The first meeting of 2022 and once again Zoom technology came into good use for the club’s Annual Projected Image Competition as members could see all the entered sets and score each set from their own home and even see the final result!
There was a good entry of 44 sets – each set was of 5 images on a chosen theme. Members had to show their opinion of how well the images displayed together, photographic and artistic qualities and how well the images illustrate the chosen title. After the images from each set were shown then members could award points between 1 and 10. The scores from each set were averaged and then the scores from the 3 sets entered were added to give a winner.
As might be expected there was a wide range of subjects including magnificent landscapes and wildlife studies but some were completely different such as images of a cheese grater from all angles, gargoyles and Steam Punk!
Top marks mainly went to landscape and wildlife sets but aircraft and super bikes did well. The range of points awarded was interesting as one image had points ranging from 1 at the bottom up to 10 at the top so a wide range of opinions!
Cleverly juggling with the controls of Zoom and also displaying the sets was Dave Eagle and entering and checking the results on the spreadsheet were Frank Collins and Gerald Clarke so many thanks to them all.

Finally the clever software worked out all the averages and added the 3 scores and at the end of the evening the results were given.
In first place were the superb wildlife sets by David Wilkinson LRPS which featured Otters, Tawny Owls and Cuckoos. David wins the Hewitt Cup and an image from each of David’s sets are shown above.
In second place was Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP with sets titled The Colours of Summer, Ancients of Savernake and Gannets. Roberts set of Gannet images was the set that scored the highest out of all the sets entered in the competition.

Third came Dave Evans whose sets featured a range of photographs of Spitfires, Birds on Bempton Cliffs and Grey Seals.

Highly Commended’s were awarded the next 3 members with the highest scores. These were Frank Collins, Richard Blackbourne and Peter Evans so very well done to them. Thanks to all who entered as it takes a lot of time and skill to put together the 3 sets of 5 images needed.
Thanks to Dave Eagle for collecting all the entries and making up the competition and to all who helped make the evening run so successfully. PM
See the top 30 set results

The last meeting before Christmas is always the time for the Knock-out competition where members choose which one of a pair of images they prefer and the winning image goes on to the next round. Meant to be competition just for fun and not to be taken seriously but probably members all hope that one of their images will be the favourite this year.
Once again the competition had to be held using Zoom with members viewing from their own homes and suppling their own seasonal food and drink!
The Master of Ceremonies was Santa himself who was there to check there was fair play.

There were 125 member’s images entered and Dave Gray was in charge of the software which displayed the images in random pairs. Images could be of any subject and could have been entered in a competition before.
During the course of the evening many excellent images were voted out - but that’s how it works with sometimes rough justice along the way! There were many close calls with just a vote or two deciding which image stays in the competition. There were also a few times when the votes were equal and then Santa had to make the final decision.

Round by round images fell by the wayside until just eight remained and then down to the final four.
Finally, the image that most members voted for was an close up of a large black flightless beetle with long legs!! The ‘Bloody-nosed Beetle’ was by Tim Tapley so many congratulations to him.
In second place was a very different image, this time a tranquil scene taken in by Sue Wadman. ‘Sunrise at Turf Fen’ showed the 19th-century drainage mill which is one of the Norfolk Broad's most iconic sights.

In third place was a striking bird image by Tim Tapley titled ‘Sedge Warbler’
And again a very different image, this time a monochrome, slow shutter speed photo of flying swans by Megan Boardman titled ‘Morning Flying School’.

Very well done to the winners who will receive their prizes when Santa is not too busy.
Many thanks to all those who helped during the evening especially Santa (alias Frank Collins) Dave Gray for running the competition, Dave Eagle for sorting out the Zoom meeting and of course all those members who sent in images and voted for their favourites.

The end of another year with all its ups and downs and if anyone bothers to look through the Club News for the last few years they will see the wide variety of interesting topics the members have enjoyed. If anyone would like to help by writing a few words for the website News then please let me know. PM

Our presentation was by Nick Hanson who is a multi-award winning photographer from Scotland. Nick leads landscape workshops and tours and gave his presentation on Zoom from North Wales. Nick has been a photographer for 30 years and went professional in 2016.
Nick explained why it is important to compose your image in camera so that you do not crop off any of the image in post-production. Cropping loses pixels as shown in the illustration on the right which shows the cropped area is just 25 megapixels compared to 45 for the whole image. If you want high quality images that retain all the detail or large format prints then you need to compose the image in camera. The focal length and ratio of the image can be altered to give the desired image so then no cropping is needed.

Using his landscape images Nick demonstrated how the choice of different lenses can change the appearance of what appears in the image and how the relationship between background and foreground can alter. A wide angle lens makes can give the appearance that makes the foreground appear more prominent. This works well for river and waterfall shots but beware of making rocks or other foreground objects appear overpowering. Use a larger focal length to zoom into the image to just include the area you want in your image without the need to crop afterwards. Check in the viewfinder before pressing the shutter.

Use the appropriate focal length to get the composition you have in your mind. The photographer needs to experiment as using a 15mm lens gives a very different image to a 200mm or larger.
Areas of ‘empty space’ that would need to be cropped should be avoided by choosing the correct lens or by changing the aspect ratio of the image. This can be done in camera by choosing vertical or horizontal, widescreen, panorama or even square images rather than stick to the usual 3x2 ratio. Panoramas can be taken with multiple images which are stitched together in post-production. Taking a series of vertical images avoids cropping empty sky and foreground.
Nick was thanked for showing a range of his superb landscape images and giving such a comprehensive presentation which covered a lot of ground.PM
Images © Nick Hanson    See Nick's website

Club members welcomed Peter Woodhouse to judge the first Open Print competition that the club has been able to run since early 2020. Last season all print competitions had to be cancelled because of the pandemic.
This was now the print workers chance to show their images and there were entries in each of the 3 sections. As usual a diverse range of subjects which makes it difficult for a judge to choose between a landscape or a portrait,  a nature subject against a still life as they are all so different. Peter had looked carefully at the composition, focus, contrast and colour on each print and gave his views.
Starting with the Beginners the judge commented on each of the nine entries. First place was awarded to Peter Evans for his impressive image titled ‘Sea Eagle’. The judge said it was a very striking action image of the bird in flight. Peter also impressed with his image ‘Old Church and Milky Way’ and it was awarded second place. The image was a long exposure of the night sky with an interesting building in the foreground. Third place went to a quality colour print by Dave Johnson titled ‘Derwent Sunset’. Tony Leach gained an HC for the subtly coloured ‘Dawn over the River Frome’.

Next came the Intermediate section entries with an impressive still life gaining first place. ‘Light Supper’ by Bridget Codrington was well composed with an excellent composition and lighting.
Second place went to a monochrome woodland scene by Dave Eagle. The judge said that the image titled ‘Distant Light’ managed to pick a small tree as the focal point as it was different to all the other woodland trees in the image. Dave also received an HC for another woodland scene ‘Chrystal Frost in Savernake’
‘Woody’ a great-spotted woodpecker photographed by Richard Blackbourne was in third place.

Finally, the nine Advanced prints were judged with David Wilkinson LRPS gaining first and third places with his nature studies. The judge was impressed by the two gannets caught in the moment of preening each other and ‘Time to Preen’ gained first place. Another well caught moment was the image ‘Apprehensive Fox Cub’ as the cub peered out from the vegetation.
Second place in the section went to ‘Milky Way’ Portland Bill’ by Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP which the judge described as a very striking image. The night sky was portrayed well with good light on the foreground interest. A mono image titled ‘Skeletal Beauty of Holly’ by Janet Rutter was awarded an HC.
After the break Peter Woodhouse showed some of his own images taken on a cruise around the coast of South America. Starting in the city of Rio in Brazil with its beaches and the famous statue of Christ on the Rock, there were visits to many scenic areas including sailing around Cape Horn. The cities with their impressive high rise grand buildings contrasted with the run-down areas with the tangles of power lines overhead. Some areas were decorated with brightly coloured murals to cover the rather dilapidated and faded grandeur. Along the western coast were sights of glaciers and volcanos and impressive snow-capped mountain ranges. Photographs were taken of seabirds, sea-lions, seals and penguin colonies as the cruise took him along the coasts of Argentina and Chile to finish in the city of Santiago.
Peter was thanked for giving his comments and judging the print entries and also for showing his own interesting images.
Thanks to the Competition Secretaries for organising the competition. PM

