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Molly Coombe Photograph Competition 2023

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Welcome to the inaugural annual Molly Coombe Photograph competition!

For 2023 we sought digital image entries from any year that showed off the people, places, events and environment of our parish.

Marks were given first and foremost for images that best encapsulated the heritage and personality of Bishopsteignton before being judged on ‘artier’ elements like lighting and composition.

Anybody of any age could enter any number of times. Four prizes of £50 for best photo were awarded, one for each category – People, Places, Events and the Environment – plus the ‘Ken Irvin Trophy’ awarded for the best overall entry, who also received a large framed print of their winning image. Large prints were also given to other category winners and entries considered “highly commendable”

Enter the 2024 competition here.

Winners

Places Category and Overall Winner

Photos in this category could be taken anywhere within the parish boundries. Examples could include the exterior or interior of buildings, views from a vantage point, businesses past and present etc.

Overall winner and winner of Places Category “Sunrise above the fog” by Rachel Winsborrow

People

This catagory could feature individuals or groups of individuals from the parish. They could be portraits or people engaged in an activity taken anywhere geographically – for example a village person receiving an award or taking part in a sporting event outside of the village.

Winner of People Category “Fran Braves the Shave” by Marilyn Hepworth

Events

Recent or past. Could be village activities like the Coronation and Jubilee celebrations or the Village Festival, Village Show, live music or other performances etc or more personal events such as significant birthdays or Dot’s leaving do at the Bishop John for example.

Winner Events Category “Fight fight fight…” by Graham Hooker

Environment

This might be related to the flora or fauna within the parish or possibly views that have an environmental aspect to them making them more suitable here than the places category – countryside, farming, derelict buildings.

Winner Environment Category “Algal Bloom” by Matt Neale

Highly Commended

"Walking Home" by Bryan Smith

"Snowbow" by Steve Bowden

"Sid Today and George Yesterday" by Matt Neale

"Out and About in the Snow" by Bryan Smith

"Ooh I Say!" by Jessica Moore

"Jazz at the Old Commercial" by Steve Bowden

"In on the Tide" by Jessica Moore

"Greek Night at the Old Commercial" by Jessica Moore

"Geoff Lang" by Bryan Smith

"Decorative Drain" by Jessica Moore

"Bishop in February" by Graham Hooker

"A Peaky Minor" by Steve Bowden

Judging

Judging was carried out by the Bishopsteignton Heritage editorial team and guest judges David Mitchel and Nigel Hicks. David is chair of Bishopsteignton Photo Club and has been a keen photographer since his first Box Brownie and right through the digital age. Nigel is a professional photographer and longterm resident of the parish. Read more about Nigel’s career, publications and achievements: www.nigelhicks.com.

Thank you…

to Chas at images2prints for his kind donation of the large prints and framed top prize. And, of course to everyone who entered! Congratulations to the winners and highly commended. The overall standard was very high making the judges’ decisions most difficult. We look forward to seeing next year’s submissions!