Lacock Positive: Meeting Notes

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MEETING 03.02.22

Getting back together for a face-to-face meeting in our normal venue was a welcome return to the new 'normality', with a range of Covid precautions still in place. Fingers crossed this means all systems go again.

Howard Morland kicked off the programme with a very well received talk on York and its history followed by an AV with images to illustrate. Three images below capture the essence of York as we see it today. Howard planned his AV with a storyboard and this prompted members to think about different ways to approach the making of AVs.

The above three images © Howard Morland 2022

After discussion on the pros and cons of mirrorless cameras and a chance to handle both Canon and Nikon cameras, a lot of good images, submitted for One image, One month (January), were shared and enjoyed. A selection below illustrates the range of light and temperatures experienced!

Next meeting:

Members are invited to bring in their images for sharing and critiquing

MEETING 25.11.21

Peter Crane ARPS (https://www.petercrane.co.uk) gave an interesting and informative talk about his street photography passion. He talked about his techniques, including shooting from the hip using pre-focus and auto ISO or following an interesting person to get the shot he wanted. Not the easiest kind of photography without being challenged, he also likes to shoot in colour rather than taking the monochrome route and is prepared to spend time waiting for the right colour combination to come along!

Next meeting: Members' November images and a member's presentation on 20 things from 20 yards, plus our Christmas Social with Jean's super snacks!

MEETING 16.09.21

Robert Harvey delivered his presentation entitled “Photographing Wiltshire”. It was a very interesting and informative talk, illustrated with great photographs of Wiltshire, both of well known and less familiar sites. It was a great stimulus for ideas of places to visit.

Robert advised the links below which may be of interest:

Robert's book “Photographing Wiltshire” contains many images from the presentation and full details of how to take them. This can be viewed and purchased here: www.naturalworldphotography.net/section874465.html

He invited members to join his Facebook group Inspirational Outdoor Photography. The group only accepts images from the British Isles taken within the last seven days, so it is focused on what is happening in the countryside now: www.facebook.com/groups/InspirationalOutdoorPix

Details of Robert's photography tours focused on landscapes, wildlife and night sky can be found here: www.naturalworldphotography.net/section844883.html

To sign up for his email newsletter four times a year go to: www.naturalworldphotography.net/section853925.html.

The next club meeting is on 30^th September. The meeting will cover the following:

Julia - Shetland
Challenge - split toning/colour grading - one picture - before and after
Shoot review - Atwell-Wilson Car Museum

MEETING 02.08.21

It was great to be meeting up again, the first time in the Manor Room since March 2020. We welcomed back our members, both old and new. Advice to make our meetings Covid-compliant was discussed, seats were socially distanced and coats were kept on as doors were left open to allow air circulation.

We started our new term with reviews of the challenge 'Our favourite images' taken during the 2020-2021 year and the first of our summer shoots 'Lacock River Walk'. While our own selection processes were challenged by the first, finding interesting subjects for the second proved tricky! Below is a small selection.

FAVOURITE IMAGES 2020-2021

LACOCK RIVER WALK

NEXT MEETING: Sept 16 - Robert Harvey presentation 'Photographing Wiltshire'

STOP & GO!

We ended our Club year with a review of images from a recent shoot at Caen Hill Locks, our A.G.M., which included the election of new officers, and celebrated all with our star caterer, Jean, serving strawberries, creams and meringues to our discerning members!

Our new Club year starts September 5 but we will continue with shoots throughout the summer break.

SAYING CHEESE

We had a practical session on Portraiture with one of our members, John, providing both a backdrop and studio lighting. Arrangements had been made with two work colleagues to be our 'models' for the night and they kindly endured our directions of 'this way, that way'. John also guided us on what camera settings to use and how to achieve different results by moving the studio light and using different light settings.

NEXT MEETING:
Allen Lloyd will speak on 'Starry Nights'

WE TAKE 'EM HERE, WE TAKE 'EM THERE!