Full results    All the awarded images can be seen in the Galleries

The presentation by Bristol photographer Mike Martin AWPF AFIAP has an intriguing title. On his last visit to the club Mike showed his impressive portraits but this time he showed images without any people at all - or if any did appear they were anonymous ‘nobodies’!
Mike has had an interest in photography from a young age and likes to experiment with different subjects and techniques. Images are often taken when he is travelling to work and he finds inspiration from city streets, railway stations, art galleries and any quirky details that he notices.
Always looking for something different he says ‘be prepared’ as often ideas comes to him in unexpected places. A poster or graffiti on a wall, people on an escalator or an interesting pattern on a building can result in an interesting image.
Many of the images Mark showed were in monochrome others showed the effective use of a camera converted to infra-red. Intentional camera movement and differential focus were among the interesting techniques used. Most were ‘straight’ photographs with little post-processing but on others he uses some creativity to change colours or posterise.
Mark likes looking for what he describes as ‘tatty stuff’ such as rusty chains or pebbles. Many images were minimalistic with a great deal of trouble taken with the composition and positioning the curves and angles in just the right place in the frame. Simple images of water on a park bench or the curves on a staircase were very effective. Sometimes you can just get lucky he says, and be at the right place at the right time so always have a camera handy.
As well a showing a wide range of his projected images Mark brought along a selection of his impressive prints including the panel of portraits that gained him his Associate of the Welsh Photographic Federation.
Many thanks to Mark for giving the club members many thoughts and ideas and for an inspirational evening.PM
See a range of Mark's images on his Website

The club welcomed Simon Caplan LRPS back to the club to (in his words) 'throw a little light on the art of still life photography’. The recent lockdown restrictions meant that Simon has spent more time in his garage ‘studio’ and was able to further develop his still life techniques.
Simon began by showing some of the still life paintings done by great masters who understood the importance of light and composition. Later this tradition transferred to photography and Simon showed some work by photographers that he admires before introducing his own striking ‘renaissance style’ light painted still life images. By using a single light source such as a torch Simon has control over the way the light plays over the surfaces of the objects he has arranged.
Still life set ups can be simple or complicated but each must have a point of focus and the arrangement must lead the viewers eye through the arrangement. All the objects must complement each other in colour and size and be relevant to each other. Thought must go into the arrangement so that each object sits harmoniously with all the others. Look out for angles and the height to get the pleasing triangle shape. Keep to a simple and complimentary colour palette with no over bright colours. Backgrounds are usually plain so as not to distract and the base must be chosen with care to fit in with the style of the objects.
Simon collects interesting objects and keeps props such as pieces of fabric in a range of colours. Objects made of pewter or copper photograph well with just a subtle sheen but beware of very shiny objects and glass because you get unwanted reflections and highlights. Everyday objects from the kitchen or workshop can be used to great effect. Flowers, fruit or vegetables can be added so long as they fit in with the image the photographer wants to create. Simon says set it up and see if the colours and composition work well together – if not, then rearrange and try again.
Simon showed us a range of his superb images with their strong light and dark ‘chiaroscuro’ effect. Working in the dark and using a hand held torch or single light source Simon can ‘light paint’ the objects in the arrangement to get the best effects. With the camera steady on a tripod the camera is set to ‘bulb’ with the shutter open for between 20 to 90 seconds. Simon shines his light source directionally on the objects with just a little on the background just to lighten in places. With practice photographers can develop their own style and dark winter days are an ideal time to try out some indoor ideas.
Frank Collins thanked Simon for his fascinating presentation and for showing his passion for still life photography. PM
See Simon's interesting still life images Website

The second Open PI competition of the season was judged by Laura Pearce LRPS. There was a total entry of 81 images in the three sections for Laura to give her constructive comments and tell us why she chose the award winners. Many very well taken images did not receive an award from Laura as she explained that she always looks for that extra ‘something’ that makes an image more interesting. As well as the image being well composed, sharp and well exposed the image should have something of interest that draws the eye.
Starting with the Beginners section Laura awarded first place to ‘Common Puffball in Savernake’ by Pete Evans and second place to another fungi image titled ‘Newly Emerged Fly Agaric’ by Gerald Clarke. Both images had great light and composition together with complimentary backgrounds. Third place went to something very different – this time a monochrome seascape by Adam Woodhouse. Laura said that the large amount of negative space in the image gave it a contemporary feel. Six images were awarded Highly Commended.

Next the entries in the Intermediate section were projected and Laura gave her comments and judgement.
‘Owl in the Grass’ was a stunning image of a White-faced Scops Owl by Richard Blackbourne. The judge said that it was a great capture and awarded it first place. Another bird image gained second place – this time a Kestrel in flight. Titled ‘Windhover’ the image was by Dave Evans and Laura said that it was well caught, sharp with a good background of blue sky. In third place was a very different image by Richard Blackbourne ‘Close Contest’ showed the action of a bike race. Three other members gained HC’s.

After a short break the 30 images in the Advanced section were shown with a wide variety of subjects and techniques. Again the judge was looking for something that stood out and was something different.
Laura commented that she felt that the monochrome image ‘Walking the Pebble’ by Robin Gregory was above Camera Club standard and could be in a gallery of contemporary art! High praise indeed for this unusual creative image that was awarded first place.
Laura said that ‘Movement in the Waves’ by Sue Wadman came a very close second with its simplicity and beautiful colours. In third place was a landscape by Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP titled ‘Roman Fort, Hardknott Pass’. Laura said the photographer had been in the right place at the right time to capture the beautiful light as it hit the ruins. Five other images gained HC’s.

David Wilkinson thanked Laura for travelling such a long distance to the club and for taking the time and trouble to look through all the entries and for giving her opinion.

Also many thanks to Competition secretary Dave Eagle for sorting out all the technical issues to enable some members to view the evening from their homes using Zoom.
Congratulations to all those who gained awards and thanks to all members who entered such an interesting range of images.PM

Full results        All the awarded images can be seen in the Galleries.

The club was pleased to be able to run a practical studio session for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Steve Burgess was asked to organise the session of practical table top and portraiture and he set up 3 areas with lighting and a suitable backdrop.
As no models were available, club members present took turns sitting while other members adjusted their camera settings and practiced taking portraits.

One area used studio flashes where the camera triggers the flashes and another area had constant light. Steve showed how the lamps could be adjusted to give light and shadow on the face and explained about hard and soft lighting effects. Reflectors were used to lighten areas when required.

Each member could have a go at taking 5 images with different lighting effects and comparing the results.
A still life with a candle, books and flowers was also arranged so that members could practice setting up their cameras and trying different angles to achieve the best image.

Members enjoyed trying out something that was new to most and gave them the chance to compare notes and learn from others. Hopefully members will get good results when they process their images and will have learnt a lot from the session.
Thanks to Steve and those that helped set up all the lighting and taking it down afterwards. PM
Images by Jennifer Skjoldbro

The first Landscape Group outing of the 2021-22 year saw six members assemble at 6.30am on Martinsell Hill, Pewsey, to see the sun rise over its eastern ramparts. Despite a not particularly good weather forecast, the sky did produce some fine sunrise colours, and later, some good low angled sun to light the hillside.

A strategically placed car park is available half way up the hill, from where the group had a short walk to the first vantage point to photograph the pre-sunrise colour.  Then, when the sun was too strong to include in the frame, the group climbed to a second vantage point overlooking the great east facing coombe on the hill.

Finally, a steep climb led to a line of ancient beech trees near the top of the hill.  These trees are known locally as ‘The Seven Sisters’, which should really be the Seven ‘Ugly’ Sisters, whose gnarled trunks have been scoured by centuries of wind at the top of one of Wiltshire’s highest hills.

The trip was enjoyed by all who took part, who were pleased to have made the effort of an early start and to have ignored the poor weather forecast. DG
Images below © Dave Gray    'Pre-sunrise Light'  'Ancient Beech Trees' and 'Eastern Coombe'

The presentation by Frome photographer Richard Price tracked his journey exploring a variety of techniques from macro to astro!
His interest in developing more photographic skills began in 2008 when he acquired a macro lens and was astonished at the detail shown in the resulting images. Nature was another interest and he showed us some of the bird images in his portfolio. Robert said that joining a camera club helped him progress and also meet fellow photographers with similar interests.
Richard has taken studio portraits and even weddings which he enjoyed, but now his main interest is landscapes. He likes to travel and photography gives him a purpose to explore new areas. Iceland is a place that he finds inspirational and he showed images of interesting rock formations, glaciers and the aurora borealis.
He began an illustrated discussion on how far members thought that processing should be taken – should you replace a sky or move an object to make a better composition? He showed some ‘before and after’ images for members to discuss.
Following a difficult time in his life Richard found photography very therapeutic and it got him out walking. To see the fog lift when at the top of a mountain and see the remarkable landscape appear below helped him appreciate the amazing scenery and geology.
Richard enjoys experimenting with light painting and lens balls to give a different look to landscape images. He finds that night photography can show interesting colours and effects that the naked eye does not normally observe. Astrophotography is another interest and he showed us some interesting shots of the milky way taken in a variety of places. He says planning is key and uses apps and the ephemeris to work out beforehand where a good place to go to catch the sun or moon in just the position he wants for the best photograph.
During the break members could admire a range of Richards prints on display.
Richard says create what you are happy with and have fun trying! PM

