Fifty seven entries seems like a pretty decent entry for the 2020 Theme Competition, being virtually the same we had in 2019 BC (Before Covid).
The judge was Roger Stewart who gave us a very thorough commentary on each image and on the sets of images. I confess I never make any attempt to create a set of similar images, as our annual themes are generally very broad, with many facets. Roger spotted this and was nice enough to use the term "diverse" rather than "unconnected".
A bird photographer by choice, Roger appears to be someone who nonetheless enjoys looking at urban and architectural images, probably due to the engineering background he mentioned. Many of tonight's images did have a lot to look at. Urban images have loads of detail and texture. He several times commented that images had kept him interested in looking: The food outside the cafe hatch in Victoria street, the drinks containers at the foot of the steps, the mud on the fox's nose, the half-abandoned trampoline, a leaf by a litter bin- details of an urban landscape a good judge catches, because he looks for a considerable time and then looks again.
Roger had also prepared a very professional presentation, which let our Competition Secretary sit back for a change on a competition night. We are all learning how to work online, judges no less than everyone else. Apart from the absence of prints, tonight's competition was little different from (and went as smoothly as) most live ones, which is a testimony to experience and excellent preparation.
As always, we should learn from a judge's comments on all the images, not just our own. In fact, since all judges are always wrong about our images, (unless they think they are perfect) its really the other folks' verdicts we should pay most attention to. Roger had many insights to offer.
One verdict is that Richard LLewellyn is one to watch. I liked his iron works myself, but my favourite shot of the night was Richard Wells' urban fox. I wonder what he had been nosing?
Thanks again to Roger and to all participants. This year is odd, but photographically it is turning out to be rather good quality odd. You can see the images for yourselves, and the Sets, and have a listen to the judging, here.