On Monday 9th February our first competition for 2026, Smartphone Open, was expertly judged by Karl Bergin.
As he pointed out, there are both positives and negatives in mobile phone photography and the processing of images. There were some exciting images on display, all of which enforced Ansel Adams words that the most important component is 12” behind a camera and that ‘There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs’.
The members benefited greatly from his insights on the images shown and discussed.
Congratulations and thanks to all who entered, and in particular to those placed and commended as set out below.
Level 1
- 1st - Snow by Ken McFarland
- 2nd - Fastnet Lighthouse by Jan Healy
- 3rd - Blea Tarn by Joseph Hennessy
- Highly Commended - Slovenia, Lake Bled at Sunrise by Niamh McGreen
- Highly Commended - Poolbeg Chimneys from Bull Island by Ken Owens
The winning images are in the Gallery below:
Level 2
- 1st - Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill by Ian Gemmell
- 2nd - Light, Shadow & Ice by Teresa Mullen
- 3rd - Mulranny Mayo by Ian Gemmell
- Highly Commended - Early Morning in the Vineyard by Teresa Mullen
- Highly Commended - Storm in a Teacup by Pat Divilly
The winning images are in the Gallery below:
Level 3
- 1st - Reflection by Robert Acton
- 2nd - The challenge by Jerome Fennell
- 3rd - The Queen's House by Lionel Barker
- Highly Commended - Dusk by Michael McNamara
- Highly Commended - People Through Time by Emily Gallagher
- Highly Commended - Tate Modern by Eithne O'Leary
The winning images are in the Gallery below:
