The Isle of Man Photographic Society (IOMPS) has emerged winner of a closely fought competition which pitted its members’ skills against those of the Western and Southern photographic societies.

Entries were judged by the Island’s foremost professional photographer Andrew Barton LBIPP LMPA, who applied his many years of experience to providing an insightful critique of the 90 submissions - 30 from each club - which included settings as diverse as Madeira, Maughold and Cyprus and subjects ranging from damselflies to dogs, crocuses to chameleons. 

At the prize presentation held at the King Edward Bay Golf Club in Onchan members heard Andrew praise some submissions for their ‘mind-blowing’ clarity, others for their ‘fearsomely sharp focus’. ‘Sky-rich’ backgrounds also gained the seal of approval; some offerings were ‘flat…but superb’ while the occasional standout submission was applauded for appearing to be ‘bouncing off the screen’.

The award for Best Overall Digital Image went to Western Photographic Society member Dorothy Flint for ‘Water Horses’, which captured the horses’ grace, energy and movement to mesmerising effect.

The judging concluded Andrew said entries had been of an exceptionally high standard. The 90 images had, he said, ‘been a pleasure to look at.’

In his vote of thanks IOMPS president Anthony Hamilton praised Andrew for his ‘painstaking’ approach to critiquing and lending his ‘professional eye’ to the entries which he, too, agreed were of an outstandingly high quality.

Images were rated out of 20, with the Isle of Man Photographic Society scoring 457, Western Photographic Society 452 and Southern Photographic Society 414.

Photo - Judge Andrew Barton, centre, presents shields to Isle of Man Photographic Society president Anthony Hamilton and to Best Overall Digital Image winner Dorothy Flint. (Picture Sue Jones).