A winner, two runners up and a special award have been revealed, in the Isle of Wight County Press's Big 50 photo competition.
An exhibition has tonight (Friday) been launched at Dimbola Museum and Galleries and it is open to the public from tomorrow (Saturday, October 22).
An amazing photo of a swan and cygnets, an electrifying image of lightening over Culver and a moody moon-set at the iconic Needles were judged to be the best of the bunch.
There was also a special award for a lively photo of a pet dog enjoying time on the beach.
Mike Maloney, Britain’s most decorated press photographer and Daily Mirror chief photographer, the Isle of Wight's own award-winning photographer Sienna Anderson and Dimbola vice-chairman's David White had the tricky job of picking them from a host of brilliant submissions.
The overall winner was Marilyn Berridge's Adult swan and cygnets.
Editor of the Isle of Wight County Press, Alan Marriott said: "It was such a difficult choice for the judges. It's just an amazing piece of framing and that's what gave it a slight edge over the other two pictures."
David White said: "The way it's presented is quite unusual. The lighting on the swan is absolutely superb and the way it is framed, originally, through the pipework, with the water running down there is quite imaginative."
- See the exhibition at Dimbola Galleries and Museum until December 31
First runner up was a photo of lightning behind the Yarborough Monument, on Culver Down, by Tanya Rock.
David told us: "That is very dramatic. Every picture is like a stage play - it always has to lead emotion and this is drama."
Alan added: "Everyone loves a lightning picture. It's a phenomenon of nature that we all love to see. This, with the Culver Monument, is just incredible."
- The Big 50 are all available to buy, with the proceeds split between Dimbola Museum and Galleries and the photographer
The judges' second runner up was taken at 4am in Alum Bay, as the Moon set over The Needles. Tom Packham was behind the camera.
David said: "This a very moody one. It presents a dark evening mood."
Alan said: "It's an iconic part of the Island's landscape, with the moon behind it, in such a beautiful way.
Meanwhile, Thomas French's photo of his dog on a beach at sunset, was handed a special award.
David said: There is something about this hairy dog that moves the emotions.
"You can't help looking and thinking, 'what sweet dog' and the way it's framed, with the evening sunlight in the background, is lovely. It's a very gentle picture."
More than 50 of the photos are now on show at the museum in Freshwater Bay.
Earlier this year, members of the Isle of Wight County Press Camera Club were invited to submit photos for the competition, as long as they had been taken since July 2021 and showcased the Island.
Now, the overall winner will receive a celebrity print by news photographer Larry Ellis, plus a camera shop voucher.
The two main runners up will also win an Ellis print.
Dimbola's David White added: "Well done! Not just from me but from Sienna and from Mike. We all thought the pictures were great. You've done a wonderful job.
"It's amazing what the Isle of Wight Camera Club members can do.
"There's a lot of talent!"
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