Lacock Positive 27th March 2025

This evening saw a presentation by Robert Bolton, of our own parish, on minimalism in photography, entitled "Quiet, abstract and otherworldly landscapes".

He said that in the beginning his photography was characterised by "saturated sunsets and leading lines", but as time went on he started to embrace a more minimal style, quoting Jonathan Critchley in that photographs "need a star, maybe a co-star, but no extras".

Over time he moved from colour photography to mainly black and white, changing this camera settings to display only black and white in the viewfinder and on the screen, and using coloured filters to achieve the effects he wants.  He prefers a square format to the more "normal" 4:3 or 2:3 ratio cameras so often provide.

Waiting for the Catch © Robert Bolton
Winner 2025 Sony World Photography Awards Open competition

Icelandic Waterfall Detail © Robert Bolton

Fishing hut, Japan © Robert Bolton
Won 2nd place in the Architecture category of the Monochrome Awards 2024

Lake Biwa, Japan © Robert Bolton 

Robert quoted John Ruskin, referring to the need to bring something of yourself to an image that has "kindly vacancies"... you might say a positive aspect to negative space!

Lone Tree, Japan © Robert Bolton

Luskentyre Beach © Robert Bolton

Salt flats, The Air Project, South of France © Robert Bolton

Salt flats, The Air Project, South of France © Robert Bolton

Salt flats, The Air Project, South of France © Robert Bolton

Iceberg off the coast of Greenland © Robert Bolton

Þóristindur, Highlands of Iceland © Robert Bolton

"Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass"
Washington Street, New York © Robert Bolton

After a break for tea and coffee, we continued with our challenge for the letter "O":

O is for an Old Ship © Adam Jacques

O is for Old Man's Beard © Amanda Gregory

O is for Ostrich © Ann Horne

O is for Other Birds are Available © Caroline Howe

O is for On the Wing © Craig Purvis

O is for Ointment (Anti Gas) © Derek Liversidge

O is for Oval © Sue Power

O is for Opinion © Sue Power

O is for Otter © Rose Porfirio

O is for Open Door © Rose Porfirio

O is for Onion © Rob Macklin

O is for Orange Tipped Butterfly (female) © Phil Male

Tawney Owl over Bluebells © Phil Male

O is for Odd One Out © Pam Bamford

O is for Orca © Jeremy Fox

O is for Orb Spider © Jeremy Fox

O is for Oradour-sur-Glane © Lesley Cadger

O is for Ocean © David Sage

O is for Ocean © David Sage

O is for Obscured by Clouds © Julia Lloyd Parks

O is for Obscured by Clouds © Julia Lloyd Parks

O is for (Barn) Owl © Lesley Cadger

O is for Owl © David Liversidge

O is for Oranges and Lemons © David Eagle

O is for Oil on Water © David Eagle

O is for Orton Effect © Tony Bamford

We then discussed further arrangements for the annual club exhibition. Members are reminded to finalise their image titles by 18th April and to get any requests for mounts, mounting board, tape and plastic cases to Danny as soon as possible.

Finally we discussed selling greetings cards at the club exhibition. Caroline will organise a Google Drive directory in which members can place images they want printed, together with a spreadsheet to say how many times to print each image, etc.

Our next meeting will be on 10th April.

Lacock Positive 13th March 2025

 This evening we reviewed "one month one photo" for February.

Spoonbill at Slimbridge © Amanda Gregory

Vibrant Attire © Ann Horne

Bournemouth Pier © Caroline Howe

Long Tailed Tit © Craig Purvis

Dark Savernake © David Eagle

© Helen Day

© Julia Lloyd Parks

Fitzrovia Chapel © Pam Bamford

© Phil Selby

© Phil Male

© Rob Macklin

Orchid at Kew © Rose Porfirio

A Flower to Gladden Hearts © Sue Power

Anemone © Tony Bamford

We then went on to our "Book Title" challenge:

House of Cards © Amanda Gregory

Room With a View © David Sage

Lord of the Rings © Ann Horne

The Invisible Man © Ann Horne

Pickwick Papers © Caroline Howe

The Yellow Wallpaper © Caroline Howe

Birdsong © Craig Purvis

Hamlet © Craig Purvis

Body in the Library © Lesley Cadger

Lessons in Chemistry © Lesley Cadger

Five Quarters of an Orange © Pam Bamford

Letters from America © Pam Bamford

The Pelican Brief © Phil Male

H is for Hawk © Phil Male

Clockwork Orange © Rob Macklin

Wild Geese © Rob Macklin

The English Patient (first part) © Rose Porfirio

The English Patient (second part) © Rose Porfirio

The Sea, The Sea © Sue Power

To the Lighthouse © Sue Power

The Light and the Mirror © David Sage

James and the Giant Peach © Tony Bamford

The Grapes of Wrath © Tony Bamford

The Little Red Book © Tony Bamford

After a break for tea and coffee, Danny spoke about various aspects of the annual club exhibition, namely:
  • More volunteers are needed for Monday 19th May
  • We may need a 24-28 inch display device that will take a USB stick
  • Members selling photos should remember the company behind the cashless payment device take 1.69% of every sale
  • Support is needed for teas and coffees
  • Donations of biscuits and cakes much appreciated
  • Danny will put together a bulk order of mounts and frames, please contact him if you want to be included in the order
  • Members need to submit print titles by 18th April
  • We discussed the possibility of selling post cards of members images
Our next meeting will be on Thursday 27th March.