Reflections on the Ilkley U3A Annual Photographic Exhibition 2020 and the Results

Our first online Photographic Exhibition has been a great success, not only in showcasing the talents and interests of members of our three photography groups are but also has promoted Ilkley and District U3A far and wide. We even had a mention in the National Third Age Trust Newsletter as well as articles in the local press.

Over 700 individuals visited the exhibition during May, many returning on several occasions for a 2nd or 3rd look at some stunning images.

This was not a competition but we wanted to replicate the experience of visiting the Manor House (our normal venue) as closely as possible.  So we asked visitors to vote for their favourite.  It proved a close run thing but we do have a winner by a narrow margin:

In First Place: 

Andrew Bennet with 17% of the votes takes first place again with "A Tight Squeeze",  his brilliantly timed owl shot.

Andrew described how he captured the image: "During a miserable spell of winter weather, a two day window of brighter conditions arrived. As the barn owl cannot hunt in bad weather I knew it would leave its roost and take advantage of its window of opportunity. On the second day, patience finally paid off."

In Second Place:

Martin Sandland's wonderful evocative railway photo "Steam up at t'Mill" with 16% of the votes. 

Martin took this picture from Ingrow Station platform on a visit to the Keithley and Worth Valley Railway. He said "I watched this 2-6-2 tank engine dramativally emitting clouds of smoke and steam as it climbed up a moderate incline. I managed to capture the image just before the driver eased back on the regulator, slowing down the train's approach to the station platform."

In Third Place:

Stephen Broscombe's classic Lake District image "Buttermere, Cumbria" with 6% of the votes.

Congratulation to the members, to the web and communications team who made the online exhibition possible and many, many thanks to everyone who entered, voted and visited.

Mary Podesta

When this exhibition was launched at the beginning of May, we interviewed Mary Podesta about the aims of the exhibition and the decision to go online rather than be held at the Manor house. To view a video of the interview again, select here.

If you want to revisit the exhibition at any time, go to the News Archive menu or select here.