IT'S been a successful few weeks for snappers at a Bridport photography club.

Six Dorset photographic clubs met at Dorchester Corn Exchange for the 2018 Wessex Battle. It was the 49th year of the competition and, as always, there was friendly rivalry between clubs. The judge, award-winning photographer Alison Crawley, commented on and awarded points for projected images from each club., with the trophy for best individual photograph going to Joy Uglow of Bridport Camera Club for her image ‘Pass on By.'

Judges felt the unusual ‘letterbox’ format of the image, the black and white treatment and the details in the picture, which add up to tell a powerful story about society and ageing, stood out from the crowd despite the very high quality of entries from all the clubs. Joy was not present at the competition but the club kept her win quiet and made a surprise presentation of the trophy at their next meeting.

Adding to this achievement, club member Charlie Wheeler’s ‘Territorial Fight, Mute Swans’ was awarded second place for individual photographs.

After a couple of years in the doldrums the club was delighted with its overall performance, coming fourth by the narrow margin of a half point behind Dorchester and Blandford, which tied for second place.

And Bridport Camera Club member Alison Webber was awarded the Royal Photographic Society distinction of Associate of the RPS (ARPS).

Having gained the first of the three levels of RPS distinction in February this year, Alison immediately started planning her entry for the next level, the ARPS. Her final submission consisted of 15 prints based around the theme of the traditional seaside. She used striking colouration and a circular format to convey the feeling of looking back through a telescope on holidays of the past.

To gain two RPS distinctions in less than a year is a spectacular achievement, a club spokesman said.