Previous Reports
2023-2024 Season
Summer 2024
10th June 2024
Summer Meeting at Oldbury
The formal meetings being over, Thornbury Camera Club met for a photographic evening at Oldbury. About a dozen members met in the car park opposite the Anchor Inn. From there they split into groups to explore the surrounding area. Some remained in the village photographing the old houses. Others headed for the river and the sailing club while two groups went further afield: one to the power station and the other to the hill where, at the top, St. Alrida’s church stands as a lookout over the river Severn.
The name of St. Alrida’s church gives an indication of the age of Oldbury. Alrida is said to have been a local saint and martyr with origins going back to Saxon and Norman times in the fourth or fifth century.
The power station is the more modern aspect of Oldbury. Now decommissioned, the reactor site contains a nature reserve with great photographic potential. For those remembering television of earlier days, the power station was used as a filming location for both Doctor Who and Blakes 7!
At the end of the evening, as the light began to fall, the group gathered back at the Anchor for a little refreshment.
17th June 2024
Summer Meeting at Pilning
For the latest of Thornbury Camera Club’s summer outings, Simon, the Programme Secretary arranged a visit to the Western Approach Distribution Park. Now, this may not seem a particularly photogenic location. It is, after all, just a group of warehouses with parked lorries and trailers. While this may be true, the buildings are set in woodland through which pass foot paths and bridleways. Among the trees there are pools and ponds which attract wildlife. For the photographer there are industrial scenes, wasteland, new developments and the as yet unconnected M49 junction.
A group of about a dozen met to walk the area. Many focussed their attention on Wildlife: swans and ducks drawing particular attention. Had the sun been a little warmer, there would have been dragonflies and damselflies over the pools. Other members of the group found subjects in the abstract shapes of metalwork and industrial pipework on the outside of the warehouse buildings.
At the end of the evening, the group met in the Plough at Pilning. This pub would normally close early on a Monday but Simon arranged with the landlord to stay open a little longer for the club to arrive for the normal end of evening refreshment.
April - June 2024
3rd June 2024
The final internal competition was judged by Simon Caplin (LRPS). This was an open competition.
In the Print Class, first place went to “Pelicans Competing for a Fish” by George Collett. Dean Packer took second with “Tron”. In third place was “Back to Back” by Robert England. Other images mentioned were by Mike Ashfield, George Collett and Cheryl Miller (ARPS).
In the Projected Image Class “Springer has Sprung” by Barry Wilson took first place. Second was “Blue Boat” by Christine Crabb. Garry Holden came third with “Bringing the Catch Home, Atlantic Puffin, Skomer Island”. Other images mentioned were by George Collett, Rodney Crabb, Robert England, Anne Foster, Vincent Mann, and Nigel Newman.
Overall, after six competitions, George Collett took first place in both Print and Projected Classes. In the Print Class, Dean Packer came second with Peter Haworth third. In the Projected Class, Garry Holden came second with Barry Wilson third.
The formal meetings are now complete for the 2023/4 season. Informal meetings will continue on Monday evenings throughout the summer.
In the Print Class, first place went to “Pelicans Competing for a Fish” by George Collett. Dean Packer took second with “Tron”. In third place was “Back to Back” by Robert England. Other images mentioned were by Mike Ashfield, George Collett and Cheryl Miller (ARPS).
In the Projected Image Class “Springer has Sprung” by Barry Wilson took first place. Second was “Blue Boat” by Christine Crabb. Garry Holden came third with “Bringing the Catch Home, Atlantic Puffin, Skomer Island”. Other images mentioned were by George Collett, Rodney Crabb, Robert England, Anne Foster, Vincent Mann, and Nigel Newman.
Overall, after six competitions, George Collett took first place in both Print and Projected Classes. In the Print Class, Dean Packer came second with Peter Haworth third. In the Projected Class, Garry Holden came second with Barry Wilson third.
The formal meetings are now complete for the 2023/4 season. Informal meetings will continue on Monday evenings throughout the summer.
20th May 2024
Usually, when prints are shown at Thornbury Camera Club, they are shown individually on an easel at the front of the room where only one row of members can see them in any detail. On this occasion, three members showed images which were displayed on tables round the room as an impromptu exhibition. This meant that everyone could get close to the prints to examine them in detail.
First was Cheryl Miller (ARPS) who showed prints from Santorini, an island in the Agean Sea south of Greece. Many of these were prints which she had used in her applications for Distinctions in the Royal Photographic Society. They showed the clear blue skies and white and blue domed buildings traditional in that part of the world.
Simon Meeds showed images which were often rather more abstract than Cheryl’s: A very different approach where line and shape is more important than the subject. Having said that, Simon also showed street scenes and an almost monochrome flypast of two Lancaster Bombers.
Mike Ashfield is more interested in travel and landscape. He described how, for him, some landscapes have too much sun. Rain and mist create the mood which he is looking for.
First was Cheryl Miller (ARPS) who showed prints from Santorini, an island in the Agean Sea south of Greece. Many of these were prints which she had used in her applications for Distinctions in the Royal Photographic Society. They showed the clear blue skies and white and blue domed buildings traditional in that part of the world.
Simon Meeds showed images which were often rather more abstract than Cheryl’s: A very different approach where line and shape is more important than the subject. Having said that, Simon also showed street scenes and an almost monochrome flypast of two Lancaster Bombers.
Mike Ashfield is more interested in travel and landscape. He described how, for him, some landscapes have too much sun. Rain and mist create the mood which he is looking for.
13th May 2024
Amy Shore - Emotional Storytelling in the Automotive World
Amy is an automotive photographer who photographs vehicles both as subjects in their own right and taking part in motor-sport.
In her talk, Amy repeatedly emphasised keeping things simple: for most of her work she uses just three lenses and none are zooms. Above all, she wants an image to tell a story. A car is not just an object. It is an object used by people to do something. Those people, the drivers, passengers, mechanics and so on, are as important as the car. Between them they tell the story.
The story is also told in light. The word photography means “drawing with light”. Amy starts not with the car, nor even the people, but with the light. Where is the light coming from, how is it shaping the subject. In describing her pictures she often began by describing being first attracted to the light.
She spends much of her time looking for locations – places where, like a stage set, she can tell a story. We are lucky here in Gloucestershire being close to the Cotswolds where there are many picturesque villages – places which evoke dreams of an imagined idyllic past.
Amy is an automotive photographer who photographs vehicles both as subjects in their own right and taking part in motor-sport.
In her talk, Amy repeatedly emphasised keeping things simple: for most of her work she uses just three lenses and none are zooms. Above all, she wants an image to tell a story. A car is not just an object. It is an object used by people to do something. Those people, the drivers, passengers, mechanics and so on, are as important as the car. Between them they tell the story.
The story is also told in light. The word photography means “drawing with light”. Amy starts not with the car, nor even the people, but with the light. Where is the light coming from, how is it shaping the subject. In describing her pictures she often began by describing being first attracted to the light.
She spends much of her time looking for locations – places where, like a stage set, she can tell a story. We are lucky here in Gloucestershire being close to the Cotswolds where there are many picturesque villages – places which evoke dreams of an imagined idyllic past.
29th April 2024
Andrew Marker (FRPS) presented a selection of images from the Bristol International Salon of Photography. This is one of the UK’s leading International Exhibitions (https://bristolsalon.co.uk/). Andrew was a judge at the Salon.
Congratulations to Brian McBride and Peter Haworth, both members of Thornbury Camera Club, who had images selected for the Salon.
The range of image styles represented was as wide as is expected from such an exhibition: From Sport to Dance, from Portrait to Wildlife. While similar displays, such as NEMPF are purely local, being limited to just part of the UK, the Bristol Salon is international. It gives members of the camera club the opportunity to see images from round the world. I noticed several landscapes from Romania, and environmental portraits from the Far East.
As well as conventional images there was the selection of fantasy images which we have come to expect. Several contained costumed people alongside wolves. They were clearly not from this country! The danger with fantasy images of this kind is that the costumes can dominate the image – perhaps there should be awards not only for photography but also for costume and makeup design.
Overall, however, the selection of images was stimulating and must have left many members with ideas for images but, perhaps, without wolves!
Congratulations to Brian McBride and Peter Haworth, both members of Thornbury Camera Club, who had images selected for the Salon.
The range of image styles represented was as wide as is expected from such an exhibition: From Sport to Dance, from Portrait to Wildlife. While similar displays, such as NEMPF are purely local, being limited to just part of the UK, the Bristol Salon is international. It gives members of the camera club the opportunity to see images from round the world. I noticed several landscapes from Romania, and environmental portraits from the Far East.
As well as conventional images there was the selection of fantasy images which we have come to expect. Several contained costumed people alongside wolves. They were clearly not from this country! The danger with fantasy images of this kind is that the costumes can dominate the image – perhaps there should be awards not only for photography but also for costume and makeup design.
Overall, however, the selection of images was stimulating and must have left many members with ideas for images but, perhaps, without wolves!
March 2024
25th March 2024
This was a magazine-style evening where Thornbury Camera Club included several topics rather than welcoming a single speaker. A couple of weeks ago the club viewed the first part of an audio visual presentation from the North and East Midlands Photographic Federation. This evening opened with the second part of that presentation. This offered images including dance, wildlife and sport. For me, the photographs of butterflies were outstanding.
For most of the remainder of the evening Barry Wilson, a member of the club, talked about studio photographs. This style of photography used to be popular but is rarely seen today. This is probably because the investment in setting up a studio is prohibitive for many people - not only the cost of the equipment but the availability of the space needed. The best approach today is to hire studio space by the hour. One studio Barry has used organises days and half days where the cost of the studio and model can be shared by several photographers.
The evening closed with a presentation of images from students on the club’s recent course for beginner photographers. Many of us were thinking how long ago it was since we started out learning the craft of photography and how much more we still have to learn.
For most of the remainder of the evening Barry Wilson, a member of the club, talked about studio photographs. This style of photography used to be popular but is rarely seen today. This is probably because the investment in setting up a studio is prohibitive for many people - not only the cost of the equipment but the availability of the space needed. The best approach today is to hire studio space by the hour. One studio Barry has used organises days and half days where the cost of the studio and model can be shared by several photographers.
The evening closed with a presentation of images from students on the club’s recent course for beginner photographers. Many of us were thinking how long ago it was since we started out learning the craft of photography and how much more we still have to learn.
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18th March 2024
Now retired, Phil Savoie was a producer and cameraman for the BBC Natural History Unit. He is notable not only for excellent pictures but for knowing what he is talking about technically. This technical knowledge is not based on theory but on “doing the job” over several decades.
On this occasion the subject was “shutter speed”: From very fast shutter speeds to freeze the motion of an insect in flight to the use of very slow shutter speeds for artistic effect.
He started with a brief discussion of the quality of lenses and identifying the “sweet spot” – typically an aperture of about f/5.6. Smaller than this and diffraction starts to degrade the image.
For insects, Phil used very fast shutter speeds of about 1/4000 second. Even so, the wings were still blurred. He also made the point that, despite the preparations, it is often necessary to take many images, perhaps thousands, to get the result required. It was clear that Phil starts with a very clear idea of what he is looking for.
At longer shutter speeds Phil looked at creating the impression of speed in sports photography. Finally he moved to Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) where, far from freezing the action, the idea is to use blur to simplify the image.
On this occasion the subject was “shutter speed”: From very fast shutter speeds to freeze the motion of an insect in flight to the use of very slow shutter speeds for artistic effect.
He started with a brief discussion of the quality of lenses and identifying the “sweet spot” – typically an aperture of about f/5.6. Smaller than this and diffraction starts to degrade the image.
For insects, Phil used very fast shutter speeds of about 1/4000 second. Even so, the wings were still blurred. He also made the point that, despite the preparations, it is often necessary to take many images, perhaps thousands, to get the result required. It was clear that Phil starts with a very clear idea of what he is looking for.
At longer shutter speeds Phil looked at creating the impression of speed in sports photography. Finally he moved to Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) where, far from freezing the action, the idea is to use blur to simplify the image.
11th March 2024
It is important not only to take photographs, but to look at photographs. On this evening, Thornbury Camera Club looked at images from two very different sources. In the first part of the meeting, images from the North and East Midlands Photographic Federation annual exhibition were shown. We see this exhibition every year. The images are always varied and of extremely high quality. The number of “fantasy” montage images seemed to be lower than in previous years. Sports and wildlife, however, were in abundance. Particularly of note were a series of images of wheelchair sports men and women playing tennis. Not only were the images excellent but the achievements of the players were an inspiration.
In the second part of the evening, club member Rose Kemp showed some of her images. Starting with the trees and leaves of Westonbirt she moved on to close-up flower pictures taken at home. These were presented both as individual images but as panels: groups of images presented together. She went on to show her fascination with the work of Edward Weston who was working in California in the first half of the twentieth century.
In the second part of the evening, club member Rose Kemp showed some of her images. Starting with the trees and leaves of Westonbirt she moved on to close-up flower pictures taken at home. These were presented both as individual images but as panels: groups of images presented together. She went on to show her fascination with the work of Edward Weston who was working in California in the first half of the twentieth century.
4th March 2024
Documentary photography is about telling stories. This is a tradition that goes back to magazines such as Picture Post and Life back in the last century. Ann Nissen (ARPS), speaking over Zoom from her home in Manchester, used photography to tell the stories of people in Morocco. By talking to people and being accepted into their lives she was able to illustrate her stories in a way which would be impossible for a conventional tourist.
From a photographic point of view, Morocco is about colour. Everywhere is the warm brown of mud buildings and the people wearing locally woven clothes in reds and yellows, greens, blues and gold. Ann was able to photograph the weavers at work as well as the people wearing the clothes. The women decorate themselves with henna. Ann joined in, covering her hands with brown dye.
Ann was invited into houses where she shared sweet tea while photographing the kitchens and living spaces. She shared their meals and photographed families sharing vegetables and Couscous cooked in a tagine: the traditional Moroccan cooking pot. These people have very little compared to our affluent lifestyle but they were happy. Maybe we are missing something.
From a photographic point of view, Morocco is about colour. Everywhere is the warm brown of mud buildings and the people wearing locally woven clothes in reds and yellows, greens, blues and gold. Ann was able to photograph the weavers at work as well as the people wearing the clothes. The women decorate themselves with henna. Ann joined in, covering her hands with brown dye.
Ann was invited into houses where she shared sweet tea while photographing the kitchens and living spaces. She shared their meals and photographed families sharing vegetables and Couscous cooked in a tagine: the traditional Moroccan cooking pot. These people have very little compared to our affluent lifestyle but they were happy. Maybe we are missing something.
February 2024
26th February 2024
Photography is an art based on technology. In a sense this has always been the case. In the past this technology was based on chemicals but in the last few decades it has moved from chemicals to computers. In this brave new world, new skills are needed to achieve consistent results without spending more time sitting in front of a computer than in actually taking and making pictures.
In this talk to Thornbury Camera Club, Mac Chivers described these new techniques not as a set of separate skills but as a process in which all the skills come together as a single sequence: a workflow. Standardising a workflow makes the process of moving from an exposure to a final image shorter, more consistent and, dare I say it, more fun! More time can be spent taking pictures and less time mechanically processing them.
Mac described the process of making images and of storing them. He described how to take advantage of the technology to produce a higher quality final image for presentation. I look forward to seeing how the use of a consistent workflow might change the photographs produced by members of the club.
19th February 2024
The fourth round of the Thornbury Camera Club annual round of competitions was judged by Ralph Snook (ARPS, DPAGB, EFIAP/s). There was no set subject so Ralph had the task of sorting out a range of images from almost abstract to landscape and wildlife. He undertook the task with enthusiasm and provided a commentary which offered useful advice to everyone who had entered.
There were twenty one entries in the print section. Peter Haworth came first with “Moness Burn”. In second place with “Otters and Crab” was George Collett. Third place went to “Overdue Service” by Rob England. Other images noted by the judge were by Mike Ashfield, George Collett, Rob England, Peter Haworth and Dean Packer.
Thirty eight images were presented in the digital projected section. “Evening Light” gave first place to Peter Haworth. Rose Kemp came second with “Caught in the Rain”. In third place was George Collett with “Gannet Take-Off”. Other images noted by the judge were by Mike Ashfield, Rod Crabb, Barbara Gibbons, Janet Mann, Nigel Newman and Barry Wilson.
12th February 2024
Tom Crowe was a chairman of Thornbury Camera Club during those slightly troubling years when photography was moving from being an art based on chemicals to an art based on computers. Older members found their darkrooms and associated skills were becoming obsolete. Meanwhile, newer members were navigating the new world of Photoshop. For a while some camera clubs suffered declining membership. Tom navigated Thornbury Camera Club through that troubled time to become the thriving club which it is today.
Every year Thornbury Camera Club hosts an inter-club competition named after Tom. On this occasion six clubs took part. There are eight rounds. Four have a set subject such as “landscape”. The remaining four rounds are open. In each round each club submits one image. A judge, in this case Peter Crane (ARPS) from Swindon, then awards marks to each image and, after each round, a leader board shows which clubs are rising and falling. The judging is recorded so that each club has the freedom to schedule the show to fit with their programme.
After all eight rounds a result was declared. “A1 Camera Club” from Weston-super-Mare came first with Thornbury a creditable second.
5th February 2024
Members of Camera Clubs, while they may be keen makers of images, tend to show the kind of pictures which they think camera club judges will like. So, what else do they do? For this evening at Thornbury Camera Club, member Rob England showed the breadth of his image making.
The range of work on display could be characterised by simply looking at the first and last parts of his presentation. He started with live photographs of a band and ended with astronomy! On the way he visited landscapes and cityscapes. He took formal and informal portraits. He captured aircraft in flight - from the Battle of Britain Flight to the Red Arrows.
Rob studied photography at college where he had access to studios and equipment such as a 4”x5” camera. Much of the college images which he showed were still lifes. These often required a large amount of prior construction work. Rob is clearly a skilled set-builder.
It was wonderful to see such a variety of work. I wonder which other members are hiding such a wealth of creativity. I look forward to finding out.
January 2024
29th January 2024
While outside speakers can be fascinating and introduce new insights, it is always good to see images from Thornbury Camera Club’s own members - photographs from home. That was the case with this evening at the club. Two members introduced some of their own images.
Mervyn Reed presented a “Pick & Mix” of images from home and round the world. While pictures of the Sydney Opera House always evoke memories of holidays past, it was the flowers and gardens which attracted, reflecting Mervyn’s life in horticulture.
Nigel Newman took a more structured approach to his tour of Germany. Each of his 26 images was a composite of several pictures, each based on a letter of the alphabet. Since their younger son made Germany his home since the late “noughties”, Nigel and his wife have visited many times. The 26 images represented a journey of discovery. Covering both popular tourist destinations and facing up to the darkness of Germany’s early twentieth century past, the journey had interest for everyone.
I look forward to more evenings of members own images. Everyone has stories to tell and photographs are a good way of telling them.
22nd January 2024
There can be few amateur photographers who have not at some time been asked to photograph a wedding. For this meeting of Thornbury Camera Club, Dee Green and Tracey Taylor described their approach. Dee and Tracey hail from Australia but are based in Tokyo from where they joined us on Zoom. This must be the club’s most distant Zoom lecture so far. The speakers were in Tokyo where it was 4:30 am.
Dee and Tracey described their approach which, apart from photography, clearly involved hours of detailed planning: The kind of planning which allowed them to appear spontaneous while working as a coordinated team. What stood out, of course, were the photographs. They clearly showed why they are in demand internationally. There were the formal images which are expected of every wedding, but also the informal images: Capturing the moment in a way which seemed reminiscent of documentary and street photography. While the images were excellent, it was this breadth of styles which stood out for me.
At the end of the evening, as club members set out into a cold Thornbury night, I could only wonder what Dee and Tracey were thinking as they started a new day in Tokyo.
There can be few amateur photographers who have not at some time been asked to photograph a wedding. For this meeting of Thornbury Camera Club, Dee Green and Tracey Taylor described their approach. Dee and Tracey hail from Australia but are based in Tokyo from where they joined us on Zoom. This must be the club’s most distant Zoom lecture so far. The speakers were in Tokyo where it was 4:30 am.
Dee and Tracey described their approach which, apart from photography, clearly involved hours of detailed planning: The kind of planning which allowed them to appear spontaneous while working as a coordinated team. What stood out, of course, were the photographs. They clearly showed why they are in demand internationally. There were the formal images which are expected of every wedding, but also the informal images: Capturing the moment in a way which seemed reminiscent of documentary and street photography. While the images were excellent, it was this breadth of styles which stood out for me.
At the end of the evening, as club members set out into a cold Thornbury night, I could only wonder what Dee and Tracey were thinking as they started a new day in Tokyo.
15th January 2024
George Collett has a reputation in Thornbury Camera Club for his Wildlife photographs. Members were, therefore, looking forward to his talk on Wildlife in the Costa Rica rainforest. They were not disappointed. From hummingbirds to snakes: From frogs to sloths and porcupines they were all here.
Perhaps the most spectacular were the hummingbirds. Just a few inches long but glowing with iridescent bright-coloured plumage. These birds hover in front of the flowers from which they extract nectar. To hover they must beat their wings at up to seventy beats per second. Conventional photography cannot freeze motion this fast. Electronic flash is the only option. The flash is so short that, at last, the wings can be seen.
While Costa Rica was the main topic of George’s presentation, he provided variety by moving further afield to India. Here George’s eye took in not only the vultures and eagles but the lives of the people who live there. He recorded the traffic with its overloaded motorbikes and cycles. Above all, however, he was drawn to the people themselves: The bright colours of their clothing recalling the hummingbirds in his photographs from the other side of the world.
8th January 2024
This evening was round three of Thornbury Camera Club’s annual round of competitions. Sandie Cox (ARPS DPAGB EFIAP) was invited to judge the competition. Sandie is a local Nature/Wildlife and Travel photographer and a member of Bristol Photographic Society.
This was an open competition. This meant that there was no linking theme. The judge had to be prepared to judge any image on any subject: Portrait compared with landscape and still life against sport.
In the “Digital Projected” section, there were 44 entries. Barry Wilson came first with "Polo". In second place was Garry Holden with "Having A Break". “Black Church” from Vincent Mann was awarded third place. Other images noted by the judge were from George Collett, Rodney Crabb, Peter Haworth, Janet Mann, Vincent Mann and Graham Peers.
In the “Print” section there were 22 entries. “Lake Kerkini Dalmation Pelicans" gave first place to George Collett. Peter Haworth took second position with "Navigation Aid". Third place went to Mike Ashfield with "Mangersta Sea Stacks". Other noted images were from Mike Ashfield and Steve Wells.
December 2023
18th December 2023
When a speaker comes to Thornbury Camera Club with prints, there is a problem: the prints may be wonderful but they are very small at the front of a large hall. Only the front row can see them. This meeting was an experiment in changing that. Three members of the club each brought prints to talk about. However, instead of setting up the room for the traditional lecture, it was set up as an exhibition. Each speaker was given thirty minutes in which a short talk was followed by a walkabout in which members could examine the prints close up. Everyone got a far better view of the prints than they would have had given the normal presentation.