Making a welcome return visit to judge the Annual Nature competition was Victoria Hillman BSc MSc who with her extensive knowledge of flora and fauna and degrees in wildlife, conservation & zoology was very well qualified to take on the task. Victoria has travelled extensively and has a deep knowledge of all wildlife. Victoria is a self-taught photographer herself and has visited the club previously to present her own excellent wildlife images.
Starting with the print entries Victoria commented that it was good to see such a wide range of subjects. When commenting on each entry she tries to give pointers that could help the photographer get better results. She suggests not cropping too heavily and to be careful not to over-sharpen.
In first place was a close up of a critically endangered lemur taken in Madagascar by Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP. Titled ‘Red Tailed Sportive Lemur’ Victoria commented that it was a well composed, detailed portrait.
Probably most photographers have never bothered to take a really close look at the common bramble but new member Dave Johnson managed to show how interesting a close up of the thorny stem could look. His image ‘rubus thorny’ was awarded second place as well as ‘rubus three’ which gained an HC.
Robert Harvey was awarded third place with ‘Buzzards Fighting’ which showed the birds in action when attracted by the food put out for them. Robert also gained an HC for ‘Shag,’ an extreme close up of the colours of the eye and feather detail.
Next came the digital entries and again a range of interesting subjects.
First place went to an extreme macro shot ‘Common Darter’ by Richard Jones. Richard said he was quite shocked at winning as it was one of the first shots he took when trying out a new macro lens!
A well caught image titled ‘Blackbird in a Sunbeam’ by Tim Pier caught the judges eye and gained second place. Tim was awarded third place for another well-lit, atmospheric shot ‘Fungi on a Decaying Log’ also an HC for ‘Collared Dove’. Several excellent macro images gained HC’s including three by Sue Wadman.
Very well done to the award winners and to all members that entered such an excellent range of images.

After the break Victoria began an interesting discussion on the ethics of wildlife photography.
Victoria said that ‘no photo is more important than the welfare of the subject’.
When judging photographic competitions she has found that many images exploit wildlife and this can often lead to changes in natural behaviour.
Live baiting is not permitted and baiting of any sort is a contentious issue. Photographers can pay to photograph from hides where the subjects are encouraged to the area by food which changes their natural behaviour and can have detrimental effects on their welfare. Insects and invertebrates are sometimes artificially ‘chilled’ to slow them down for photography. The use of drones can stress animals and inadvertently lead to their death.
Please read the rules carefully when entering any nature competition, captive and zoo animals are not allowed. Birds on nests and nestlings should not be used and licences are needed to photograph many species so be very careful to not break the law. Any set-ups should be natural so Victoria is asking all photographers to set a good example and behave responsibly and not exploit the wildlife.
Victoria said that she had enjoyed looking at the entries which were from all club sections – Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced.
Club Chairman thanked Victoria for her comments and judgement on the entries and for leading the interesting discussion on the ethics of wildlife photography. PM
   Full Results            See all the awarded images in the Galleries

The club was delighted to welcome Roger Crowcombe back to the club in person rather than on Zoom. Roger has a passion for the sea with all its moods from tranquil and calm to stormy to the full force nature. With a special affinity for the sea, in 2012 Roger was awarded his Associateship of the Royal Photographic Society with a panel of images based on the shoreline. He also lectures in a range of photographic topics
Roger has taken numerous images of the coast just before the sun appears over the horizon. Depending on the weather conditions the sky vary, sometimes a glorious red other times dark and foreboding. Roger showed us a selection of outstanding images taken from the beach just a few yards from his home on the South Coast. Using various photography techniques, he explores this ever-changing environment and how the same scene can change so dramatically in sympathy with the wind, tide and sky.
Along the south coast are many breakwaters and groynes and by observing the movements of the tide and the direction of the wind the flow of the sea can give many interesting images. From a gentle flow to a huge wave as the water hits any obstacle in its way.
Dusk is another good time to get interesting colours in the reflected in the water.
Roger often uses ICM (Intentional Camera Movement) which with practice can give interesting effects. The shapes and colours blur together giving an almost impressionistic appearance.
Apart from the water itself Roger gets inspiration from the patterns left in the sand as the tide goes out leaving reflective pools. Also the water worn rocks and wooden piers can give interesting colours and shapes
On a more creative side Roger has taken close up images of the weathered hulls of boats after the have been lifted out of the water for cleaning. The shapes and colours can give the effect of imaginative landscapes. Also Roger has experimented with Photoshop filters which can displace the pixels when one image is laid over another giving some very fascinating effects.
During the break members were able to enjoy viewing a selection of Roger’s expertly printed and presented prints.

Frank Collins thanked Roger for visiting the club in person and showing such a variety of fantastic images.
Thanks to Gerald Clarke for sorting the technology so that some members could see the presentation on Zoom from there own homes. PM
Website

Intrepid travellers, Sue O’Connell (ARPS, EFIAP/p, DPAGB, BPE 5*) and Peter Brisley (ARPS, DPAGB, BPE1*) enjoy visiting unusual, far flung destinations. Using Zoom for the presentation, Sue said that such visits can be challenging but also very rewarding as you can get to see life in places that very few get to view. Usually travelling with just a driver and guide they often stay in very basic accommodation with the local people.
Sue began the evening by showing her photos taken on visits to the hot, barren country of Mongolia situated between Russia and China. The high rise flats and public buildings of Ulaanbaatar the capital city were found to be very different the rest of the country. The elaborate Buddhist monasteries were well worth a visit with their red clad monks going about their daily routine. Many Mongolian residents wear colourful traditional clothes and the many festivals provide many photographic opportunities.
On leaving the city travelling becomes difficult with many rough tracks through the mountains to negotiate. The people are mostly nomadic and tend their herds of yak and goats, erecting their portable, circular dwellings which they call ‘gers’ to house their families. Sue recalled the basic facilities that they stayed in and in one place the men had to sleep surrounded by the newly slaughtered goat meat! One advantage of living with the locals is that you can get to know them really well and observe their very different way of life. Winter is extremely cold and summer baking hot but the wonderful open landscapes make the visit memorable.
For centuries horses have been used as transport although now motor bikes are popular.
The highlight of any visit to the far west of the country is the Eagle Festival held every October. Visitors come from far and wide to show off their horsemanship and fly their magnificent golden eagles. Eagles are taken from the nest and then skilfully trained to hunt or fly to a lure then after seven years they are returned to the wild to breed naturally.
The award winning image by Sue shows her host as he gallops holding the eagle aloft.
After a short break Peter showed images taken on a visit to the Pantanal region of Brazil. This time they stayed on a floating hotel and travelled around the flooded river systems in small boats. Although new to wildlife photography both Sue and Peter enjoyed the wide variety of birds, reptiles and mammals encountered. The usually elusive Jaguar was seen on most of their trips and appeared to be quite relaxed, making them excellent subjects.
Lastly Peter presented images taken in the remote area of Rajasthan, India where again they stayed with local tribal families. Wonderful portraits of the old men with their colourful costumes, women wearing wonderful embroidered clothes and elaborate jewellery. Many interesting street scenes with crowds of people with their sacred cattle.
Thanks to Sue and Peter for sharing some of their experiences in unusual travel locations and for showing their amazing images. PM
Image © Sue O'Connell   Website     Peter Brisley - Website

