Kevin Day is ECCG’s Photographer of the Year 2017

ECCG Chairman, Anthony O’Connor presents the perpetual Photographer of the Year trophy to our 2017 winner, Kevin Day.

At ECCG’s annual awards night at the Midleton Park Hotel recently, Kevin Day emerged as the outright winner in the Photographer of the Year competition for 2017. A deserving winner, this was Kevin’s latest accolade for 2017, having already achieved his Licentiate of the Irish Photographic Federation as well as scooping several Gold, Silver and Bronze medals and several Honourable Mentions at local and national competitions.

This night was the culmination of the year’s activities including multiple shoots and six internal competitions and the anticipation for the final results was palpable.

Photographer of the Year was not the only award on offer on the night, however, as best website gallery, best Panel, best in Category, best in Grades A, B and C, best New Photographer and Club Person of the Year also had to be revealed.

Judging was carried out by Ms Niamh Whitty FIPF ARPS (Chair), Mr Seamus Costelloe FIPF ASIFGP and Ms Brid Coakley AIPF.

Following a fine meal expertly provided by the staff of Midleton Park Hotel, the formal proceedings were opened by Chairman, Anthony O’Connor and the award winners were announced as follows:

Best Website Gallery
Grade C: Andrew Foley
Grade B: Noelle Lowney
Grade A: Finbarr O’Shea LIPF

Best Panel
Third Place: Denis O’Flynn
Second Place: Zane Llewellyn LIPF
First Place: Gráinne Davies AIPF

Best in Category
Landscape (J): Noelle Lowney,  Joe Moroney LIPF
Seascape (J): Kevin Day LIPF, Noelle Lowney, Joe Moroney LIPF
Portrait: Joe Moroney LIPF
Nature (J): Kevin Day LIPF, Mark Dullea
Sport: Kevin Day LIPF
Macro: Kevin Day LIPF
Architecture: Anthony O’Connor LIPF
Travel: Joe Moroney LIPF
Black and White: Zane Llewellyn LIPF
HDR: Anthony O’Connor LIPF
Reportage/Documentary: Kevin Day LIPF
Open: John Tait LIPF

Best in Grade
Grade C
Third Place: Paul Stack
Second Place: Miriam Keogh
First Place: Andrew Foley

Grade B
Third Place: Jim O’Neill
Second Place: Noelle Lowney
First Place: Eileen Upton

Grade A
Third Place: Finbarr O’Shea LIPF
Second Place: Zane Llewellyn LIPF
First Place: Kevin Day LIPF

Best New Member (J): Paul Stack, Miriam Keogh

Club Person of the Year: Eileen Upton

Photographer of the Year
Third Place: Finbarr O’Shea LIPF
Runner-Up: Zane Llewellyn LIPF
POTY: Kevin Day LIPF

Congratulations to all award winners and especially, Photographer of the Year, 2017, Kevin Day. Well done too to everyone else who entered as scores were close in many competitions and a point or two given in another direction would have seen some of these in the prizes.

A big thank you goes to the three judges who did a stellar job. While the important task of awarding points was their main function, their feedback is equally important as it is vital that everyone gets an objective assessment of their work which can be factored into the fine-tuning for the future.

Thanks also to The Midleton Park Hotel for providing a beautiful meal and surroundings for a memorable night.

Click here to check out all the images. Enjoy!
Click here for all the results in detail.

All images from the Awards night by Finbarr O’Shea LIPF.

If you are interested in photography or would like to know more about East Cork Camera Group, contact us by using the link above.

 

ECCG ‘Festive’ Competition – 06/02/2018

Coming so quickly after Christmas, hopes were high that the ‘Festive’ theme would entice a good entry to our first internal competition of 2018 and we were not disappointed as twenty-nine entries were received. The image above by John Tait was the overall highest scoring image on the night and took first place in Grade A.