Steve Wells showed prints from both the present day and from when he started making prints forty years ago. Dean Packer sells prints on a market every weekend: he brought his complete market stall. Brian McBride decided to debate the problem of whether photography is an art. This debate was started by Roger Fenton 170 years ago and still has no resolution.
The consensus was that this was a better way of looking at prints. Whether we can convince our outside speakers to change the way they do things remains to be seen.
11th December 2023
Every year Thornbury Camera Club hosts a projected image presentation from the North and East Midlands Photographic Federation (N&EMPF). On this occasion the presentation drew on the photographic archive maintained by N&EMPH. This archive goes back to the 1940s and reveals the way club photography has changed over the years.
In some areas, the older images looked very dated. No-one in a camera club maintains a studio any more. As houses have got smaller, studios and darkrooms have disappeared. This is partly because technology has changed but also because they occupy too much of the domestic living space. The soft focus portraits which looked as if they could have been taken in Hollywood in the 1940s have been replaced by harsher street photographs: the street is the modern studio.
On the other hand, landscape does not change. Some of these images could have been taken today. In fact, some of them could have been taken at any time after Roger Fenton used wet plate processing in the 1850s.
What has also changed is the extent to which images can be manipulated. With colour slides, what you got was pretty well final. Post production manipulation was very limited. Today with software we can make major changes at the press of a key. Is that an improvement?
4th December 2023
Jonathan Genevaux is a professional photographer who specialises in waterscapes. That is, landscapes containing water as lakes, rivers or the sea.
Jonathan comes from the Gironde in western France but has lived in and photographed in countries such as Latvia, Vietnam, Luxembourg, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Senegal. He has now settled in the UK and spends much of his time photographing the lochs and rivers of Scotland.
What was particularly noticeable was the extent of his preparation and the extent to which modern technology has allowed him to be well prepared. He uses Google maps to get an idea of the landscape and Streetview to get a feel for an area before even leaving home. There are smartphone Apps which can show when and where the sun will rise and set on a particular day. Weather apps show the wind direction and strength. This will affect the character of waves: again, all this before leaving home.
On arriving at the location where he wants to take a picture, his first advice is at first rather strange: don’t get your camera out. Instead, start by simply standing and looking. Don’t get lost in the technology before absorbing the potential of the scene.
November 2023
27th November
For the latest round of the annual internal competition, the subject was “Urban”. This is a fairly flexible subject which allows many interpretations. So, the images presented to judge Peter OIttley from Weston-super-Mare, included cities old and new from old European centres to the skylines of the modern Far East. Despite the subject seemingly being about buildings and architecture, many photographers managed to include people living and moving within this environment. Images of people drinking coffee appeared several times, as did people ignoring their surroundings in favour of interacting with their mobile phones.
Twenty prints were entered for the competition. Peter Haworth came first with “High Rise Sunset”. In second place was Steve Wells with “Away from the Crowds”. Third place went to Dean Packer with “Hey, Did you just take my picture?” Other mentioned photographers were: George Collett, Robert England and Dean Packer.
In the digital projected section there were 42 entries. Garry Holden came first and third with “Urban Playing” and “Waiting”.Second place went to Simon Riches with “Sodden”. Other mentioned photographers were: Mike Ashfield, Christine Crabb, Rodney Crabb, Robert England, Barbara Gibbons, Peter Haworth, Rose Kemp, Janet Mann, Simon Meeds, Nigel Newman and Barry Wilson.
Twenty prints were entered for the competition. Peter Haworth came first with “High Rise Sunset”. In second place was Steve Wells with “Away from the Crowds”. Third place went to Dean Packer with “Hey, Did you just take my picture?” Other mentioned photographers were: George Collett, Robert England and Dean Packer.
In the digital projected section there were 42 entries. Garry Holden came first and third with “Urban Playing” and “Waiting”.Second place went to Simon Riches with “Sodden”. Other mentioned photographers were: Mike Ashfield, Christine Crabb, Rodney Crabb, Robert England, Barbara Gibbons, Peter Haworth, Rose Kemp, Janet Mann, Simon Meeds, Nigel Newman and Barry Wilson.
20th November 2023
The members of Thornbury Cameras Club have many skills related to photography. At this meeting, , members were encouraged to demonstrate their skills to encourage other members to try new ideas for themselves.
On one side of the room, Brian McBride encouraged people to take photographs. He brought a guitar and an old bellows camera as props. Members took pictures and, encouraged by Brian, took intentionally blurred images as a way to create a new kind of image.
Once you have taken your photograph, Simon Meeds and Andy Gillingham showed how to edit the image on a computer. Andy showed Lightroom: the cataloguing and editing program which sits alongside the better known Photoshop. Simon showed darktable, GIMP and Paint.net. These are similar to Lightroom and Photoshop but have a significant advantage: they are free. Meanwhile, Peter Davies showed the special effects which are available in the Affinity software editor.
Having created your image, you need to show it off. Since the beginning of photography the print has been the preferred way to show off. Phones and tablets are taking over, but there is still something special about handling a mounted print. Simon Riches showed how to cut the mounting board to create a mount for a print.
On one side of the room, Brian McBride encouraged people to take photographs. He brought a guitar and an old bellows camera as props. Members took pictures and, encouraged by Brian, took intentionally blurred images as a way to create a new kind of image.
Once you have taken your photograph, Simon Meeds and Andy Gillingham showed how to edit the image on a computer. Andy showed Lightroom: the cataloguing and editing program which sits alongside the better known Photoshop. Simon showed darktable, GIMP and Paint.net. These are similar to Lightroom and Photoshop but have a significant advantage: they are free. Meanwhile, Peter Davies showed the special effects which are available in the Affinity software editor.
Having created your image, you need to show it off. Since the beginning of photography the print has been the preferred way to show off. Phones and tablets are taking over, but there is still something special about handling a mounted print. Simon Riches showed how to cut the mounting board to create a mount for a print.
13th November 2023
Peter Young (LRPS CPAGB AFIAP HonPAGB) has been taking photographs for more than seventy years. He described how as a young boy he learned how to process his own prints. He was immediately caught by the magic of an image appearing on the white photographic paper as he slipped it into the developer and gently rocked the dish. This magic has never left him. He is not a Luddite: He has experimented with digital imaging. The problem is that Photoshop, for all its power, simply does not have the same magic.
While Peter did show some of his colour images, most of his talk was illustrated by monochrome prints. He showed images of Scotland and the bleak Rannoch Moor above Glen Coe. He travelled to Iceland where the landscape is so monochrome that colour images look black and white. Back in the studio he takes portraits
Peter has experimented with infra-red images where green leaves turn white. He has experimented with darkroom “Lith” processing which produces high contrast images with a warm tone.
Above all, Peter clearly enjoys himself. It is possible that this might have rubbed off on some of the digital photographers in the club and persuaded them that the old darkroom way of doing things has some merit after all.
While Peter did show some of his colour images, most of his talk was illustrated by monochrome prints. He showed images of Scotland and the bleak Rannoch Moor above Glen Coe. He travelled to Iceland where the landscape is so monochrome that colour images look black and white. Back in the studio he takes portraits
Peter has experimented with infra-red images where green leaves turn white. He has experimented with darkroom “Lith” processing which produces high contrast images with a warm tone.
Above all, Peter clearly enjoys himself. It is possible that this might have rubbed off on some of the digital photographers in the club and persuaded them that the old darkroom way of doing things has some merit after all.
6th November 2023
The speaker at Thornbury Camera Club this week was not a photographer. Laura Westgate is a graduate in Fine Arts and is head of Art at Bradley Stoke Community School. She came to talk about composition and the kind of processing techniques which members of the club would not normally use.
Her description of composition included much of what a photographer would normally think of but was not constrained by the conventions of “Camera Club Photography”. While her mentions of the rule of thirds and the Fibonacci spiral fitted what photographers learn, her analysis of line and shape was refreshing. I do not normally see an image in terms of rectangles and circles.
It was in the suggestions for post-production presentation that many of the members were taken aback. They would not normally think of physically destroying a print by cutting it up and sewing it back together or by painting over it. She brought examples of her students’ work which included book covers, prints bound into concertinas and collages made from images which had been sliced into strips and reassembled in different orders or out of alignment.
It would be nice to think that at the next competition some of these ideas would find expression.
Her description of composition included much of what a photographer would normally think of but was not constrained by the conventions of “Camera Club Photography”. While her mentions of the rule of thirds and the Fibonacci spiral fitted what photographers learn, her analysis of line and shape was refreshing. I do not normally see an image in terms of rectangles and circles.
It was in the suggestions for post-production presentation that many of the members were taken aback. They would not normally think of physically destroying a print by cutting it up and sewing it back together or by painting over it. She brought examples of her students’ work which included book covers, prints bound into concertinas and collages made from images which had been sliced into strips and reassembled in different orders or out of alignment.
It would be nice to think that at the next competition some of these ideas would find expression.
October 2023
30th October 2023
The James Webb Space Telescope is the most expensive camera ever made! While you can spend large amounts of money on specialist equipment for astrophotography, it is possible to get started with the kind of equipment which most photographers already have available.
Allen Lloyd spends his time photographing the stars and deep space nebulae. For much of this meeting, however, he discussed relatively simple images: star-trails and landscapes dominated by the moon or the Milky Way. The main issue is nothing to do with equipment or cost. It is light pollution. We live in a world where, in urban areas particularly, we assume that lights can be switched on all the time. Many people have never seen true darkness. Coming from central Wales, Allen lives in an area of the country with clear skies.
As well a camera and a lens, you need software. Most photographers today have access to Photoshop or its equivalent. This is all you need to get started. Dedicated software comes later, but that is often free or inexpensive.
At the end of his presentation, Allen showed what is possible with more expensive equipment: dedicated telescopes rather than everyday camera lenses. The beauty of the deep space nebulae in all their glory is breathtaking.
Allen Lloyd spends his time photographing the stars and deep space nebulae. For much of this meeting, however, he discussed relatively simple images: star-trails and landscapes dominated by the moon or the Milky Way. The main issue is nothing to do with equipment or cost. It is light pollution. We live in a world where, in urban areas particularly, we assume that lights can be switched on all the time. Many people have never seen true darkness. Coming from central Wales, Allen lives in an area of the country with clear skies.
As well a camera and a lens, you need software. Most photographers today have access to Photoshop or its equivalent. This is all you need to get started. Dedicated software comes later, but that is often free or inexpensive.
At the end of his presentation, Allen showed what is possible with more expensive equipment: dedicated telescopes rather than everyday camera lenses. The beauty of the deep space nebulae in all their glory is breathtaking.
23rd October 2023
For this evening, two members of Thornbury Camera Club, Mike Ashfield and Steve Skinner, presented images and described recent trips to Scottish islands.
Mike visited St Kilda: a group of islands out in the Atlantic Ocean about forty miles west of North Uist. It had been occupied for at least two millennia until it was finally evacuated in 1930. Today it is administered by the National Trust for Scotland. Mike spent several days there walking the steep and, in the rain, slippery hills. Apart from dramatic landscapes Mike saw and photographed birdlife including cormorants, razorbills, fulmars, skuas, gannets and puffins. It is possible to visit the islands on a day trip: four hours of rough sea to get there, four hours on the islands and four hours to get back!
Steve took a more leisurely trip to the Shetland Isles. The object in this case was not to photograph birds but to visit family. Steve timed his visit to be in Lerwick at the same time as the Tall Ships Race. Ships are important. Steve’s family includes a sailor who built his own sailing ship and tried, twice, to sail alone around the world and had to be rescued twice: once from the Southern Ocean and again from off the coast of Chile.
Mike visited St Kilda: a group of islands out in the Atlantic Ocean about forty miles west of North Uist. It had been occupied for at least two millennia until it was finally evacuated in 1930. Today it is administered by the National Trust for Scotland. Mike spent several days there walking the steep and, in the rain, slippery hills. Apart from dramatic landscapes Mike saw and photographed birdlife including cormorants, razorbills, fulmars, skuas, gannets and puffins. It is possible to visit the islands on a day trip: four hours of rough sea to get there, four hours on the islands and four hours to get back!
Steve took a more leisurely trip to the Shetland Isles. The object in this case was not to photograph birds but to visit family. Steve timed his visit to be in Lerwick at the same time as the Tall Ships Race. Ships are important. Steve’s family includes a sailor who built his own sailing ship and tried, twice, to sail alone around the world and had to be rescued twice: once from the Southern Ocean and again from off the coast of Chile.
16th October 2023
This was the first of Thornbury Camera Club’s six annual competitions. This round had an open theme which means that any subject could be entered. The judge Beryl Heaton had the unenviable task of separating the “still lifes” from the “landscapes” and the “portraits” from the “sports” pictures. The variety was particularly noticeable as there were images from Iceland being set against a Polo Match and a Graffiti Artist!
Twenty-two images were entered in the print section. Mike Ashfield came first with “Sunset at Castlerigg”. In second place was Dean Packer with “A Time for Reflection”. “Dalmatian Pelican” gave third place to George Collett. Other photographers noted by the judge were Robert England and Vincent Mann.
In the projected image section fifty-four images were shown. Vincent Mann came first with “Break in the Clouds”. “Street Scene Bath” by Janet Mann came second. In third place was “Red Squirrel Reflection” by George Collett. Other photographers noted by the judge were Peter Davies, Rodney Crabb, Barbara Gibbons, Alicia Thomas, Simon Riches and Barry Wilson.
The next round in the competition will be at the end of November when the subject will be “Urban”.
Twenty-two images were entered in the print section. Mike Ashfield came first with “Sunset at Castlerigg”. In second place was Dean Packer with “A Time for Reflection”. “Dalmatian Pelican” gave third place to George Collett. Other photographers noted by the judge were Robert England and Vincent Mann.
In the projected image section fifty-four images were shown. Vincent Mann came first with “Break in the Clouds”. “Street Scene Bath” by Janet Mann came second. In third place was “Red Squirrel Reflection” by George Collett. Other photographers noted by the judge were Peter Davies, Rodney Crabb, Barbara Gibbons, Alicia Thomas, Simon Riches and Barry Wilson.
The next round in the competition will be at the end of November when the subject will be “Urban”.
9th October 2023
Sarah Howard has visited Thornbury Camera Club before to show her landscape photographs. Based in the Cotswolds, Sarah is a professional photographer who runs courses on photography visiting amongst other places, Scotland, the Lake District and Tuscany. She showed images from all these places in her talk about capturing mood and atmosphere in Landscapes.
So, what is “Mood”. It is a very general concept which covers everything we can feel about a subject from peace and tranquillity to violence and anger. Mist over a lake in the early morning can evoke dreams of tranquillity while a dark sky combined with dramatic lighting suggests violence and even anger. Images in tourist brochures show sunny scenes which create a sense of happiness – they want us to buy a holiday so that we can be happy as well!
Colour is a good indicator of mood. Red attracts attention: think of a field of poppies or a red telephone box. Blue reminds us of the peace of a quiet evening. A related colour, Green creates a sense of the calm of a spring day in the countryside. Yellow and Orange are warm and inviting while darker greys and blacks tend to repel.
Photographs are not just pictures. They carry emotions and reflect how we feel.
So, what is “Mood”. It is a very general concept which covers everything we can feel about a subject from peace and tranquillity to violence and anger. Mist over a lake in the early morning can evoke dreams of tranquillity while a dark sky combined with dramatic lighting suggests violence and even anger. Images in tourist brochures show sunny scenes which create a sense of happiness – they want us to buy a holiday so that we can be happy as well!
Colour is a good indicator of mood. Red attracts attention: think of a field of poppies or a red telephone box. Blue reminds us of the peace of a quiet evening. A related colour, Green creates a sense of the calm of a spring day in the countryside. Yellow and Orange are warm and inviting while darker greys and blacks tend to repel.
Photographs are not just pictures. They carry emotions and reflect how we feel.
2nd October 2023
If you are interested in photography, one of the great things about a club like Thornbury Camera Club is that there are likeminded people who can offer advice and who will welcome your advice. At this meeting, members were asked to submit images which they might have doubts about in order to ask how they might be improved. A panel of experts, some of whom also submitted images, was nominated to kick off discussion. The discussion was then widened to the rest of the group.
The images submitted for discussion included portraits and landscapes, a garden and a close-up of an insect. The discussions tended to have two basic themes. First, was there an improvement which could be made to the composition; perhaps by cropping the picture or, more fundamentally, by questioning the intention behind pressing the shutter. The second main theme was technical. For example, could the image of an insect be improved by using a technique called “focus stacking” to create an artificially deep depth of field.
In one case, the issue was whether the photo, having been heavily manipulated, was still a photograph. The consensus was that if it started as a photograph then it was still a photograph.
The images submitted for discussion included portraits and landscapes, a garden and a close-up of an insect. The discussions tended to have two basic themes. First, was there an improvement which could be made to the composition; perhaps by cropping the picture or, more fundamentally, by questioning the intention behind pressing the shutter. The second main theme was technical. For example, could the image of an insect be improved by using a technique called “focus stacking” to create an artificially deep depth of field.
In one case, the issue was whether the photo, having been heavily manipulated, was still a photograph. The consensus was that if it started as a photograph then it was still a photograph.
September 2023
25th September 2023
Lisa Rendall started with a very successful career in TV and Stage as a dancer. She always had a flare for art and when she moved on to photography she was quickly seen as something of a rebel. She claims not to know much about cameras. Judging from her images, she knows rather more than she lets on.
Her real specialisation is to play with images. This is not usually in a conventional way but by drastically distorting colours and shapes, by combining several images or by moving the camera during exposures. She accepts and even searches for out of focus images to simplify the forms. She very often combines images with textures derived from coffee stained or crumpled paper.
The more extreme her alterations, the more she likes it. Some of her images are purely abstract. The point is that Lisa has an artist’s eye for colour and shape. Photography is a way to express her art: not an end in itself.
The images which I remember are the images which still show something of their origins rather than becoming completely abstract. I remember images taken in Weymouth. She had gone out of season so that there were only a few people forming small groups on the beach.
Her real specialisation is to play with images. This is not usually in a conventional way but by drastically distorting colours and shapes, by combining several images or by moving the camera during exposures. She accepts and even searches for out of focus images to simplify the forms. She very often combines images with textures derived from coffee stained or crumpled paper.
The more extreme her alterations, the more she likes it. Some of her images are purely abstract. The point is that Lisa has an artist’s eye for colour and shape. Photography is a way to express her art: not an end in itself.
The images which I remember are the images which still show something of their origins rather than becoming completely abstract. I remember images taken in Weymouth. She had gone out of season so that there were only a few people forming small groups on the beach.
18th September 2023
Ashley Franklin (ARPS, APAGB, BPE2*) is a well known speaker: he is the voice of the annual N&EMPF exhibition. He is Chairman of Derby City Photographic Club and for this talk joined Thornbury Camera Club from Derbyshire via Zoom.
His talk covered the story of photography not as is often the case through its technology, but through its applications: portrait, fashion, industrial, war and social documentary photography.
Many of the photographers and images were well known: David Bailey and his New York trip with a young Jean Shrimpton for Vogue; Cecil Beaton’s picture of the coronation in 1953; Robert Capa’s dying soldier in the Spanish Civil War; Don McCullin’s shell shocked soldier in Vietnam; Steve McCurry’s Afghan Girl; Yousuf Karsh photographing an angry Churchill by stealing his cigar.
The quality of the work which Ashley had selected shows what inspired many of us to get involved in photography in the first place. Few of us can aspire to be Bailey or Karsh… but we can dream.
For anyone with an interest in photography, Ashley’s talk was like spending a pleasant evening with old friends. Then, combine that with some new names and initially unfamiliar pictures which will, in time, become new friends and new inspiration.
His talk covered the story of photography not as is often the case through its technology, but through its applications: portrait, fashion, industrial, war and social documentary photography.
Many of the photographers and images were well known: David Bailey and his New York trip with a young Jean Shrimpton for Vogue; Cecil Beaton’s picture of the coronation in 1953; Robert Capa’s dying soldier in the Spanish Civil War; Don McCullin’s shell shocked soldier in Vietnam; Steve McCurry’s Afghan Girl; Yousuf Karsh photographing an angry Churchill by stealing his cigar.
The quality of the work which Ashley had selected shows what inspired many of us to get involved in photography in the first place. Few of us can aspire to be Bailey or Karsh… but we can dream.
For anyone with an interest in photography, Ashley’s talk was like spending a pleasant evening with old friends. Then, combine that with some new names and initially unfamiliar pictures which will, in time, become new friends and new inspiration.
11th September 2023
Thornbury Camera Club is now settled back into its winter home: Turnberries. At this meeting, Dean Packer gave a talk in which he attempted to add some clarity to the rather fevered discussions of Artificial Intelligence (AI) which have worried the press in recent weeks.
AI has been in use in photography for many years. For example, modern cameras have a focussing system which can recognise faces and track those faces as the subject moves. Without such technology I would find it very difficult to take photographs of my grandson. He moves too quickly for manual focussing to keep up. Getting better pictures of my grandson is not going to bring the world to an end.
The questions arise when AI is used to create new pictures. So, you want a picture of a dinosaur in the middle of Thornbury? No problem: Just ask, and AI can create it! Well... after a fashion. All AI can do is match patterns. It doesn’t know what a dinosaur is, or what Thornbury is. When you ask for a dinosaur in Thornbury, what you might get is a mouse in the middle of Bristol if that is the best pattern match the AI can come up with.
As I said, The world is not about to come to an end.
AI has been in use in photography for many years. For example, modern cameras have a focussing system which can recognise faces and track those faces as the subject moves. Without such technology I would find it very difficult to take photographs of my grandson. He moves too quickly for manual focussing to keep up. Getting better pictures of my grandson is not going to bring the world to an end.
The questions arise when AI is used to create new pictures. So, you want a picture of a dinosaur in the middle of Thornbury? No problem: Just ask, and AI can create it! Well... after a fashion. All AI can do is match patterns. It doesn’t know what a dinosaur is, or what Thornbury is. When you ask for a dinosaur in Thornbury, what you might get is a mouse in the middle of Bristol if that is the best pattern match the AI can come up with.
As I said, The world is not about to come to an end.
4th September 2023
This meeting was the judging of an annual three way competition between Thornbury Camera Club, Sodbury and Yate Photographic Club, and Crossbow Camera Club from Frampton Cotterell. A location is chosen and a day specified. On the day, the three camera clubs must visit the location to take photographs. The rules state that images may not be manipulated other than simple cropping or adjustments to brightness, contrast, and colour balance. Nothing can be deleted or added. This is photography reduced to its fundamentals.
The competition was judged by Peter Crane (ARPS) with Thornbury taking its turn to host the competition.
The photographs were taken earlier this year on May 14th. The location was the area round Clifton Downs, the Suspension Bridge and, on the west side of the river, Leigh Woods. To add to the interest this was also the occasion for the Great Bristol Run.
Most of the images were taken in the urban streets of Clifton. The suspension bridge appeared in several images. Of these, the best, for me, was a night-time time exposure taken from below showing the light trails of moving traffic.
At the half way point, Crossbow had taken the lead but at the end were overhauled by this year’s winners: Sodbury and Yate.
The competition was judged by Peter Crane (ARPS) with Thornbury taking its turn to host the competition.