The club’s first competition of the season was a bit of a technical challenge as some members were ‘live’ in the clubroom, some were watching from home on zoom and the judge was in Skye! The computer, projector and sound equipment all had to be tied up together but luckily, thanks to the tech guys who set it up, it all worked well with only a few minor glitches.
The judge was the very experienced Rob Ryan FRPS FPSA who had cast his very astute eye over all the entries. Rob started by saying how uses 10 key issues to assess each image – exposure, focus, composition, light, depth of field, colour, technique, narrative, creativity and the ephemeral overall impact. The first seven are usually fairly straight forward for photographers to check but the last three are where images have to try to convey those properties in their images for the judge. The result is subjective and judges each have their own ideas on the worthiness of each image for an award.
The evening started with the Beginners section which includes members new to club competitions. Many of these members have probably had a lot of photographic experience but having someone looking closely at their images and pointing out the good and sometimes not so good points is often a new experience!
After giving his comments on all the entries the judge went on to give the awards. In first place was a creative image by Barbara Jones titled ‘The Gallops’. The image of a horse and rider had been given a toned monochrome appearance which the judge said was atmospheric and gave a sense of movement. In second place was ‘Through the Essess’ by Dave Johnson which again showed a good sense of movement but this time a racing motor bike. It had a strong composition and the angle of gave a sense of the speed. In third place was another image by new member Dave – this time a well-executed still life. The focus and colour was excellent and the objects formed a triangle which gave a good strong composition.
Four members were awarded Highly Commended – Adam Woodhouse for a mono image and Gina Gordon for a simple flower image also Gerald Clarke for two butterfly images
The judge commented that the background spoilt many otherwise good images by being too intrusive or not complimenting the subject so he advised ‘think background as much as foreground’
Members who had previously gained enough points in the Beginners section are promoted to Intermediate and it was those entries that were projected next.
The judge had to make a difficult final choice as his favourite images were all very different.
The first place was given to a really superb still life titled ‘Shades of Red’ by Bridget Codrington. An excellent well lit arrangement of interesting objects with great colours. In second place came a creative image ‘Zebras’ by Penny Clarke which the judge said that was an intriguing manipulation which gave the impression of how a predator might get confused by the mammal’s stripes. In third place was a well taken interior shot showing a solitary statue titled ‘Contemplation’ by Wendy Weller. 
Highly Commended’s went to Liz Bates and Bridget Codrington, Richard Blackbourne gained two HC's with very different images .
Finally, after a short break the Advanced section was projected with a wide range of interesting, well photographed subjects.
The judges eye was taken by a creative image ‘Granny’s Bonnets’ by Pam Mullings and gave it first place. The judge liked the way the delicate blue aquilegia flowers were arranged against a textured, colour toned background. Second place went to a completely different type of image – this time ‘Winter Woodland’, a delightful woodland scene by Martin Stokes with its atmospheric depiction of the snow gently descending on some ancient forest trees. Third place went to an extreme nature close-up by Tim Tapley. The judge commented that ‘Misumena vatia’ showed this tiny crab spider ready to pounce as it hid in a flower was a remarkable image.
Tim Tapley and Martin Stokes also were awarded HC’s. An amusing, creative image by Robin Gregory, a simple seascape by Sue Wadman and an evocative woodland scene by Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP were also awarded HC’s.
Thanks to all those that entered and gave us such an interesting evening.
Thanks to Rob for looking at all the entries and for giving such helpful comments. All the awarded images can be seen in the Galleries and it will show the wide range of images that Rob thought worthy of awards.
Summing up David Wilkinson said he hoped all members will have learned something from the excellent critique. PM

Full list of results           See all the Awarded Images            Members can log in to see the 2021-2022 Points Table

The club welcomed Chris Simmons who travelled from Cornwall to show us some of his stunning, atmospheric coastal images and to explain his passion for the sea and all its moods.
Some years previously after his first Cornish family holiday, he had announced he didn't want to leave the area and promised that one day he would live there! Now 40 years later he has his dream and enjoys being surrounded by the dramatic and inspiring coastline.
An interest in photography at an early age led to a career in design and commercial photography where he used film and developed his own images. He was reluctant to change to digital until in 2009 he happened to read an article in a photo magazine showing how a DSLR and RAW could give him the just image quality he strived for.
Chris was then hooked on the amazing creative power of digital and held his first solo photographic exhibition in 2012 and has continued to establish himself as a top photographer in his field.
Chris warned that photographing so near the sea can be dangerous so always plan ahead very carefully. There are useful apps that can tell you the tide times and predicted weather in your intended location. The photographer’s ephemeris can help you accurately plan outdoor land or seascapes by showing how the light will fall on the land, day or night, for any location on earth. Make sure that you have adequate protective clothing including waders and that you have a contact in case of difficulty.

The sea has infinite moods from calm reflective pools to crashing waves. The light is constantly changing so have patience and watch and wait for the right moment.
Chris showed us a range of impressive seascapes taken in fantastic UK locations. He takes great care to get true natural colour and uses filters to supress the unnatural blueness that digital cameras often give. When shooting into the sun many are surprised to see Chris using flash in daylight but he showed some examples showing the difference that the added light can make. Light is added to foreground rocks and the flash freezes the spray from the waves. Always use a diffuser and experiment to get the correct angle so that the flash does not give unwanted highlights.
Chris uses medium grade and big stoppers to extend exposure times which has the effect of making the moving water become blurred. Using a range of filters creativity Chris can achieve just the natural effect he wants.
As well as images showing the vastness of the sea and coast, Chris sometimes uses a telephoto lens to concentrate just on the crashing waves and by careful observation can capture just the optimum moment. Most images were in colour but sometimes monochrome can just give a stronger, graphic effect when portraying the power of the waves.
Chris feels he is lucky to enjoy the wonderful area he lives in and runs inspirational Cornish seascape courses for photographers. His images are also sold as fine art prints and to stock libraries.
Chris was thanked for showing the club his exciting and inspiring insight into his photographic journey. PM
Images © Chris Simmons    See more images on Chris Simmons website

The club was delighted to get back a bit more to normality with it’s first ‘live’ presentation after 18 months of just seeing our speakers virtually through zoom!!
A warm welcome was given to Chris Palmer who showed us an amazing selection of his prints. With 35 years of photography and experience judging he knows just what makes up a good image and says it’s not so much about the equipment used but the photographers eye. Chris says – ‘we all see the world slightly differently’ and he constantly strives to produce images that are different to the work of other photographers.
Chris has visited Iceland on many occasions and showed how he concentrates on small areas of the landscape rather than the usual wide views. He often uses a telephoto lens to isolate areas with interesting shapes or colours. Another area he finds interesting is Yellowstone NP with its hot springs and steaming geysers giving subtle colours.
Chris looks very carefully at the composition and how a viewer would see the image before he takes each photograph. The broken ice on a puddle and close-ups of the worn paint on the side of a container give him inspiration. A pebble on a beach or the lines in the sand as the tide goes out can result in interesting abstract images.
The resulting prints are almost always as taken with little cropping or post processing. Chris suggests that prints should not look cramped in their mounts so it is better to print smaller. Some of the prints were displayed in groups of 3 or more in the same mount to great effect.

After the break Chris explained how he came to select his images for his visual arts panel that gained him the prestigious Fellowship of the RPS.
Chris achieved his Associate RPS some years ago using traditional darkroom monochrome prints and earned a Distinction of the PAGB with colour transparencies. Seven years ago Chris thought he might be ready to try for a Fellowship. He needed to find a subject that was different and that nobody else had done before. Whilst on a trip to Venice with a group of photographers he suddenly got inspiration after visiting a small island which is the main cemetery of the city. No burials are allowed in Venice so Isola di San Michele is a large cemetery with beautifully carved memorial stones. The area is very atmospheric with different emotions expressed on the memorial stones. After taking many close-up photographs of the detailed carvings Chris decided that he could produce enough images for the required submission panel. Each image was carefully selected for both colour and subject with texture layers added to great effect.
With some trepidation Chris showed some of the prints to a photographer whose opinion he respected who thought the images showed promise. To make up the required panel of 20 – 21 images takes a great deal of thought both in content and layout. Finally, after months of work the panel was submitted and then after a long wait he finally heard that he had gained the much coveted Fellowship.
Chris says now it was a lot of hard work but also a very enjoyable journey.
Thanking Chris for such an interesting evening, David Wilkinson said that the standard of the photography and printing was phenominal. PM
Images © Chris Palmer    See more images on Chris Palmers website

The evening began with a presentation by club member Dave Gray who gave an illustrated talk about the various functions of a camera and how to use them and get the best from your camera.
Dave explained that you could use ‘auto’ and just point and shoot to take a photograph but with a little ‘know how’ there is so much more you can do to get better results. The aperture, shutter speed and ISO can all be varied depending on the type of image you are taking and must all be balanced to get the best image
The aperture that is set controls how much of the image will be in focus. For landscapes usually it is preferable to have everything in focus from the foreground to the far distance. For a close up of a flower or bird for instance the subject should be in focus but the background looks better if it is blurred. The settings range from 2.8 to give a very shallow depth of field up to 22 to give a wide depth of field although not all cameras have such a wide range.
The shutter speed controls the amount of light the camera takes in —while a slow shutter speed gives the photographer a longer exposure. Taking photos of sport or wildlife a fast shutter speed is needed but to give moving water a blurred appearance a slow shutter speed could be used. Trial and error is needed to work out the optimum speed.
The ISO can be changed to reduce the amount of digital noise that appears particularly in the dark areas of an image. As you increase your ISO number, your photos will look brighter so a higher ISO can help you capture images in darker environments.
Many cameras have built-in histogram so the image can be checked for over exposure (too light) or under exposure (too dark) and adjustments made.
Most cameras today have both manual and auto focussing which adjusts the focal distance of the lens. You can set how many focus points you use depending on your subject. For a landscape you would probably use many focus points to get overall focus but for a portrait you would get better results if the focus is just on the eyes with fewer focus points.
Other more advanced topics mentioned were focus stacking and bracketing.
Thanks to Dave for giving such an inspirational insight into all the technicalities.
After the break members split into groups for a practical session where they could ask for advice about their particular make of camera. Most had brought along their cameras and handbooks so that fellow members could help with any queries. There was a group that use Canon cameras and a group that use Nikon. Also several members have the popular mirrorless cameras so they got together to discuss any problems they might have.
A useful evening to get everyone ready to get the very best from their cameras. PM

