Morning All
A Few Thanks and a Little Housekeeping!
First of all, a huge thank you to Dom and Bob for stepping into the breach with their two talks on ‘Framing of Images’ and a shortened version of ‘Video Making’, respectively. Much appreciated, gentlemen – and a welcome change from listening to me!
Attached is a handout from Bob.
Secondly, many thanks to everyone who managed to submit images for our second SAT, with the theme of ‘Water’, and for joining in the discussions. There was a fantastic variety of images and interpretations – some really imaginative work. It certainly proved that there’s more to water than just getting wet!
A little housekeeping for future SATs. I think we’ll need to introduce a limit of 10 images per member for future sessions. It’s not that we don’t enjoy seeing everyone’s work (quite the opposite!), but we do need to get home before breakfast! (I know, 10.15pm last week!). It’s difficult to predict how many entries we’ll receive, and I certainly don’t want to leave anyone’s images out simply because we’re running short of time.
One other small request: if possible, could members send me their SAT images in advance? I can then put everything together in a PowerPoint presentation, which should save us the usual exercise of swapping USB sticks between showings. It might even give us a few extra minutes for the all-important discussion!
Thanks again to everyone for making these evenings such an enjoyable and worthwhile part of the club programme. Keep those images coming – just remember, 10 is the new 50!
Notices:
The great Christmas bash!
Wednesday 16th December – Wyrebank – 7.30pm
It’s that time of year again when we put aside the cameras, lenses and technical discussions (well, briefly!) and gather together for a good old-fashioned Christmas get together!
Our Christmas Bash will be held at Wyrebank on Wednesday 16th December at 7.30pm, and we’d love you to join us.
Speak to Freda to book your place before all the best seats disappear – or before the club funds mysteriously find their way into a mountain of mince pies!
We’re looking forward to an evening of good food, festive cheer, questionable cracker jokes and, if previous experience is anything to go by, at least one conversation about cameras that will outlast the meal, the pudding and possibly the evening itself!
The evening is open to all members and their long-suffering wives, husbands, partners and significant others. The more the merrier, so please come along and support the club. After all, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a good get-together and someone telling the same joke as last year!
What’s on the menu?
As discussed at last Wednesday’s meeting, the culinary delights on offer are:
Main Course – choose one:
Chunky Steak Pie, served with chips, peas and gravy.
OR
Stir-fry Chicken with vegetable rice.
Pudding – choose one:
Apple Crumble and Custard – a proper winter warmer!
OR
Fresh Fruit Salad – for those pretending to be sensible at Christmas!
The Important Bit – Cost & Booking
The cost is £23 per person, payable in full to secure your place.
We’ll be seated at round tables of eight, the bar will be open (always a promising start!), and there may even be some entertainment. Whether that’s planned, spontaneous or simply watching our members attempt to differentiate between photography gear remains to be seen!
Entertainment – Watch This Space!
As for entertainment, our thinking caps are firmly on. At the moment, ideas range from “quite good” to “possibly requiring legal advice”.
If anyone has any brilliant suggestions, please let us know. All ideas are welcome, although we reserve the right to blame you if they go horribly wrong!
Looking Ahead – Presentation Evening 2027
As also discussed at the meeting, if the Christmas evening proves a success and the general consensus is favourable (preferably after a couple of drinks!), we may well hold our Presentation Evening at Wyrebank on Wednesday 19th May 2027.
I’ve provisionally booked the date, so it would be great to hear your thoughts and feedback on the venue.
So, come along, enjoy the food, the company, have a drink, share a laugh and help us celebrate another year together.
And remember – cameras are strictly optional for the evening, although we cannot guarantee that conversations about them will be!
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible. Merry Christmas!
The next SAT due, is ‘Landscapes’ Showing scheduled for 9th December!
A few thoughts below on the branches of Landscape Photography which hopefully will encourage you!
You might think landscape photography is simply pointing a camera at a nice view and pressing the button. Oh, if only! It turns out that landscape photography has more branches than an overgrown oak tree.
There’s traditional landscape photography for mountains, lakes and valleys; seascapes for dramatic waves and soggy socks; and minimalist photography for those who believe that one rock, a bit of mist and half a tree are quite enough, thank you very much.