The photographs were taken earlier this year on May 14th. The location was the area round Clifton Downs, the Suspension Bridge and, on the west side of the river, Leigh Woods. To add to the interest this was also the occasion for the Great Bristol Run.
Most of the images were taken in the urban streets of Clifton. The suspension bridge appeared in several images. Of these, the best, for me, was a night-time time exposure taken from below showing the light trails of moving traffic.
At the half way point, Crossbow had taken the lead but at the end were overhauled by this year’s winners: Sodbury and Yate.
2022 -2023 Season
Summer Outings
Aug 21st 2023 - Tockington
While the autumn equinox is still several weeks away, for photographic purposes the nights are drawing in and the Thornbury Camera Club summer meetings are coming to a close for another year. For the last meeting of the summer programme, Thornbury Camera Club met in Tockington. The first hour, while the light was still useable, was spent taking pictures in the village. Then the group moved to the Swan Inn to share some of their images from this year's summer outings and to discuss where they should consider visiting for next year’s summer outings.
Images were shared on a laptop computer, several tablets and phones and even some “real” prints (that is to say hardcopy not needing electronics to look at them!) It became clear that the range of visits over the summer has been extensive including country villages, harbours and rivers, and surfing at the Wave. While the group tried to remain local, there were visits to Chepstow, Gloucester and Bristol.
In a couple of weeks we will all meet up again for the start of the Club’s winter programme back in Turnberries.
Images were shared on a laptop computer, several tablets and phones and even some “real” prints (that is to say hardcopy not needing electronics to look at them!) It became clear that the range of visits over the summer has been extensive including country villages, harbours and rivers, and surfing at the Wave. While the group tried to remain local, there were visits to Chepstow, Gloucester and Bristol.
In a couple of weeks we will all meet up again for the start of the Club’s winter programme back in Turnberries.
Aug 14th 2023 - Sharpness
We are near the end of Thornbury Camera Club’s summer programme. The evening was bright and clear when members met near the docks at Sharpness. However, autumn is approaching and the sun was already low in the sky.
Some photographers walked along the canal as far as the ruins of the old Severn railway bridge. Boats were the obvious subject but what drew their attention was the evening light on the remains of water lilies, and a family of swans.
Another group chose the river rather than the canal. The wind was beginning to blow a little stronger and the water was turning rough. The walk took them past the SARA Sharpness Lifeboat Station. The state of the river emphasised how treacherous the tidal waters of the Severn can be with fast-flowing currents and a tidal range of more than 10 metres.
Beyond the Lifeboat Station is the marina. Some of the boats moored here are large and capable of seagoing. Some, however, had clearly not moved for many months or even years and were possibly used as an escape from the hectic world for a quiet break with a cup of tea.
As the sun set, the members gathered in the Sharpness Docker’s Club for a chat and a drink.
Some photographers walked along the canal as far as the ruins of the old Severn railway bridge. Boats were the obvious subject but what drew their attention was the evening light on the remains of water lilies, and a family of swans.
Another group chose the river rather than the canal. The wind was beginning to blow a little stronger and the water was turning rough. The walk took them past the SARA Sharpness Lifeboat Station. The state of the river emphasised how treacherous the tidal waters of the Severn can be with fast-flowing currents and a tidal range of more than 10 metres.
Beyond the Lifeboat Station is the marina. Some of the boats moored here are large and capable of seagoing. Some, however, had clearly not moved for many months or even years and were possibly used as an escape from the hectic world for a quiet break with a cup of tea.
As the sun set, the members gathered in the Sharpness Docker’s Club for a chat and a drink.
Aug 7th 2023 Bristol Old City and Harbour
The centre of Bristol has much to attract photographers. There is the old city north of Queen Square, and the harbour is not far away. So, for this evening meeting, members of Thornbury Camera Club planned to meet in the centre of Queen Square before travelling their separate ways to whichever parts of the city most interested them.
In fact, since the nights are beginning to draw in, several members arrived early to catch the light and, by the time of the proposed rendezvous, were already taking advantage of the afternoon and early evening light to take their photographs. Unfortunately, this good light did not last and, as the group waited in Queen Square, the sky clouded over. Some were sceptical that there would be any further good light during the rest of the evening. Simon insisted that it would improve and it did. (Time for a quick round of “Simon Says”!)
The group split up. Some heading for the harbour, the boats and the lights reflected in the water. Others took themselves to the old city for the old buildings and for the Bristol night life: the people frequenting the bars and restaurants.
In fact, since the nights are beginning to draw in, several members arrived early to catch the light and, by the time of the proposed rendezvous, were already taking advantage of the afternoon and early evening light to take their photographs. Unfortunately, this good light did not last and, as the group waited in Queen Square, the sky clouded over. Some were sceptical that there would be any further good light during the rest of the evening. Simon insisted that it would improve and it did. (Time for a quick round of “Simon Says”!)
The group split up. Some heading for the harbour, the boats and the lights reflected in the water. Others took themselves to the old city for the old buildings and for the Bristol night life: the people frequenting the bars and restaurants.
July 31st 2023 Severn Beach
For centuries, Severn Beach was the stopping off point for travellers crossing to South Wales. One of the last travellers was Bob Dylan who, in May 1966, was on his way from Bristol, where he had played at the Colston Hall for his next gig in Cardiff. Barry Feinstein took a photograph of Dylan at the Aust terminal which later appeared on an album cover. The ferry crossing finally ceased a few months later when the Severn Bridge opened.
For this week's outing, members of Thornbury Camera Club set off for Severn Beach to find out what photographic opportunities might remain. The ruined remains of the original ferry terminal building still stand, but the scene is dominated today by the Second Severn Crossing.
To start, the weather was not good! The wind was whipping spray off the water to combine with the rain which, with the help of the wind, seemed to be falling horizontally. On the other hand, the storm created some very impressive skyscapes.
The weather improved later with some members walking up to New Passage and under the bridge itself. Finally, however, the sun vanished and the group decided that a little refreshment was called for at the Boar's Head at Aust.
For this week's outing, members of Thornbury Camera Club set off for Severn Beach to find out what photographic opportunities might remain. The ruined remains of the original ferry terminal building still stand, but the scene is dominated today by the Second Severn Crossing.
To start, the weather was not good! The wind was whipping spray off the water to combine with the rain which, with the help of the wind, seemed to be falling horizontally. On the other hand, the storm created some very impressive skyscapes.
The weather improved later with some members walking up to New Passage and under the bridge itself. Finally, however, the sun vanished and the group decided that a little refreshment was called for at the Boar's Head at Aust.
July 24th 2023 Wotton-under-Edge
Wotton-under-Edge is described as a picturesque market town at the southern tip of the Stroud District. The first record of the town dates back to 940. The town has a great deal to offer the photographer: It has a church, almshouses, a good selection of old buildings and interesting shop fronts. For this, the latest of Thornbury Camera Club's summer outings, about sixteen members met to take advantage of the photographic opportunities. Unlike some recent meetings, the weather was good (As I write this, cricket lovers are still smarting from the cancellation of the fourth Ashes test in Old Trafford). There was good light coming through later, glancing along textured surfaces and lighting the West side of the church tower.
Sometimes the evenings can be a little empty of people. On this occasion there were quite a few people out and about during the evening. Some of them will have been caught in photographs.
The group split up to tour the town centre before returning to the churchyard and, from there, to the Star Inn for a drink and a chat. The Star claims to have been serving ales since at least 1572. It also claims to be the inspiration for the White Star shipping line of which the most famous vessel was the Titanic.
Sometimes the evenings can be a little empty of people. On this occasion there were quite a few people out and about during the evening. Some of them will have been caught in photographs.
The group split up to tour the town centre before returning to the churchyard and, from there, to the Star Inn for a drink and a chat. The Star claims to have been serving ales since at least 1572. It also claims to be the inspiration for the White Star shipping line of which the most famous vessel was the Titanic.
July 17th 2023 Clevedon
Clevedon is well known for its Victorian pier. It is less well known for an extensive promenade with the pier at one end and the Salthouse bar and restaurant at the other. When Thornbury Camera Club visited they started at the Salthouse end (the parking is easier). What made this visit different were the costumed models which accompanied them: Four figures dressed in their best steampunk regalia.
Wikipedia describes steampunk as “a subgenre of science fiction that incorporates retrofuturistic technology and aesthetics inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.” Be that as it may, our four figures were dressed in mock Victorian/Edwardian costume embellished with goggles which an early motorcar driver might have worn. Costume decorations were badges and details from a completely different era. It sounds anachronistic and it is: It is exactly what it is intended to be. That is the fun of it.
The models and a group of about twenty photographers walked the length of the promenade taking pictures against a backdrop of the pier and the Victorian bandstand. Very soon it seemed that the only anachronistic features of the group were the modern digital cameras: The club members should all have been using brass and mahogany cameras and glass plates.
Wikipedia describes steampunk as “a subgenre of science fiction that incorporates retrofuturistic technology and aesthetics inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.” Be that as it may, our four figures were dressed in mock Victorian/Edwardian costume embellished with goggles which an early motorcar driver might have worn. Costume decorations were badges and details from a completely different era. It sounds anachronistic and it is: It is exactly what it is intended to be. That is the fun of it.
The models and a group of about twenty photographers walked the length of the promenade taking pictures against a backdrop of the pier and the Victorian bandstand. Very soon it seemed that the only anachronistic features of the group were the modern digital cameras: The club members should all have been using brass and mahogany cameras and glass plates.
July 10th 2023 Chepstow
Chepstow is one of those places which photographers really must visit. It has a river with interesting bridges, and a castle looking down over a bend in the river. Parts of the castle date back almost to William the Conqueror. So, it was an obvious destination for one of Thornbury Camera Club’s summer outings.
I should, of course, mention that you really need good light to take photographs. If you have been following these reports of the club’s summer outings, you may have noticed that they seem to attract rain. Yes, it was raining! Actually, just drizzling would be a better description: Damp enough to be uncomfortable. A group of eight met in the Castle Dell car park. Splitting into two, one group headed towards the castle and the town centre to photograph the street life. Others headed for the River Wye and the bridge. The tide was going out so the mud flats were much in evidence. Attention turned to the gardens and floral displays at various pubs and restaurants.
Around nine o’clock the survivors retired to the Three Tuns to dry out and, over a drink, to chat about the evenings exploits.
I should, of course, mention that you really need good light to take photographs. If you have been following these reports of the club’s summer outings, you may have noticed that they seem to attract rain. Yes, it was raining! Actually, just drizzling would be a better description: Damp enough to be uncomfortable. A group of eight met in the Castle Dell car park. Splitting into two, one group headed towards the castle and the town centre to photograph the street life. Others headed for the River Wye and the bridge. The tide was going out so the mud flats were much in evidence. Attention turned to the gardens and floral displays at various pubs and restaurants.
Around nine o’clock the survivors retired to the Three Tuns to dry out and, over a drink, to chat about the evenings exploits.
July 3rd 2023 The Wave
If you think about surfing, you are probably thinking of Cornwall or perhaps the sunlit seas of Hawaii. You are probably not thinking of the green fields of Gloucestershire. However, that is where members of Thornbury Camera Club found themselves on their latest summer outing. The Wave Bristol describes itself as a “slice of the ocean inland” providing waves from 0.5 metres to 2 metres.
From a photographic point of view The Wave provides a safe and, above all, dry opportunity to take pictures of skilled surfers demonstrating their craft. About 16 members of the club arrived to take advantage of the possibilities. On previous visits the weather had been bright sun and high temperatures. On this occasion it was cool, breezy and cloudy. The sun broke through for a couple of minutes just before the end but that was it! The poor weather could explain why there were fewer surfers than on previous visits.
Nonetheless, there were images to be found and we are likely to see the results at the club in coming weeks.
Some people left early, finding the conditions a bit cold and uncomfortable. Those who stayed long enough for a chat in the bar opted for hot drinks rather than cool beers.
From a photographic point of view The Wave provides a safe and, above all, dry opportunity to take pictures of skilled surfers demonstrating their craft. About 16 members of the club arrived to take advantage of the possibilities. On previous visits the weather had been bright sun and high temperatures. On this occasion it was cool, breezy and cloudy. The sun broke through for a couple of minutes just before the end but that was it! The poor weather could explain why there were fewer surfers than on previous visits.
Nonetheless, there were images to be found and we are likely to see the results at the club in coming weeks.
Some people left early, finding the conditions a bit cold and uncomfortable. Those who stayed long enough for a chat in the bar opted for hot drinks rather than cool beers.
June 26th 2023 Frenchay
Frenchay was the destination for Thornbury Camera Club’s latest summer outing. About a dozen members gathered outside the Parish Church before setting off to test the imaging options. One group left to explore the churchyard to the sound of bells as the ringers practiced. Others descended to the lower part of the village where the older cottages are to be found. Some members were rather wary of the steep descent. After all, if you go down, you have to come up again at some point.
Close to the church is one of the stranger landmarks of Frenchay: the old petrol station and garage. A Morris Minor with several wheels missing is parked, or do I mean dumped, outside. The garage looks Art Deco and the pumps have not delivered petrol for many decades. It's the kind of place which ought to be run by the National Trust.
As with all summer meetings of Thornbury Camera Club, as the sun dipped, the meeting retired to the local pub: the White Lion. It turned out to be a quiz night. None of the photographers took part, but, if you were there and were still wondering, the person who Shakespeare described as "the noblest Roman of them all" was Brutus.
Close to the church is one of the stranger landmarks of Frenchay: the old petrol station and garage. A Morris Minor with several wheels missing is parked, or do I mean dumped, outside. The garage looks Art Deco and the pumps have not delivered petrol for many decades. It's the kind of place which ought to be run by the National Trust.
As with all summer meetings of Thornbury Camera Club, as the sun dipped, the meeting retired to the local pub: the White Lion. It turned out to be a quiz night. None of the photographers took part, but, if you were there and were still wondering, the person who Shakespeare described as "the noblest Roman of them all" was Brutus.
June 19th 2023 Gloucester Docks
Considering the rain at the last outdoor meeting, and the thunderstorms over the weekend, Members of Thornbury Camera Club might have been a little wary as they set out for another summer evening taking photographs. As it turned out, the weather was fine and sunny as members arrived at Gloucester Docks for a couple of hours of photography before retiring to a pub.
Gloucester Docks is no longer a centre for shipping. Today it is a centre for sitting around in the sun while spending a little leisure time eating and drinking. For the club members, this was all suitable subject matter for photographs. Slowly, the group meandered down the dockside to the lightship technically known as LV14 SULA. For 26 years SULA was moored in the Humber Estuary until being decommissioned in 1985. Today, should you wish, you can book the cabins and stay on board.
Close to the SULA is Llanthony Secunda Priory. This is all that remains of an Augustinian Priory dating back to 1136. While little remains of the priory what does survive represents a part of Gloucester’s history which seems sadly unremembered.
As is the usual way of such evenings, the group returned to the docks and to a pub where the weather was still pleasant enough to sit out of doors.
Gloucester Docks is no longer a centre for shipping. Today it is a centre for sitting around in the sun while spending a little leisure time eating and drinking. For the club members, this was all suitable subject matter for photographs. Slowly, the group meandered down the dockside to the lightship technically known as LV14 SULA. For 26 years SULA was moored in the Humber Estuary until being decommissioned in 1985. Today, should you wish, you can book the cabins and stay on board.
Close to the SULA is Llanthony Secunda Priory. This is all that remains of an Augustinian Priory dating back to 1136. While little remains of the priory what does survive represents a part of Gloucester’s history which seems sadly unremembered.
As is the usual way of such evenings, the group returned to the docks and to a pub where the weather was still pleasant enough to sit out of doors.
June 12th 2023 Oldbury-on-Severn
Having completed the formal meetings for the year, Thornbury Camera Club has started its summer meetings. The idea is that members turn up at a prearranged meeting point to take photographs and then retire to a nearby pub (also prearranged).
For the first meeting, the chosen location was Oldbury on Severn. Perhaps members should have taken note of the weather forecast. In the afternoon there had been rain and thunder. Arriving in Oldbury, the clouds were heavy and the light was poor. Nonetheless, fifteen members turned up. Some set off into the village to photograph the old houses. Others set off towards the Yacht Club on the banks of the Severn. On the walk towards the river the photographers met several dog walkers seemingly heading quickly for home! Then came the spots of rain and, with thunder rumbling and crashing over to the east, a steady stream of photographers carefully guarding their equipment from the increasingly heavy downpour made their way to the bar of the Anchor.
For the first meeting, the chosen location was Oldbury on Severn. Perhaps members should have taken note of the weather forecast. In the afternoon there had been rain and thunder. Arriving in Oldbury, the clouds were heavy and the light was poor. Nonetheless, fifteen members turned up. Some set off into the village to photograph the old houses. Others set off towards the Yacht Club on the banks of the Severn. On the walk towards the river the photographers met several dog walkers seemingly heading quickly for home! Then came the spots of rain and, with thunder rumbling and crashing over to the east, a steady stream of photographers carefully guarding their equipment from the increasingly heavy downpour made their way to the bar of the Anchor.
5th June 2023
Another year of Monday meetings has come to an end at Thornbury Camera Club. For a bit of fun, members were asked to submit images on the theme of “Fun and Games”. This could be the photographer reacting to an event or, as with many of the images, children having fun at the expense of the adults who would have to clean up the mess afterwards! The images were then entered into a knockout competition. Images were displayed in pairs. Then, with a show of hands, members voted one image of the pair to be retained for the next round while the other was consigned to oblivion! Half the images having been eliminated, the surviving images were carried through to another round. The eventual winner was Rose Kemp with an image of a child standing in a fountain. The parent who would have to clean up the mess by providing dry clothes was not shown.
Another end of season competition was held online on the club forum. Members were to show their best image from the last year. In this case, the winner by the popular vote was Janet Mann with an image of Iceland.
The evening finished with a buffet and a look forward to the club’s summer activities.
Another end of season competition was held online on the club forum. Members were to show their best image from the last year. In this case, the winner by the popular vote was Janet Mann with an image of Iceland.
The evening finished with a buffet and a look forward to the club’s summer activities.
22nd May 2023
This evening at Thornbury Camera Club was the last of six competitions run throughout the year. This was an open competition judged by an ex-member of the club: Bob Eschle who visited us from his new home in the south west of the country.
In the print competition, Steve Wells came first with “Violin Maker”. Second was Dean Packer with “Dotonbori”. “High Street, Oxford” gave third place to Edward Kilmartin. Other Images mentioned by the judge were by George Collett and Dean Packer.
In the projected image competition, first place went to Rodney Crabb with “Impact!”. Edward Kilmartin took both second and third places with “Nuthatch” and “Storm Wave Porthcawl”. Other Images mentioned by the judge were from Mike Ashfield, George Collett, Christine Crabb, Robert England, Garry Holden, Rose Kemp, Janet Mann, Cheryl Miller, Steve Wells and Barry Wilson.
Overall, across the six competitions held throughput the year, Dean Packer came first in the print section, while Robert England headed the table for the projected images.
In the print competition, Steve Wells came first with “Violin Maker”. Second was Dean Packer with “Dotonbori”. “High Street, Oxford” gave third place to Edward Kilmartin. Other Images mentioned by the judge were by George Collett and Dean Packer.
In the projected image competition, first place went to Rodney Crabb with “Impact!”. Edward Kilmartin took both second and third places with “Nuthatch” and “Storm Wave Porthcawl”. Other Images mentioned by the judge were from Mike Ashfield, George Collett, Christine Crabb, Robert England, Garry Holden, Rose Kemp, Janet Mann, Cheryl Miller, Steve Wells and Barry Wilson.
Overall, across the six competitions held throughput the year, Dean Packer came first in the print section, while Robert England headed the table for the projected images.
15th May 2023
David Boag is a wildlife photographer who seems to have started his professional career before there was really such a thing as a wildlife photographer. He started in the days of film when there was no preview on the back of the camera and the 35mm slides took three weeks to come back from Kodak in Hemel Hempstead.
He spends his time creating what today we call photobooks but when he published his first book on Kingfishers, the word photobook was yet to be invented. He went on to publish eighteen books.
Most unusual were his various commissions from the quarry industry. The companies, first in the UK and later in the USA, wanted him to produce books of images showing wildlife juxtaposed with industry: Wildlife not in some imagined idyllic untouched space, but in the real world of the 21st century.
Throughout, his message was that to deliver the goods you need a positive attitude. When you wake up on holiday expecting sun and you get fog, what do you do? You could mutter under your breath about a wasted day, or you could look and realise that here is something new and unexpected. Not a wasted day at all but a day with different, unexpected opportunities.
He spends his time creating what today we call photobooks but when he published his first book on Kingfishers, the word photobook was yet to be invented. He went on to publish eighteen books.
Most unusual were his various commissions from the quarry industry. The companies, first in the UK and later in the USA, wanted him to produce books of images showing wildlife juxtaposed with industry: Wildlife not in some imagined idyllic untouched space, but in the real world of the 21st century.
Throughout, his message was that to deliver the goods you need a positive attitude. When you wake up on holiday expecting sun and you get fog, what do you do? You could mutter under your breath about a wasted day, or you could look and realise that here is something new and unexpected. Not a wasted day at all but a day with different, unexpected opportunities.
17th April 2023
Every year the Western Counties Photographic Federation creates a portfolio of about 80 prints to tour the region. This week Thornbury Camera Club played host. In order to create something different, the prints were shared round six tables. At each table was a group of members who were asked to examine the prints according to a different keyword such as “Impact”, “Mood”, “Technique” and so on. The table looking at “Mood” identified calm peaceful images but also a tree with angular branches viewed through mist. “Impact”, on the other hand, identified low key images including one of a boxer.
In Camera Manipulation (ICM) has become popular in recent years. This is where the camera is moved for artistic effect rather than by accident. The results can be fascinating. One image chosen under the “Preferences” keyword showed a seascape with three figures: perhaps parents and a child. All other detail had been removed by the movement of the camera. Inevitably the word “Impressionist” gets used to describe such images though it is unlikely that Monet would have recognised the technique.
Another group of images showed mother and child images from (probably) somewhere in Africa. While the images were technically excellent, there was an uneasy sense of intrusion. A white photographer who can afford to travel takes photographs of an objectified subject of colour.
In Camera Manipulation (ICM) has become popular in recent years. This is where the camera is moved for artistic effect rather than by accident. The results can be fascinating. One image chosen under the “Preferences” keyword showed a seascape with three figures: perhaps parents and a child. All other detail had been removed by the movement of the camera. Inevitably the word “Impressionist” gets used to describe such images though it is unlikely that Monet would have recognised the technique.
Another group of images showed mother and child images from (probably) somewhere in Africa. While the images were technically excellent, there was an uneasy sense of intrusion. A white photographer who can afford to travel takes photographs of an objectified subject of colour.
3rd April 2023
This evening was the fifth of Thornbury Camera Club’s six annual competitions. The original judge was unavailable due to illness so an old friend of the club, Aleks Gjika, stood in at the last moment. So, not only did Aleks have to cope with an “open” competition where “anything goes”, but had to undertake the judging without having seen the images in advance.
As usual, there were two classes: “prints” and “digital projected”.
