The annual competition from which the Southern Counties Photographic Federation chooses its representatives in the PAGB inter-club competition was held in Bognor and hosted by Bognor Regis Camera Club. Participating clubs enter 15 prints and/or 15 PDIs to be judged by three eminent judges from outside the southern counties. The scoring method is different to that familiar in club competitions, i.e., out of 10 or 20, but is widely used in PAGB competitions, salons and international competitions and awards. It is a scale from 2 to 5 delivered via an electronic keypad. A score of 5 is indicative of an outstanding image and one that could qualify for an award. A score of 4 means the image that is considered of a national/international standard, whilst 3 is equivalent to a good club standard. A maximum of 15 is possible for each image. PDIs and prints are scored separately.
The overall winner of the PDI category and recipient of a gold medal was Sharon Bolt from Newbury Photography Club with her photo Free Spirit, an image of a prancing white horse. Each judge awarded silver medals for their own favourite. These included a low angle image of a dog on a beach, a portrait of a clergyman with his daily bread and a still life with a limited colour palette and clever lighting. New Forest and Southampton Camera Clubs achieved the highest overall scores and will represent SCPF at the PAGB interclub championships in July. There were also three Highly Commended awards. Out of 35 clubs Storrington came 14th, a bit of a fall from the previous year.
For prints there were fewer participants, just 21. The gold medal was awarded to Ann Macdonald DPAGB, ARPS, EFIAP/p of Chichester Camera Club for an intriguing print Boatman and Branch that looked like a pen and ink drawing of a Southeast Asian river scene. Three silver medals were given for an image of Mount Fuji, a struggle between a cheetah and an antelope and a high key image of a gannet. There were four Highly Commended awards one of which went to our own Liz Barber LRPS for a photograph of a Pink Flower, a dahlia. Southampton and Chichester Camera Clubs will represent SCPF at the PAGB inter-club championships. Our position was the same as last year 17th but with a total score 10% higher.