attempt to filter down to us mere mortals as a learning process that all clubs adhere to.

As the year draws to a close I asked for some submissions of before and after photographs as examples of how the work is changed by the judges input, and perhaps training ourselves to relook at the finished product for refinements and improvements before we submit our work to club and Salons.

Regards,

Margaret

Margaret’s picture
This picture was submitted in colour and the judges suggested it would benefit from being Mono

Didi’s picture
Here the Judges suggested a closer crop removes any distractions.

Ceredwin’s picture
Again a closer crop concentrates the eye on the focal point.

Geora’s picture
Original photo shot as a vertically. I suspended the apple with thin fishing line. Space was limited and I opted for portrait orientation at time of shooting less photo editing to do. On the night of the club meeting it was suggested that the photo would be better in the horizontal. Then Peter asked Derek to flip the photo and I think it works. It feels more natural.

Derek’s picture
The judges reckoned it was too wide and would be better cropped as a vertical so that’s of course the second pic. I’m not a big fan. Then I tried keeping it landscape with a tighter crop which didn’t improve it greatly and then went square crop – which I like best I think.