Eighteen prints were entered. George Collett came first with “Fish for Breakfast”. In second place was Mike Ashfield with “Tree by the River Coe”. “Luxury Delivery” gave third place to Dean Packer. Other images mentioned by Aleks were from Mike Ashfield and Simon Meeds.
Fifty two projected images were entered. “Gloucester Cathedral” gave first place to Carriad Eager-Hobden. Second place went to George Collett with “Getting Airborne”. Vincent Mann took third place with “Tidal Mud”. Other images mentioned came from Rodney Crabb, Robert England, Garry Holden, Andy Kemp, Rose Kemp, Janet Mann, Nigel Newman, Garry Holden.
The club’s thanks go again to Aleks for standing in at the last moment.
As usual, there were two classes: “prints” and “digital projected”.
Eighteen prints were entered. George Collett came first with “Fish for Breakfast”. In second place was Mike Ashfield with “Tree by the River Coe”. “Luxury Delivery” gave third place to Dean Packer. Other images mentioned by Aleks were from Mike Ashfield and Simon Meeds.
Fifty two projected images were entered. “Gloucester Cathedral” gave first place to Carriad Eager-Hobden. Second place went to George Collett with “Getting Airborne”. Vincent Mann took third place with “Tidal Mud”. Other images mentioned came from Rodney Crabb, Robert England, Garry Holden, Andy Kemp, Rose Kemp, Janet Mann, Nigel Newman, Garry Holden.
The club’s thanks go again to Aleks for standing in at the last moment.
27th March 2023
“Street Photography” is about going out and documenting what you find. It is about telling the stories of the people and buildings which make up our urban landscape. It is the photography of Henry Cartier Bressan and Marilyn Stafford. It is a theme which has inspired some of the greatest photographers. Despite this, many amateur photographers steer clear. Perhaps they are afraid of being seen with a camera in public. Perhaps they are afraid of being challenged: of being asked what they are doing.
At this meeting of Thornbury Camera Club members were asked to rise to the challenge and to show pictures on the theme of “Street Photography”. Twelve members rose to the challenge. Simon Meeds created an audio-visual of each one. So, we were presented with twelve jazz-accompanied views of the world in which we live. Some concentrated on the urban landscape: The buildings and the light and shadow surrounding them. Others concentrated on the people and their surroundings. Many images contrasted people with other images of people in advertisements and shop window displays.
Many people seemed to be spending their time interacting with mobile phones. Many others, however, were interacting with each other. Sometimes, and these were the most powerful, they were interacting with the photographer and, through the photographer, with us.
At this meeting of Thornbury Camera Club members were asked to rise to the challenge and to show pictures on the theme of “Street Photography”. Twelve members rose to the challenge. Simon Meeds created an audio-visual of each one. So, we were presented with twelve jazz-accompanied views of the world in which we live. Some concentrated on the urban landscape: The buildings and the light and shadow surrounding them. Others concentrated on the people and their surroundings. Many images contrasted people with other images of people in advertisements and shop window displays.
Many people seemed to be spending their time interacting with mobile phones. Many others, however, were interacting with each other. Sometimes, and these were the most powerful, they were interacting with the photographer and, through the photographer, with us.
20th March 2023
Too often, photographs created by past members get lost: Seen a few times and then hidden in a
box in the attic. So, it was good to see some of the work of Alec Skirrow, a former chairman of
Thornbury Camera Club. Alec died over ten years ago and a selection of his prints was made
available to the club. Andy Gillingham, who knew Alec, presented them.
Alec was particularly interested in people from Mandy, a bar maid in the Swan, to the local rabbit
catcher working with his tame ferret. Most were studio images and almost all were monochrome.
Alec was clearly skilled in darkroom techniques.
One monochrome print had the title “Green”. This turned out to be a very modern take on the
meaning of “Green”: recycling. A model was wearing a dress made of newspaper with ear rings
made from beer cans.
The second half of the evening was a follow-up to the club’s recent beginners’ course. Some of the
students presented their work. While there were portraits and some general scenes, there seemed
to be a lot of swans! It is good to see some new photographers and it is clear that the rest of us need
to look to our laurels.
box in the attic. So, it was good to see some of the work of Alec Skirrow, a former chairman of
Thornbury Camera Club. Alec died over ten years ago and a selection of his prints was made
available to the club. Andy Gillingham, who knew Alec, presented them.
Alec was particularly interested in people from Mandy, a bar maid in the Swan, to the local rabbit
catcher working with his tame ferret. Most were studio images and almost all were monochrome.
Alec was clearly skilled in darkroom techniques.
One monochrome print had the title “Green”. This turned out to be a very modern take on the
meaning of “Green”: recycling. A model was wearing a dress made of newspaper with ear rings
made from beer cans.
The second half of the evening was a follow-up to the club’s recent beginners’ course. Some of the
students presented their work. While there were portraits and some general scenes, there seemed
to be a lot of swans! It is good to see some new photographers and it is clear that the rest of us need
to look to our laurels.
13th March 2023
Peter Weaver (APAGB CPAGB LRPS) is an old friend of the club who takes familiar and often funny photographs of people. On this occasion, Peter took the opportunity to bring along some old photographs. By old I don’t mean sepia toned, I mean BDP (Before Digital Photography). Most of the images were scanned slides. I’m sure that many of us have whole archives of slides which never see the light of day.
Peter visits many fairs and celebrations in order to find photographs of interesting looking people doing interesting things. On this occasion he took us to twelve events from steam fairs to country fairs and to anywhere where people dress up in fancy costumes. While Peter describes himself as a “people-photographer”, it was interesting to note how many animals also found a place in front of his lens: From the Appleby Horse Fair to the judging of cattle, pigs and sheep at farm shows. Perhaps Peter sees people as another kind of animal or maybe animals as another kind of person?
Music plays a role in all the events he visits: Often Rock or Country music but with a liberal dose of Morris and medieval re-enactment thrown in for good measure.
Whatever Peter’s people were doing, there was one common feature: They were all enjoying themselves.
Peter visits many fairs and celebrations in order to find photographs of interesting looking people doing interesting things. On this occasion he took us to twelve events from steam fairs to country fairs and to anywhere where people dress up in fancy costumes. While Peter describes himself as a “people-photographer”, it was interesting to note how many animals also found a place in front of his lens: From the Appleby Horse Fair to the judging of cattle, pigs and sheep at farm shows. Perhaps Peter sees people as another kind of animal or maybe animals as another kind of person?
Music plays a role in all the events he visits: Often Rock or Country music but with a liberal dose of Morris and medieval re-enactment thrown in for good measure.
Whatever Peter’s people were doing, there was one common feature: They were all enjoying themselves.
6th March 2023
Every year Thornbury Camera Club hosts the projected image exhibition from the North and East Midlands Photographic Federation (N&EMPF). This is always an excellent evening. This year 312 photographers entered 2806 entries representing 41 clubs. While this was down on some previous years, it is a remarkable entry considering that we are just recovering from the Covid Pandemic.
In previous years there has been a predominance of images owing more to theatre than to conventional photography. Such images tend to be assembled in a computer and consist of actors in costume taking part in either historical or mythological scenes. I sometimes feel that there should be awards for costume and set design. While these images are excellent and entertaining, there is more to photography than the recreation of ancient legends.
I particularly welcomed the number of sports photographs which were entered this year: particularly disabled sports men and women who are often ignored. The number of wheelchair tennis players made me wonder whether a trip had been arranged to deliver photographers to the event. Whatever the arrangements it was refreshing to see the images. Such photographic trips have a social as well as a photographic purpose. I sometimes think that the coffee break is one of the most important parts of a Camera Club meeting.
In previous years there has been a predominance of images owing more to theatre than to conventional photography. Such images tend to be assembled in a computer and consist of actors in costume taking part in either historical or mythological scenes. I sometimes feel that there should be awards for costume and set design. While these images are excellent and entertaining, there is more to photography than the recreation of ancient legends.
I particularly welcomed the number of sports photographs which were entered this year: particularly disabled sports men and women who are often ignored. The number of wheelchair tennis players made me wonder whether a trip had been arranged to deliver photographers to the event. Whatever the arrangements it was refreshing to see the images. Such photographic trips have a social as well as a photographic purpose. I sometimes think that the coffee break is one of the most important parts of a Camera Club meeting.
27th February 2023
Today, Thornbury Camera Club welcomed David Cantor to talk to the club. David is a street photographer who concentrates on the Brick Lane area of the East End of London. This is a place that holds a special place in his affections. Several branches of his family have lived there in the last 150 years.
David’s entry for the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize 2016 was used on the catalogue cover for the National Portrait Gallery 2016 exhibition and for an extensive poster campaign.
David not only looks for images. He looks for the stories of people. Where have they come from: what are they doing? The talk was not really about photographs. It was about those stories: the stories of the people who live and work around Brick Lane. Some were down and outs, others were running shops. Some people he had photographed several times over the years. It was also about David’s story and his exploration of his own background and history in the area.
On display was a cultural diversity which we do not see in Thornbury. This is our loss. From the perspective of Thornbury they seemed strange with their piercings and tattoos. But, with their stories they become just like us with our worries and concerns, our failures and successes.
David’s entry for the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize 2016 was used on the catalogue cover for the National Portrait Gallery 2016 exhibition and for an extensive poster campaign.
David not only looks for images. He looks for the stories of people. Where have they come from: what are they doing? The talk was not really about photographs. It was about those stories: the stories of the people who live and work around Brick Lane. Some were down and outs, others were running shops. Some people he had photographed several times over the years. It was also about David’s story and his exploration of his own background and history in the area.
On display was a cultural diversity which we do not see in Thornbury. This is our loss. From the perspective of Thornbury they seemed strange with their piercings and tattoos. But, with their stories they become just like us with our worries and concerns, our failures and successes.
20th February 2023
Round 4 of the Internal Competition had the theme “High or Low Key”. High key inages tend to be light coloured with no shadows or texture. All the interest comes from the colour and tonal shading of the subject. Low key, on the other hand, concentrates on shadows and texture. Such images tend to be dark. The judge on this occasion was Steve Hallam (LRPS) from Hanham and Kingswood Photo Club.
In the print section, Dean Packer came first with “Geishas Going Home”. Second went to George Collett with “Gannet Scream”. “White Nigella” gave third place to Steve Wells. Other mentioned photographers were Mike Ashfield, Edward Kilmartin and Dean Packer.
In the projected image section, Robert England came first with “Upstairs First on the Right”. “Royal Icing” gave second place to Simon Meeds. In third place, with “Room 906” came Rodney Crabb. Other photographers mentioned by the judge were George Collett, Christine Crabb, Robert England, Barbara Gibbons, Andy Gillingham, Vincent Mann, Steve Wells and Barry Wilson.
In the print section, Dean Packer came first with “Geishas Going Home”. Second went to George Collett with “Gannet Scream”. “White Nigella” gave third place to Steve Wells. Other mentioned photographers were Mike Ashfield, Edward Kilmartin and Dean Packer.
In the projected image section, Robert England came first with “Upstairs First on the Right”. “Royal Icing” gave second place to Simon Meeds. In third place, with “Room 906” came Rodney Crabb. Other photographers mentioned by the judge were George Collett, Christine Crabb, Robert England, Barbara Gibbons, Andy Gillingham, Vincent Mann, Steve Wells and Barry Wilson.
13th February 2023
Sarah Howard teaches photography. She leads courses in landscape photography both in this country and abroad. On this occasion she visited Thornbury Camera Club to give the club the benefit of her experience and, almost in passing, to show some of her photographs. While she demonstrated the classic rules of photography: The Rule of Thirds, leading lines and so on, she emphasised repeatedly the importance of time of day, of patience and of planning.
Sarah showed images which showed the same scene under different lighting conditions which might have been taken only a few minutes apart. The message was “don’t be satisfied with the lighting”. Wait to see if it changes. Perhaps, in a little while, the light will fall on a different part of the scene giving a different shape to a different part of the landscape.
In the morning and evening the light is often more dramatic. Not simply red sunsets but the way clouds can be shaped by the light at that time of day. When the sun is lower in the sky the light, raking over the land, shows the shape and texture better than it ever can towards the middle of the day.
Everyone was inspired and quite a few were seen leaving at the end clutching leaflets about her courses.
Sarah showed images which showed the same scene under different lighting conditions which might have been taken only a few minutes apart. The message was “don’t be satisfied with the lighting”. Wait to see if it changes. Perhaps, in a little while, the light will fall on a different part of the scene giving a different shape to a different part of the landscape.
In the morning and evening the light is often more dramatic. Not simply red sunsets but the way clouds can be shaped by the light at that time of day. When the sun is lower in the sky the light, raking over the land, shows the shape and texture better than it ever can towards the middle of the day.
Everyone was inspired and quite a few were seen leaving at the end clutching leaflets about her courses.
6th February 2023
To take a snapshot of a person takes the fraction of a second it takes to press the shutter button. To understand that person in order to take a photograph which captures who that person is takes hours or even days. Daryl and Judy Ford have been visiting the countryside of Romania for many years; visiting the same people to get to know them and their world.
The traditional way of life of these farming people has changed little for decades: possibly centuries. Now, suddenly, it is changing. The old ways of life are being lost. Old people are left behind as young people leave or change their ways. The people Daryl and Judy were photographing were in their 80s and 90s without pensions. Living off the land: a pig, a couple of cattle, some chickens. Maybe some sheep but they can be lost to the wolves and bears.
This is Europe.
The photographs showed the warmth and familiarity which we might show to close friends and family. For Daryl and Judy, it seemed that they were certainly friends and maybe a kind of family.
It was a privilege to be invited, through the photographs, into the warmth of that family.
The traditional way of life of these farming people has changed little for decades: possibly centuries. Now, suddenly, it is changing. The old ways of life are being lost. Old people are left behind as young people leave or change their ways. The people Daryl and Judy were photographing were in their 80s and 90s without pensions. Living off the land: a pig, a couple of cattle, some chickens. Maybe some sheep but they can be lost to the wolves and bears.
This is Europe.
The photographs showed the warmth and familiarity which we might show to close friends and family. For Daryl and Judy, it seemed that they were certainly friends and maybe a kind of family.
It was a privilege to be invited, through the photographs, into the warmth of that family.
30th January 2023
Every club needs communications: Between members, between the club and members and between the organisers. Several years ago Thornbury Camera Club was using Yahoo Groups supplemented by email. This then moved to a Facebook Group which was always intended to be temporary but, as is the way of such things, stayed around somewhat longer than planned. This was never completely successful: In part because not everyone trusts Facebook!
The time has come for the club to move on again. This evening the club moved on to the next stage in its internal communications. The group now has its own dedicated forums accessed directly from the club website. Members can post messages which might ask for advice or offer an image for comment as to how it might be improved.
Steve Skinner is one of the members who have led the implementation of the forums. Steve led the evening by demonstrating the forums. He described how to register with the site. He showed how to post messages and how to respond to postings from other members.
The forums should become a central part of the all important communications within the club for many years to come. After that, who knows what the next generation of communications might bring.
The time has come for the club to move on again. This evening the club moved on to the next stage in its internal communications. The group now has its own dedicated forums accessed directly from the club website. Members can post messages which might ask for advice or offer an image for comment as to how it might be improved.
Steve Skinner is one of the members who have led the implementation of the forums. Steve led the evening by demonstrating the forums. He described how to register with the site. He showed how to post messages and how to respond to postings from other members.
The forums should become a central part of the all important communications within the club for many years to come. After that, who knows what the next generation of communications might bring.
23rd January 2023
Derwood Pamphilon (ARPS, DPAGB, EFIAP) specialises in portraits and dance photography. He is a member of Bristol Photographic Society.
Derwood’s presentation was in two parts. First he showed portraits and in particular images of models, mainly female, in studio and on location. His first work in this area involved building a studio in a spare bedroom at home. While this worked, there was not a lot of room and getting in and out of the room appears to have needed a fair amount of agility! Today he is more likely to be working in professional studios.
When outdoors, he found old buildings which gave an antique air and, on Dartmoor, shapes of rock which echoed the shape of the model’s body. For me, this kind of image can often come across as a little static; there doesn’t seem to be a story being told. Things became more exciting when he moved on to dance. While the image remains static it represents and records something dynamic.
Here were images of both classical ballet and modern dance. Names such as George Balanchine, Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham were mentioned as influences on the dancers. Derwood showed some stage performances, but many images looked back to the studio photography where Derwood started his photographic journey.
Derwood’s presentation was in two parts. First he showed portraits and in particular images of models, mainly female, in studio and on location. His first work in this area involved building a studio in a spare bedroom at home. While this worked, there was not a lot of room and getting in and out of the room appears to have needed a fair amount of agility! Today he is more likely to be working in professional studios.
When outdoors, he found old buildings which gave an antique air and, on Dartmoor, shapes of rock which echoed the shape of the model’s body. For me, this kind of image can often come across as a little static; there doesn’t seem to be a story being told. Things became more exciting when he moved on to dance. While the image remains static it represents and records something dynamic.
Here were images of both classical ballet and modern dance. Names such as George Balanchine, Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham were mentioned as influences on the dancers. Derwood showed some stage performances, but many images looked back to the studio photography where Derwood started his photographic journey.
16th January 2023
Tom Crowe led Thornbury Camera Club through the years of change from darkroom to desktop: from chemicals to computers. It was thanks to Tom that the club survived the change. Tom is remembered in a competition held between local clubs: The Tom Crowe Challenge.
In the Challenge, there are eight rounds. Four have subjects and four are open. In each round each club submits one projected image. The judge marks them and at the end of each round a leader board is shown so that we can all see who is in the lead and who is rising up the ranks... or drifting down. The set subjects this year were Landscape, Portrait, Creative and Night. All produced interesting and stimulating images.
The judge was Simon Caplan (LRPS). Simon is a Bristol based photographer who concentrates on still life and abstract images together with portraits of the UK's traditional craftspeople.
At the half way point in the competition Thornbury Camera Club was in the lead but only by one point: Time for a coffee to prepare for the second half. By the end the lead was shared between Thornbury Camera Club and Hay Camera Club. Congratulations to both clubs for a closely fought competition.
In the Challenge, there are eight rounds. Four have subjects and four are open. In each round each club submits one projected image. The judge marks them and at the end of each round a leader board is shown so that we can all see who is in the lead and who is rising up the ranks... or drifting down. The set subjects this year were Landscape, Portrait, Creative and Night. All produced interesting and stimulating images.
The judge was Simon Caplan (LRPS). Simon is a Bristol based photographer who concentrates on still life and abstract images together with portraits of the UK's traditional craftspeople.
At the half way point in the competition Thornbury Camera Club was in the lead but only by one point: Time for a coffee to prepare for the second half. By the end the lead was shared between Thornbury Camera Club and Hay Camera Club. Congratulations to both clubs for a closely fought competition.
9th January 2023
This evening was the third of the six internal competitions which lead to the winners being chosen at the end of the year. The judge on this occasion was Pete McCloskey (APAGB, FRPS). Pete had the unenviable task of judging an open competition where he had to make his decisions free of any subject limitations: landscape compared with portrait, still life compared with sport.
As usual there were two classes: projected and print.
In the projected class, 47 images were entered. Barry Wilson took both first and third places with “Springer into action” and “First Over”. “Glenbrittle” gave second place to Mike Ashfield. Other mentioned entries came from George Collett, Rodney Crabb, Robert England, Edward Kilmartin, Martin Nimmo and Steve Wells
In the print section 22 images were presented. Dean Packer came first with “We don’t talk anymore”. “Coco” placed Robert England in Second place. Third place went to George Collett with “Hungry Young Dipper”. Other mentioned images were from Mike Ashfield and Robert England.
As usual there were two classes: projected and print.
In the projected class, 47 images were entered. Barry Wilson took both first and third places with “Springer into action” and “First Over”. “Glenbrittle” gave second place to Mike Ashfield. Other mentioned entries came from George Collett, Rodney Crabb, Robert England, Edward Kilmartin, Martin Nimmo and Steve Wells
In the print section 22 images were presented. Dean Packer came first with “We don’t talk anymore”. “Coco” placed Robert England in Second place. Third place went to George Collett with “Hungry Young Dipper”. Other mentioned images were from Mike Ashfield and Robert England.
19th December 2022
It is the end of another year. A time for celebration the recent ice and snow fades into rain. At Thornbury Camera Club the last meeting of the year was a time for mince pies, sausage rolls and a couple of last minute competitions.
Since the choice of camera for many people these days is a Smartphone, it was appropriate that one competition was for images taken on a phone. Included in the twenty-one submissions were several photographs of children, some landscapes and a few still-lifes. In the event the winner was Dean Packer with a picture of a waterfall.
The second competition was a little more taxing. There was a set of images by famous photographers: all the competitors had to do was match the images to a list of names (with a few extra names added in to add to the confusion.) Another question asked for images of famous places to be identified. Exactly how the Matterhorn made its way to Nepal was not clear. Then there was the identification of close-up photographs of everyday household objects. Everyone recognised the paper clip but the rest left many heads being scratched. Then there were the photographs which we were told formed into pairs. Really? The winner of the quiz was Simon Riches.
Since the choice of camera for many people these days is a Smartphone, it was appropriate that one competition was for images taken on a phone. Included in the twenty-one submissions were several photographs of children, some landscapes and a few still-lifes. In the event the winner was Dean Packer with a picture of a waterfall.
The second competition was a little more taxing. There was a set of images by famous photographers: all the competitors had to do was match the images to a list of names (with a few extra names added in to add to the confusion.) Another question asked for images of famous places to be identified. Exactly how the Matterhorn made its way to Nepal was not clear. Then there was the identification of close-up photographs of everyday household objects. Everyone recognised the paper clip but the rest left many heads being scratched. Then there were the photographs which we were told formed into pairs. Really? The winner of the quiz was Simon Riches.
12th December 2022
When Peter Siviter (WEFIAP, DPAGB) presented his talk “PhotoSynthesis” I was half expecting a discussion of the “process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and energy in the form of sugar.” However, what Peter meant was combining several photographs to make (synthesise) a final image.
Most of Peter’s images were of models costumed and, usually, heavily made-up. This raw material came from visits to open-air museums such as “Blists Hill” and the “Black Country Living Museum”. Further afield, Peter has visited Venice Carnival several times. Enactors at these events are expecting to be photographed. The typical resistance to being photographed, which proves a problem in much street photography, does not have to be overcome. Peter extracts the images of the models from their original backgrounds so that new backgrounds can be added. In the process colours can change and characters, originally from different parts of the world, can be combined to tell new stories. Textures are used to create the final impressionistic effect.
Peter’s images were shown as audio-visual presentations in which a further dimension, time and music, can be added to the mix.
The overall effect was a stimulating evening which prompted many questions about the process. Perhaps we will see manipulated images of this kind in future competitions.
Most of Peter’s images were of models costumed and, usually, heavily made-up. This raw material came from visits to open-air museums such as “Blists Hill” and the “Black Country Living Museum”. Further afield, Peter has visited Venice Carnival several times. Enactors at these events are expecting to be photographed. The typical resistance to being photographed, which proves a problem in much street photography, does not have to be overcome. Peter extracts the images of the models from their original backgrounds so that new backgrounds can be added. In the process colours can change and characters, originally from different parts of the world, can be combined to tell new stories. Textures are used to create the final impressionistic effect.
