’Something Manx’ was the assigned subject for this week’s competition at the Isle of Man Photographic Society, with a wonderful if rather limited entry of prints for the award of the Isle of Man Bank Cup.

The images were under the careful scrutiny of Robert Loudon Brown, our judge for the evening and a man with a considerable record as a photographer.

The competition is an unusual one for the society, being the only competition where all members are competing on equal terms, not split into classes, and where just two entries per competitor are allowed, one being a black and white mono print, and the other a colour print.

The mono and colour sections are judged separately, but the cup goes to the image judged the better of the two sections.

The task of finding a winner in a competition where the entries vary widely is always difficult - how does one judge between a still life and a portrait, a landscape or a shot of the horse trams for example?

However, Robert proved well up to the task, having a discerning eye, coupled with the most mellifluous of Scots accents, and his comments showed an appreciation of all of the skills required of the photographer.

The winner in the mono section was Barry Murphy, with a lovely image of a Manx farming couple walking arm in arm towards the photographer, their faces ’showing the warmth, spirit, tenacity and humour of the Manx people’ in the view of our judge. In contrast the winning image in the colour section was a still life, ’Crosh Cuirn’, a picture carefully composed and very well thought out by Ron Shimmin, its author. The shot was of an open Manx bible together with a ’Crosh Cuirn’, a traditional cross made from rowan or mountain ash and held together with sheep’s wool taken from the hedgerows, and thought to ward off the evil spirits.

In Robert’s words, an excellent image for this competition, ’pin sharp, and well lit, giving an authentic air to the subject and timeless feel to the picture’. It was also judged ’the best print in competition’.

Tony Curtis, the club president, gave the vote of thanks.

Full details of the society’s programme can be found on our website at www.iomps.com. The society meets on Wednesday evenings at the Art Society building in Withington Road, Douglas, with all meetings starting at 7.30pm. The next meeting, on 29th March, will feature a "digital images battle" with either Bristol or Oldham and Rochdale. Meetings are open to the public, and all will be given a very warm welcome.

Results of the Isle of Man Bank Cup - "Something Manx" Assignment Competition.

Mono Prints - Barry Murphy (1), Sue Blythe (2), Ron Shimmin (3), Ruth Nicholls (4), Jeremy Broome-Smith (5), Richard Shafto (6). Colour Prints - Ron Shimmin (1), Shirley Lotfy (2), Jeremy Broome-Smith (3), Chris Nicholls (4), Richard Shafto (5), Sue Blythe (6). Best Image In Competition - Ron Shimmin with "Crosh Cuirn"

Chris Blyth