Club night began by welcoming visitors followed by a slide presentation from Pete clearly explaining the Exposure Triangle, i.e. the relationship of Aperture, Speed and ISO, plus some tips on how we might use Auto ISO.

Julia then whisked us off to Cape Cod, the hook of land on the eastern seaboard of USA with many lighthouses, shipwrecks, picturesque harbours and clapboard houses.

Sand patterns © Julia Lloyd Parks 2018

Amanda and Bob compared their different experiences of taking a cruise to Norway. You take your pick as to whether to take a large or small ship but the weather is still a matter of luck, so Amanda had to contend with violent storms while Bob enjoyed Captain's table and the cabaret in relative calm.

Who knew that Marilyn Monroe was part Norwegian? © Amanda Gregory 2018

Forward into the fjords © Bob Bray 2018

Philip then took us back into a seemingly 'romantic' era via a nighttime shoot in Swindon's STEAM, the Museum of the Great Western Railway, with actors employed to pose as passengers, drivers and guards.

Here's looking at you.... © Philip Male 2018

Next meetings:

Oct 22 : Avebury shoot

Oct 28: Savernake shoot

Nov 1: Talk and practical on judging and critiquing

19 October 2017 Meeting Notes

Derek started the meeting by reminding us that at the next meeting we had a guest speaker, Marcus Macadam, who would be talking on Photographing your local landscape and Travel photography. Corsham had been invited and several of their members intended coming along, and members’ guests were also welcome. All guests to pay £2.

On 29^th October we are having an autumn shoot, meeting at Westonbirt Arboretum at 10.30 at the welcome building. Please let Sue know if you are intending to come along so that we don’t walk off without anyone.

A little problem then needed resolving before we could review our Action pictures. Our reliable laptop and projector guardian had, we think, disappeared into the wilds of Exmoor. 2 laptops and an iPad were rummaged from member’s belongings, and we gathered in groups to review the images.

An excellent set of images were submitted and each member talked us through their image and answered questions from the floor and a positive discussion ensued over each image. In a funny way, it was a more intimate appraisal, and everyone very supportive of a make shift review evening.

After tea break we again gathered round in groups of roughly 4 to critique images brought in by members. Once again this small intimate approach worked exceedingly well. Certainly my group were positive and informative with added suggestions on techniques to use post production to enhance aspects of the images.

Meeting: Thursday 3 November 2016

Members will be reviewing images taken for the following challenges:
(1) Trains, Boats, Planes (3 images allowed)
(2) Industry ( 2 images allowed)

Learning points and other items will be covered as time permits.

Our previous meeting featured speaker Philip Mugridge, who showed plentiful DPIs of his wildlife photography mostly taken in the Forest of Dean where he lives. He explained about his use of portable hides and pre-focusing technique, bird feeding habits, cameras and lens used and setting up props from a handy wood nearby. His images included both common and unusual garden birds and birds of prey such as redpoll, raven, hawfinch. Philip also showed some mammals such as deer, wild boar and water vole as well as butterflies and dragonflies. A very entertaining evening!

Meeting: Thursday 20 October 2016

An evening with a speaker - Philip Mugridge - who specialises in wildlife photography is planned for our next meeting. Members plus friends and family or anyone interested in wildlife &/or photography are welcome to join us for the evening for a small donation.

Our last meeting proved there is a strong interest and a lot of ability for wildlife photography as we reviewed images for the subjects Birds, Bees and Butterflies. Birds proved the most popular category, bees second and a concern that not many butterflies had actually been seen this summer.

Member Howard Morland showed his first AV composed of images taken in Denmark - we enjoyed the waterside scenes, the Danish palette and a reminder of sunny days!

Meeting: Thursday 6 October 2016

This meeting will include reviewing members' images of Birds, Bees and Butterflies and a slideshow on landscape by Howard Morland.

The previous meeting saw AVs or slideshows produced by the following members - Bob Bray, Pate Shaw, Philip Male, David Sage, Derek Hawkins and Sue Power - which were enjoyed by all attendees. Each explained about their show including the process and software used.