Peter’s images were shown as audio-visual presentations in which a further dimension, time and music, can be added to the mix.
The overall effect was a stimulating evening which prompted many questions about the process. Perhaps we will see manipulated images of this kind in future competitions.
5th December 2022
Thornbury Camera Club often has speakers from both inside the club and outside who show pictures and talk about them. This is usually a one way performance: The speaker speaks and the audience sits on polite rows of plastic seats and remains quiet. The club tried an experiment this time. Two speakers drawn from the club took it in turns to show a photograph. The other would then offer comments and ask questions. This formula effectively breaks the ice. The questioner becomes a token member of the audience and, through their comments, opens up the floor for other members of the audience to join in.
This proved a successful approach when members Brian McBride and Mike Ashfield showed examples of their landscape photographs. The images themselves took us from local scenes of fields and the river Severn to the deserts of the western USA.
The evening was completed with Simon Meeds talking about the preparation of images for showing as either projected images or as prints. This can involve a detailed understanding of the effect of different resolutions, of the process of sharpening an image and of the different colour spaces. All these considerations apply to both the projected landscapes from earlier in the evening and to the prints which are shown at the regular club competitions.
This proved a successful approach when members Brian McBride and Mike Ashfield showed examples of their landscape photographs. The images themselves took us from local scenes of fields and the river Severn to the deserts of the western USA.
The evening was completed with Simon Meeds talking about the preparation of images for showing as either projected images or as prints. This can involve a detailed understanding of the effect of different resolutions, of the process of sharpening an image and of the different colour spaces. All these considerations apply to both the projected landscapes from earlier in the evening and to the prints which are shown at the regular club competitions.
28th November 2022
Technology came to the fore at this meeting of Thornbury Camera Club. Not only did Jet Lendon join us remotely on Zoom from Hertfordshire, but she was talking about Smartphone Photography. Everyone knows what a camera looks like: A large heavy box with a lump of glass on the front typically carried on a strap round the neck which causes the weighed-down photographer to have a characteristic crick in the neck.
Today most people carry a camera, but they call it a phone. In the past we used to call it a phone with a camera. Today it would be better to call it a camera which can make phone calls. They come with many lenses built in and with all the adjustments which you would expect from a conventional camera. Crucially they are smaller, lighter and no longer causes neck injuries.
Jet started as a teacher but now works in the corporate photography business. She described how to use the phone, how adjustments are made and how to edit the resulting images. She described taking a picture, editing it and posting it to social media in just a few minutes.
The camera phone, or something like it, is the likely future of photography.
Today most people carry a camera, but they call it a phone. In the past we used to call it a phone with a camera. Today it would be better to call it a camera which can make phone calls. They come with many lenses built in and with all the adjustments which you would expect from a conventional camera. Crucially they are smaller, lighter and no longer causes neck injuries.
Jet started as a teacher but now works in the corporate photography business. She described how to use the phone, how adjustments are made and how to edit the resulting images. She described taking a picture, editing it and posting it to social media in just a few minutes.
The camera phone, or something like it, is the likely future of photography.
21st November 2022
This evening was the second in Thornbury Camera Club’s annual round of competitions. The theme for this competition was “Landscape and Seascape”: A subject close to the hearts of many amateur photographers. So, the entry was wide ranging with many excellent entries. The judge, Simon Caplan (LRPS), had a difficult job to separate them.
In the event the print competition was won by Dean Packer with “Landscape of Time”. This was an image of Stonehenge at night with stars of the Milky Way above. “Godrevy” gave second place to Mike Ashfield. Third Place went to Dean Packer with “Santa Monica Sunset”. Other mentioned entries were from Peter Howarth and Edward Kilmartin.
The digital projected competition “Old Lightship” gave first place to Peter Howarth. Peter’s image showed a red boat over a flat glassy sea. The water was clearly shallow as grass and the remains of a groin were visible. “Ice Lagoon” by Janet Man came second. Edward Kilmartin’s “Rhossili Bay” came third. Other mentioned images were from Mike Ashfield, George Collett, Rodney Crabb, Robert England, Barbara Gibbons, Edward Kilmartin, Vincent Mann, Lorna Minshall, Martin Nimmo and Ken Pearce.
In the event the print competition was won by Dean Packer with “Landscape of Time”. This was an image of Stonehenge at night with stars of the Milky Way above. “Godrevy” gave second place to Mike Ashfield. Third Place went to Dean Packer with “Santa Monica Sunset”. Other mentioned entries were from Peter Howarth and Edward Kilmartin.
The digital projected competition “Old Lightship” gave first place to Peter Howarth. Peter’s image showed a red boat over a flat glassy sea. The water was clearly shallow as grass and the remains of a groin were visible. “Ice Lagoon” by Janet Man came second. Edward Kilmartin’s “Rhossili Bay” came third. Other mentioned images were from Mike Ashfield, George Collett, Rodney Crabb, Robert England, Barbara Gibbons, Edward Kilmartin, Vincent Mann, Lorna Minshall, Martin Nimmo and Ken Pearce.
14th November 2022
Cameras have existed for thousands of years: Long before Nikon and Canon had arrived. In ancient Greece, Aristotle discussed projecting images through a small hole – what we would call a pinhole. For this meeting of Thornbury Camera Club, Justin Quinnell talked about pinhole cameras and his experiments with them.
A pinhole camera is the cheapest camera available. Beer cans are popular though you can use almost anything with a hole or which can have a hole made in it. Justin showed images made through a hole in a cream cracker. Perhaps the strangest was a photograph of his dentist photographed using a small pinhole camera in his mouth. The dentist surrounded by teeth was particularly evocative.
Unlike a conventional lens, a pinhole has no focus. The image is in focus all the way from the hole to infinity. This leads to extreme wide angle images with eye-watering perspective: A fingernail filling half the frame with the rest of the arm in the background. Exposures can be months long. Pinhole images can record the repeated passage of the sun across the sky: the height changing with the seasons.
An inspiring talk showing how much photographic fun can be had by spending very little money. Who needs a new lens anyway?
A pinhole camera is the cheapest camera available. Beer cans are popular though you can use almost anything with a hole or which can have a hole made in it. Justin showed images made through a hole in a cream cracker. Perhaps the strangest was a photograph of his dentist photographed using a small pinhole camera in his mouth. The dentist surrounded by teeth was particularly evocative.
Unlike a conventional lens, a pinhole has no focus. The image is in focus all the way from the hole to infinity. This leads to extreme wide angle images with eye-watering perspective: A fingernail filling half the frame with the rest of the arm in the background. Exposures can be months long. Pinhole images can record the repeated passage of the sun across the sky: the height changing with the seasons.
An inspiring talk showing how much photographic fun can be had by spending very little money. Who needs a new lens anyway?
7th November 2022
In camera clubs, judges explain what makes a good photograph and award marks. On the other hand there are well known photographers who make very different images. To approach this issue, Thornbury Camera Club arranged to display pictures from famous photographers without, at first, naming them.
Some of the images were in familiar styles which a camera club judge would recognise: others appeared designed simply to provoke. Even for well known photographers, the images had been chosen to be unexpected. We know Ansel Adams from his wide, stormy images of Yosemite: He can still surprise us with an image of leaves floating on a mountain pool. Mention Henri Cartier-Bresson and we think of portraits often taken in an urban environment. Here he was photographing the countryside.
Camera club photographs often fall into a set of conventions. This is not new. Back in the nineteenth century, Roger Fenton, founder of what became the Royal Photographic Society, believed that photographs should follow the conventions of painting. These painting conventions had, in turn, been codified by the Salons and Academies of the time. While these conventions can be useful, it is good to be jolted out of the complacency to which they can lead.
Some of the images were in familiar styles which a camera club judge would recognise: others appeared designed simply to provoke. Even for well known photographers, the images had been chosen to be unexpected. We know Ansel Adams from his wide, stormy images of Yosemite: He can still surprise us with an image of leaves floating on a mountain pool. Mention Henri Cartier-Bresson and we think of portraits often taken in an urban environment. Here he was photographing the countryside.
Camera club photographs often fall into a set of conventions. This is not new. Back in the nineteenth century, Roger Fenton, founder of what became the Royal Photographic Society, believed that photographs should follow the conventions of painting. These painting conventions had, in turn, been codified by the Salons and Academies of the time. While these conventions can be useful, it is good to be jolted out of the complacency to which they can lead.
31st October 2022
During COVID lockdown, when we could not meet face to face, we learned the value of keeping in touch on-line. Thornbury Camera Club is now reaping the rewards of those lessons. Just because we can meet face to face does not mean we have to give up on-line contacts. This evening was a case in point. The outside speakers, Helmi and Ken Flick, joined us over Zoom from their home in Florida.
Helmi and Ken started photographing cats as a hobby. What started out as a hobby became a full time career. They started by photographing cats at cat shows across the USA. When they started, the existing photographers in the business had everything sewn up. However, they were using film. Helmi and Ken introduced digital imaging and were able to show customers images before the competition had processed their film.
Having found a place in the closed world of cat shows, they moved on to marketing their images in other ways. Once again they found resistance. Eventually, however, their images found a place on magazine covers and almost anywhere you could place an image; flyers, cards, banners, posters…
Helmi and Ken have converted a hobby into a successful career while still retaining their love of their hobby.
Helmi and Ken started photographing cats as a hobby. What started out as a hobby became a full time career. They started by photographing cats at cat shows across the USA. When they started, the existing photographers in the business had everything sewn up. However, they were using film. Helmi and Ken introduced digital imaging and were able to show customers images before the competition had processed their film.
Having found a place in the closed world of cat shows, they moved on to marketing their images in other ways. Once again they found resistance. Eventually, however, their images found a place on magazine covers and almost anywhere you could place an image; flyers, cards, banners, posters…
Helmi and Ken have converted a hobby into a successful career while still retaining their love of their hobby.
24th October 2022
For its latest meeting, Thornbury Camera Club once again drew on the skills, interests and experiences of its members.
George Collett is well known in the club for his wildlife photographs. George talked about the preparation for a photo shoot. What are you intending to photograph? Where is it and at what time of day and season? If you have tried this type of photograph before, how successful was it? Can you learn from this by choosing different lenses and camera settings?
Steve Wells has given history talks to the club before. On this occasion he talked about photographer and designer Cecil Beaton. Beaton is perhaps best known for his designs for the film “My Fair Lady”. Prior to this he had worked for “Vogue” and, in the Second World War, had providing photographs for the Ministry of Information. By the end of his career Beaton had been awarded three Oscars, four Tonys and was an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society.
Finally, Brian McBride talked about the development of images as a journey starting with an idea which forms what Brian called a “Point of Departure”. There can then be several attempts and false starts before a path is created leading to the realisation of the original idea as a photograph.
George Collett is well known in the club for his wildlife photographs. George talked about the preparation for a photo shoot. What are you intending to photograph? Where is it and at what time of day and season? If you have tried this type of photograph before, how successful was it? Can you learn from this by choosing different lenses and camera settings?
Steve Wells has given history talks to the club before. On this occasion he talked about photographer and designer Cecil Beaton. Beaton is perhaps best known for his designs for the film “My Fair Lady”. Prior to this he had worked for “Vogue” and, in the Second World War, had providing photographs for the Ministry of Information. By the end of his career Beaton had been awarded three Oscars, four Tonys and was an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society.
Finally, Brian McBride talked about the development of images as a journey starting with an idea which forms what Brian called a “Point of Departure”. There can then be several attempts and false starts before a path is created leading to the realisation of the original idea as a photograph.
17th October 2022
At this meeting we were joined by Ed Cloutman (EFIAP HonFWPF). Ed’s original training was in botany and ecology but, as a sideline, he trained n the maintenance of clocks. I am not talking about wrist watches or the clock on your grandmother’s mantelpiece. I am talking about the large public clocks which from the Seventeenth century onwards have displayed the time from the towers of churches and town halls.
This talk was about visits which Ed has made to Bermuda to survey some of the public clocks. Bermuda is in the Atlantic Ocean about 600 miles east of the USA mainland. It suffers storms and has a corrosive salt atmosphere. The colonial buildings look great from a distance but, inside, the woodwork is often rotten and the climb up to the clocks is often unsafe. Nonetheless, Ed made the climb up to several of these old clocks. Some had been maintained but for the older mechanisms, the wrought iron frames were being corroded badly. The solution was to arrange for the clocks to be removed to the museum for remedial work.
Ed’s images of Bermuda showed what a beautiful place it is. The sunsets are spectacular and the white boats on the blue ocean are a photographer’s dream. Just don’t climb the towers!
This talk was about visits which Ed has made to Bermuda to survey some of the public clocks. Bermuda is in the Atlantic Ocean about 600 miles east of the USA mainland. It suffers storms and has a corrosive salt atmosphere. The colonial buildings look great from a distance but, inside, the woodwork is often rotten and the climb up to the clocks is often unsafe. Nonetheless, Ed made the climb up to several of these old clocks. Some had been maintained but for the older mechanisms, the wrought iron frames were being corroded badly. The solution was to arrange for the clocks to be removed to the museum for remedial work.
Ed’s images of Bermuda showed what a beautiful place it is. The sunsets are spectacular and the white boats on the blue ocean are a photographer’s dream. Just don’t climb the towers!
10th October 2022
Thornbury Camera Club holds a series of competitions through the year. This evening was the first of six competitions for the 2022-23 season. As usual, the competition was divided into two classes: Digital Projected Images and Prints. The subject for this, first, round was “Open”. That is, the entrants could enter anything they wished. This gave the judge for the evening, Rob Heslop LRPS, the problem of deciding how to distinguish portraits and pets from still life and landscape.
In the Print category 22 images were entered. George Collett came first with “Sparrow Hawk Lunch”. Second place went to Dean Packer with “Stars Stones and Satellites”. “Fairy Pools” gave third place to Mike Ashfield. Other noted prints were from Robert England and Edward Kilmartin.
In the Digital Projected Image category, 46 images were entered. “Stick Insects” gave first place to Robert England. Mike Ashfield was second with “Surfing the Spray”. In third place was Edward Kilmartin with “Birnbeck Pier”. Other noted images were from Rodney Crabb, Simon Riches, Alicia Thomas and Barry Wilson.
We now wait a few weeks for the second round when members must deliver images with the subject of “Landscape or Seascape”.
In the Print category 22 images were entered. George Collett came first with “Sparrow Hawk Lunch”. Second place went to Dean Packer with “Stars Stones and Satellites”. “Fairy Pools” gave third place to Mike Ashfield. Other noted prints were from Robert England and Edward Kilmartin.
In the Digital Projected Image category, 46 images were entered. “Stick Insects” gave first place to Robert England. Mike Ashfield was second with “Surfing the Spray”. In third place was Edward Kilmartin with “Birnbeck Pier”. Other noted images were from Rodney Crabb, Simon Riches, Alicia Thomas and Barry Wilson.
We now wait a few weeks for the second round when members must deliver images with the subject of “Landscape or Seascape”.
3rd October 2022
Phil Savoie is a photographer with many years of experience in the BBC Natural History Unit. In this talk, Phil joined the members of Thornbury Camera Club by Zoom from his home in South Wales, to outline the Principles of Photography. This covered everything from composition to the science of lenses. In particular Phil was keen to offer suggestions to members on how to improve their photography.
If your normal photography, Phil suggested, is natural history, try street photography. If sport is the genre with which you are comfortable, try taking landscapes. Find a way to tell a new story from a fresh point of view. Above all, keep it simple.
While Phil’s images were sharp, when he wanted them to be sharp, he could also create images which were intentionally soft.
Lens design is a complex technology. Compared with the lenses of a few decades ago, modern lenses seem near-perfect. However, they still have stronger and weaker aspects. At the maximum and minimum apertures compromises show clearly: Lens resolution and flatness of field are well down. The best aperture is usually a couple of stops down from the widest: often f/5.6 or f/8.
Phil left the group with much to think about and with many thoughts of new images to take.
If your normal photography, Phil suggested, is natural history, try street photography. If sport is the genre with which you are comfortable, try taking landscapes. Find a way to tell a new story from a fresh point of view. Above all, keep it simple.
While Phil’s images were sharp, when he wanted them to be sharp, he could also create images which were intentionally soft.
Lens design is a complex technology. Compared with the lenses of a few decades ago, modern lenses seem near-perfect. However, they still have stronger and weaker aspects. At the maximum and minimum apertures compromises show clearly: Lens resolution and flatness of field are well down. The best aperture is usually a couple of stops down from the widest: often f/5.6 or f/8.
Phil left the group with much to think about and with many thoughts of new images to take.
26th September 2022
Advice from experts is always useful! So, for this evening, members of Thornbury Camera Club were asked to supply an image together with a question to start a discussion.
The images presented including landscapes, portraits, an old car and several images of boats. Some were straight out of the camera while others had some basic adjustments already made.
While the discussions were wide ranging, the responses fell into a small group of clear issues. First, how was the image taken? A few steps to the right or left can remove a telegraph pole. Then there were the overcast skies. Do you mask off a blank sky and change the overall balance of the picture? Or, do you adjust the contrast in the sky to try to bring out a little more character: A more violent storm, perhaps. Maybe, you replace the blank sky with a different sky from a more interesting image. An issue, which came up several times, was over-exposure. Once part of an image has turned to pure white, there is not much that can be done even if the original was a Raw image. This brings us back to the first issue: Taking the picture. You need to be aware of the contrast in the scene before pressing the shutter.
The images presented including landscapes, portraits, an old car and several images of boats. Some were straight out of the camera while others had some basic adjustments already made.
While the discussions were wide ranging, the responses fell into a small group of clear issues. First, how was the image taken? A few steps to the right or left can remove a telegraph pole. Then there were the overcast skies. Do you mask off a blank sky and change the overall balance of the picture? Or, do you adjust the contrast in the sky to try to bring out a little more character: A more violent storm, perhaps. Maybe, you replace the blank sky with a different sky from a more interesting image. An issue, which came up several times, was over-exposure. Once part of an image has turned to pure white, there is not much that can be done even if the original was a Raw image. This brings us back to the first issue: Taking the picture. You need to be aware of the contrast in the scene before pressing the shutter.
12th September 2022
The members of any club have many interests. Thornbury Camera Club is no exception. So, this week the club asked three members to talk about what interests them in the wide field of photography.
Photography is not a cheap hobby and there can be few who have not wondered whether there was some way to recoup the costs. Dean Packer has tried. The best approach seems to be local fairs where there is direct contact with customers. The least successful are the commercial web sites. Interestingly, Dean found no correlation between images which sell, and images which are liked by Camera Club Judges!
Steve Wells is particularly interested in the history of photography. He described Ansel Adams: An American landscape photographer working on the west coast of the USA in the middle decades of the 20th century. Starting out copying Alfred Stieglitz who wanted photographs to look like paintings, Adams went on to create images with a sharper, cleaner appearance which could stand on their own.
Simon Meeds brought the evening to a close by showing sets of images out of the camera and asking how we go about choosing which images are worth pursuing. Having chosen an image, he showed the original alongside the final result after cropping, shading adjusting the colour balance.
Photography is not a cheap hobby and there can be few who have not wondered whether there was some way to recoup the costs. Dean Packer has tried. The best approach seems to be local fairs where there is direct contact with customers. The least successful are the commercial web sites. Interestingly, Dean found no correlation between images which sell, and images which are liked by Camera Club Judges!
Steve Wells is particularly interested in the history of photography. He described Ansel Adams: An American landscape photographer working on the west coast of the USA in the middle decades of the 20th century. Starting out copying Alfred Stieglitz who wanted photographs to look like paintings, Adams went on to create images with a sharper, cleaner appearance which could stand on their own.
Simon Meeds brought the evening to a close by showing sets of images out of the camera and asking how we go about choosing which images are worth pursuing. Having chosen an image, he showed the original alongside the final result after cropping, shading adjusting the colour balance.
5th September 2022
This meeting was the judging of an annual three way competition between Thornbury Camera Club, Sodbury and Yate Photographic Club, and Crossbow Camera Club. A location is chosen and a day specified. On the day, the three camera clubs must visit the location to take photographs. The chosen location was around the Brean Down Way in Somerset, just north of Burnham on Sea. The chosen day was May 15th 2022.
Each club chooses its best 25 images which are judged at a meeting hosted by one of the three clubs: On this occasion, Sodbury and Yate Photographic Club. The rules state that images may not be manipulated other than simple cropping or balancing brightness, contrast, and colour balance. Nothing can be deleted or added. So, no fancy Photoshop edits! This is photography reduced to the basics of “What can you see?” and “Can you record it?”
Much of the chosen location was by the sea. This was reflected in the images presented: seascapes and buildings linked to the sea. There was, however, enough variation to allow for some wildlife and images of people.
The judging took place at Chipping Sodbury. After a close competition, Thornbury Camera Club was placed joint first with Crossbow Camera Club.
Each club chooses its best 25 images which are judged at a meeting hosted by one of the three clubs: On this occasion, Sodbury and Yate Photographic Club. The rules state that images may not be manipulated other than simple cropping or balancing brightness, contrast, and colour balance. Nothing can be deleted or added. So, no fancy Photoshop edits! This is photography reduced to the basics of “What can you see?” and “Can you record it?”
Much of the chosen location was by the sea. This was reflected in the images presented: seascapes and buildings linked to the sea. There was, however, enough variation to allow for some wildlife and images of people.
The judging took place at Chipping Sodbury. After a close competition, Thornbury Camera Club was placed joint first with Crossbow Camera Club.
Summer Outings
13th June 2022
The formal meetings being over so, Thornbury Camera Club starts its Summer programme. This is a programme of meetings in which members take an evening trip out to take photographs. For this first meeting, ten members of the club travelled to the marine lake at Clevedon. The weather was warm and sunny. The sky was clear and blue. No clouds to add interest to pictures, but plenty of activity in and around the lake to provide a source for inspiration.
Lots of people were taking advantage of the weather to swim, sail in kayaks or balance upright for stand-up paddle boarding. Away from the lake others were playing bowls, tennis and basketball. There was also a circus in town.
Those walking further afield took themselves further north along the coast to the pier and beyond. The pier was built in the 1860s to attract tourists and provide a ferry port for rail passengers to South Wales. Sir John Betjeman described Clevedon pier as "the most beautiful pier in England". So, it has to be worth an image or two.
Most of the group met up at the end of a pleasant social and photographic evening at the Salthouse Bar and Restaurant for a drink and a chat before heading homewards.
Lots of people were taking advantage of the weather to swim, sail in kayaks or balance upright for stand-up paddle boarding. Away from the lake others were playing bowls, tennis and basketball. There was also a circus in town.
Those walking further afield took themselves further north along the coast to the pier and beyond. The pier was built in the 1860s to attract tourists and provide a ferry port for rail passengers to South Wales. Sir John Betjeman described Clevedon pier as "the most beautiful pier in England". So, it has to be worth an image or two.
Most of the group met up at the end of a pleasant social and photographic evening at the Salthouse Bar and Restaurant for a drink and a chat before heading homewards.