We’re back, so it was great to be able to meet up once again the clubroom after 18 months of just meeting on Zoom.
Standing in for the Chairman, Frank Collins welcomed back both new and returning members and outlined the programme for the 2021/2022 season.
There is plenty to look forward to with 16 speakers lined up on a wide range of photographic topics from still life to creative, wildlife to travel and much more. There will be 11 competitions for all abilities including mono, macro, nature, landscape and open. Competitions for prints are back again after the long break when it was not practical to include them.
There will be 4 practical evenings for members to take part in and 4 ‘in house’ events for members to enjoy. Using Zoom during the time we could not meet did enable the club to invite speakers from too far away to travel to Devizes so there will be a few of those to enjoy. Also Zoom will be used for some meetings so that members who are away can still log in to see presentations and competitions. See Programme for full details.
Thanks to Dave Eagle there was a splendid array of polished silverware to be handed out as the last two trophy presentation evenings had to be cancelled.
The names of the recipients for the 2019/2020 season were read out and trophies briefly presented, but then in many cases the trophies were then handed straight on to the 2020/2021 winners! Too many to mention individually so see the full list of trophy winners.
After an extended break where members could catch up with fellow photographers after the long time there was a ‘Show and Tell’ session. Members could show some of their recent images and say something about what inspired them.
New member Adam Woodhouse was thrown a bit in the ‘deep end’ as his images were the first to be projected but he very ably told members about his experiments using film with his Pentax Spotmatic camera. This nostalgic little camera, though otherwise completely mechanical, was one of the first options to offer a through the lens light meter. Adam scans his mono and colour developed film images so that they can be digitised for viewing.
Next came Frank Collins who showed some images of his recent visit to Tenby on the Yorkshire coast. He said the light had been very frustrating during most of his stay, but he did manage to show some delightful images of the town bathed in glorious evening sunlight.
Experimenting with a 180 mm macro lens Gerald Clarke showed us the interesting details in his images including the Cinnamon Bug left. He found it great fun to see into the fascinating world of such tiny insects. Gerald has also been experimenting with focus stacking.
Next came Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP with some of his recent images that have won acceptances in International Salons. Among others was an impressive view of Lake Calder Idris was taken with a fish-eye lens. An astrophotography image of the Milky Way was taken at Portland Bill right and Robert got lucky when a passing Druid turned up to act as a model in his image of Avebury.
Dave Gray said that the Landscape Group is now able to meet up again monthly at the club and also resume field trips.
Frank finished off by saying he hopes the season will be straightforward and without all the changes to the programme that have been needed during the last 2 seasons.
Thanks to Frank for all his hard work setting out such an interesting Programme for 2021/2022. PM

The final zoom meeting of the Summer Programme was yet another interesting topic that we have not had before. Mike Kwasniak ARPS showed his passion for the Theatre as he gave his chatty and informal presentation from his home in East Anglia.
Still as enthusiastic as ever after taking photographs of both professional and amateur productions after 37 years! He got into it by accident when he was asked to take some publicity photos as a favour. The images went down well and so he got involved in several theatres in the Suffolk area and he was asked to take over the publicity and supply photographs for the press and to display in theatre foyers.
In the early days this was of course using film and he was often limited to the amount of film he used and processed. Theatre lighting is very difficult for photography and in those days the camera ISO often gave rather grainy images because of the low lighting. Images were in monochrome but non the less Mike produced some of amazing images with the equipment then available.
In the early 2000’s came the breakthrough with digital – although basic at first they have improved immensely and now Mike can use very high ISO’s to give superb results in the dimmest of conditions.
Mike explained that he takes his images at the final dress rehearsal before a production opens and he has to get the images approved and ready for the publicity often by the next day. His lively talk was full of stories about what can happen when the auditorium is in darkness and he has to move about as best he can to get in a good position.
Mike has to capture the key moments of the production using both close-ups of the cast and also shots of the whole stage. Using flash is a completely prohibited so the camera has to cope with all the changes of lighting. Mike says ‘know your camera – it is a tool - keep it to your eye at all times or you will miss the action’.
Most of us will not have the chance to get up close or move around during a theatre production but the same principles apply to taking any action photos. Maybe wildlife, sport, music events, street theatre or re-enactments etc. Mikes advice is – be patient, try to anticipate what might happen and wait for the moment.PM 
Website

David Wilkinson thanked Mike for sharing his enthusiasm and passion for theatre photography.
Many thanks to Frank Collins for arranging such a diversity of photographic subjects for club members to enjoy during the summer break. Thanks also to Dave Eagle for all the work he has done setting up all the technical side of the zoom meetings.

The club has had a diversity of interesting speakers this summer and tonight was no exception. Speaking to us from Bilbao, Spain, Iñaki Hernández-Lasa FRPS FIPF AFIAP gave us an insight into his work photographing contemporary buildings in his own very individual style.
With the famous Guggenheim Museum near his family home he became interested from an early age in the architecture. Now living with his family in Ireland he has built up his own very distinctive style of photographing the iconic buildings of many countries.

Iñaki uses light, reflections, angles, curves, shadows and colour to produce almost abstract studies. He showed the images he produced to gain his fellowship in the Irish Photographic Federation. A stunning set of images using mainly the complimentary colours of blue and yellow. Later when he was working on a panel for his Royal Photographic Society Fellowship (below) he wanted to try something different so this time his images were very soft and subtle with just hints of colour. Paying great attention to every detail he showed the trouble he had taken to select, set out and print his panel of 21 square format images.

Iñaki says he sets out to show the ‘genius loci’ or in other words the ‘pervading spirit of a place or building. To show the buildings at their best he goes early before many visitors arrive. Occasionally he incorporates a figure to give a sense of scale but more often his images are deceptively simple details showing aspects of the interiors and exteriors of contemporary buildings. Many images were of iconic buildings abroad but some amazing images were taken nearer to home in the Central Library, Liverpool.

The images were all of very clean-lined modern buildings and bridges but he did say that sometimes, he has to clone out litter or bird droppings to get his very pristine looking images. Always using manual he carefully selects his camera settings. Many images were in monochrome but others showed subtle colours to great effect. He carefully looks at every aspect of his composition, eliminating any distracting elements. Symmetry is perfect and every angle and curve considered.

He takes great care that components in the architecture do not overlap and that he is in exactly the best place to get the image he wants. He advises spending time looking around to get the best angle and best light and sometimes uses long exposures to get just the best effect.
A master of his craft, Iñaki was thanked for giving the club such an inspirational evening. PM
See more images   Website

Award winning professional freelance landscape and travel photographer Julian Elliott took us on an interesting journey to see the landscapes and people of this vast country.
Having first becoming interested in photography in 2005 Julian decided he ‘wanted out’ of being a bored office worker and in 2010 took the plunge into fulltime freelance photography. Self-taught he has built up a portfolio of images from his travels to many countries many of which have appeared in publications. He now leads photographic workshops to many European countries as well as further afield.
Tonight’s Zoom presentation showed images from his 10-day visit to the rarely visited country of Mongolia with its troubled history.
Starting in the capital city, Julian was able to photograph some elaborate Buddhist Temples and the monks going about their daily lives. Once out of the city things looked very different as most of the population have a very basic lifestyle with a shortage of water, electricity and communications.
With extremely cold winters and with many parts still unexplored, Julian said that after visiting the area everyone will change the way they think about life.
Led by a local guide a small group of photographers travelled over rough terrain into some of the remotest areas. Vast uninhabited deserts and high mountain ranges with just a few small towns. The frozen rivers and lakes made some remarkable images.
A highlight of the visit was the Nauryz or ‘new day’ Eagle Festival where traditional displays of horsemanship and falconry are ably demonstrated. Golden eagles are used to hunt foxes and other animals for their meat and the skins are used to keep out the bitter winter cold.
Julian showed many interesting portraits of Mongolian characters with their traditional embroidered costumes and descibed how they train their eagles. He advised always asking before taking portraits and respect the local traditions.
As there is no light pollution in the remote areas Julian was able to photograph the clear night skies. Many of his stitched panoramas showed off well the incredible vast empty spaces and Julian advises waiting until the natural light is at its best.
Julian was thanked for giving us an insight into a very different country with its interesting culture. PM

Award winning wildlife photographer Simon Roy showed the club a range of his superbly crafted images and gave an insight into how they were created. Simon mainly photographs the wildlife found near his home and in his Yorkshire garden as he likes go back time and time again to observe his subjects.
Simon has a background in graphic design which is a great help in creating well composed images that do well commercially and for editorial use. Many are published in wildlife and photography magazines. The images are often deceptively simple with soft subtle harmonising colours and good use of negative space.
From a young age Simon has built up his knowledge of his wildlife subjects he is able to predict by observing their habits where he will be able to get the photograph he wants. Whilst observing a Water Vole trying to reach some berries overhanging the water he improvised by fabricating a rock that appeared under the bramble which led to his image ‘Ratty Breakfast’
Simon takes great care that the colour of the out of focus background co-ordinates well with his subject and sometimes even sets up a suitable piece of board to mask out an unwanted distraction.

