Panels Competition 2026

Panels is a group of six images with a common theme or story arranged in a pleasing aesthetic cohesive body . As members began to arrive Matthew Canning AIPF .CPAGB,DPAGB,the judge for this event was already ensconced and busy inspecting the panels on display. Mathew commenced by thanking the club for inviting him to be the judge and said that he had a choice to judge a NIPA event but choose to come to the Bangor club as he enjoyed seeing photographic panels.

Matthew beginning with the colour category gave an incisive investigation of each panel declaring that cohesiveness was the principal attribute necessary for a successful panel . Line, shape perspective are he said important elements to engage the viewers attention but also colour cohesiveness also was significant. A varied subject matter of architecture, flower and lighthouse images was on display .Matthew advised and suggested that perhaps a slight rearrangement or reposition of an image would be beneficial in some instances and noted where accidental blemishes were present . Applied overlays and blending given to an image was an additional attractive enhancement .

Overall Mathew said how much he enjoyed the panels and gave his verdict for first ,second and third places.

Colour Print Advanced

Edward McCavana - Flower Arrangement - First

Mandy Milligan - St Pauls Cathedral London - Second

Noel Maitland - Lighthouse - Third

Turning then to the advanced mono panel featuring interior architecture ,Exterior architecture and bird photography was on display .

As with the colour category Matthew would be concerned to see a cohesive body of work. First up was a interior panel of Somerset House London .Matthew praised the beautiful greys and the soft delicate light coming through . The arrangement of stair elements leading the eye into the panel was significant and pleasing to the eye . Mathew pondered if some redistribution of the layout might make a slight improvement but concluded that the photographer made a conscious choice .Once again he expressed his appreciation for this panel .

Next a panel of bird photography Here the photographer in the upper three images displayed delicate high key images with negative space giving the subjects room to breathe and in the lower three a slightly darker palette was evident in the lower three . Matthew referred to one image which he thought would be a beautiful detailed stand alone print .

A Panel of the docklands theatre Dublin was next up for consideration .Here the square format and sharp defined edges tied this panel together .

Mono Print Advanced

Edward McCavana - Docklands Theatre Dublin - First

Mandy Milligan - Somerset House - Second

Nigel Snell - Birds - Third  

Before the break for refreshments Matthew considered the novice projection images of which there was only one so the accolade was awarded to Keith Hassell for Is There Anybody Out There .Matthew concluded this section with advice and encouragement for the novice photographer in their development as a photographer .

Last but not least the advanced digital projection category came under Matthew's scrutiny.

Birds , Gondolas , abstract .architecture and flowers were featured and here Matthew applied the same principals of cohesion and balance as that in the colour and mono panels .

Advanced Digital Projection

Edward McCavana - Yellow Flowers - First

Leanne Simpson - Abstract Perspectives - Second

Alastair Bell - Gondolas - Third

Overall panel winner Edward McCavana for Yellow Flowers

Many thanks to Matthew Canning for his generous and incisive consideration of the panels on show . Congratulations to those who were awarded with a placing . Thanks to al who entered their work and indeed thanks to all who who participated in the competitions during the 2025 2026 season .

Thanks also to competitions secretary Harry Watson for his work in directing this important part of the clubs programme .

Next week - A History George Eastman - Ken Best

Edward McCavana BNDCC Information Officer