At last week’s meeting on January 29, Ballynahinch Camera Club was delighted to welcome back Simon McIlwaine, who judged our entries for the ICM round of NIPA’s inter-club competition.
ICM, or Intentional Camera Movement, is a creative approach where movement during exposure is used to produce abstract and expressive images. It’s a style that rewards experimentation and a willingness to break the rules — something very much on display throughout the evening.
There was nobody better suited to judge this round than Simon, who specialises in this genre. His passion for ICM shines through with his warm and energetic personality, making the night a joy. Members came away feeling encouraged, better informed, and smiling, thanks to Simon’s insightful critique and quick-witted humour.
We had a fantastic and diverse selection of images on the night, with the top four in each category — mono print, colour print, and digital PDI — going forward to be judged against entries from clubs across Northern Ireland.
Ciara Fullam and Doug McCourt really cleaned up, with three images each selected. They were joined by Alan Chowney, Isaac Busby, Keith Wilson, Mark Donnelly, and Terry Hanna, who also had images chosen for the next stage of the competition.
Simon is currently hosting a solo exhibition of his work, Southbound: Lecale to Carlingford Lough, at the St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick, running throughout February. The 40-image collection, captured over four years along the South Down coastline from Ballyhornan to Greencastle, including Dundrum Bay and the foot of the Mourne Mountains, showcases both striking classic landscapes and inventive ICM photography, capturing the raw, seasonal beauty of the area. Simon previously gave a talk to our club on the ICM genre, and his work is superb — a great opportunity to see it up close.
Next week’s meeting on February 5 is our annual club group photo. This is always a relaxed and fun night and serves as an archive of club members over the years.
Ballynahinch Camera Club welcomes photographers of all abilities — beginners, experienced, and professionals. Come along, see what we’re about, and enjoy the craic — tea and biscuits included!