Meeting: Thursday 22 September 2016

Our next meeting is an AV & slideshow night which may include:
AVs by Sue Power (Copenhagen); Pete Shaw (Svalbard), Philip Male (Rich Pickings and Just for Ewe); Bob Bray (Ugly Bug Ball and Blackbird Family); slideshow by David Sage (Chippenham)
Also, Learning Points - How to create an AV!

Our first meeting included a review of images under the titles 'A Pair of...' and 'Movement' . Images seen showed a healthily broad range of interpretations though we debated what might be appropriate in a Judge's view!

We also discussed our use of Wiggio and resolved a few problems that had been arising. It was agreed that some members would have a go in the Calne Multiclub DPI battle.

A good start to the club year with plenty of contributions both visual and verbal!!

Meeting: Thursday 8 September 2016

The new season will start with:
(1) Tribattle subject: A Pair of.... (2 images max)
(2) Tribattle subject: Movement (2 images max)
(3) Learning points (a) How to use Wiggio (b) resizing images
(4) Challenge for the year: Photobook
(5) Discussion: Calne Multiclub Battle

The final summer photoshoot in August saw 7 of us meeting in Malmesbury. We went down steps to a view point of the Abbey, then up steps to the Cloisters, then down steps to the Weir and up steps past the Abbey Gardens - at which point the light was fading fast, our legs tiring and our thirst directing us pub-wards (as usual!)

Reflecting life in Malmesbury

Reflecting the sunset at the Abbey

Going pink in the garden?

Well we were getting hot after climbing all those stairs...

At least the duck had its own way of cooling off

... and the cat had its own opinion about our antics!

Summer shoot 5: Thursday August 18 2016

Our fifth and final summer photoshoot will be in Malmesbury. Meet Ruth Baldwin & Amanda Gregory at 7pm by the Market Cross.

A brilliant nine of us turned up in the Car Park next to SS Great Britain, Bristol, on our fourth outing. Six visited the restored boat and said they climbed the rigging (hmmm) ...... while three went in search of other challenges (photographically possibly!) There appeared to be many other photography groups around the harbour with the same idea!

Turns out it was actually a young boy who climbed the rigging!

While some mad men threw themselves off a crane...

And possibly found themselves not where they expected!!

Meanwhile Amanda found Goth glamour at the water's edge

Summer shoot 4: Sunday August 14 2016

Our 4th photoshoot will be at Bristol Docks. Meet at 11am in the SS Great Britain Car Park in Bristol.

Our third photoshoot at Avebury went off smoothly with 7 members taking an interesting variety of images in fairly good weather. The route taken was through the village, the churchyard, past the Manor House and then around the stones which led, inevitably, back to the Red Lion!

Summer shoot 3: Thursday 4 August 2016

Our third photoshoot will be at Avebury. Meet the contact, Philip Male, 7pm at the Red Lion, Avebury. Please note that the National Trust Car Park is not open evenings so parking will have to be found in the village. Please car share where possible.

As for our second photoshoot - despite a week of fine summer weather, we are getting very good at picking the only evening with challenging light, plus rain on this occasion! Nevertheless, there were ten of us wandering through the backstreets and riverside of Chippenham, juggling weather protection for ourselves and our cameras as well as taking a shot or two.

Some found small details to concentrate on or the unusual while others experimented with capturing movement of canoeists and walkers before a thirst-quenching drink at the Angel Hotel......

A grey heron takes to the trees when it sees LP photographers coming!

Rowers create graphic lines on the River Avon

Ghost boats....

Walking speed

And the sadder side of graffiti land....

Summer shoot 2: Thursday 21 July 2016

Our next destination - meet David Sage at the Buttercross, Chippenham at 7pm.