These were the 1, 2, 3s in each Grade:

Grade C saw Neil O’Carroll on the winner’s podium for the first time with Ray O’Connell and Paul Stack in second and third respectively.

Noelle Lowney won Grade B by a comfortable 29 point margin from Keith Johnson in second followed by Denis O’Flynn in third.

Grade A was the real battleground in this competition with different competitors occupying the first, second and third berths at different times as the votes were recorded. In the end, though it was John Tait who took the top spot from Fidelma Read by a winning margin of only eleven points with Eileen Upton coming home in a very credible third place in her first outing in the Grade. The Grade A placings were replicated in the Overall first, second and third spots.

Well done to all our winners and everyone who entered, especially to those entering for the first time.

Click here to see a gallery of images from the competition. Enjoy!

See also:
How I took that Shot – John Tait
How I took that Shot – Noelle Lowney
How I took that Shot – Neil O’Carroll
Winners Presentation Photos
Competition Results and 2018 League Table

If you are interested in photography and would like to know more about East Cork Camera Group, click the ‘Contact Us’ link above.

 

Tallow Point to Point – 04/02/2018

Finally a break came in the weather and the East Cork Camera Group were on their way again to yet another favourite sporting event for our members, across the County boundary to West Waterford, to Tallow Pt. 2 Pt.

Tallow races are held annually on the first Sunday in February under the auspices of West Waterford Hunt and have been running for over 100 years. They are one of the oldest Pt. 2 Pt. races in the country.

The races were held on the lands of former Aintree Grand National winning Trainer, Jimmy Mangan, at Shanakill, Conna. There were six races in all with an entry of Ninety Five. Sadly a leading Pt. 2 Pt. Trainer and Jockey, William Codd, R.I.P. passed away earlier this week and as a mark of respect to him, jockeys wore black armbands in his honour.

Tallow Pt. 2. Pt. always clashes with the Hennessy meeting at Leopardstown but T.V. coverage was provided on a big screen and the main race was broadcast over the public address. It is definitely a family day out with something for everyone such as face painters, a dog show and even a local country market .

As always there was a great atmosphere by the track with spectators shouting words of encouragement to the jockeys as they raced towards the finishing line. There were a few fallers but thankfully both jockeys and horses all walked away to ride again on another day.

It was a very enjoyable day out for E.C.C.G. and no doubt we will return again next year.

Click here to see a gallery of images from this shoot. Enjoy!

 – Eileen Upton

Killeagh Point to Point – 14/01/2018

E.C.C.G.’s first sporting event of 2018 took us to Killeagh, Co. Cork on 14th January for the annual Point to Point racing.

Killeagh Point to Point has been held on the land of Joe and Bernie Hennessy at Knockane, for over thirty years and has one of the best viewing tracks for spectators overlooking five fences. Owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys and the local community all come together on the day to make it one of the most enjoyable events of its kind. There were six races held on the day with between 8 and 14 horses competing in each race leading to some very exciting finishes.

E.C.C.G. members all came suitably attired wearing wellingtons and warm clothing ensuring that nothing was going to get in the way of capturing that special moment despite the ever present threat of rain.

A great day was had by punters and photographers alike and lots of exciting and memorable moments were captured by our members both in the parade ring and out on the track.

Click here to see a gallery of images from the shoot. Enjoy!

 – Eileen Upton

 

Christmas Lights Shoot – Cork City – 06/01/2018

Our Group began 2018 with a Christmas Lights Shoot around Cork City on Saturday , 6th January. It was a bitterly cold afternoon when our members met in the hopes of capturing the festive atmosphere for just one more time before the lights would be taken down for another year.

We were in time to see the sun set behind St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral. The big ferris wheel turned with its occupants casting their eyes over the City as people hurried home to celebrate Nollaig na mBan. The lights on the Christmas trees and on the streets twinkled brightly as we bade farewell to Christmas 2017.

Click here to see a gallery of images from this shoot. Enjoy!

 – Eileen Upton