Simon showed the time and trouble he takes to set up his images in order to get the bird or mammal to appear in just in the right place. Small mammals and birds can be tempted by cleverly hidden pots of food to appear in just the spot Simon has set up.
He observed bank voles in his garden and set up feeding stations so that the voles could be photographed in a range of situations. In the image ‘Life in an Old Boot’ Simon adapted the boot so that vole poked its head through the hole.
With remarkable patience, Simon goes back time and time again to the same place to get the image he has in mind. The image of a partridge amongst the heather took 5 years before achieving just the image he planned.

The relationship between man and nature is a recurring interest with wildlife often photographed alongside manmade structures. Other projects that Simon often goes back to is wildlife in snow and bluebell woods with birds, foxes, squirrels and deer. Tiny wrens are one of his favourite birds and bluebells feature in his endearing image ‘Morning Blues’

Simon sets up hides so that he can take images of Little Owls as well as small woodland birds, hares and rabbits. At one time he had captive harvest mice which he was able to take out and carefully position on wild vegetation to great effect.
With his creative ideas Simon carefully plans out his images in great detail and he showed us how he sets out an area to attract his subject. Planning, patience and knowledge of the subject are crucial to achieve such high quality wildlife images.

Simon was thanked for such very interesting and enlightening insight into his photography and for showing such a wide range of superb images. PM
See more of Simon's images

This inspiring presentation by multi-award winning photographer Lynne Morris MPAGB FBPE AFIAP AWPF, gave members the chance to see a rather different genre of photography. Lynne has won numerous gold medals and other awards in National and International competitions with her creative images and is a member of the renowned Wigan 10 photo group who frequently win National photographic competitions.
To enter creative photography competitions, every component of the composite image must have been taken by the photographer. The art is to blend all the elements seamlessly together so that the lighting, perspective and colouring makes up a believable image.
A composite image consists of 2 or more images that are blended together to make a new image. At a very basic level, dropping in a different sky is a composite image but Lynne has taken this much, much further and uses many layers and expertly blends them together to create a unique image. The goal is to make the finished image look as believable as possible.
A creative image is not just a case of using a Photoshop filter but of using one’s own imagination to create something original. Lynne demonstrated how she uses photo-manipulation to create her imaginative composite images. She showed how, layer by layer she adds complex combinations of her own photos to make up her final image. Amongst the many delightful images shown was ‘Octopuses Garden’ and the amusing ‘Catfish’.
Lynne uses a bank of her photographs saved in folders – any ‘stuff’ as she calls it - that might be useful to help make up an image.
Cats, dogs, birds, fish and zoo animals feature in many of her humorous images. Taking photographs of old buildings, items in museums and antique shops can provide suitable subjects to help build up the image. Sometimes she uses family and friends to dress up and pose or searches especially for just the right prop.. Lynne can create an image of just about anything she has in her imagination - a hare on a sledge, a goose on a bicycle or an angry fish with boxing gloves!
Editing software has a vast array of useful tools for selecting and cutting out images. Warping tools can transform, colours can be changed and textures added so that the original photograph is unrecognisable.
Inspiration can come from anywhere – a photo, TV, films, adverts or just in the mind. Titles are important and Lynne comes up with many witty and original ideas.
A delightful monochrome portrait of a child looking as though she is behind a dusty window has recently gained a FIAP gold medal. Lynne likes the fact that a single image can mean different things to different people.
Lynne showed us her very clever and imaginative panel of images which were all based on Beatles song titles. Recently a range of Lynne's ‘goose’ creations has been made into a delightful children’s book. 
Lynne has a very creative mind and clearly loves what she does. She was warmly thanked for giving the club such a memorable evening.
Maybe members will be inspired to have a change from straight photography and have a go at making up their own creative images! PM

Keiran Metcalf BPE1* joined us on Zoom! from the Peak District to give us his presentation entitled Chasing the Light, sub-titled Confessions of a Sunburst Junkie.
He started by giving us some insight into his equipment, based around a Canon EOS 80D, mostly bought second hand. He then told us that a defining moment in his photographic journey was when he heard someone say that ”you can tell you’re with a photographer - they are always banging on about the light”. As a result, he started looking for and using light and the different styles of light in his photography.
The structure of Keiran’s talk took us through a range of different types of light, starting with Shooting into the Sun. Illustrated with many impressive images of sun bursts and more diffuse light, he covered the challenges of composing with the sun in the image. He pointed out that changing one’s point of view and timing of the shot can have a big influence on the vibrance in the image.
He talked about side lighting, which can bring out the shapes and contours in the landscape. He said that atmospheric conditions can affect the light. Rain can soften the light, but colours can be vibrant after the rain, as Keiran showed in an image of Salford Quays. During the day the light can be very harsh, but clouds can soften it and create good conditions. Keiran also advised getting into woodland areas where the sun is shaded. He showed us an image of a sunlit sapling against a shaded woodland backdrop to illustrate how contrasting light can work.

Keiran suggested that when conditions are poor differing effects can be obtained using different focal lengths. Longer focal lengths in fog, for example, can foreshorten distances making more interesting images. Storm clouds, he said, can create tremendous atmosphere and drama. Keiran stated that, when conditions are poor, composition becomes even more important to successful photography. But sometimes, he pointed out, it is worth waiting for the light to change as interesting light can result from changes in conditions. Wind can blow clouds away, fog may burn off as the sun rises, and light can improve as the sun reflects off the underside of clouds after sunset.
Keiran talked about the glow that can be created during the blue hour and beyond, pointing out that, with longer exposures, the camera can pull out more detail than the eye can see, especially after dark. He talked us through a number of techniques for taking images at night, covering star trails, noctilucent clouds, and how to reduce noise in the resulting images.
In his final section, called Do You Feel Lucky, Keiran talked about the methods and benefits of planning your photography trips and mentioned a number of apps that can help with the planning process. He admitted, however, that the best laid plans can sometimes not work out, but that good images can still be obtained with a bit of persistence.
Throughout his presentation, Keiran illustrated each point with a range of wonderful images, showing just how much work he puts in to his photography. After a few questions, David Wilkinson thanked Keiran for his marvellous presentation and the attendees showed their appreciation with hand-claps. DF

Club members once again used Zoom for the AGM as it has for the whole of the club meetings of the 2020 - 2021 season.
Chairman Steve Hardman began the evening by thanking all the members who have contributed in so many ways to make the club thrive during the last, very difficult year. Steve thanked Programme Secretary Frank Collins for arranging an excellent programme of speakers and managing the many changes that had to be made.
A huge thanks must go to Dave Eagle who masterminded the technical aspects. Dave did a huge amount of work behind the scenes setting up meetings, online polls and even break out rooms for the speed critique evening. He also runs training and practice sessions for our speakers and club members and without his invaluable help I am sure that we would not have enjoyed such a glitch free year. Combined with that he has also run a very busy and successful competition season.
Next September the club hopes to be back at the Sports Club but we now have a wide range of technology available which will enable us to hold hybrid meetings whereby we may have a live audience, but a remote speaker. We may be able to have Zoom for those who cannot attend some meetings but the social aspect is still a very important part of the club. Steve also thanked all the other committee members for their commitment during the year. Reports from all the officers had been circulated to members
Club treasurer Lynda Croft said that she has now made it possible for the club to collect payments using bank cards on club nights.
All of the present committee members were re-elected, Bridget Codrington takes over Publicity and Jennifer Skjoldbro was welcomed as a new committee member.

There were several resolutions put before members who were able to vote using Zoom.
1 It was proposed that those members who had paid a subscription during the 2020-2021 season should have a reduced rate next season. The Sports Club venue has been closed, and so the £30 per member has not been paid. Members voted in favour of this resolution.
2 The Competition Secretary proposed that there should be an adjustment to the numbers competing in the Beginners and Intermediate sections. This was to even up the number of members eligible for each of the Competition sections. During the last season only 4 members were eligible to compete in the Intermediate section but there were so many more competing in Beginners section making it difficult to gain enough points to be promoted. The vote was carried to allow a one off adjustment so that 7 of those with the highest points in the Beginners section are now promoted to Intermediate.
3 The next resolution was to clarify the rules regarding images taken when a photographer is receiving tuition. There was some discussion about exactly what this meant if the photographer gets help or advice from an instructor. Members voted in favour of the rule stating that the image must be created and processed under the direction and control of the author.
4 Next came a more contentious issue and that was how much post processing could be done to a Nature image. The proposal was to bring the club rules in line with the PAGB rules which state that ‘Cloning of image defects and minor distractions, including overlapping elements, are permitted when these do not distort the truth of the photographic statement.’ Members were divided about allowing any cloning of Nature images – some thought it a good idea as this would discourage any ‘gardening’ before taking an image. The resulting vote was that the club’s rule remain unchanged.
5 It was proposed that the rules for entry in both the Print and Projected Image Landscape Competitions should be the same – either British Isles only or worldwide. This was to avoid the present confusion when members submit their entries. There was discussion about discouraging foreign travel because of climate change. After some dissent members, voted in favour of only allowing images from the British Isles for both competitions.
6 Carried unanimously was a proposal to congratulate the committee for keeping the club functioning during the very difficult circumstances of the 2020-21 season. In particular, the club thanks Frank Collins for delivering an excellent programme of speakers and Dave Eagle for his outstanding contribution in efficiently running club competitions and expertly hosting the Zoom sessions.