20th June 2022
The summer programme from Thornbury Camera Club continues with more trips out to take photographs. The photographic excursion this week was to the “Purton Hulks” or “Purton Ships' Graveyard”. This is a group of abandoned boats and ships, deliberately grounded beside the River Severn to reinforce the river banks. Most were beached in the 1950s.
It was an excellent, clear, evening if a little cloudless for the best photography. While the intention was to photograph the hulks, the first stage was a walk along the banks of the River Severn and the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. The people on the river and canal provided subjects: kids in kayaks and standing on paddle boards. A family of ducks attracted both the photographers and the locals. They were waiting to be fed by one of the narrow boat owners. He said he'd fed them three times already.
The hulks themselves are rather abstract subjects. In many cases there is not a lot left of the boats. Time, weather and souvenir hunters have reduced many of the boats to grey abstract shapes hidden in the grass. As the group returned to the car park, there was a final chance for an image as the sun set over the canal.
It was an excellent, clear, evening if a little cloudless for the best photography. While the intention was to photograph the hulks, the first stage was a walk along the banks of the River Severn and the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. The people on the river and canal provided subjects: kids in kayaks and standing on paddle boards. A family of ducks attracted both the photographers and the locals. They were waiting to be fed by one of the narrow boat owners. He said he'd fed them three times already.
The hulks themselves are rather abstract subjects. In many cases there is not a lot left of the boats. Time, weather and souvenir hunters have reduced many of the boats to grey abstract shapes hidden in the grass. As the group returned to the car park, there was a final chance for an image as the sun set over the canal.
27th June 2022
Today's trip out for Thornbury Camera Club was to Lydney Harbour. Set on the north side of the Severn, there has been a harbour at Lydney since the Iron Age: The Romans built a temple here. The Harbour was in commercial use shipping iron, coal and wood until the 1970s. Today the industry has gone and the commercial shipping has been replaced by leisure craft and bird watchers.
The Camera Club’s visit took place at high tide which meant that there were no mud banks, and no wading birds. A heavy breeze deterred any thoughts of peaceful "Seascapes". Instead there were dramatic skies giving shape to views over the Severn and its rocky shoreline. This was in stark contrast to the last two outings when the weather was calm with plain blue skies which is pleasant but doesn’t lead to interesting photographs. There was plenty to photograph at Lydney. There are remains of the area’s industrial heritage: rusted gear wheels and chains form interesting close-ups. There are art installations, boats and people enjoying the evening. Many of the boats were pristine: the pride of their owners. Others, the boats, that is, were rusted and looked barely seaworthy.
The Camera Club’s visit took place at high tide which meant that there were no mud banks, and no wading birds. A heavy breeze deterred any thoughts of peaceful "Seascapes". Instead there were dramatic skies giving shape to views over the Severn and its rocky shoreline. This was in stark contrast to the last two outings when the weather was calm with plain blue skies which is pleasant but doesn’t lead to interesting photographs. There was plenty to photograph at Lydney. There are remains of the area’s industrial heritage: rusted gear wheels and chains form interesting close-ups. There are art installations, boats and people enjoying the evening. Many of the boats were pristine: the pride of their owners. Others, the boats, that is, were rusted and looked barely seaworthy.
4th July 2022
The centre of Bristol is a place of many characters. On this trip out, Thornbury Camera Club chose to visit the area to see what image making options might be found. The group met at the top of a car park with views across the city.
There is the harbour and the restaurants and bars which surround it. Here there are boats and lights reflected in the water. This is the public outgoing area of the city. Not far away are the darker corners where the wrecking ball might be imminent: Old shops closed and without custom for many years. Walls and underpasses provide canvases for the graffiti artists. In both parts of the city there are people passing the time. Some are drinking in brightly lit bars: others are just sitting or drinking from bottles of cider. The differing architecture leads to images reflecting the different characters. In one case modern geometric textures and forms. Elsewhere, the textures of old brickwork and peeling paint tell of a longer history.
The photographs show these characters. A city with an old, at times disreputable past but which looks forward to a brighter future.
There is the harbour and the restaurants and bars which surround it. Here there are boats and lights reflected in the water. This is the public outgoing area of the city. Not far away are the darker corners where the wrecking ball might be imminent: Old shops closed and without custom for many years. Walls and underpasses provide canvases for the graffiti artists. In both parts of the city there are people passing the time. Some are drinking in brightly lit bars: others are just sitting or drinking from bottles of cider. The differing architecture leads to images reflecting the different characters. In one case modern geometric textures and forms. Elsewhere, the textures of old brickwork and peeling paint tell of a longer history.
The photographs show these characters. A city with an old, at times disreputable past but which looks forward to a brighter future.
11th July 2022
If you have followed the brown signs to Castle Combe, you have probably found your way to the motorsport racing track. There is another destination at Castle Combe. This is a village of golden stone which looks as if it should be in the Cotswolds. It is smaller than Broadway or Bourton-on-the Water. On the other hand it is off many of the tourist routes. This is where Thornbury Camera Club decided to go for their latest summer trip. They had the town almost to themselves.
The weather during the day had been hot and sultry but, in the evening, by the time the club arrived, the temperature had begun to fall making a walk round the village a pleasant stroll. The evening light made the stones glow. Members met near the market cross and walked down the narrow street from the cross to discover the reflections in the By Brook: A shallow stream which originally supported the local wool industry.
The evening was completed by a welcome beer sitting outside one of the pubs and hotels by the cross. As is often the way, the beer was accompanied by surreptitious attempts by the club members to photograph each other.
The weather during the day had been hot and sultry but, in the evening, by the time the club arrived, the temperature had begun to fall making a walk round the village a pleasant stroll. The evening light made the stones glow. Members met near the market cross and walked down the narrow street from the cross to discover the reflections in the By Brook: A shallow stream which originally supported the local wool industry.
The evening was completed by a welcome beer sitting outside one of the pubs and hotels by the cross. As is often the way, the beer was accompanied by surreptitious attempts by the club members to photograph each other.
18th July 2022
Given the heat levels recently, the equipment carried by the average member of Thornbury Camera Club is supplemented by a sun hat, high factor sun screen and a supply of water for hydration. Talking of water, an obvious place to take photographs under these circumstances is “The Wave”. Swimming with a camera is not recommended unless the camera is designed for it! However, plenty of other people see surfing as a useful way to cool down.
At “The Wave” there is a fan-shaped lake where a central bridge area allows photographers to move quickly from one side of the lake to the other. Waves come in rapid succession with a short break every few minutes. The waves are between 50cm high for beginners and 2m for advanced surfers. The highest waves produced the most spectacular photographs. The most experienced surfers appeared for their surfing session on the highest waves between 8pm and 9pm. The waves give a good background for the figures though the photographers had to be careful to keep the incongruous surroundings out of he image.
As 9pm approached those photographers who remained at the lake moved on to the bar for more “hydration” with a glass of beer. With tongues loosened, the photographers talked about the evening and other recent photographic expeditions.
At “The Wave” there is a fan-shaped lake where a central bridge area allows photographers to move quickly from one side of the lake to the other. Waves come in rapid succession with a short break every few minutes. The waves are between 50cm high for beginners and 2m for advanced surfers. The highest waves produced the most spectacular photographs. The most experienced surfers appeared for their surfing session on the highest waves between 8pm and 9pm. The waves give a good background for the figures though the photographers had to be careful to keep the incongruous surroundings out of he image.
As 9pm approached those photographers who remained at the lake moved on to the bar for more “hydration” with a glass of beer. With tongues loosened, the photographers talked about the evening and other recent photographic expeditions.
25th July 2022
Leigh Woods is a national nature reserve and SSSI consisting of mixed broadleaf trees with paths and open coppiced areas. You can find it on the west side of the Avon Gorge, north of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. This is where about fifteen members of Thornbury Camera Club arrived for their latest summer trip. The group spent time photographing tree formations and looking for the views over the Avon Gorge. Others spent their time getting lost. Despite carrying a map of the woodland tracks, some had to ask the way back to the car park. It turned out to be closer than they expected.
The light was fairly flat which often leads to uninteresting pictures. Despite this, there was enough variation to provide interest in the images.
Several members expressed surprise that somewhere like Leigh Woods was to be found so close to the centre of Bristol. Many also thought that this was somewhere to return to at different seasons. Leigh Woods in autumn with sunlight shining through red and gold leaves would be spectacular.
The plan had been to retire to one of the nearby pubs. Unfortunately they were all closed so the party had to return home sober.
The light was fairly flat which often leads to uninteresting pictures. Despite this, there was enough variation to provide interest in the images.
Several members expressed surprise that somewhere like Leigh Woods was to be found so close to the centre of Bristol. Many also thought that this was somewhere to return to at different seasons. Leigh Woods in autumn with sunlight shining through red and gold leaves would be spectacular.
The plan had been to retire to one of the nearby pubs. Unfortunately they were all closed so the party had to return home sober.
1st August 2022
Snuff Mills is a park which forms part of the Oldbury Court Estate in North Bristol. You might imagine from the name that this area of tranquil woodland next to the River Frome was originally used for making snuff. In fact, the original mill was used for cutting and crushing stone from the quarries along the Frome Valley. The park’s name is said to originate from one of the millers whose smock was always covered in snuff. There are paths alongside the river in the gorge between the overhanging trees. Local people use the park for running and exercising dogs as well as just sitting.The recent hot, dry weather meant that the river level was well down. The main weir by the mill was dry though the second weir by the footbridge still had water flowing over it. The lack of water and the heavily overcast sky meant that the picture taking opportunities were limited. Nonetheless, a dozen or so members of Thornbury Camera club walked on by the river. One member claimed to have seen a Kingfisher: I’m not sure anyone believed him and there was no photograph as supporting evidence.
At the end of the evening, nine members retired to the White Lion at Frenchay for a drink and a chat.
At the end of the evening, nine members retired to the White Lion at Frenchay for a drink and a chat.
8th August 2022
The Blaise estate near Henbury dates back to the eighteenth century. The present neoclassical house was completed in 1798 by the then owner John Harford. Harford also built Blaise Hamlet based on sketches by John Nash who also designed Brighton Pavilion. The 'mini village' has its own green, complete with village pump. The cottages, which are still lived in, have been modernised inside, but have restored the exteriors, keeping the tall chimneys and thatched roofs.
This is where eight members of Thornbury Camera Club decided to make the subject of their latest summer trip. From a photographic point of view, the sky was plain blue. While a few puffy white clouds would have been nice, it was better than the leaden grey skies we sometimes get. The sun managed to shine through the tree canopy to provide some shape to the photographs.
The restored cottages provide excellent subjects both as whole buildings and as details. The brickwork of the chimneys is particularly attractive.
The grounds are filled with red, yellow and blue wild flowers. These can make attractive abstract images when the camera is rotated during the exposure.
At the end of the evening, the Blaise Inn was open to welcome several members of the club for a drink afterwards.
This is where eight members of Thornbury Camera Club decided to make the subject of their latest summer trip. From a photographic point of view, the sky was plain blue. While a few puffy white clouds would have been nice, it was better than the leaden grey skies we sometimes get. The sun managed to shine through the tree canopy to provide some shape to the photographs.
The restored cottages provide excellent subjects both as whole buildings and as details. The brickwork of the chimneys is particularly attractive.
The grounds are filled with red, yellow and blue wild flowers. These can make attractive abstract images when the camera is rotated during the exposure.
At the end of the evening, the Blaise Inn was open to welcome several members of the club for a drink afterwards.
15th August 2022
The weather had changed from an Amber Warning of extreme heat to a Yellow Warning of thunderstorms. Despite this, Thornbury Camera Club set off to Saul Junction on their latest photographic outing. This is where the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal crosses the line of the Stroudwater Canal. Today, Saul Junction is a leisure area but it used to be the route that sea-going tall ships took from the River Severn to Gloucester Docks.
Despite the threats of thunderstorms and flash floods, the weather held off and for a while there was even a blue sky. About a dozen members of Thornbury Camera Club arrived to join the walk along the canal. The main subjects were canal boats covered in flowers and larger boats moored around the repair yard. In addition to the boats, other people were out enjoying the evening. Several had dogs: One puppy suffered from such an excess of cuteness that nearly brought the group to a halt.
A few spots of rain suggested that a search for refreshment might be in order. So, as the photographic part of the evening came to an end, members moved over to the Bell Inn for a general discussion of coming meetings and, in particular, next week’s outing to Berkeley.
Despite the threats of thunderstorms and flash floods, the weather held off and for a while there was even a blue sky. About a dozen members of Thornbury Camera Club arrived to join the walk along the canal. The main subjects were canal boats covered in flowers and larger boats moored around the repair yard. In addition to the boats, other people were out enjoying the evening. Several had dogs: One puppy suffered from such an excess of cuteness that nearly brought the group to a halt.
A few spots of rain suggested that a search for refreshment might be in order. So, as the photographic part of the evening came to an end, members moved over to the Bell Inn for a general discussion of coming meetings and, in particular, next week’s outing to Berkeley.
22nd August 2022
Berkeley is an old market town like Thornbury and, like Thornbury, has a photogenic old church and castle. The town of Berkeley gets its name from the Berkeley family who came to England with William of Normandy. The Berkeley family was a major power in the land: Berkeley Square in London gets its name from a branch of the same family.
Thornbury Camera Club decided to visit Berkeley for the final summer outing of the year. Ten or so members gathered outside the Berkeley Arms before starting a walk towards the Jenner Museum and the nearby church with its separated bell tower.
Sadly, a light drizzle set in. The group split up with some crossing into the fields to get views of the castle. Others meandered through the town to photograph the old houses and, at one point, a field of sheep. They eventually arrived back at the Berkeley Arms where they set up camp in one of the front rooms for refreshment and to watch for the various stragglers from the rest of the party as they returned through the rain.
Having finished the summer outings for this year, the club will return to its regular meetings in Turnberries Community Centre.
Thornbury Camera Club decided to visit Berkeley for the final summer outing of the year. Ten or so members gathered outside the Berkeley Arms before starting a walk towards the Jenner Museum and the nearby church with its separated bell tower.
Sadly, a light drizzle set in. The group split up with some crossing into the fields to get views of the castle. Others meandered through the town to photograph the old houses and, at one point, a field of sheep. They eventually arrived back at the Berkeley Arms where they set up camp in one of the front rooms for refreshment and to watch for the various stragglers from the rest of the party as they returned through the rain.
Having finished the summer outings for this year, the club will return to its regular meetings in Turnberries Community Centre.
6th June 2022
The end of the annual round of competitions has arrived. Through six rounds starting back in October, members of Thornbury Camera Club have competed in projected images and in prints. There have been four “Open” competitions and two where the subject matter was constrained: once to a theme of “Minimalist” and the other to “Water”. This last competition was “Open”.
In the prints section, Mike Ashfield came first with “Lovin’ It!”. “Wow it’s a bullet train” gave second place to Dean Packer. In third place was George Collett with “High Speed Chase”. Commended and Highly Commended images came from Edward Kilmartin.
In the projected image section, “Prescott Hill Climb in the Rain” gave first place to George Collett. “Cathedral Walk” was placed second for Robert England while Christine Crabb came third with Saul Junction Evening Light. Commended and Highly Commended images came from Mike Ashfield, George Collett, Eirwyn Thomas, Edward Kilmartin and Graham Peers.
At the end when the totals across all six competitions were added up, Dean Packer won the print competition closely followed by George Collett and Mike Ashfield. In the projected image competition, George Collett came first followed by Mike Ashfield and Edward Kilmartin.
Everything starts again in October with the first of next year’s six competitions.
In the prints section, Mike Ashfield came first with “Lovin’ It!”. “Wow it’s a bullet train” gave second place to Dean Packer. In third place was George Collett with “High Speed Chase”. Commended and Highly Commended images came from Edward Kilmartin.
In the projected image section, “Prescott Hill Climb in the Rain” gave first place to George Collett. “Cathedral Walk” was placed second for Robert England while Christine Crabb came third with Saul Junction Evening Light. Commended and Highly Commended images came from Mike Ashfield, George Collett, Eirwyn Thomas, Edward Kilmartin and Graham Peers.
At the end when the totals across all six competitions were added up, Dean Packer won the print competition closely followed by George Collett and Mike Ashfield. In the projected image competition, George Collett came first followed by Mike Ashfield and Edward Kilmartin.
Everything starts again in October with the first of next year’s six competitions.
30th May 2022
How long does it take to record a place or a person in a photograph? A first thought might be the fraction of a second for which the camera shutter is open. Then, you might consider the time it takes to look at the possibilities. You have to decide where to stand and have to choose the camera settings you are going to use: a few minutes perhaps. But, is that enough to capture the essence of a place? To do that you would have to consider the weather, the time of day and the time of the year.
One image is not enough.
You need a portfolio of images showing change through different times of day and season. We look at a family photograph album as a sequence of pictures which record change in time. People are born and grow.
For this evening, Thornbury Camera Club asked members to take six images of the same scene in different times of the year. There were changes in weather: sun and rain. There were changes in time of day from early morning to dusk. Images of the sea showed the tide coming in and out: boats were beached in one image and floating in the next. In another sequence a young child lived through his first year.
One image is not enough.
You need a portfolio of images showing change through different times of day and season. We look at a family photograph album as a sequence of pictures which record change in time. People are born and grow.
For this evening, Thornbury Camera Club asked members to take six images of the same scene in different times of the year. There were changes in weather: sun and rain. There were changes in time of day from early morning to dusk. Images of the sea showed the tide coming in and out: boats were beached in one image and floating in the next. In another sequence a young child lived through his first year.
23rd May 2022
James Davies trained at art school where, in addition to drawing and painting, he was introduced to photography. Where the traditional view of photography from the point of camera clubs across the world leads to images which are sharp and well exposed, this is not the only view of the world. If two photographers take images of the same scene, they will be different. So, which is true? James takes experimental images which question this idea of truth.
His images use cheap cameras, sometimes modified, using film which may be out of date and processed in the “wrong” chemicals. The resulting images usually have the “wrong” colour and contrast. This simply raises the question of what is the true colour? After all, monochrome images are acceptable in the photographic world yet this is simply a particular colour distortion.
Through these images James finds that he is able to explore his own reaction to events and places. He described visiting the south of France in March. The sky was grey and the beaches almost empty: even desolate. Yet here, by recording images in his experimental way, he could explore his own feelings.
James shares his images on Flickr and Tumblr as these electronic media seem best suited to his images despite them having originated on film.
His images use cheap cameras, sometimes modified, using film which may be out of date and processed in the “wrong” chemicals. The resulting images usually have the “wrong” colour and contrast. This simply raises the question of what is the true colour? After all, monochrome images are acceptable in the photographic world yet this is simply a particular colour distortion.
Through these images James finds that he is able to explore his own reaction to events and places. He described visiting the south of France in March. The sky was grey and the beaches almost empty: even desolate. Yet here, by recording images in his experimental way, he could explore his own feelings.
James shares his images on Flickr and Tumblr as these electronic media seem best suited to his images despite them having originated on film.
16th May 2022
The fifth of Thornbury Camera Club’s annual competitions was judged by Michael Krier (ARPS AFIAP MA(Photography)). Once again this was an “open” competition which meant that Michael had to be prepared for anything! In the event, we saw landscapes and seascapes, pets and portraits and several pictures of watersports: from canoes to surf boards.
In the print section, Robert England came first with “Panavia Tornado GR4”. “Porthcawl” gave second place to Edward Kilmartin. Mike Ashfield was in third place with “Nailed It!” Other images mentioned or commended by the judge were by George Collett, Robert England and Simon Meeds.
In the digital projected image section, ”Kingfisher Shaking Dry” placed George Collett in first place. Second was Simon Meeds with “Curtain Twitcher”. In third place was Mike Ashfield with “Canoeing River Etive”. Other images mentioned or commended by the judge were by Robert England, Rose Kemp, Martin Nimmo, George Collett, Nigel Newman, Edward Kilmartin and Garry Holden.
In the print section, Robert England came first with “Panavia Tornado GR4”. “Porthcawl” gave second place to Edward Kilmartin. Mike Ashfield was in third place with “Nailed It!” Other images mentioned or commended by the judge were by George Collett, Robert England and Simon Meeds.
In the digital projected image section, ”Kingfisher Shaking Dry” placed George Collett in first place. Second was Simon Meeds with “Curtain Twitcher”. In third place was Mike Ashfield with “Canoeing River Etive”. Other images mentioned or commended by the judge were by Robert England, Rose Kemp, Martin Nimmo, George Collett, Nigel Newman, Edward Kilmartin and Garry Holden.
9th May 2022
When Thornbury Camera Club holds a competition, a guest judge is invited to assess the quality of the entries. This begs the question of what, exactly, is a good photograph? Should it be sharp? Should it have a wide tonal range? Or, maybe it is just a feeling which actually can’t be judged? These are the kind of questions which Andy Beel (FRPS) raised on his recent visit.
Andy showed panels of monochrome images from, amongst other places, Ethiopia, Iceland and London. Some used conventional cameras: others used pinholes. Many were high contrast with deep blacks lacking detail. All were very highly manipulated. Most were exactly the kind of thing which a camera club judge would reject out of hand. However, by presenting them, Andy was asking the members of the club to reassess the conventional judgement of such images. Could it be that the conventional camera club approach is missing something?
Equally radical were Andy’s images of “dance”. Again, these were high contrast and manipulated. They were handheld with exposures of around a quarter of a second. They were blurred but caught the essence of dance: movement as a pattern in space.
It has to be said that some in the audience were not sympathetic. For others, however, a seed may have been planted for radical new images.
Andy showed panels of monochrome images from, amongst other places, Ethiopia, Iceland and London. Some used conventional cameras: others used pinholes. Many were high contrast with deep blacks lacking detail. All were very highly manipulated. Most were exactly the kind of thing which a camera club judge would reject out of hand. However, by presenting them, Andy was asking the members of the club to reassess the conventional judgement of such images. Could it be that the conventional camera club approach is missing something?
Equally radical were Andy’s images of “dance”. Again, these were high contrast and manipulated. They were handheld with exposures of around a quarter of a second. They were blurred but caught the essence of dance: movement as a pattern in space.
It has to be said that some in the audience were not sympathetic. For others, however, a seed may have been planted for radical new images.
25th April 2022
Roy Carr (AWPF) came from Middlesbrough but for several decades has lived in a small village in South Wales. In his talk he was keen to emphasise the idea that we can know best our local village or town and the landscape around it. It is all very well to travel to the far side of the world, but how well do we know what we find?
Roy started his talk in his own back garden with flowers in closeup often touched with drops of rain. He sees himself as part of his local community and at least part of his photography consists of recording the local people and the history, often decaying, of the impact those people and their ancestors have had on the landscape. Here were the old chapels and the winding houses of lost mines.
In his heart, however, it was the natural world which drew him. Trees and water are seen through mist. By staying close to home he could visit and revisit favourite places at different times of year and at different times of day.
One particular place, “Pit Wood”, drew him again and again. It is a stand of Beech trees up above the village. Here, accompanied by his dog “Poppy” he finds the peace of mind which he seeks.
