Weekly Reports by Steve Wells
(Older reports in Archive)
2023-2024 Programme
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.
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.
27th November 2023
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.