Results 2019

On Tuesday 7th January 2020 CPA once again hosted the large-format, print only Will McCrum Memorial Competition for Portraiture. The 2019 competition marks the eighth consecutive year of the competition which started back in 2012 following Will’s passing.

Each year we see the entry go from strength to strength and this was no exception – with 89 amazing prints to review, it was not an easy task for our judge Chris Hill. Chris broke new ground with his selection as for the first time ever our winner was not a mono male portrait but a colour female one. Congratulations to Ross McKelvey of Catchlight Camera Club on his winning image ‘Nikita’. It proved a very successful evening for Ross as he also took 3rd place with ‘Lady in Red’ as well as having two Highly Commended portraits with ‘Hooded Stare’ and ‘Garry’.

Congratulations also to Gerry Coe from Bangor & North Down Camera Club who took 2nd place with ‘Berlin’ (and yes, it was a male portrait in mono). The remaining Highly Commended images were ‘Wrapping Up’ by William Strain of Catchlight and ‘Physique’ by Michael Carbery of Focus Photography Club. The awards concluded with three Commended images by Dean Irvine of Catchlight with ‘The Killing Joke’ and two by Ollie Quinn of Dungannon & Cookstown Camera Club, ‘Snow White’ and ‘Dreamer’.

Our thanks to Chris Hill for judging the competition and for braving the wrath of the full house who requested (or was that demanded) an honest critique of those prints which didn’t meet his final cut. As club photographers we’re well used to having our work judged and to receiving advice on how we can improve, so this is part of our learning process. Thanks are also due to all those who entered the competition and those who came along to CPA to hear Chris’s feedback. Will’s memory will live as long as his amazing portraits due to the support of you all. Finally, our thanks to our Club President, Vittorio Silvestri, for all this work in making the evening a success, as always.