SPC – Karen Brindley Photography

Sooooo, back in May 2023, I won the Digital Projected Image (DPI) league at Sidmouth Photographic Club (details here) by ONE point. Fast forward to May 2025 and I just missed out on winning the league by ONE point!! And although I was suitably miffed at just missing out on the top spot, I was surprised to have been in the running at all, as I hadn’t been getting top placings throughout the season.

Neapolitan Life – Commended

The first competition of the 24/25 season started off with 2 DPI entries.

This shot was taken during my second Naples trip, in October 2024 and formed part of my ARPS panel.

I’ve always liked it as a single image, as it contains so many aspects of life in that city – the green shutters, washing hanging out, battered cars, bad parking, run down apartments, someone just watching the world go by…

The judge enjoyed the storytelling aspect of the image, although he felt there were other images to be had contained within that one picture. So, off to a reasonable start.

A Ray of Light – Commended

This image was taken during the summer of 2024 in the Barbican Theatre, during a trip with my Northern Crew to the big smoke.

The whole estate is a photographer’s paradise, with brutalist concrete buildings providing a stark backdrop for figures walking through the light/shade.

I waited for about 15 mins in this spot catching different people as they walked through the patches of light. Sometimes a great person would be coming along, but the sun would go in. Or when the sun did come out, the people passing through were not “interesting” enough. So it really was a waiting game – and I used burst mode to ensure I had at least one shot of the legs in a striding position.

I received a commended for this one too – so although not top slots, they were at least both awarded.

Catching the Light – Bronze

In competition 2 we had 1 DPI entry and I went back to my Barbican trip for a moody shot of a man walking through the pools of sunlight in one of the walkways. A little too dark for most people’s taste, but that’s very much my style and I’m surprised I didn’t get slated by the judge for not enough detail in the shadows (a pet hate of theirs). But of course he did suggest that a small light coloured line should have been used to border the image, so that you can see where the picture ends. Sorry to say that’s a pet hate of mine and I actually enjoy how the black of the picture bleeds out into the black of the projector background….we’re all different (thankfully!!).

The Bystock Pools Naiad – Commended

Competition 3 was a challenging one, as we had to enter 2 images from set subjects: religion, connected, ethereal, help me or happiness.

I had the idea for the underwater shot on a past visit to Bystock Pools with Rosemary – when taking a photo of the water I felt that it was missing a face floating under the surface!!! When the topic “ethereal” came up I decide to give it a go.

I took photos of Carol’s daughter in her lounge from up a step ladder looking down on her – the lengths we go to to get our shot! I then merged that photo with the water shot in Photoshop for the end result…oh, and a Naiad is a water nymph!

Teddy Boy Charms – Bronze

I took this shot in Weston-Super-Mare during a Teddy Boy Festival, which was full of original Teds still strutting their quiffs, suits and suede shoes. I was drawn to the guy’s hands with all the different rings and he was more than happy for me to take a picture. And I thought it fitted rather nicely into the category of “connected”.

The judge understood that you didn’t need to see the man’s face to imagine what he looked like – as a face would have detracted from the hands. I received a commended and a Bronze in this competition, which kept me in the top 10, but I wasn’t setting the table alight!

Beach Botany – Commended

In competition 4 we had 2 DPI entries again, so I went with my quirky shots.

This one was taken in Teignmouth on one of my many visits, and I just loved how the woman’s leg was so decorative in amongst the beach huts. No face was necessary, as her tattoo said it all really. And the strong colours add to the visual impact.

Into the Light – Gold

This shot was taken in Berlin last summer. The light was very intense and I was on the lookout for shadows/silhouettes (just for a change!). Whilst crossing a footbridge, I looked down and saw the potential. Again, I waited for a good 10-15 minutes taking photos of different people (using burst mode) to get the right people in the right position. I also enjoyed the shapes of the buildings and their shadows. And it led to my first Gold (smiley face!!), which crept me up the league table…and into third place.

The Morning Commute – Silver

The last competition of the season is always a tricky one, when there’s an outside chance of coming first, because that final image choice is soooo important. Who is the judge? What type of images resonate with them? What will the others at the top of the league put in? And so I have to confess that I chucked my morals in the bin (I don’t care what the judge thinks – I’m only entering images that speak to me) and chose strategically. I knew that the judge was more of a traditionalist, who wouldn’t really “appreciate” my quirkier images, so I played it safe with an image that was not Marmite. This was taken in Valencia at the Science Park and we stood around for about an hour taking shots of people cycling or walking by. This viewpoint isn’t quite as widely taken as some of the other more iconic buildings.

