LOVE POUNDBURY – “THROUGH YOUR LENS”
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
By David Kingman
The table is scattered with notebooks, phones, and half-finished drinks, but the real focus sits quietly between them: a growing collection of images, each one a contender, each one telling its own story. This is the unseen side of a photographic competition — the careful, sometimes difficult work of judging.
At the Duchess of Cornwall Inn, our judges, Jane Norman, Jamie Clarke and Chris Frost, sit together, deep in discussion. Their task is not a simple one. The competition, Through Your Lens, has drawn a wide range of entries, from sweeping landscapes to intimate portraits, from moments of stillness to bursts of movement. Each photograph represents someone’s perspective, their timing, their eye — and often, their passion.
Choosing between them is no easy feat.
There are pauses as images are studied in silence, followed by thoughtful exchanges. One judge might be drawn to composition, another to emotion, another to technical precision. Occasionally, they all agree instantly — but more often, decisions require debate. What makes an image linger in the mind? What elevates one frame above another? These are the questions that circle the table.
“It’s not just about what looks good,” one judge remarks. “It’s about what stays with you.”
Notebooks are filled with observations. Certain images are revisited multiple times. Some rise quickly to the top; others reveal their strength more slowly. The process demands patience, openness, and a willingness to see beyond first impressions.
And yet, despite the challenge, there’s an undeniable sense of enjoyment in the room. The judges are not just evaluating — they are experiencing. Each photograph offers a glimpse into someone else’s way of seeing the world, and that, in itself, is a privilege.
Now, after hours of careful consideration, the winning images have been selected and are being prepared for exhibition.
From June 8–21, these standout photographs will be on display at the Duchess of Cornwall Inn. Visitors will have the opportunity not only to view the judges’ chosen works, but also to take part themselves. You’ll be invited to select your own favourite image — and in doing so, you’ll be entered into a prize draw.
Up for grabs is a Poundbury Hamper along with a voucher, offering a little extra incentive to look closely, reflect, and choose the image that speaks to you.
Because in the end, photography is as much about the viewer as it is about the photographer. And Through Your Lens reminds us that every perspective matters — even yours.
