Blackwell Fringe Flower Festival:

The Results:

The theme of the flower festival - held at St Catherine's Church - was Looking to a Better Future

Individual Entry Winner:

Heather Hickman with the Rev Sheri Gidney

Group Entry Winner:

Suzanne, Jane and Ros

Blackwell Fringe Photo Competition:

The Results:

The Blackwell Fringe photo competition was judged by mum-of two Mary Frampton. She lives in the village and is a photography enthusiast specialising in nature & landscape, people & macro.

These are all the entries, Mary's decisions and comments.

Under 11s section

1st Place

Bani Sandhu, age 6

This photograph stands out for its creativity and emotional impact. By using their hands to create a heart-shaped frame, the photographer transforms a simple view into a powerful expression of what makes a place special. The hands create a natural frame and clear focal point, while the shallow depth of field and strong colour contrast help draw attention to the message. The image instantly communicates feelings of love, belonging and community, demonstrating genuine creativity rather than simply documenting a scene. A thoughtful and imaginative photograph, worthy of first place.

2nd Place

Blue Class: Blackwell 1st School

This photograph captures the spirit of a school community. By including both the audience and performers, the image highlights the shared experience of coming together to learn, celebrate and be inspired. The composition draws the eye through the hall, emphasising the connection between those watching and those performing.

The title, Our Hall is a Special Place, perfectly reflects the importance of school spaces in creating lasting memories. A thoughtful image that celebrates community, belonging and shared experiences, earning a well-deserved second place.

3rd Place

Purple Class: Blackwell 1st School

This photograph invites the viewer to explore. The winding path and steps lead the eye through the scene, creating a strong sense of adventure and discovery.

The title, It's a Long Way Back Up! adds humour and personality, encouraging the viewer to see the path through a child’s eyes. Surrounded by greenery, the image celebrates exploration, perseverance and the simple joy of outdoor adventures. The thoughtful composition and engaging title made this a standout entry, earning a well-deserved third place.

Highly Commended

Green Class: Blackwell 1st School

This joyful photograph captures the freedom and excitement of childhood play. Children running across the field create a strong sense of energy, friendship and fun, while the track lines draw the viewer through the scene. The title, We Love Our Field!, perfectly reflects the affection many children have for this important space. A vibrant and uplifting celebration of outdoor play and school life.

Commended

Ajooni Sandhu, age 9

This photograph captures a familiar village landmark with warmth and clarity. The sweeping path leads the viewer towards the church, highlighting its importance within the community. Framed by trees and a bright blue sky, the image conveys a strong sense of belonging and place. A thoughtful and well-composed photograph that celebrates the spirit of Blackwell.

Highly Commended

Nursery: Blackwell 1st School

This photograph beautifully captures a young child’s perspective of the village. What adults see as a simple drainage channel becomes a place of adventure, play and discovery. The winding line draws the viewer through the image, while the title Sitting in the Gulley is the best thing to do when you're 2 or 3 perfectly reflects the honest view of a two- or three-year-old. A charming reminder that the places children treasure are often the everyday spaces where memories are made. An authentic and delightful interpretation of My Blackwell.

Commended

Red Class: Blackwell 1st School

This photograph captures a simple feature that holds great meaning for a child. The rope swing hanging beneath the tree evokes adventure, imagination and outdoor play. The composition draws the eye directly to this special place, while the title Swinging Away the Days perfectly reflects the timeless joy of childhood. A charming and nostalgic interpretation of the spaces where happy memories are made.

Commended

Yellow Class: Blackwell 1st School

This photograph celebrates the imagination and adventure that can be found in nature. The fallen tree becomes more than just part of the landscape; it is a place for exploration, play and storytelling. The woodland setting and inviting path encourage the viewer to wonder what lies beyond, while the title, Welcome to McDonalds. Anyone for fries?, adds humour and perfectly captures a child’s creative perspective. A charming image that reminds us how ordinary places can become extraordinary through a child’s imagination.

Adults section

1st Place: Tobias Schroeder

This photograph beautifully captures the warmth and spirit of community during the festive season. The illuminated Christmas tree provides a strong focal point, while the softly lit church and misty backdrop create a magical atmosphere. The contrast between the warm lights and cool evening tones adds depth and visual appeal, and the balanced composition draws the viewer naturally through the scene. More than simply recording a seasonal event, the image evokes feelings of togetherness, celebration and village tradition. Its strong storytelling, atmosphere and emotional impact make it a deserving first-place winner.

From a technical perspective, the bright light at the centre of the tree is slightly overexposed, resulting in a small loss of detail. Experimenting with a slightly different shooting angle or position may have reduced the intensity of the light source and preserved more detail in the highlights. However, this minor issue does little to detract from the overall impact of an outstanding photograph.

