Monday 19 July 2010

How Tickled I Am


I am now back in Germany.
But on one of my recent trips back to the UK
my sister and I had a thought to enter some photos in the county show.

My sister visits the show every year,
and I used to visit it when I lived in Cumbria.
One year I even worked at the show in one of the catering tents serving at tables.
The sort of thing you do when you are young.
But never before have either of us entered any of the classes.
Many's the time when visiting agricultural shows
admiring the exhibits in the industrial tent,
I have thought that it would be nice to enter some of the classes.
So this year I did!

I had to rely on my sister to stage the exhibits for me as I would be back in Germany.
Yesterday morning she phoned me to let me know how we got on.
There are a number of classes we could have entered;
jars of jam, cakes, wine, floral art, knitting.
There are lots to choose from.

My niece entered 3 classes in the junior section, 12 - 16 years.
She is 12.
She got second prize for two of them!
Decorated exercise book cover
and a photograph.
She entered a photo of their cat,
I think she did excellently.
Especially considering it was her first time at entering,
and that she was working on her exhibits the night before the show!
My sister got second prize for one of her photos in which there were 25 entries.
Then she told me how I had done.

By now I had thought I hadn't done very well.
Most of the photos I entered were taken in the UK over recent months.
Some photos that I would have liked to have entered,
I could not locate anywhere!
I have a lovely one of my grandson when he was younger wearing sunglasses upside down.
I love it!
And wanted to enter it for the humorous class.
But I don't know where it is.
We have photos on 3 different computers.
So looking for a specific photo takes time,
and patience,
and I'm afraid I ran out of both looking for it.
Especially when it has been so hot.
Especially when I couldn't print from one of the computers,
which it's also impossible to copy onto disc from.
(I had to copy onto a camera card and put it onto another computer to print from).

So how did I do ?

I entered the photo below in the black and white class.
Yes, I know it's in colour,
but I printed it in black and white.
Out of 20,
I got second.



The next photo was entered in the class,
'a touch of blue'.
Out of 25 photos,
it got a first!


This next photo got a first
in the coloured photo of a bridge.


I struggled with choosing the next photo.
It was for the class,
'Cumbrian Event'.
It was fortunate
that a steam rally was taking place in Carlisle
on one of my visits to the UK.
So my sister and I went armed with our cameras.
Try as I might,
I didn't seem able to capture
a photo I was happy with.
I reviewed the photos several times
before entering the one below.
So I was pleased when I got second!



 
When it came to choosing a photo for
'In the garden',
I thought I might find a suitable one from photos I'd taken in Sweden.
I spent many an hour
wandering round our garden
at all times of the day,
with camera poised at the ready.
I remember
loosing track of time watching the butterflies
on the wild flowers.
So that is where I looked for a photo.
And I chose this one.


I like it because the wings are clearly visible,
the butterfly and the flower that it rests on are central,
(amazingly),
and the background is all hazy.
(I think there is a term for the hazy background.)
You get a better view if you double click on it.

Well I have to say,
I am VERY pleased with this one
as not only did it get a first,
it also got
most outstanding photograph
out of all the eleven classes in the photography section.
I never expected that!

So I am well chuffed you might say.
And,
when all the points in the photography section were totalled,
I won a prize for
'exhibitor gaining most points in the section'!

So what can I say?
Well,
a big thank you to my sister for staging the photos for me.
As I wouldn't have got anywhere without her.
And just that I was thrilled with the outcome.

Now,
where's my camera?






21 comments:

Rosa-Munda said...

Congratulations Lynne! Your photos, as ever, are stunning and you certainly deserved those prizes. You have a wonderful talent and it is a joy to read your blog. Well done, Ros x

Anonymous said...

Congrats Lynne! Such lovely pictures.

Kath said...

Well done Lynne,you must be very proud and rightly so.

Claus said...

Of course you got great prizes!...these pictures are gorgeous!! Congratulations!

Zuzana said...

Your photography is out of this world, I have always thought so. These images are incredible, it is difficult to pick a favourite.
I am glad you enjoyed your stay in the UK.;)
xoxo

Louvregirl said...

Beautiful shots; I especially like the colored bridge photo. Thank you!
lg

Sarah said...

Wow you did so well! I am not surprised though as they are all great photos. I especially love the butterfly and the bridge!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh

This is the effect-I had to search-I knew I had seen it but it is a strange word and I couldn't remember it!

frayed at the edge said...

Fabulous photos - no wonder you won so many prizes! The butterfly is my favourite. I will be entering some things in a small local show next month - I hope I do as well as you!

Anonymous said...

The bridge is a winner for sure!

Sandi said...

Brilliant! Well done Lynne! What fun to enter a local competition and do so well.

Connie said...

That's fantastic, Lynne! Congratulations! I can't say I'm surprised. I think you always take wonderful photos. These are all very well done. :D

Anonymous said...

Hi Lynne, Just a quick note to say I am on blog break while helping my brother relocate for a new job. I'll still be visiting with everyone. Have a nice weekend.

Jen said...

Congratulations - well done! You are a well rounded photographer. :)

sheilasanderson said...

Well done, Lynne Great photos......

Joanna Jenkins said...

I bow to your greatness! CONGRATULATIONS! All your photos are fantastic.

Cheers,
jj

noelle said...

well done you! they are all great x x

BadPenny said...

That's fantastic Lynne - your photos are superb.

do you mind if i knit said...

Well done Lynne, and well deserved, you did extraordinarily well. The butterfly photo is beautiful, so delicate and sensitive, it touches you when you look at it, almost makes you hold your breath, waiting for the butterfly to flit off.
Love Vanessa xxx

Teresa said...

Gosh, Lynne... I guess you are tickled! Your gorgeous photos were what first attracted me to your blog. You're a talented photographer.

Congrats to your sister and niece too! Talent runs in the family!

The Patchwork Heart said...

Many congratulations and well deserved! Your phoos are delicious and inspire me to snap away as I go on holiday today! I love to walk with my camera and we are off to the Yorks Dales today! Please visit my blog!
Heather x

Sandra said...

Loved your photos!