Our first meeting for 2026 began with a bang with an excellent presentation (via Zoom) from multi-award winning photographer Tony North MPAGB ABPE, entitled Flora & Fungi.
Over the course of two hours, Tony shared not only some of his wonderful imagery, but gave an extremely useful insight into his typical 'Floral Calendar of Subjects', Fungi and techniques to achieve eye-catching images. Based in Manchester, Tony will often visit RHS Garden Bridgewater in search of subjects, as well as his garden. He has even prostrated himself in the middle of an urban carriageway's central reservation to get a particular image of a tree!
The example below is his Highly Commended image entered in the International Garden Photographer of the Year 2024.
This Helenium was particularly striking.
The use of glycerin to provide a 'controlled' water droplet, such as below, was also explained.
Again, the use of photo bracketing and stacking was also recommended for shooting fungi. One compositional element that Tony always sought to seek out was the incorporation of an insect. Insects abound on the forest and woodland floor, so careful inspection of your chosen subject may reveal one already in situ. If not, the careful utilisation and temporary relocation of a 'model', can work very well, but it needs to sit still to allow for photo bracketing!
It was a real treat to have Tony share with us, not just some of his marvellous portfolio of work, but also his techniques, tips and methodology behind them, and we look forward to welcoming him again to the club in the future.
