Blandford Forum Camera Club

Blandford CC are long standing members of this group and the annual battle with other clubs took place in the Corn Exchange, Dorchester on Monday 3^rd November.  Nine members of the club attended and enjoyed a high quality battle hosted by Dorchester CC and ably judged by Brian Galbraith from the Wadebridge club in Cornwall. For the benefit of those unfamiliar with the competition, each club submits eight slides with not more than three from any one photographer and at least five workers represented.  Because of their great popularity, not more than three nature images are allowed from each club.  We fielded slides by John Burton (2), Jan Carey (1), Eric Langley (2), Graham Poynter (2) and Bernard Smith (1).  The other clubs taking part were Beaminster, Bridport, Dorchester, Swanage, Wareham, Weymouth, Wimborne and Yeovil. Dorchester won with 70 points with Beaminster and Bridport sharing second position with 67 points.  We came seventh with 60 points, which is underwhelming at first glance but it is important to note that we were the only club to have entered eight traditional slides created through the use of conventional film.  Eric, especially, is to be congratulated on being our highest scorer with nine points for one of his landscapes.   To reflect the current technology, and with effect from next year, all WCG images will be digitally projected.  This means that we shall have to get used, not only to the concept of having to switch off the lights before we can see the pictures (we’ve got used to that by and large), but also to the fact that images have only digital existence.  The pictures themselves have no actual reality.  Never mind; keep the faith, they can still look good.