Then there’s fine-art landscape photography, where a photograph of a muddy field becomes a profound meditation on the human condition, and astrophotography, which involves photographing the Milky Way while wondering why you’re standing in a freezing field at 2 a.m.
We also have aerial photography, intimate landscapes (small bits of scenery having their moment in the spotlight), abstract landscapes (where even the photographer sometimes struggles to explain what the picture is), and urban and industrial landscapes, celebrating everything from city skylines to abandoned factories.
Environmental photography reminds us that the planet needs looking after, while rural and cultural landscapes record the countryside, its history and the people who have shaped it.
And that’s before we get to long exposures, panoramas, time-lapses, infrared and black-and-white photography. Apparently, simply taking a picture isn’t enough anymore; we must also find a technique that requires three filters, a tripod, a degree in physics and the patience of a saint.
Of course, the beauty of it all is that these categories happily overlap. A photograph of an abandoned quarry at night could be industrial, environmental, minimalist and fine art all at once. Very efficient – four genres for the price of one!
So next time someone asks what sort of photographer you are, don’t just say “landscape photographer”. That would be far too straightforward. Give them the full list, watch their eyes glaze over, and then explain that you’re still waiting for the light to improve.
After all, landscape photography isn’t just about capturing a view. It’s about finding your own way of seeing it – preferably before the weather changes!
So, camera at the ready? GO!
Message from Stan:
“Stan has approximately 30 Books covering most aspects of photography. They are free to club members. They cover virtually all genres of photography from introduction to digital photography to more advanced subjects like Macro. If you are interested, please contact Stan. email stanley.pearson@talktalk.net or 07818 883476”
Coffee duty:
Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 4th November is Mike H. and Barry – thank you gentlemen, in advance!
Up and coming programme of events:
Wednesday 4th November – Our speaker this evening is Duncan Phillips and his talk is titled ‘Black and White Photography.’
Duncan writes: “I have over the last few years returned to the use of monochrome in my photographic images. I find fascination in the reduction of my vision into the light and dark, sunlight and shadows, textures and structure of the subject.” See attached image.
Following on from Duncan’s talk will be a SAT (Show-and-Tell) based on Black and White photography – so, pay attention! Your SAT images will be due to be presented on Wednesday 27th January 2027.
Duncan will return to give constructive feedback and useful tips!
Wednesday 11th November – Members evening: 10 in 10 in 10: that is, 10 members, already nominated, showing 10 images and each member has 10 minutes; this is the first time we have done this – what could possibly go wrong!
Thursday 12th November – Fylde 4-Way Battle.
Just to remind all members this Battle is between Garstang, Poulton, North Fylde and Lytham. And, Nick Hilton is the judge.
The 4-way Battle is to be held at Poulton this year, starting at 7.30 in the Methodist Church Hall, Queensway, Poulton-le-Fylde, FY6 7ST.
Car sharing:
If you want to car share, I suggest we meet up at Kirkland & Catterall Memorial Hall, PR3 OHS at 6.30pm to leave there at 6.40pm; it’s about 20 mins to Poulton.
Every member is very welcome to attend, it is free (though they may persuade you to buy a raffle ticket), and it can be quite illuminating!
It can also get quite busy so aim to get there by 7.15pm at the latest. Parking? We use Booths Car Park, opposite the Methodist Church – handy if it’s raining!
Booths website says: Customers shopping at Booths are entitled to three hours of free parking. ANPR cameras are in operation.
The car park is free from restriction to park overnight from 8pm until 6am.
So, my interpretation is, if we park say at 7pm we should be ok!
Wednesday 18th November – Our speaker this evening is Ashley Barnard and his talk is tilted ‘Stags and other Wildlife.’
Ash writes: The talk is primarily about how to photograph English wildlife using camouflage and the approach as well as best practices, I will be talking about various species of wildlife from owls, kingfishers, mountain hares, red deer, etc was as well as providing video and camera settings throughout the talk.
I will also bring a few prints along with me the type print here in my studio.
Wednesday 25th November – Environment Cup Competition judging:
The judge this evening is Nicki Greenwood.
That’s all folks, see you Wednesday.
Mike
