Every year, Benny sends me a WhatsApp message confidently suggesting that I’m qualified to judge the 745 Rouleurs Photography Competition. I am, in fact, not qualified at all but Benny is very persuasive, and saying no has proven impossible.
The competition was judged using strict criteria: impact, creativity, and capturing the moment.
Photos may include other team members, but this is not required. Please note that this competition is very much for fun and, while the judge’s decision is final, he does have a well-documented history of occasionally being wrong.
Who are the 745 Rouleurs?
The 745 Rouleurs are a loose affiliation of like-minded cyclists who depart from the Castlehill Road / Newtownards Road junction in Belfast, Northern Ireland, every Saturday and Sunday at exactly 07:45.
Every Team Is a Winner
As the sole judge, and in the interest of personal safety, it’s worth noting that everyone is a winner in this competition. Each team has been ranked based on a (lighthearted) score out of five in each judging category.
Prizes are awarded in the form of points:
- 1st place: 250 points
- 2nd place: 175 points
- 3rd place: 125 points
- 4th place: 75 points & a FREE copy of the Getting Started with Photography Book.
Click on each team’s entry to view the image in a larger format.
745 Rouleurs: Team One
There is a strong possibility that Team One began celebrating their “monumental” victory in the photography competition slightly ahead of schedule. This entry actually raises more questions than it answers.
I initially thought I would have to disqualify Team One for documenting an offence under Section 30 of the Road Traffic Act 1988; however, closer analysis showed that the bottle in Photo One is unopened. Photo Two, however, is less clear. Taken together, Photos One and Two raise a key question: when is it best to wear a cycle helmet? I for one will rethinking my approach to Jacuzzi / Hot tub safety. It’s worth a comment (below).
Photos one and two follow a similar theme and do an excellent job of capturing the moment, well, certainly a moment. I sincerely hope Neil is recovering well.
Photo three took a few seconds to fully appreciate but is unquestionably the most creative of the set. That said, it does prompt an important philosophical question: is it still a photograph once text is added?
This entry has been awarded full marks for impact, largely because I suspect we would all very much like to know the route that led to photo two.
745 Rouleurs: Team 2
This entry has unquestionably captured the moment; after all, there are very few occasions when a duck-shaped cloud decides to swim across the sky. I conducted some extensive research via a single Google search and found only three previous cases, the most famous being Margaret McEwan in 2017, who managed to capture a cloud duck in the sky above some real ducks.
I’m also a big fan of reflections, and Belfast offers no shortage of opportunities for capturing them in puddles. Whether any additional reflective credit is due to Rachel’s win on The Traitors is open to interpretation, but I would (somewhat ironically) be lying if I didn’t admit that it adds to the overall impact.
745 Rouleurs: Team 3
Team Three earns full marks in the ‘envy category’, however this category doesn’t actually exist. After one of the wettest Januaries on record (certainly the wettest one this year), it’s nice to see someone actually enjoyed sunny skies and clear blue views.
A mark has been deducted from the creativity category for the slightly uneven horizon in photo one. Photo three benefits nicely from the mountain bike almost matching the colour of the ocean, which is a nice touch.
That said, it’s worth noting that much of the impact of the third image comes courtesy of a photograph already displayed on the wall, excellent placement all the same. I hope my January holiday envy hasn’t influenced my marking.
745 Rouleurs:Team 4
This entry earned full marks in the creativity category, driven largely by photo two, aptly titled “Looking Good.” It’s a clever and well-observed image, making excellent use of everyday surroundings and proving that strong compositions don’t need dramatic scenery or Rachel from The Traitors to be effective.
Photo three works nicely on multiple levels, quite literally. The combination of the river alongside the puddle (or flood) is a strong visual device and adds depth and balance to the frame. The layered perspective draws the eye through the image and rewards a longer look.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and well-executed set that demonstrates creativity through observation rather than spectacle, making strong use of lines, reflections, and urban detail. ASICS running shoes in Photo One?
The Final Scores…
If I had my way all four teams would receive full marks. Benny insisted on a rank order via brutal marking.
| Team | Impact | Creativity | Capturing the Moment | Final Score | Points |
| One | 5 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 125 |
| Two | 4 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 250 |
| Three | 4 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 75 |
| Four | 4 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 175 |
Competition Small Print:
Benny carries full accountability for any upset, heartbreak or disappointment if your team didn’t win.
Prizes are final, there is no cash alternative, sorry Neil.
The organisers accept no liability should Rachel consider legal action over the use of her likeness in Team Two’s entry.
The judge’s decision is final, even when (likely) wrong.
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2 Comments
Mark
A superb, well judged and humorous review of our photography efforts again this year. Thank you. Regrettably, Neil has a significant history of covering his alcoholic pursuits with the veil of exercise; it seems somewhat ironic that he has been rewarded for this.
Team Three’s entries may also have had an alcoholic involvement, explaining the somewhat cock-eyed approach to capturing the tree. That tree has appeared in thousands of Peter’s Strava accounts, so one might have thought he would be good at capturing it by now.
As the Team Four captain, I’m pleased to note you recognised the more high brow nature of our entry, even if top spot was taken by an opportunistic snapping of another traitorous photo. Is a photo within a photo sill a photo?
FlixelPix
You raise a number of significant points here. The photo of a photo debate will rage on but you can’t question the image features some rather impressive pointing by the subject?