A west Dorset camera club has won the ‘Wessex Battle’ for the first time in 14 years.
The Wessex Battle is a photographic competition involving clubs from Bridport to Bournemouth.
This year was the 52nd annual battle, held at Bridport Town Hall, which was won by its hosts for the first time since 2009.
Paul Hill MBE and Maria Falconer FRPS travelled from Derby to view the work on display from the seven clubs in the competition.
Mr Hill was the first art photographer to receive an MBE for services to photography and has held exhibitions globally, whilst Maria Falconer is a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society.
They spoke about the 'astonishingly high' level of technical expertise on display across the whole range of images but gave higher marks to those with an added metaphor or meaning.
Images were critiqued and scored with eight photos making it to the final selection- with three of those coming from Bridport Camera Club.
Andy Webber, a member of the club, won the shield for the Best in Show for a melted ice lolly on the pavement called 'The Rocket that Fell to Earth.'
The full scores for the Bridport Camera Club on the day:
The Rocket That Fell to Earth, Andrew Webber 9/10.
Patience, Andrew Crawford 9/10.
Through the Window of Memory, Carol Tritton 9/10.
Ghost of Gardeners Gone, Chris Hilton 9/10.
Take Me Home, Oran Balazs 8.5/10.
Ajar, Andrew Crawford 8.5/10.
The Face in the Canal, Carol Tritton 8/10.
It's an Issue by Chris Hilton 8/10.
The strength of the scores across the board meant that despite all the clubs aggregate scores being in the sixties, Bridport was two points ahead of Dorchester Camera Club in second place.
The judges then stayed in Bridport where they hosted a two-day photography course for the members of the club.
A raffle at the event raised £120 for the charity Rendezvous which works with young people across Dorset.
This strong showing meant that despite all the clubs aggregate scores being in the sixties, Bridport was two points clear at the top above Dorchester Camera Club who came second.
The judges, Paul and Maria, then stayed in Bridport where they hosted a very enjoyable two day photography course with members of the club.
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