After the break instead of the usual presentation of awards the club had once again to just hear the names of the trophy winners.
The lists of trophy winners - past and present can be seen on this website. Hopefully when we can start club meetings again the winners can actually be presented with their trophies.

During the summer break Frank has organised fortnightly Zoom presentations on many topics for members and visitors to look forward to.
The 2021-2022 season starts on Tuesday 7 August so with any luck we can all meet up again face to face and enjoy the forthcoming programme together. PM

Time once again for the annual contest between the genders at the Club but it’s not at all competitive of course!
Club Chair Steve Hardman was able to welcome the Judges Pam and Eddy Lane - both ARPS DPAGB EFIAP whilst in Dorset so Zoom has some advantages!
The Captains were Bridget Codrington for the Ladies and Gerald Clarke for the Gents and they had each selected 30 images for the Battle.
The number of images entered by each photographer was limited, at least 10 images must not have been entered in a club competition or any that were in the PI of the Year competition. Those members that were in the Beginners and Intermediate sections had a bonus of 2 points added to the judges scores.

Without knowing who had taken the images, the Judges each awarded points out of 10 without conferring beforehand. Both Pam and Eddy gave a very good critique on each image and as they are very experienced Judges it was not surprising that in most cases they agreed and gave very similar points. Usual comments about cropping and adding more contrast – especially to monochrome images – some of which were described as rather ‘grey’. Another comment that came up several times was that an insect or a bird on a twig would, if appropriate, look better if the twig was not strait up or strait across. They suggested rotating the image slightly to give a more diagonal line which helps make an image more dynamic.

Comments were given and points awarded as each image was shown and very soon the Gents were well ahead with 9 images having the maximum 10 points from at least one judge by the interval and only one Ladies image had a 10. The halftime scores including the bonuses were Gents 274 and Ladies 250. The Ladies picked up a bit in the second half with the Judges giving 6 images10 points and the Gents had 3 more 10’s. This was still not enough to catch up the Gents score so the Ladies lost on this occasion with the final scores being - Gents 543 and Ladies 503.

Dave also got 4 bonus points added as he is in the Intermediate Section so congratulations to Dave.

Also maximum points went to a creative image by Pam Mullings titled ‘Blowing in the Wind’ left 
The monochrome image showed dandelion seed heads with the seeds blowing away.

Just missing out on the double were seven images that got a ten from one judge and a nine from the other including a creative flower image by Pam titled ‘Pastel Delight’ right 

Shown below are several delightful landscapes which did well including ‘Sunrise over River Kennet’ by Bridget Codrington,
‘Bishops Cannings Sunrise’ by Sue Wadman
and ‘Golden Light, Lindisfarne' by Dave Gray.

A seascape titled 'Motion' by Pete Souster and a nature image by Tim Tapley with a hoverfly titled ‘Eupeodes Luniger' were also was awarded 19 points.

Other images with a total of 19 points were 'Dawn Landing' by Kyra Wilson and 'Grey Heron with Hungry Chicks' by Clive Rathband. Very well done to all.

 Well done to all those whose images were chosen by the Captains for the Battle  Notably the Ladies had entries from 2 new members who had never entered club competitions before so well done to them.

Many thanks to Pam and Eddy for taking the time and trouble to judge the images and give their helpful comments. Thanks to the two captains, also Dave Gray, Frank Collins, Dave Eagle and all those who helped make it such a good evening.

Congratulations to the Gents for winning this year after their defeat last time but let’s wait and see if the Ladies can beat them next time. PM

The club was delighted to welcome Adrian Herring ARPS DPAGB to judge the clubs last club competition of the season. Adrian is very experienced judge and his difficult task was to pick out the ‘best of the best’ from images that had gained either a first, second or third place in club competitions. The entries were from Open competitions as well as the annual landscape, nature, monochrome and creative competitions. Adrian said that it was a most challenging competition to judge as all the images had already been classed beforehand as worthy winners. A number of images were held back from each of the 3 sections as a short list of images which Adrian said that he had particularly enjoyed.
Those images that are placed first in each section are awarded the Projected Image of the Year Trophies. Unfortunately, during this season the club has been unable to run the print competitions hence no Print of the Year.

Starting as usual with the Beginners section Adrian said he was very impressed by the standard of the photography. In first place was an image of an aircraft titled ‘Power Performance’ by David Evans. The judge said it was a very powerful image with an excellent feeling of speed. It was well taken with a good composition.
In second place was another image giving a good impression of movement was ‘White-tailed Eagle’ by Hilary Tapley. The bird in flight was very well caught with a good background. Hilary was also awarded 3rd place with a macro shot ‘Hoverfly on Scabious’ and also had a Highly Commended for her image ‘Reflection’. Mark Sommerville was awarded an HC for an impressive image of ‘Caen Hill Locks’ in the snow.
So very well done to Hilary, Mark and David who will all be in the Intermediate section next season.
The club has a system where by the number of awards the judge can give depends on the number of entries but It was decided that the extra images that the judge particularly short listed should be given ‘Honourable Mentions’.
Picked out from this section as worthy of holding back for further comment and given HM’s were ‘Western Cattle Egret’ by Penny Clarke and ‘Cygnet in Morning Light’ by Megan Boardman.

In the Intermediate section first place went to ‘Gannets’ by club Chairman Steve Hardman. The judge said that a flying gannet was a difficult bird to photograph but this image was well caught with a good composition and exposure.
In second place was ‘Great Crested Grebe’ by Martin Stokes - an image that the judge enjoyed for its simplicity. Martin not only gained second place but also 3rd place with ‘Poole Bay Storm’ and 2 HC’s so very well done Martin. Martin and Steve will be in the Advanced section next season.
An HC was awarded to David Eagle for a woodland scene titled ‘The Embrace’ and David also had an HM for ‘Fly Agaric with Climbing Rope’.

After the break the judge commented that the Advanced was a very powerful section and that it was difficult to judge between the 27 excellent entries. Adrian picked out 15 images that most appealed to him for further comment. After giving out the titles of the 6 Highly Commended and the 6 Honourable Mentions there were just 3 images left.
Adrian said it had been extremely difficult to choose the winner out of the two nature images but finally he awarded first place to ‘Brown Hare sitting in Stubbles’ by David Wilkinson. The judge said that it was a great shot and the hare stood out well against the background and he wondered how the photographer had managed to get so close. In close second place was ‘Sidewinding Adder’ by Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP another image the judge enjoyed. He said that it a most unusual image of the adder almost buried in sand with just its eyes showing.
The judge said that he found it difficult to judge creative images against traditional ones but he found ‘Too Close for Comfort’ by Pam Mullings remarkable. He said it needed imagination to create such a fun image and awarded it third place.
Tim Tapley LRPS did remarkably well with no less than 4 HC’s for his extreme macro shots of insects. Also David Wilkinson and Dave Gray both were awarded HC’s.
The chairman thanked the judge for his excellent comments and for judging this final competition of the season.
Thanks also to Competition Secretary David Eagle for organising the competitions and running the Zoom sessions so well during the season and to all those members who took part throughout the season. PM
See the full list of awards              See all the awarded images

