The Ballito Photo Club held its first 2025 monthly meeting at the club’s regular venue at Simbithi Country Club last week.

Monthly competition images are submitted in various set categories, as well as a specific new set subject every month.

The set subject for January was “Reflections”with Avril Eshmade claiming the top honours with her submission “Rock Pool Reflections”. The overall senior winner was Debbie du Plessis in the Colour Open category, with “Water Tracks”, with Carol Marneweck winning the Mono category as well as overall junior category with “Old and Rickety”.

Each month, members’ images are rated and scored by an accredited national judge. The judge considers composition, focus, exposure, cropping correctly, and several other aspects.

Ballito Photo Club works on a ranking system (like a handicap) devised by the Photographic Society of South Africa. The higher the ranking, the greater the expectation of the photographer.

This is why there are junior and senior categories for photographers.

New members start as a 1-Star, moving up in the handicap depending on scores in each competition. Ranking 1 to 3 is classified as a “junior”, from 4 upwards, the photographer is ranked as a “senior”.

For more information about the Ballito Photo Club, contact Rung Button at 083 289 6806.

Category winners were:

Mono category and overall junior photographer – Carol Marneweck: “Old and Rickety”

Set Subject (Reflections)- Avril Eshmade: “Rock pool reflections”.

Colour Open category  and best overall senior – Debbie du Plessis: “Water Tracks”.

Nature (no birds) – Rung Button: “Safe with Mum”.

Nature (birds only) – Manie Combrinck: “The itch”.

Visual Art – Willem Delport: “Thirsty”.

Our Africa – Suzanne Morshead: “King Proteas”.

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