Previous Reports
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