2nd Place: Andrew Kibble

This striking landscape photograph captures a moment of exceptional natural beauty. The vivid colours of the sky are reflected perfectly in the still water, creating a strong sense of balance and tranquillity. The surrounding trees provide natural framing, guiding the viewer's eye into the scene and adding depth to the composition. The image creates a powerful emotional response and invites the viewer to pause and appreciate the beauty of the local landscape, making it a worthy second-place entry.

From a technical perspective, experimenting with a heavier crop could further strengthen the image by placing greater emphasis on the spectacular reflections and colourful sky. Reducing some of the foreground, which is slightly less visually engaging than the rest of the scene, would help draw the viewer's attention more directly to the photograph's strongest elements. Nevertheless, this is a beautifully executed image with excellent use of light, colour and reflection.

3rd Place: Terry Pauley

This photograph offers a unique perspective of Blackwell, allowing the viewer to appreciate the village's character, layout and abundance of greenery. The road creates a strong leading line through the image, guiding the eye towards the heart of the community, while the elevated viewpoint reveals how homes, trees and open spaces are woven together within the landscape. The vibrant colours and bright summer light create a strong sense of place and belonging. A thoughtful and technically accomplished photograph that showcases Blackwell from a rarely seen perspective, earning a well-deserved third place.

From a technical perspective, lifting some of the shadow areas and making subtle adjustments to the overall tonal balance could help soften the intensity of the colours and create a more natural appearance. A slightly tighter crop would also help focus attention on the village itself, further emphasising the strong leading line and sense of place that make the photograph so successful.

Highly Commended: Andrew Kibble

This photograph captures one of the things that makes Blackwell special: the network of footpaths and open countryside that surrounds the village. The public footpath marker provides a strong focal point, while the viewer's eye is naturally drawn across the field towards the setting sun. The warm evening light creates a peaceful atmosphere, and the image feels distinctly local and recognisable to anyone who enjoys walking the village paths. More than a landscape photograph, it tells a story about the routes that connect people to the countryside and to each other.

From a technical perspective, a slightly tighter crop could strengthen the composition by reducing the amount of sky, which currently dominates the frame and competes for attention with the waymarker. This would help focus the viewer more directly on the photograph's strongest elements and the story being told. Nevertheless, the image makes excellent use of foreground, middle ground and background, with beautiful golden-hour lighting and a strong sense of place.

Highly Commended: Tobias Schroeder

This photograph transforms a familiar village pathway into something almost magical. The viewer is drawn through a natural tunnel of greenery towards the bright opening beyond, creating a strong sense of journey and discovery. The overhanging foliage provides effective natural framing, while the path and steps create strong leading lines that guide the eye through the scene. The contrast between the shaded pathway and the sunlit area beyond adds atmosphere and depth, inviting the viewer to imagine what lies around the next bend. It captures a quieter side of Blackwell and celebrates the joy of exploring local paths and green spaces.

From a technical perspective, the image could be enhanced by further balancing the highlights and shadows. Some areas are quite dark, while the brightest parts of the scene are slightly overexposed. Recovering a little detail in both the shadows and highlights would create a more balanced image and allow the viewer to appreciate the full richness of the scene. Nevertheless, it remains a strong photograph with a wonderful sense of mystery, exploration and place.

Commended: Brian at Burcot Grange

This photograph finds beauty in a detail that many people might otherwise overlook. "Stumpy" stands proudly amongst the grass and wildflowers, becoming a character rather than simply a tree stump. The weathered textures of the wood contrast beautifully with the fresh greenery and blue flowers surrounding it, creating a pleasing balance between old and new. The image encourages the viewer to pause and look more closely, celebrating the small features that give a place its character and identity. A charming photograph that captures the uniqueness of the local landscape.

From a technical perspective, experimenting with a lower shooting angle or a slightly different viewpoint could help make "Stumpy" feel even more prominent within the frame and strengthen its connection to the surrounding wildflowers. Enhancing the fine detail and sharpness of the wood would also bring out more of the texture and character that make the subject so engaging. Nevertheless, it remains a thoughtful image that successfully turns an everyday feature into something memorable.

Commended: Bill Henegan

This photograph demonstrates strong technical ability and attention to detail. By focusing closely on a single blossom, the photographer has revealed the delicate structure, texture and beauty that can easily go unnoticed. The flower is sharp and well exposed, while the softly blurred background creates excellent separation and allows the subject to stand out. The shallow depth of field gives the image a professional feel, drawing the viewer's eye directly to the intricate petals and stamens. The result is a simple yet elegant celebration of nature and the changing seasons within Blackwell.

From a technical perspective, subtle adjustments to the tonal balance could help the blossom stand out even more against the background. Experimenting with a slightly tighter crop may also remove some of the less important elements around the edges of the frame, helping to focus attention on the flower and further strengthen the composition. Nevertheless, this is a well-executed macro photograph with excellent detail, texture and use of depth of field.