Roy started his talk in his own back garden with flowers in closeup often touched with drops of rain. He sees himself as part of his local community and at least part of his photography consists of recording the local people and the history, often decaying, of the impact those people and their ancestors have had on the landscape. Here were the old chapels and the winding houses of lost mines.
In his heart, however, it was the natural world which drew him. Trees and water are seen through mist. By staying close to home he could visit and revisit favourite places at different times of year and at different times of day.
One particular place, “Pit Wood”, drew him again and again. It is a stand of Beech trees up above the village. Here, accompanied by his dog “Poppy” he finds the peace of mind which he seeks.
11th April 2022
An AGM is a mixed blessing. It has to happen for the good functioning of the club. On the other hand it doesn’t involve anything for which the club was formed: In the case of Thornbury Camera Club it doesn’t involve any photography. On this occasion a good mix was achieved. The first part of the evening was the AGM while the second half, after coffee, was dedicated to viewing photographs.
The AGM took place jointly live, in Turnberries, and online over Zoom. The proceedings were straightforward in that no contentious issues were raised and the officers of the club all agreed to carry on unopposed. The club will continue to experiment with the formats of members meetings and with the structure of competitions. It was noted, however, that the costs of speakers from outside the club is rising.
The second half of the meeting was dedicated to some of the images from the WCPF (Western Counties Photographioc Federation) members exhibition from 2021. Last week we looked at some of the prints from the same exhibition. We have now seen some of the same photographs both as prints and projected images. Call me old school, but there is something about a print which feels as a photograph should: physical and tactile.
The AGM took place jointly live, in Turnberries, and online over Zoom. The proceedings were straightforward in that no contentious issues were raised and the officers of the club all agreed to carry on unopposed. The club will continue to experiment with the formats of members meetings and with the structure of competitions. It was noted, however, that the costs of speakers from outside the club is rising.
The second half of the meeting was dedicated to some of the images from the WCPF (Western Counties Photographioc Federation) members exhibition from 2021. Last week we looked at some of the prints from the same exhibition. We have now seen some of the same photographs both as prints and projected images. Call me old school, but there is something about a print which feels as a photograph should: physical and tactile.
4th April 2022
It is always good to see other people’s photographs: to learn, perhaps to be inspired. Projected images are easy. You can pass them round on a memory stick or by email. Prints require a little more thought: particularly when some of the members are taking part on Zoom.
For this evening Thornbury Camera Club hosted the Western Counties Photographic Federation (WCPF) Travelling Print Exhibition. WCPF is a federation of all photographic clubs in the west of England. The idea was to look at the prints and to decide which we thought was the best print.
To support Zoom members all the prints were converted to digital images.
The prints were divided into five piles on five tables with a group of club members at each table. The Zoom members judged the digital versions of the prints in their pile. Each group chose their best three. These final fifteen images were voted on by the whole group. Even after a run-off, this left a dead heat between two images. Then someone noticed that both images were by the same photographer! A decision was made to have two winners. So, congratulations to Richie Johns of Plymouth Camera Club for both “Moorland Cottage” and “A Watchful Eye”.
For this evening Thornbury Camera Club hosted the Western Counties Photographic Federation (WCPF) Travelling Print Exhibition. WCPF is a federation of all photographic clubs in the west of England. The idea was to look at the prints and to decide which we thought was the best print.
To support Zoom members all the prints were converted to digital images.
The prints were divided into five piles on five tables with a group of club members at each table. The Zoom members judged the digital versions of the prints in their pile. Each group chose their best three. These final fifteen images were voted on by the whole group. Even after a run-off, this left a dead heat between two images. Then someone noticed that both images were by the same photographer! A decision was made to have two winners. So, congratulations to Richie Johns of Plymouth Camera Club for both “Moorland Cottage” and “A Watchful Eye”.
28th March 2022
Moving the camera while taking a picture is usually a recipe for disaster! This need not always be the case as members of Thornbury Camera Club showed at this meeting. Moving the Camera is the basis of panning a moving subject in order to get a sharp image. Moving the camera can also be a way to experiment with shapes to produce patterns.
There are many ways to move a camera. You can simply wave it from side to side or you can rotate it. You can move the zoom during the exposure either by holding the camera and moving the zoom ring or by holding the zoom ring and rotating the camera. Alternatively you can hold the camera in front of you and walk towards the subject.
The subject will affect the result. Amongst the images presented by club members, many were based on the natural world: flowers, trees and so on. Others looked to the shapes in the urban landscape for inspiration.
Overall there were some who tried to predict what the result would be and others who let chance take its course. The latter reminded me of the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery “Kintsugi” where enjoyment lies in the consequence of the accident.
There are many ways to move a camera. You can simply wave it from side to side or you can rotate it. You can move the zoom during the exposure either by holding the camera and moving the zoom ring or by holding the zoom ring and rotating the camera. Alternatively you can hold the camera in front of you and walk towards the subject.
The subject will affect the result. Amongst the images presented by club members, many were based on the natural world: flowers, trees and so on. Others looked to the shapes in the urban landscape for inspiration.
Overall there were some who tried to predict what the result would be and others who let chance take its course. The latter reminded me of the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery “Kintsugi” where enjoyment lies in the consequence of the accident.
21st March 2022
One of the few fundamentally new ways to see the world photographically is the drone. Prior to the advent of the drone the only way to take an aerial view of the world would be to hire an aircraft or helicopter. This is beyond the pockets of most photographers. At various times, photographers have experimented with model aircraft and balloons, but with limited success. The drone is different. As Tim Knifton (CPAGB AFIAP AWPF) showed to Thornbury Camera Club, drones are compact and relatively cheap.
Tim’s pictures showed a world full of patterns made from roads and railways, bridges, dams, harbours and cliffs. Tim seems particularly interested in water so, many of the images showed lakes reservoirs and, of course, the sea. While Tim has travelled across the world, many of his images came from his native South Wales: particularly Tenby. Tim seems to have a particular fascination with lighthouses: out at sea and on the coast. Some require several miles of walking to reach. It is just as well that drones do not weigh much. When they were manned, some of these outposts must have seemed very bleak: particularly in bad weather.
While drones are essentially reliable, when used by the coast there is always the problem of locals taking an interest: particularly inquisitive seagulls.
Tim’s pictures showed a world full of patterns made from roads and railways, bridges, dams, harbours and cliffs. Tim seems particularly interested in water so, many of the images showed lakes reservoirs and, of course, the sea. While Tim has travelled across the world, many of his images came from his native South Wales: particularly Tenby. Tim seems to have a particular fascination with lighthouses: out at sea and on the coast. Some require several miles of walking to reach. It is just as well that drones do not weigh much. When they were manned, some of these outposts must have seemed very bleak: particularly in bad weather.
While drones are essentially reliable, when used by the coast there is always the problem of locals taking an interest: particularly inquisitive seagulls.
14th March 2022
The latest competition at Thornbury Camera Club had the theme “Water”. As it turned out, this is a remarkably flexible theme. We had water vapour as clouds and solid water as ice. We had various examples of rain as well as tourists enjoying the sun and the sea. Several entries showed drops of water frozen by high speed flash. Sorting out the rain drops from the floods was Peter Weaver LRPS. Peter is a local photographer who has visited Thornbury many times in the past. He certainly counts as an old friend and it was good to see him again.
In the projected image section, Edward Kilmartin came first with “I said Lend Me a Hand” (an image of an unfortunate surfing event). Second was Christine Crabb with “Tidal Lake Clevedon”. In third place was “Aqua Mushroom” by Dean Packer. Other images mentioned by the judge were by Mike Ashfield, Rod Crabb, Garry Holden and Rose Kemp.
In the print section, “Rainbow Reflection” gave first place to George Collett. Mike Ashfield was second with “Lady Falls” (a waterfall, not an accident), while “Eye Drops gave third place to Dean Packer. Other images mentioned by the judge were by Mike Ashfield and Dean Packer.
In the projected image section, Edward Kilmartin came first with “I said Lend Me a Hand” (an image of an unfortunate surfing event). Second was Christine Crabb with “Tidal Lake Clevedon”. In third place was “Aqua Mushroom” by Dean Packer. Other images mentioned by the judge were by Mike Ashfield, Rod Crabb, Garry Holden and Rose Kemp.
In the print section, “Rainbow Reflection” gave first place to George Collett. Mike Ashfield was second with “Lady Falls” (a waterfall, not an accident), while “Eye Drops gave third place to Dean Packer. Other images mentioned by the judge were by Mike Ashfield and Dean Packer.
7th March 2022
Every year Thornbury Camera Club hosts a presentation of images from NEMPF (North and East Midlands Photographic Federation). NEMPF was founded in 1955 and is currently made up of 53 photographic clubs and societies primarily in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.
The presentation provides an interesting view of changing fashions in photography. This year there were fewer models dressed up as “Victorian Down and Outs”. In their place has appeared a range of fantasy images which might grace the covers of paperback novels. Models (always female) wear strange costumes, wield swords and kill dragons. St. George has been replaced as the national dragon slayer of choice.
Amongst more conventional photography there seemed to be a little less sport than usual. A couple of photographs of divers were attractive, but the commentary admitted that even these had been manipulated.
Wildlife more than held its place. In this genre of photography image manipulation is banned. What you see is what was there. There were several images of insects mating but the image which stood out for me was of two common cuckoos mating. The subdued grey plumage was offset by the open beak of the male providing a scream of red at the top of the image.
The presentation provides an interesting view of changing fashions in photography. This year there were fewer models dressed up as “Victorian Down and Outs”. In their place has appeared a range of fantasy images which might grace the covers of paperback novels. Models (always female) wear strange costumes, wield swords and kill dragons. St. George has been replaced as the national dragon slayer of choice.
Amongst more conventional photography there seemed to be a little less sport than usual. A couple of photographs of divers were attractive, but the commentary admitted that even these had been manipulated.
Wildlife more than held its place. In this genre of photography image manipulation is banned. What you see is what was there. There were several images of insects mating but the image which stood out for me was of two common cuckoos mating. The subdued grey plumage was offset by the open beak of the male providing a scream of red at the top of the image.
28th February 2022
Five members of the club took the floor this evening to introduce themes from their photography.
As is often revealed to be the case in Thornbury Camera Club, the interests of the club members are diverse. At its most distant, Brian McBride talked about his experiments in astrophotography including images of the Andromeda Galaxy over two and a half million light years away. He went on to discuss emotion in images and how he does not always produce the kind of pictures which competition judges like. Maybe they do not even understand!
Malcolm Rea showed a portfolio of images of entertainment provided for a group of old people: Curling which everyone seems to know all about since the UK Women’s team achieved Gold in Beijing. Malcolm’s other themes included road repairs (for which there were no competitions in Beijing), and sailboards at sea in storms at Clevedon. One showed a sailboarder seeming to disappear into the storm. We were assured that he survived.
Nigel Newman provided a change of format. He presented two audiovisual sequences accompanied by music created by himself. To finish, Reg Fell showed images of the colour and costumes of Spain while Steve Skinner showed street art from Paris, Berlin and Bristol.
As is often revealed to be the case in Thornbury Camera Club, the interests of the club members are diverse. At its most distant, Brian McBride talked about his experiments in astrophotography including images of the Andromeda Galaxy over two and a half million light years away. He went on to discuss emotion in images and how he does not always produce the kind of pictures which competition judges like. Maybe they do not even understand!
Malcolm Rea showed a portfolio of images of entertainment provided for a group of old people: Curling which everyone seems to know all about since the UK Women’s team achieved Gold in Beijing. Malcolm’s other themes included road repairs (for which there were no competitions in Beijing), and sailboards at sea in storms at Clevedon. One showed a sailboarder seeming to disappear into the storm. We were assured that he survived.
Nigel Newman provided a change of format. He presented two audiovisual sequences accompanied by music created by himself. To finish, Reg Fell showed images of the colour and costumes of Spain while Steve Skinner showed street art from Paris, Berlin and Bristol.
21st February 2022
A lot of work goes into the production of a programme of meetings for the year. For this meeting, members of Thornbury camera Club looked forward to next year to discuss what the priorities and preferences would be. As always, a balance has to be drawn between internal presentations which will tend to represent the club as it is, and external speakers bringing new ideas but at financial cost which can be considerable.
A discussion arose regarding the Members’ Meetings where members are asked to produce images on a theme. On the one hand, should the topics be prescriptive and, therefore, relatively easy to address? Alternatively should they be open ended inviting the members to interpret the subject in their own way? One topic from this year, “Magic”, caused some interesting interpretation from some members, but was ignored as “difficult” by others.
Perhaps the most discussion came from the question of criticism. Do people really want outside judges telling them what to do? Or would they prefer internal discussions within the club? Should there be a meeting after a competition when judges comments could be assessed and a modified image shown to the members?
While no definite conclusions were arrived at, the committee was left with much to think about.
A discussion arose regarding the Members’ Meetings where members are asked to produce images on a theme. On the one hand, should the topics be prescriptive and, therefore, relatively easy to address? Alternatively should they be open ended inviting the members to interpret the subject in their own way? One topic from this year, “Magic”, caused some interesting interpretation from some members, but was ignored as “difficult” by others.
Perhaps the most discussion came from the question of criticism. Do people really want outside judges telling them what to do? Or would they prefer internal discussions within the club? Should there be a meeting after a competition when judges comments could be assessed and a modified image shown to the members?
While no definite conclusions were arrived at, the committee was left with much to think about.
14th February 2022
The work of a photographer improves through constructive feedback. This is the purpose of the “Project Group” within Thornbury Camera Club. The group sets themes for its members to tackle. The results are posted onto a members-only website for other members to offer suggestions. The group then meets every six weeks or so on Zoom to discuss the entries and to set another theme.
At this meeting of the club, members of the project group showed some of the results of their work. The themes ranged from “Weather” and “Decrepitude” to “Urban Life”, a “Favourite Poem” or ”Macro Abstract”.
I particularly liked two of the images. Andy Gillingham showed a wilted flower against a plain white background to illustrate the theme “Decrepitude”. To illustrate “Weather” Janet Oxenham used her phone to record the scene through the windscreen of her car during a rainstorm. I hope she wasn’t driving at the time!
The normal competitions which the club holds and the traditional format of judging are all single events. There is no opportunity to respond to the judgement. The format of the project group allows for conversations and discussion.
We can all do with help in whatever skill we wish to practice. Constructive criticism is at the heart of improvement in any skill. The Project Group seems particularly successful at this.
At this meeting of the club, members of the project group showed some of the results of their work. The themes ranged from “Weather” and “Decrepitude” to “Urban Life”, a “Favourite Poem” or ”Macro Abstract”.
I particularly liked two of the images. Andy Gillingham showed a wilted flower against a plain white background to illustrate the theme “Decrepitude”. To illustrate “Weather” Janet Oxenham used her phone to record the scene through the windscreen of her car during a rainstorm. I hope she wasn’t driving at the time!
The normal competitions which the club holds and the traditional format of judging are all single events. There is no opportunity to respond to the judgement. The format of the project group allows for conversations and discussion.
We can all do with help in whatever skill we wish to practice. Constructive criticism is at the heart of improvement in any skill. The Project Group seems particularly successful at this.
7th February 2022
A single word can inspire new ideas and new images. So, when Thornbury Camera Club proposed the word “magic”, much was expected.
The images which members created drew on traditions as far apart as folklore, literature and film. Photographers called upon images of witches with their cats and broomsticks. They created ghosts and showed magic mushrooms. The world of Harry Potter appeared several times. Several pictures drew on the “magic” of Photoshop to distort colours and to move objects from one location to another.
Not all the photographers showing pictures took literal interpretations of the subject. The “magic” of fireworks appeared several times as did the “magic” of childhood.
It is a pity magic is not real. In these days of the pandemic we could do with a wand which with a wave could vanquish the virus. Mind you, when one particularly strange image appeared with a title that seemed more like an incantation, I thought that, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a yellow coffee mug change into a small yellow spider which scuttled away under one of the cupboards. Perhaps it is still there.
The images which members created drew on traditions as far apart as folklore, literature and film. Photographers called upon images of witches with their cats and broomsticks. They created ghosts and showed magic mushrooms. The world of Harry Potter appeared several times. Several pictures drew on the “magic” of Photoshop to distort colours and to move objects from one location to another.
Not all the photographers showing pictures took literal interpretations of the subject. The “magic” of fireworks appeared several times as did the “magic” of childhood.
It is a pity magic is not real. In these days of the pandemic we could do with a wand which with a wave could vanquish the virus. Mind you, when one particularly strange image appeared with a title that seemed more like an incantation, I thought that, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a yellow coffee mug change into a small yellow spider which scuttled away under one of the cupboards. Perhaps it is still there.
31st January 2022
It is one thing to listen to a talk from a photographer interested in fireworks. It is quite another to have a lecture from a professional pyrotechnician with an interest in photography. Matthew Tosh designs and implements major firework displays as well as presenting talks about fireworks and working in the TV and film industries.
Matthew talked about fireworks, what they are, how they work and the chemicals involved to produce the characteristic bangs and colours. He discussed the mortars used to throw fire high into the sky. The mortars are fired electrically: sometimes under computer control. There can be many hundreds of circuits for a big display. The engineers controlling the display could be more than fifty metres away linked to the launch site by cable or radio link.
A firework display has a rhythm to it: particularly if accompanied by music. The “trick” is to catch the rhythm in order to decide when to open and when to close the shutter. Set the aperture at about f/22 and listen for the thud and flame of the mortars as a guide to when to open the shutter. Wait for a few seconds for the shells to explode before closing the shutter ready for the next mortar to thud into life.
Matthew talked about fireworks, what they are, how they work and the chemicals involved to produce the characteristic bangs and colours. He discussed the mortars used to throw fire high into the sky. The mortars are fired electrically: sometimes under computer control. There can be many hundreds of circuits for a big display. The engineers controlling the display could be more than fifty metres away linked to the launch site by cable or radio link.
A firework display has a rhythm to it: particularly if accompanied by music. The “trick” is to catch the rhythm in order to decide when to open and when to close the shutter. Set the aperture at about f/22 and listen for the thud and flame of the mortars as a guide to when to open the shutter. Wait for a few seconds for the shells to explode before closing the shutter ready for the next mortar to thud into life.
24th January 2022
In this age of digital photography we often talk about software such as Photoshop as if every photographer is not only using it, but is familiar with it: this is not the case. So, it is necessary for Thornbury Camera Club to find ways for the more experienced members to pass on their skills.
On this occasion, Dean Packer took charge to demonstrate editing using Photoshop. The meeting was held wholly over Zoom which, in this case, was an advantage. Screen sharing meant that everyone could see everything that Dean was doing.
He started with the simplest task: opening a file and went on to look at selecting parts of the image and removing unwanted parts of the image. “Dodging and Burning” followed. That is, lightening some parts of the image and darkening others. The terminology is a hangover from performing the same task in chemical darkrooms of the past.
Things then became a little more complex as Dean showed how to combine images and parts of images by using layers and masks.
During the break the conversation carried on: each question raising another topic and another question. By the end everyone had learned something new. We look forward to seeing how these new skills might be used.
On this occasion, Dean Packer took charge to demonstrate editing using Photoshop. The meeting was held wholly over Zoom which, in this case, was an advantage. Screen sharing meant that everyone could see everything that Dean was doing.
He started with the simplest task: opening a file and went on to look at selecting parts of the image and removing unwanted parts of the image. “Dodging and Burning” followed. That is, lightening some parts of the image and darkening others. The terminology is a hangover from performing the same task in chemical darkrooms of the past.
Things then became a little more complex as Dean showed how to combine images and parts of images by using layers and masks.
During the break the conversation carried on: each question raising another topic and another question. By the end everyone had learned something new. We look forward to seeing how these new skills might be used.
17th January 2022
10th January 2022
20th December 2021
Members of Thornbury Camera Club are widely travelled. There is barely a corner of the world which some member has not visited at some time. So, as travel is restricted by the pandemic, seeing members’ photographs can seem like a journey to forbidden and magical places.
On this occasion, Andy Gillingham and Janet Oxenham were our tour guides to New Zealand and Australia.
Janet has visited New Zealand many times. She described how she is always aware not only of the breathtaking views but of the empty roads. She took us to both north and south islands to see landscapes, mountains and the sea. The wooden clapperboard buildings give a colonial feel. A city like Napier, on the other hand glories in Art Deco architecture.
In comparison, Andy’s Australia has a more brash feel to it. The cities have tall skyscrapers and the local people seem determined to party between sunbathing and surfing. Away from the coastal cities, the outback is a bleak desert with towns like Alice Springs planted in the middle of nowhere. Alice Springs was built as a telegraph station for communicating between the southern cities and Darwin in the north.
I have to admit that seeing places like these gives me itchy feet. Maybe... one day… when the pandemic is over…
On this occasion, Andy Gillingham and Janet Oxenham were our tour guides to New Zealand and Australia.
Janet has visited New Zealand many times. She described how she is always aware not only of the breathtaking views but of the empty roads. She took us to both north and south islands to see landscapes, mountains and the sea. The wooden clapperboard buildings give a colonial feel. A city like Napier, on the other hand glories in Art Deco architecture.
In comparison, Andy’s Australia has a more brash feel to it. The cities have tall skyscrapers and the local people seem determined to party between sunbathing and surfing. Away from the coastal cities, the outback is a bleak desert with towns like Alice Springs planted in the middle of nowhere. Alice Springs was built as a telegraph station for communicating between the southern cities and Darwin in the north.
I have to admit that seeing places like these gives me itchy feet. Maybe... one day… when the pandemic is over…
13th December 2021
Sometimes a photographer chooses to allow their imagination to reign supreme over reality. So it is with Gary Nicholls who recently visited Thornbury camera Club. Gary produces large, highly manipulated, prints with a strong sense of fantasy drawn from “Steampunk”. That is, we are to image a world which incorporates futuristic science fiction ideas within a Victorian steam-powered aesthetic.
Gary’s images often involve many different images taken separately and then assembled in Photoshop. One large image had two thousand components and took six hundred hours to assemble. He emphasised that it was not a case of taking a few separate images and then finding a way to assemble them. He would start with a final image in his mind of the completed work including all the required Victorian props and taking account of the light sources and their shadows.
Hs images are infused with a sense of theatre and, in some cases, link together to produce stories which he has published as books.
He showed many before and after images showing how the pictures were assembled: in the process showing his keen awareness of perspective and of light. In showing how the images were assembled he seemed to be asking the members of the club to have a go; to imagine a world and to create it
Gary’s images often involve many different images taken separately and then assembled in Photoshop. One large image had two thousand components and took six hundred hours to assemble. He emphasised that it was not a case of taking a few separate images and then finding a way to assemble them. He would start with a final image in his mind of the completed work including all the required Victorian props and taking account of the light sources and their shadows.
Hs images are infused with a sense of theatre and, in some cases, link together to produce stories which he has published as books.
He showed many before and after images showing how the pictures were assembled: in the process showing his keen awareness of perspective and of light. In showing how the images were assembled he seemed to be asking the members of the club to have a go; to imagine a world and to create it
6th December 2021
Photography is about making pictures. It is also about telling stories with those pictures. So, on this evening, members of Thornbury Camera Club were asked to become photojournalists and to tell stories. Ten members rose to the challenge and provided stories of families and covid, of a closed pub and of a walk round Woodchester Mansion.
