This week we were delighted to be joined once again by members from Mölnlycke Fotoclubb, in Gothenburg, Sweden for our annual interclub meeting. The meeting was hosted at the Fisherrow Centre and Mölnlycke Fotoclubb members joined us by Zoom.

The evening began with Musselburgh members reviewing the 15 images submitted by Mölnlycke Fotoclubb. The images once again demonstrated the creativity of our Swedish counterparts at Mölnlycke Fotoclubb. Members commented on the images and each then voted for their top 4 favourites. The most popular images were:

• 1st place (13 votes)
  • A joyful and unusual portrait of a woman splashing in the water. Unusual because the water droplets were captured in perfect focus, with the woman blurring into the background. The technique made the image very eye-catching, like a health spa advertisement. We felt the moment had been captured perfectly.
• 2nd place (11 votes)
  • An unusual and beautiful image of a cormorant captured in silhouette against a golden sunset sky. The photographer had enhanced the image by adding a texture, which we learned had been done using an in-camera ICM technique. A very impressive image.
• 3rd place (9 votes)
  • A lovely wedding portrait, showing the bride as a side-on portrait framed by a bokeh of sparkly lights in the background.
• 4th place (8 votes)
  • A really unusual abstract in muted colours, showing an intriguing array of similar shapes leading the eye through the frame. We learned the image was an ICM made while photographing a group of ducks.
• 5th place (5 votes)
  • A close-up shot of the edge of some melting ice. We liked the subtle shades of colour, and the fact that the ice resembled the Mediterranean coastline.

Mölnlycke Fotoclubb members then commented on our 16 images. Their members had chosen several favourites, but there was only one clear winner:

• Favourites:
  • Autumn Reflections (Elaine Gilroy)
  • Forest Huntress (George Todd)
  • Glen Coe Water (Mike Clark).
  • Kingfisher on the Rocks (Malcolm Roberts)
  • Lovely Cup of Tea (Joe Fowler)
  • Nuthatch (Gavin Marshall)
  • Sunset in Arisaig looking towards Eigg & Rhum (Gordon Davidson)
• The Winner!
  • The Rescue (John West)

Well done to John West, whose creative image of a rescue made with paperclip figures (in Swedish blue and yellow) was declared to be our winner on the night.

• This coming Thursday we have the results of the Human Portrait print competition, judged by Neil Spowart. Since this is a print competition I recommend that members come to Fisherrow to view it in person, rather than connecting by Zoom.
• We are approaching the end of the season, and George Todd will be collecting trophies so he can have them engraved ready for the AGM and trophy presentation on 27th April. If you were lucky enough to win a trophy last year, please bring it along to Fisherrow.