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22
 Jun
 2025

The Joe Windle Trophy 2025
Blog post

The Joe Windle Trophy 2025

The theme for competition Year 25 is...

Pictorial Architecture

Detailed description and references below

Joe Windle

This is an annual digital competition with the winner awarded the Joe Windle Trophy. The digital entries are due in on the first official club meeting in January each year and should be a single Mono image and a single Colour image. Max resolution (including borders, if desired) is 1600px wide and 1200px high. Image size should be less than 2mb.

This is a themed competition which will be focussed on the local area (within a 10 mile radius as the crow flies) and has an emphasis on pictorial images.

This years theme is Pictorial Architecture (not record) and entries are due in by the first Club Meeting in January. Remember: images must be from within the local area (10 mile radius).

Show 10 mile radius map

Pictorialism

Pictorialism comes from a photographic movement, prominent from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, that aimed to elevate photography to the status of fine art. Pictorialists focus on creating artistic, expressive images rather than simply recording reality. They achieve this by manipulating the photographic process to create painterly effects and emphasizing aesthetic qualities like soft focus, atmospheric effects, and unique printing techniques. 

Who was Joe Windle

A recollection by Sue Pickstock (Joe's Granddaughter).

 

In Hoylandswaine, on the 25th September 1903, Joe was born.

The family moved to Oxspring and Joe went to school upto the age of 13, when he started working various jobs to earn money to help support the family. When he was 14 or 15 he was old enough to get a job as a driver; driving was always one of his main passions.

Joe's dad, a coalminer,  died on the 17th May 1920 and at the age of just 17, Joe became the breadwinner for the family.

Joe build a garage and his business in Don Street, Penistone and worked as a successful mechanic until he retired, handing over the reins of the business to his son, whilst still keeping a watchful eye in the background.

In his early 50's Joe took up photography. I remember granddad used to sneak off to a shop in Doncaster to trade his cameras for better models. I went with him on some of these trips, I think, maybe, he used me as an excuse to go and spend some money; he always bribed me, with chocolates, to not to tell grandma! 

On one occasion, while grandma was away, he built a darkroom in the corner of the bedroom in their small two-up, two-down house; Grandma was not happy! but the darkroom stayed!

Joe was well known for his photography. He was passionate about the history of Penistone and also keeping up with the latest news.

The Penistone Camera Club was formed in 1967 and began to meet in Springvale School. The members were all men back then, no ladies allowed!!! I remember going along to pose for photo-shoots at the tender age of 10.

Joe was and is still remembered by some of the older locals. He was known for doing lots of voluntary work, showing slide images of all the local areas of Penistone. His efforts raised quite a bit of money for Springvale Chapel.

I'm happy he will be remembered and his legacy will carry on for many years to come.

A selection of archive images from Joe's collection

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Pictorial architecture photography

Pictorial architecture photography focuses on the artistic interpretation of buildings, emphasizing aesthetic qualities like light, shadow, texture, and composition over purely documentary representation. It often employs techniques like soft focus, selective focus, and manipulation to evoke mood and emotion, transforming architectural subjects into artistic expressions. 

A more detailed view

Key Characteristics...

  • Artistic Interpretation: 
    Pictorialism aims to express an artist's vision and emotional response to the subject, rather than simply documenting its appearance.
  • Emphasis on Aesthetics:
    Factors like light and shadow, texture, and composition are prioritized, creating visually appealing and evocative images.
  • Soft Focus and Manipulation:
    Techniques like soft focus, selective focus, and manipulation in post-processing can be used to create a painterly effect and emphasize specific aspects of the building.
  • Evoking Mood and Emotion:
    By manipulating light and shadow, texture, and composition, photographers can evoke specific moods and emotions in the viewer, creating a more immersive experience.
  • Beyond Documentation:
    While architectural photography often serves as a record of buildings, pictorialism elevates the art form, transforming buildings into subjects of artistic exploration.

Examples of Pictorial Techniques:

  • Soft Focus:
    Using a lens or post-processing techniques to create a dreamy, soft-focus effect that blurs details and emphasizes the overall form.
  • Selective Focus:
    Focusing on specific details or areas of the building to highlight texture, patterns, or other aesthetic qualities. 
  • Manipulation:
    Adjusting colors, tones, and contrast to create a specific mood or enhance the artistic effect. 
  • Framing:
    Using surrounding elements like arches, windows, or trees to frame the building and add depth and context to the image.
  • Symmetry and Patterns:
    Highlighting the symmetry and repeating patterns found in architecture to create a sense of balance and visual harmony.
  • Leading Lines:
    Using lines within the architectural design to guide the viewer's eye through the image and towards the focal point. 

Examples of Pictorial Architectural Photographers:

Andrew Prokos:
Specializes in fine art architectural photography, creating framed art prints and images that capture the beauty and detail of architecture.

Steve Longbottom:
Explores abstract architectural photography, focusing on form, light, and shadow to create artistic interpretations of the built environment.

Paul Clemence:
Known for his minimalist and precise architectural photography, particularly of Swiss museums, according to ArchDaily.

Iwan Baan:
Creates visual narratives of architecture, including his work documenting Prague. 

Simone Bossi:
Focuses on the interplay between architecture and its natural surroundings. 

Marc Goodwin:
Continues his series on architecture studios, providing glimpses into the creative spaces of architects.

Erieta Attali:
Explores ancient ruins and cultural landscapes, showcasing the relationship between architecture and history. 

© 2024 Penistone Camera Club All rights reserved.

Penistone Camera Club was established in 1967 by a group of people passionate about photography. One of the founder members Joe Windle enjoyed capturing the local area and landscape. Joe’s legacy lives on in the club with a trophy dedicated to him.

Photographs by members are used with permission, copyright remains with original authors.

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