All Island Image of the Year 2025

On Friday 16th May Focus-Ryde Imaging group hosted the All Island Image of the Year 2025 at the Binstead Community Centre, Coniston Avenue, Binstead, Isle of Wight.

History of the Competition

This competition was originally held by Bembridge Photography Club which, unfortunately, folded in around 2008 at which time Focus-Ryde Imaging Group took over the running of this ever-popular competition.

All members of clubs on the Island, affiliated with The Southern Counties Photographic Federation, were invited to enter their best images.

Please visit Southern Counties website at https://www.southerncountiespf.org.uk to find out more about the photographic clubs on the Island that are affiliated with Southern Counties Photographic Federation for their contact details, and where they meet.

In previous years this competition has been a ‘Print Only’ event, except during the lockdown period when it had to be held via Zoom and was a purely projected digital image event, but the format has been altered so that two separate competitions could be held under the auspices of the ‘All Island Image of the Year’. One competition being for ‘Printed Images’ and the second being for ‘Projected Digital Images’ with the whole evening being live in front of an audience in the Community Centre and also being broadcast via a Zoom link to those who were unable to attend in person. The entire event was also recorded via the Zoom link to enable all those who wanted to view it later could download the recording.

The event commenced at 7:00 p.m. and was judged by Nicholas Henry – a well-respected photographic judge based here on the Isle of Wight.

The first images to be judged were from the Projected Image section of the competition and consisted of 57 digital images. After a great deal of critical appraisal by Nick the selection was whittled down to 3 images which were ranked as follows:

3rd Place

Lone Tree at Dawn by Tony Bennett from the Isle of Wight Photographic Society

2nd Place

Columbian Spider Monkey by Bridget Lewis from Focus-Ryde Imaging Group

1st Place

Fallen Spring Tulips by Tracey Winnall from Niton Camera Club

Following a short break for refreshments the appraisals recommenced with the Printed Image section, this time consisting of 27 images. Again, there was a great deal of detailed appraisal and critique from Nick and the final three images were as follows:

3rd Place

Dad by Paul Dowthwaite from the Isle of Wight Photographic Society

2nd Place

Window Framed by Carol Walker from the Isle of Wight Photographic Society

1st Place

Even Wild Baby Otters Suck Their Thumbs by Elizabeth Miller from Wight Vision

Camera Club

The evening finished with the judge presenting the trophies and certificates to the winning entries most of whom were in the audience. The winner of the Projected Image Trophy was unable to attend in person and was watching the proceedings via the Zoom link, so her trophy was collected on her behalf by Nigel Twine, Chairman of the host Club, Focus-Ryde Imaging Group.

Elizabeth Miller from Wight Vision Camera Club collecting her Trophy for the All Island Print Image of the Year from Nick Henry

Nigel Twine collecting the Trophy for All Island Projected Digital Image of the Year from Nick Henry on behalf of the Winner Tracey Winnall from Niton & District Camera Club

During the evening a raffle was held with the proceeds going to the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.