A food market in Bristol which, before covid, would have been packed at lunchtimes with local workers pausing in their day to choose from dishes from around the world, was empty. The photographs gave glimpses of the people who remained. One man reading from a pile of books; another glued to a mobile phone.
Elsewhere in Bristol the Rhubarb is a pub which, judging from the old signs had been a centre of the local community. It had been the subject of an unsuccessful campaign to stop it closing. Grass now grew above the ornate moulded walls and the advertised “Good Food” would never again be served.
Life goes on, however, and people still play sports and go on country walks. Even here there is tragedy. We saw the aftermath of a road accident with the Air Ambulance in attendance. There was no news of the drivers or passengers. We hope they were well.
A food market in Bristol which, before covid, would have been packed at lunchtimes with local workers pausing in their day to choose from dishes from around the world, was empty. The photographs gave glimpses of the people who remained. One man reading from a pile of books; another glued to a mobile phone.
Elsewhere in Bristol the Rhubarb is a pub which, judging from the old signs had been a centre of the local community. It had been the subject of an unsuccessful campaign to stop it closing. Grass now grew above the ornate moulded walls and the advertised “Good Food” would never again be served.
Life goes on, however, and people still play sports and go on country walks. Even here there is tragedy. We saw the aftermath of a road accident with the Air Ambulance in attendance. There was no news of the drivers or passengers. We hope they were well.
29th November 2021
I have often mentioned in these reports that it is a pleasure to see what Thornbury Camera Club’s own members are doing. In this case Peter Haworth (ARPS) presented his work. Peter photographs the natural world and our place in it with images which often have exposures of many tens of seconds. Water is smoothed out and cloudy skies take on new shapes.
Many of Peter’s photographs were taken in winter: his preferred season as there are fewer crowds. The simple shapes he is looking for combined with the long exposures are not compatible with people. Trees in winter are isolated against plain backgrounds on the flat landscape of Essex or combined with rocks in Yorkshire.
Long exposures made the Severn Bridge float on mist. The Tollesbury lightship on the Essex Marshes was refloated on cotton wool. Almost the only movement in Peter’s photographs was the movement of water in remote waterfalls.
Many of Peter’s images show the decay of man-made features in the land and sea. Wrecked boats seemed to be at peace. Ruined farmhouses on Dartmoor are quiet reflections of a past world while finding a new life as refuges for walkers.
Many of Peter’s photographs were taken in winter: his preferred season as there are fewer crowds. The simple shapes he is looking for combined with the long exposures are not compatible with people. Trees in winter are isolated against plain backgrounds on the flat landscape of Essex or combined with rocks in Yorkshire.
Long exposures made the Severn Bridge float on mist. The Tollesbury lightship on the Essex Marshes was refloated on cotton wool. Almost the only movement in Peter’s photographs was the movement of water in remote waterfalls.
Many of Peter’s images show the decay of man-made features in the land and sea. Wrecked boats seemed to be at peace. Ruined farmhouses on Dartmoor are quiet reflections of a past world while finding a new life as refuges for walkers.
22nd November 2021
Some competition subjects are designed to challenge the imagination of photographers. For the latest round of Thornbury Camera Club’s annual competition the subject was “In a Minimalist Style”. What, you may wonder is that supposed to mean? The response from the members took the form of images with a lot of open space with simple sparse lines. Water appeared a lot with almost empty seas and lakes. In other cases shapes were almost abstract set in a blank space. There were several surfers in empty seas and a number of sunsets. Lone trees featured in several images.
In the print section, George Collett came first and third with “The Lone Wasp” and “High as a Kite”. “Sunset Surfer” gave second place to Dean Packer. Other Commended and Highly Commended images were provided by Mike Ashfield and Simon Meeds.
In the projected image section, George Collett came first with “Cormorant in Flight”. “Alone on a Bench” from Andy Gillingham came second while Rodney Crabb came third with “Sandblasted Rope”. Other Commended and Highly Commended images came from Rodney Crabb, Rose kemp, Garry Holden, Andy Gillingham and Barbara Gibbons.
In the print section, George Collett came first and third with “The Lone Wasp” and “High as a Kite”. “Sunset Surfer” gave second place to Dean Packer. Other Commended and Highly Commended images were provided by Mike Ashfield and Simon Meeds.
In the projected image section, George Collett came first with “Cormorant in Flight”. “Alone on a Bench” from Andy Gillingham came second while Rodney Crabb came third with “Sandblasted Rope”. Other Commended and Highly Commended images came from Rodney Crabb, Rose kemp, Garry Holden, Andy Gillingham and Barbara Gibbons.
15th November 2021
Thornbury Camera Club was joined over Zoom by Sue O’Connell (FIPF ARPS EFIAP/d3 DPAGP BPE5) and Peter Brisley (ARPS EFIAP DPAGB BPE2) to hear and see their joint presentation “More Travels Towards the Edge”.
Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, is an ancient settlement rapidly being overtaken by modern high-rise buildings and pollution: both the consequence of the mining industry. Out in the Steppe, Sue met people living a nomadic lifestyle in round tents called “Ger”. The economy is constructed round animals: horses, camels and yaks. In the east of the country the Kazakh eagle hunters tame golden eagles to hunt and for status. These spectacular birds in the wild landscape have attracted photographers for many years.
Peter described the wildlife of the Pantanal in Brazil: the world's largest tropical wetland. While birds and reptiles provided much of the wildlife, the sleek Jaguar is the picture which most visiting photographers would like to take away with them.
Just as Mongolia is becoming the victim of pollution so, in Pantanal, Peter showed the consequences of modern farming practices polluting the water courses. A particularly tragic image showed the body of a poisoned Caiman alligator floating upside down in the river.
Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, is an ancient settlement rapidly being overtaken by modern high-rise buildings and pollution: both the consequence of the mining industry. Out in the Steppe, Sue met people living a nomadic lifestyle in round tents called “Ger”. The economy is constructed round animals: horses, camels and yaks. In the east of the country the Kazakh eagle hunters tame golden eagles to hunt and for status. These spectacular birds in the wild landscape have attracted photographers for many years.
Peter described the wildlife of the Pantanal in Brazil: the world's largest tropical wetland. While birds and reptiles provided much of the wildlife, the sleek Jaguar is the picture which most visiting photographers would like to take away with them.
Just as Mongolia is becoming the victim of pollution so, in Pantanal, Peter showed the consequences of modern farming practices polluting the water courses. A particularly tragic image showed the body of a poisoned Caiman alligator floating upside down in the river.
8th November 2021
Thornbury Camera Club held another in-house meeting where members share their images and describe their approach to photography.
Cheryl Miller (ARPS) described her recent unsuccessful attempt to become a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society. Fellowship requires the applicant to submit 20 or 21 images to be assessed as a panel as well as individually. Cheryl submitted images taken in Santorini: a popular tourist destination in the Aegean Sea. The principle town, Thira, consists of closely built white buildings, often with blue roofs matching the blue sea and sky. Cheryl showed the buildings and the landscape as well as people who live and work there: Santorini is popular as a destination for wedding photography.
Martin Nimmo showed very different images. Many were taken locally showing the Wye valley including Tintern Abbey and the Devil’s Pulpit which looks down on the scene. Further south, Martin showed seascapes from Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare. Travels further afield in the UK have taken Martin to Scotland to see the Falkirk wheel and, nearby, the Kelpies: giant sculptures of horses heads standing in a public park between Falkirk and Grangemouth. Travelling west, Martin showed the rugged mountains and seascapes of Skye: a far cry from gentle Clevedon.
Cheryl Miller (ARPS) described her recent unsuccessful attempt to become a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society. Fellowship requires the applicant to submit 20 or 21 images to be assessed as a panel as well as individually. Cheryl submitted images taken in Santorini: a popular tourist destination in the Aegean Sea. The principle town, Thira, consists of closely built white buildings, often with blue roofs matching the blue sea and sky. Cheryl showed the buildings and the landscape as well as people who live and work there: Santorini is popular as a destination for wedding photography.
Martin Nimmo showed very different images. Many were taken locally showing the Wye valley including Tintern Abbey and the Devil’s Pulpit which looks down on the scene. Further south, Martin showed seascapes from Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare. Travels further afield in the UK have taken Martin to Scotland to see the Falkirk wheel and, nearby, the Kelpies: giant sculptures of horses heads standing in a public park between Falkirk and Grangemouth. Travelling west, Martin showed the rugged mountains and seascapes of Skye: a far cry from gentle Clevedon.
1st November 2021
Thornbury Camera Club held another in-house meeting where two members shared their skills with the club.
Steve Wells talked about using textures in images. A texture is simply an image which is used to support another image: Perhaps by providing a new background. Steve showed how to collect images such as wood panelling, floor tiles, carpet, wood grain and stone to create a library of textures which could then be called upon when needed. You don’t have to go far to collect texture images: Just look around your house. He showed how to use Photoshop to replace a background. He finished by looking in detail at how two of his own images were constructed.
Mike Ashfield talked about Lightroom. This is a program which sits alongside Photoshop as an image editor and, above all, as a catalogue allowing users to structure libraries of many thousands of images and still find what is wanted. Mike described how he goes about using Lightroom: Starting with loading new images and cataloguing them. He went on to explain how he assesses images and awards a star rating to each. Finally, he looked at the editing facilities available in Lightroom. While Lightroom and Photoshop are both from Adobe, the facilities available in each are different.
This was an interesting evening looking at the different facilities available in two different software programs from Adobe.
Steve Wells talked about using textures in images. A texture is simply an image which is used to support another image: Perhaps by providing a new background. Steve showed how to collect images such as wood panelling, floor tiles, carpet, wood grain and stone to create a library of textures which could then be called upon when needed. You don’t have to go far to collect texture images: Just look around your house. He showed how to use Photoshop to replace a background. He finished by looking in detail at how two of his own images were constructed.
Mike Ashfield talked about Lightroom. This is a program which sits alongside Photoshop as an image editor and, above all, as a catalogue allowing users to structure libraries of many thousands of images and still find what is wanted. Mike described how he goes about using Lightroom: Starting with loading new images and cataloguing them. He went on to explain how he assesses images and awards a star rating to each. Finally, he looked at the editing facilities available in Lightroom. While Lightroom and Photoshop are both from Adobe, the facilities available in each are different.
This was an interesting evening looking at the different facilities available in two different software programs from Adobe.
25th October 2021
Thornbury camera Club was joined today by John A Hudson (ARPS SPSA DPAGB ASPS) with his talk: “The Quest and Beyond”. John first kept birds as a teenager. He was not unusual. Most of his friends kept something; mice, guinea pigs and so on. Humming Birds were unusual! John’s interest in birds continued. Today he travels the world photographing them.
Humming birds are small: smaller than your thumb. Their wings beat at 80 beats per second: The beating wings make a noise. Yes, humming birds really do hum. John’s aim was to photograph the birds in flight with the wings frozen which would require a shutter speed of 1/16000 second. This was not possible with cameras of the time and few cameras today would manage it. Electronic flash was the answer.
John moved on from the bright colours of the birds to the bright lights of theatre. While initially rejected in his attempts to gain access to the major ballet companies, he found acceptance through dance and theatre schools. He showed images of dancers singly and in groups; standing and jumping; sometimes seeming to fly. Included among his theatrical interests is circus. Here the acrobats and trapeze artists take his interest.
From Birds to ballet; from ballet to trapeze: all flying.
Humming birds are small: smaller than your thumb. Their wings beat at 80 beats per second: The beating wings make a noise. Yes, humming birds really do hum. John’s aim was to photograph the birds in flight with the wings frozen which would require a shutter speed of 1/16000 second. This was not possible with cameras of the time and few cameras today would manage it. Electronic flash was the answer.
John moved on from the bright colours of the birds to the bright lights of theatre. While initially rejected in his attempts to gain access to the major ballet companies, he found acceptance through dance and theatre schools. He showed images of dancers singly and in groups; standing and jumping; sometimes seeming to fly. Included among his theatrical interests is circus. Here the acrobats and trapeze artists take his interest.
From Birds to ballet; from ballet to trapeze: all flying.
18th October 2021
Since the earliest days of photography, images have been manipulated. Sometimes it was to overcome the limitations of the photographic processes at the time. In other cases it was for artistic intent. In 1856, for example, Oscar Rejlander blended 32 separate photographs to create a single image called “Two Ways of Life”.
At this meeting of Thornbury Camera Club, members were asked to describe the changes they have made to images by showing, first, what an image looked like when it came straight out of the camera. Then, second, what the image looked like after being adjusted in Photoshop, Affinity, Darktable, Gimp and so on.
The images themselves showed the wide range of interests of club members from landscape to portraits to complete abstracts; from street scenes to wildlife. The changes involved cropping, changing colours and backgrounds, moving parts of an image from one place to another and conversion to black and white. Overall the changes showed how photographer’s concerns today are the same as those in the middle of the nineteenth century. In one case, how to overcome the limitations of the photographic medium to create the image the photographer wanted to take. In the other, how to create something completely new from photographs as raw material. The spirit of Oscar Rejlander is still alive.
At this meeting of Thornbury Camera Club, members were asked to describe the changes they have made to images by showing, first, what an image looked like when it came straight out of the camera. Then, second, what the image looked like after being adjusted in Photoshop, Affinity, Darktable, Gimp and so on.
The images themselves showed the wide range of interests of club members from landscape to portraits to complete abstracts; from street scenes to wildlife. The changes involved cropping, changing colours and backgrounds, moving parts of an image from one place to another and conversion to black and white. Overall the changes showed how photographer’s concerns today are the same as those in the middle of the nineteenth century. In one case, how to overcome the limitations of the photographic medium to create the image the photographer wanted to take. In the other, how to create something completely new from photographs as raw material. The spirit of Oscar Rejlander is still alive.
11th October 2021
Each year, Thornbury camera Club holds a series of internal competitions throughout the year. This year there are to be six competitions with each member able to enter up to two prints and up to two projected images. This was the first competition of the year. There was no theme so any subject could be entered. The judge, with the unenviable task of trying to compare “portraits” with “landscapes”; “still-life” with “football”, was Peter Ottley (LRPS, DPAGB). Peter, from Bleadon Photo Group, is an old friend who has visited the club before back in 2017.
In the print section, Dean Packer came first with “Faces in the Storm”. George Collett took both second and third places with “Bee Eater with Dragonfly” and “Syrian Woodpecker and Juvenile”. Highly Commended and Commended images were from Graham Peers and Edward Kilmartin.
In the projected image section Eirwyn Thomas came both first and second with “Riding the Wave” and “Flower in the Sun”. “Clevedon Pier” gave third place to Edward Kilmartin. Highly Commended and Commended images were from Christine Crabb, Lorna Minshall, Mike Ashfield, George Collett and Rose Kemp.
Once again, the meeting was presented both live and broadcast on Zoom.
In the print section, Dean Packer came first with “Faces in the Storm”. George Collett took both second and third places with “Bee Eater with Dragonfly” and “Syrian Woodpecker and Juvenile”. Highly Commended and Commended images were from Graham Peers and Edward Kilmartin.
In the projected image section Eirwyn Thomas came both first and second with “Riding the Wave” and “Flower in the Sun”. “Clevedon Pier” gave third place to Edward Kilmartin. Highly Commended and Commended images were from Christine Crabb, Lorna Minshall, Mike Ashfield, George Collett and Rose Kemp.
Once again, the meeting was presented both live and broadcast on Zoom.
4th October 2021
When you invite a group of photographers to create images on an unusual subject, the results can be fascinating. So it was when the members of Thornbury camera Club were asked to take photographs on a theme of “Shoes and Hats”.
Sixteen members rose to the challenge. Some addressing just Shoes and others just Hats. Most took on the complete challenge and tackled both.
The theme of “Shoes” provoked the most varied response. Shoes can be single or in pairs. They can come with feet or not. They can be exhibits in a museum, on sale in a shop or dumped in the bottom of a wardrobe never to be worn again. In style they can be glistening, decorated formal heels… or wellington boots.
The concept of a shoe tree led to an image of shoes being used to decorate a live tree!
As to hats, apart from the different purposes of a hat: sun protection, swimming, formal dress or safety, there is the colour and the material to be taken into account. There were hats made from cloth, from leather and from plastic. Safety helmets can protect when climbing rocks or trees; they are worn by emergency services, canoeists and polo players.
Hats can be piled high on a market stall. The examples shown here were all priced at £15. All bargains I am sure.
Sixteen members rose to the challenge. Some addressing just Shoes and others just Hats. Most took on the complete challenge and tackled both.
The theme of “Shoes” provoked the most varied response. Shoes can be single or in pairs. They can come with feet or not. They can be exhibits in a museum, on sale in a shop or dumped in the bottom of a wardrobe never to be worn again. In style they can be glistening, decorated formal heels… or wellington boots.
The concept of a shoe tree led to an image of shoes being used to decorate a live tree!
As to hats, apart from the different purposes of a hat: sun protection, swimming, formal dress or safety, there is the colour and the material to be taken into account. There were hats made from cloth, from leather and from plastic. Safety helmets can protect when climbing rocks or trees; they are worn by emergency services, canoeists and polo players.
Hats can be piled high on a market stall. The examples shown here were all priced at £15. All bargains I am sure.
27th September 2021
It is all very well having visitors to the club to show off their photographs, but the club comes into its own when its own members show off their pictures. So, on this occasion Thornbury Camera Club asked Janet Mann, Vince Mann and Eddie Kilmartin to put on a show.
Janet and Vince had, as might be expected visited the same places! New Zealand and Canada featured in both their presentations as, closer to home, did Suffolk, Slimbridge and the Wild Place. Janet themed her presentation: Wildlife predominated with sequences of birds, flowers and insects. Towards the end storms and seascapes appeared. Vince was more concerned with images as memories. He has family connections with Suffolk so he showed images of windmills and wide open skies. Everyone who visits Aldeburgh visits the Scallop: A sculpture by Suffolk-born artist Maggi Hambling. It was unveiled in 2003 as a tribute to Benjamin Britten. Its complex shape creates different images from all directions.
Eddie decided to show prints. As the meeting was being shared between a live audience and other members joining across Zoom, a way had to be found to show the prints to the remote audience. The solution was to simultaneously show prints to the live audience while showing digital images of the same pictures over Zoom.
There was much interest in the images, while the simultaneous use of Zoom and live prints was a new development in the club’s use of remote sharing technology.
Janet and Vince had, as might be expected visited the same places! New Zealand and Canada featured in both their presentations as, closer to home, did Suffolk, Slimbridge and the Wild Place. Janet themed her presentation: Wildlife predominated with sequences of birds, flowers and insects. Towards the end storms and seascapes appeared. Vince was more concerned with images as memories. He has family connections with Suffolk so he showed images of windmills and wide open skies. Everyone who visits Aldeburgh visits the Scallop: A sculpture by Suffolk-born artist Maggi Hambling. It was unveiled in 2003 as a tribute to Benjamin Britten. Its complex shape creates different images from all directions.
Eddie decided to show prints. As the meeting was being shared between a live audience and other members joining across Zoom, a way had to be found to show the prints to the remote audience. The solution was to simultaneously show prints to the live audience while showing digital images of the same pictures over Zoom.
There was much interest in the images, while the simultaneous use of Zoom and live prints was a new development in the club’s use of remote sharing technology.
20th September 2021
John Chamberlin (FRPS, MFIAP, APAGB) joined Thornbury Camera Club to present his talk “From Dawn to Dusk”. As on the last few meetings the presentation was given simultaneously live and on-line using Zoom.
John’s presentation was mainly a mix of wildlife and landscape from his wide ranging travels across the world. Tuscany was a clear favourite for landscape with the characteristic tall poplar trees and their long shadows in the morning light. He was keen to emphasise the time of day. The early morning light is particularly special. He and his friends would leave their accommodation before dawn to be ready to take pictures, returning for breakfast when the sun was high in the sky. This approach is common amongst landscape photographers. The light does not appear at your convenience: You have to be ready to catch it when it is there.
He has visited the USA many times. Death Valley, The Rocky Mountains and New Mexico all featured. He expressed a particular fondness for the Aspen trees in Colorado.
Africa, particularly West Africa rather than the more popular East, was where he photographed desert landscapes with elephants, lions and antelopes. The desert dunes looked like frozen waves on a sand sea. Again, to capture the mood he had to be in position before dawn.
Photographing birds in Japan, the winter snow provided reflected light from underneath to illuminate the detail of the plumage. In Yudanaka’s hot springs he photographed the snow monkeys: their pink faces making it seem that they had stayed in the bath too long.
John’s presentation was mainly a mix of wildlife and landscape from his wide ranging travels across the world. Tuscany was a clear favourite for landscape with the characteristic tall poplar trees and their long shadows in the morning light. He was keen to emphasise the time of day. The early morning light is particularly special. He and his friends would leave their accommodation before dawn to be ready to take pictures, returning for breakfast when the sun was high in the sky. This approach is common amongst landscape photographers. The light does not appear at your convenience: You have to be ready to catch it when it is there.
He has visited the USA many times. Death Valley, The Rocky Mountains and New Mexico all featured. He expressed a particular fondness for the Aspen trees in Colorado.
Africa, particularly West Africa rather than the more popular East, was where he photographed desert landscapes with elephants, lions and antelopes. The desert dunes looked like frozen waves on a sand sea. Again, to capture the mood he had to be in position before dawn.
Photographing birds in Japan, the winter snow provided reflected light from underneath to illuminate the detail of the plumage. In Yudanaka’s hot springs he photographed the snow monkeys: their pink faces making it seem that they had stayed in the bath too long.
13th September 2021
The London Salon of Photography exists to “exhibit only that class of photographic work in which there is distinct evidence of artistic feeling and execution”. The idea that photography should be seen primarily as an artistic medium goes way back into the nineteenth century with photographers such as Roger Fenton: a founder of the Royal Photographic Society. When Thornbury Camera Club exhibited images from the London Salon, we knew that we could expect something other than what has become known as “club photography”. We knew not to expect “chocolate box” landscapes, wildlife or sport.
These were images where the primary intent was to catch (or to create) the mood. This tended to be achieved through monochrome or muted colours. This was often supported by textures added to the image, or of a coarseness or grain imitating the character of over-processed film. Backgrounds made from images of badly plastered walls have become a cliché in recent years. After all, if Rembrandt could get away with textured backgrounds in the seventeenth century, why should we not do the same?
In the discussion which followed, not everyone seemed to appreciate what the Salon members were trying to achieve. Perhaps the difference between these images and those we are used to was uncomfortable. Despite this, there was a feeling that we were being challenged and that can only be a good thing.
These were images where the primary intent was to catch (or to create) the mood. This tended to be achieved through monochrome or muted colours. This was often supported by textures added to the image, or of a coarseness or grain imitating the character of over-processed film. Backgrounds made from images of badly plastered walls have become a cliché in recent years. After all, if Rembrandt could get away with textured backgrounds in the seventeenth century, why should we not do the same?
In the discussion which followed, not everyone seemed to appreciate what the Salon members were trying to achieve. Perhaps the difference between these images and those we are used to was uncomfortable. Despite this, there was a feeling that we were being challenged and that can only be a good thing.
06th September 2021