Our first summer trek was around the river and canal area at Bradford-on-Avon. The light was disappointing with a wall-to-wall grey skies but nonetheless 5 of us had a go, seeing a kingfisher, waterrat or vole?, a few canoeists, boaters and runners en route. The grey weather beat us in the end but a gentle stroll with a few clicks here and there was enjoyed by all.

Finding enough light on a very overcast evening!

Summer shoot 1: Thursday 7 July 2016

Now that Summer is officially here (even if not always obvious!), we have plans to continue meeting over the next few months at various town locations for evening shoots. The first trip will be to Bradford-on-Avon, meeting at 7pm at the Station Car Park and the contact there will be Derek Hawkins.

Our last meeting was one of several parts. We held our AGM and the committee for 2016-17 was agreed: Chair - Derek Hawkins, Deputy Chair - t/f, Treasurer - Ruth Baldwin, Programme Lead - Sue Power. Plus: Paul Phelps will plan the 2017 exhibition, Bob Bray will look after the photography book library and Jean Drewett will continue to be i/c refreshments and represent the club on the Village Hall Committee. Among other items discussed: the membership and meeting fee will remain the same and reviews of the way we conduct critiques of members' images and how we pass on information from more experienced members to those with less need to be held. Thanks were given to all contributors to the club.

Next, we enjoyed Howard Morland's presentation of the work of Thomas Heaton, a landscape photographer based in Tynemouth. This featured both slide images and a video showing Heaton's work in Iceland and Scandinavia, and both prompted a good discussion.

The plan had been to show members' images for the first of the Tribattle challenges but technical difficulties meant we had to postpone this until the Autumn. So we wrapped up the evening with an 'end of year' social by enjoying Jean's overflowing table of strawberries, meringues, cream and other delectables!

The next meeting in the Manor Room will be September 8 2016.

Meeting: Thursday 23 June 2016

At our next meeting we will be taking a first look at images for the challenge 'A Pair of...'. Howard Morland will be talking about a photographer he admires - Thomas Heaton (www.thomasheaton.co.uk) from Tynemouth. And to round it off we will conduct our AGM and enjoy a social drink!

It was a shame that fine weather or holidays maybe prevented more people coming to our last meeting as we had an excellent evening. To start, members' low level images from 9 June were shown - Derek showed one with a GoPro camera half in and half out of the River Avon while Amanda stood in the river to take one of hers! Jane looked up at birds and signs while Philip showed an AV of 'grave' images taken on a 16-35mm lens at f/2.8.

Philip Male talked on 'Wildlife and I' and took us through his photographic career from his start as a young teenager discovering that shooting wildlife with a camera is better than doing it with an air rifle. He talked about the cameras, lens and hides he has used over time and showed excellent images of birds and animals taken in his garden, the UK and the USA.

Bob Bray then showed results of taking motion-triggered infra-red video in his garden. We were amazed at shots of an athletic fox and hedgehog.

Derek Hawkins shared results of some of his long-term projects. The first was a sequence of time-lapse images from 2015 set to well-chosen music and secondly, a different look at well-known monuments and White Horses in and around Wiltshire. Derek uses GoPro & Mobius cameras & his I-Phone to get his great output.

Meeting: Thursday 9 June 2016

As members made the most of a light, warm summer evening at our last meeting to take low-level images around Lacock, we will take the opportunity to review these before we listen to Philip Male and his 'Wildlife and I' talk and watch the timelapse prepared by Derek Hawkins.

ABOUT US

Lacock Positive, formed in 2009, is for anyone with a keen interest in photography irrespective of skill level and camera type.

The Club meets 7pm - 9pm fortnightly on Thursdays from September to June in the Manor Room, Lacock (adjacent to the Village Hall) for a varied programme of activities. We also arrange outside shoots throughout the year. In addition the Club holds an annual exhibition and manages its own Flickr, Facebook and YouTube sites.

Lacock Positive is a friendly, non-competitive club and we are happy to help each other to fulfil personal photographic aspirations.

If you would like to join us at a Club meeting, please contact Mrs Lesley Cadger at lcadger66@gmail.com