The challenge to members was; given a RAW file what can you do with it?
This was a new idea for the club and involved members trying their hands at editing some RAW images taken by Dave Gray. There were 5 images sent out to members to see what they could do – 3 were landscapes, one was a portrait and one was a nature image.
Twelve club members had a go at the post processing although not all managed all 5 images. Most of those that took part used Lightroom to edit the images although Camera Raw and other editing software was also used. Many also tweaked the images using such add-on software as the Nik Collection or the TK Panel to give further enhancements.
The edited images of the first landscape were shown and it was interesting to see the variety of results. The image was titled ‘Red Pike’ and it showed an area of the Cumbria fells with rocks strewn across the grass. After the first basic editing, some members chose to give the scene a very stormy look while others chose to convert to monochrome or to crop the image in various ways. Dave then demonstrated how he had edited the image using Lightroom.
The next image was an HDR composite image of a waterfall taken in the Brecon Beacons. The slow shutter speed made the fast flowing water very white in the image and many members struggled to get any detail into it. There was also a patch of white sky showing through the trees which a judge would probably have criticized so members tackled that problem in different ways. Some chose to crop the offending area and others disguised it in different ways. Again the results were very varied – some colourful others muted or monochrome.
Next another tricky image to edit with just the cloud covered summit of a Scottish mountain to contend with. Again some members had difficulties with the highlights and some tried various filters to improve the image. Dave then explained how he would have solved the problems of blown highlights.
The portrait ‘Gambian Girl’ presented those taking part with many post processing problems. The lighting was harsh and the colour of the girls’ skin was difficult to get right. The background needed replacing or subduing it in some way to make it more complimentary to the subject. Some cropped the background away completely, just leaving the face and the head covering in the final image. Some found the image looked better when flipped.
Several members asked how best to replace a background and Dave demonstrated his method using layers in Photoshop.
The final image for members to work on was a brimstone butterfly image with an annoying grass stem and a distracting background. Members used various techniques to soften and tone down the background and Dave demonstrated how he selected the subject and then used Gaussian blur on the background. Members cropped in various ways and some preferred the image flipped.
It was very interesting to see the different ways that members presented their edited images and the results very much depended on individual taste. Many taking part found it more difficult editing someone elses images rather than their own.
David Wilkinson thanked Dave Gray for his work setting up the idea and giving his advice. Thanks to those members that had a go at the post processing challenge.
At the end of the evening everyone learned something from each other and said that it would be good to do something similar again. PM

On Tuesday 20th April, we welcomed Alex Nail on Zoom!, all the way from Bath, to give us his presentation entitled “Mastering Mountain Photography”.
Originally from Peter Tavey, in South Devon, Alex became interested in photography after seeing long exposure images during a rugby trip to the Antipodes. On his return, he started venturing out onto Dartmoor making images of tors all over the region. In search of original images, he went deeper into the moors, off the beaten tracks, and began to realise that remoteness was becoming important to his work. So he started travelling to, and camping in, Scotland, shooting among the Munroes and remoter mountain areas.
    Alex gave us an insight into his trip planning process, describing an 18-day pack raft and hiking trip to Greenland. Starting with Google Earth, he searched for likely photographic subjects in remote areas. He then did further research using Ordnance Survey maps and, in this instance, Harvey’s Maps which he said were the best for Greenland. Having decided on his target, he found out about other trekkers experiences and decide on his route. He planned his kit, organised transport and food drops - and left his job at Airbus!
   Showing us loads of fantastic photographs, Alex described some of the difficulties he and his friend encountered on the trip. On the first evening, his pack raft drifted off on the high tide and disappeared down the fjord requiring the help of a local rescue service. Having found it and continued on the trek, they also encountered near impenetrable birch forest, and energy-sapping boulder fields, before they reached a suitable camping spot where he could take an evening shot of the view of Ketil mountain that he had originally seen on Google Earth.
   Giving us his thoughts on composition, Alex felt that balance in the image is the most important issue. While the classical concepts such as the Rule of Thirds, symmetry, separation, repetition and leading lines should not be overlooked, getting a good balance to the picture is something that can become natural and intuitive.
Alex then went on to talk about “working a location”. Using a wild and photographic location known as Mbundini Abbey in the Drakensberg mountains of South Africa, he showed a series of images taken from essentially the same position in different lighting conditions. There were shots at sunrise; with cloud inversions; crepuscular rays; an approaching hail storm; rainbows; and night shots. He also broke the vista down into smaller sections by zooming in and focusing on compositions within compositions, such as pillars of rock against a ridge and a series of receding ridges.
   Alex ended his presentation with an illustrated account of a workshop he led to Holmselern in Southern Iceland. The group stayed in a Mountain Hut in this remote, picturesque area of Iceland and went hiking each day to find photographic locations. The area is vast and it can be difficult to get a sense of scale, so he showed us images of the group trekking within the vista. While there were days when they were soaked in rainstorms or had to stay in the hut, Alex suggested that bad weather can create some fantastic photographic opportunities. He finished his talk with some of the most wonderful images of Maelifell, a conical volcano standing in black sand and surrounded by glacial rivers.
    After a question and answer session, our Chairman thanked Alex for an awesome presentation and highly entertaining evening. Our members were unanimous in their agreement and provided a round of muted applause. DF
See Alex's amazing images

Wiltshire photographer David Sage ARPS judged the club’s final open competition of the season. David has been taking photographs for about 40 years and gained his Associate Distinction with the RPS in 2014. He looks for originality and something a bit different when he is looking through the images entered. The winners he chose from the competition entries ‘jumped out’ for him. He likes to give all entrants feedback on their images as it is a good way to learn how to improve your photography. David had looked in detail at the EXIF and the settings used and had also checked the images using the histogram. Comments were made about cropping out unnecessary areas of the images to make better compositions and increasing the contrast to make some of the images stand out more.

In the Beginners section it was a delightful winter scene by Richard Blackbourne that caught the judges eye. Titled ‘Christmas on the Avon’ the image showed the Bradford on Avon Bridge with its lights and frosty trees. David remarked that it was a good use of available light and a good composition and gave it first place.
There were several good bird studies entered in the section and second place went to ‘Long-tailed Tit’ by Gerald Clarke.
In third place was an interesting image of a derelict barn reflected in the water by Hilary Tapley. The judge said that ‘Reflections’ had strong colours and a good composition.
Hilary were also awarded an HC for a monochrome image ‘House by The Ford’ and Richard had an HC for ‘Garden Greenfinch’.

Next came the Intermediate section and the image that stood out most for the judge was ‘Old Jetty’ by Martin Stokes. David said the long exposure and the well-positioned red buoy made it very pleasing on the eye.
In second place was a well taken image by Mark Sommerville of toadstools titled ‘3 in a Row’. The well-lit, sharp image had appealing autumn colours. Trees featured in the third placed image by David Eagle. ‘The Embrace’ depicted twisted trees with mossy trunks and some autumn leaves in a woodland setting.

The Advanced section was shown after the break with 30 entries for the judge to peruse. David said that there were many good local landscapes and awarded Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP first place for his image ‘Freezing Fog’ Woodborough Hill’. The judge said it stood out for him as it was a strong image showing good lead-in lines and an interesting composition. Robert was also awarded HC’s for his other 2 images.
Second place went to David Wilkinson with his bird image ‘Collecting Nesting Material’. It was well caught and showed the birds natural behaviour.
The judge said that Frank Collins image was taken at one of the best locations in the Lake District. ‘Sunrise over Buttermere’ showed a bare tree reflected in the still water of the lake and it was awarded 3rd place.
Two images by Susie Bigglestone ARPS were awarded HC’s as were images from Tim Tapley LRPS, Dave Gray and Pam Mullings.

Thanks to all those who sent in images and thanks to the Competition Secretary David Eagle for organising the competition.
The judge was thanked by club Chairman Steve Hardman and who said he hoped members had all learnt something from the excellent critiques. PM

See the full results         See the awarded images in the Galleries

The inter-club battle between Devizes and Frome Wessex Camera Clubs has become an annual fixture over the last three years, with the latest instalment taking place via Zoom. The battle aims to test each club’s ‘strength in depth’: no more than 2 images can be entered from any one member; and entries must include images from at least 5 members who do not compete in the club’s top competition section. This also makes for a very inclusive contest, giving many members an interest in seeing how their images fare at the inter-club level.

Our judge for the evening was Ralph Snook ARPS EFIAP, who gave a very thorough and fair assessment of each image, giving everyone the benefit of his considerable knowledge and experience. The subjects ranged through Landscape, Nature, Architecture, Still Life, Creative, Nude Studies and many more besides, but each was given a mark out of 20 reflecting its quality as an example of its particular genre.

Maximum marks were given to 3 images on the night: ‘Sidewinding Adder’ left by Robert Harvey (Devizes), ‘Blossom and Bird’ right by Jane Wiltshire (Frome Wessex) and ‘In Your Arms’ below by Alan Denison (Frome Wessex). Our congratulations go to Robert, Jane and Alan.

On a club level, the first half of 30 images saw both clubs closely matched, with Frome Wessex just in front with 257 points against Devizes’ 255. However, in the second half of 30 further images, Frome Wessex steadily pulled ahead and finished with a convincing win, scoring 516 points against Devizes’ 502. Congratulations from Devizes go to the worthy winners on the night. The aggregate score over the last 3 years is now 2-1 in favour of Devizes, so both clubs will have everything to play for when we next meet on 8th April 2022. DG


Thanks to Battlle secretary Dave Gray for organising the Battle. Frank Collins for reading out the titles and score and to David Eagle for hosting the zoom meeting.

Full scores can be found here