Sea Front - Bob Trubshaw

Bob Trubshaw is a Charnwood based photographer, writer and historian . He specialises in pre-Roman and pre-Christian history, life, customs and practices in Britain. He is also actively involved in Charnwood Arts as an observer to the Board of Trustees. Bob's photographic work involves much experimentation and painstaking photo-manipulation. Many of his black and white images were taken over a number of years to document and celebrate places that he knows and loves -- often re-visiting them a number of times. He is currently writing a number of books on his specialist subjects. He lives in the Charnwood village of Wymeswold.

Alison Williams, from the UK, judged the haiku sent in response to his images. She had a difficult job finding a 1, 2 , 3 -- and thought that all were 'winners.

1st Place - Chibi

the empty beach
holds an empty bench...
sea spray

The idea of something empty, containing something else that is also empty, is intriguing and a little paradoxical, as many of the best haiku are. A double emptiness. Then, out of all of this emptiness, something insubstantial reaches out and touches us -- sea spray -- a very well chosen third line. An interpretation that captures the chill, bleak mood well, and takes it beyond the visual by bringing in the sense of touch implied by the spray. The structure is deceptively simple -- the scene set in line one, an added item of interest in line two and then the surprise of the last line. Both form and content are very well done. [AW]

2nd Place - Juanito Escareal

storm-tossed waves...
the photographer retreats
to higher ground

This haiku clearly describes the tension that we all feel in such
settings between being drawn to the violence of the sea, and being suitably respectful of its power. We want to be close enough to capture it in a photograph (or a haiku), but on high enough ground to feel safe. Like many of the best haiku, it shows humanity in a way that recognises our relationship to the forces of nature. The chosen wording is precise and clear, and nothing distracts from the appreciation of the moment. [AW]

3rd Place - Ron Moss

spring tide-
almost visiting
a seaside bench

A good economy of words and a wonderfully appropriate ambiguity. Is it the spring tide, or the writer or both that are almost visiting the bench? I imagine that the writer was thinking of going to his usual bench until he saw that the waves were almost reaching it. This bench is probably a favourite place to sit and watch the sea on fine days, but it is still too early in the year. An interesting seasonal interpretation of the picture. [AW]