But the only way I could win was if the two people above me and the one below me in the table did worse than me – and that’s something I obviously have absolutely no control over. Must admit it feels a tad churlish to be wishing ill on your fellow photographers (especially when they’re friends)….but as soon as I saw Mike’s photo I knew I was done for – he justifiably received a Gold!! And so I only missed out by 1 point, which certainly added to the drama. But I achieved placings for all of my DPI images, which I’ve never managed before and came second in a club filled with very talented photographers. Thankfully we have a rest over the summer, before the hours of deliberation start again next season!

_{Brian Sherlow (Chairperson) presenting
my Runner Up Certificate}
_{Image by Jo Hawes}

The last time I was in London was 6 months ago, when Sidmouth Photographic Club ran a 2 day trip around Greenwich, O2 and Canary Wharf. And thankfully Mike (our club Secretary, who arranged that event), was keen to run another one during the summer – this time, a day trip to Battersea, with a walk along the river back to Waterloo. It felt a bit like a school outing, as 10 of us boarded the train and competed to see who could eat their packed food the quickest…which was probably me, as I’d finished my breakfast before we even set off from Honiton station! These trips are always popular, as they are superbly organised, with loads of photo opportunities and lots of fun to boot.

Once we arrived at Waterloo, we boarded the Northern Line to Battersea Power station. I sat next to a fabulously photogenic guy with calf-high red Doc Martens and colourful tattoos. Looking round the carriage, you could see group members desperately trying to take his photo on their phones, without looking like they were. I managed half a boot and half an arm – not even remotely artistic, so had to concede defeat!

At Battersea we had plenty of time to wander round on our own and what an amazing place it is – the Power Station is now a destination venue, containing high end shops, eateries and outdoor spaces. It had a great vibe, with plenty to keep both street and architectural photographers happy. The harsh sunlight worked in my favour, providing fabulous shadows and silhouettes, which is one of my (many) current fascinations. In preparation for the trip, I had been watching YouTube videos by Siegfried Hansen, a German Street photography, who is attracted to graphical scenes with strong lines, colours and shapes, so my eye was looking for more unusual compositions. And almost from the start I became fixated with legs and feet (yes, yet another of my “obsessions”!), as they took centre stage in my images. At one point, after spotting a lady with wonderful red Adidas trainers, I followed her into a shop and asked if I could take a photo of her feet in the amazing shadows – and even though she clearly thought I was bonkers, she agreed…so it never hurts to ask if you really want that shot!

After lunch we wandered down river to the American Embassy, which is an oasis in the city, with beautiful prairie-like planting and a massive water feature. The building itself is highly photogenic and as usual, we were all trying to find our unique viewpoint…and that’s what I love about photography; even when we are all looking at the same building, every one of our photos will show a different angle / point of view / mood / story. And next door was The Sky Pool; a glass bottomed swimming pool suspended many stories up between 2 buildings. We were in luck as there were 2 people swimming in it, which made for a more interesting shot.

We continued along the river to the Tate Britain for a brief tea and cake stop (admiring some tattooed feet and more Doc Marten boots – sadly, too busy scoffing to photograph), before carrying on up to Trafalgar Square. I have to admit that by this time I was seriously flagging due to the heat, so spent all of my time in the Square trying to get one decent photo of a pigeon next to the Do Not Feed Pigeons sign…and in the end, I have to admit that I blended 2 images together to make it work (never let reality get in the way of a good image)!!

Onwards over Hungerford Bridge to dinner at the Cote Brasserie – and suitably refreshed, we strolled to Waterloo station to catch the last train back home. I have to confess that an abundance of sugar and over tiredness led to my table companions being treated/subjected (delete as applicable) to 3 hours of silliness from myself…in my defence, I was trying to make the journey go quicker for all of us, but it must have felt like being stuck next to an additive fuelled 8 year old!! Hehehe….happy times 😀

A cracking day out – it’s always a real joy to spend time in London, capturing the quirkiness of the city. Already looking forward to the next trip (if I’m allowed back!!)…

(Click on an image to see a larger version)