Forest of Galtres Camera Club

Monday 31^st January

Sheila Cornforth, Syllabus and Competition Secretary, announced the main contenders for this season’s Scriven Shield, the award made to the individual who has scored the highest number of points for entries into the set subject competitions. This year the titles were Architecture, Texture, Song Title and Creative Image. Out of a possible 80 points, six members scored over seventy, a clear indication of the standard of photography that exists within the club. Lizzie Stewart scored 72 and then one point at a time the scores rose to 77. Between Lizzie and the eventual winner was Dave Higgins, Peter Rushton, Peter Dobson in third place, Keith Schubert in second place and finally Ken Proudley in first place.

This announcement was followed by the photography of Ken and Ann Hopwood within a presentation called Our Golden Year, the subject of which was the cruise on the River Rhone to celebrate fifty years of married life. From Roman amphitheatres to evidence of the work of the resistance in wartime France, from a fourteenth century Pope’s Palace to stone strewn vineyards, the images were varied and above all interesting.

The main body of the meeting gave an opportunity for members to seek constructive criticism and advice from fellow members about any of their own photographs that they would like discussed. John Coombes provided a variety of subjects for consideration. Photographs ranged from those taken from his favourite location to capture sunsets to delicate spiders webs and birds. A particular favourite was an extremely bedraggled robin.

David Higgins followed next with images taken in France. Tiled roof tops, a street scene and a squirrel all stimulated discussion. Wendy Waistell contributed three images for discussion, a waterfall, a dales scene and vaulted ceiling arches. Capturing water as perfectly as Wendy did appealed to many as a change from the tendency of some to slow the shutter speed in order to create a greater sense of movement within the water.

Can digital cameras have a mind of their own? Michael Turvey did wonder. Had anyone experienced a digital camera that placed its own interpretation on a very specific subject? His new camera did just that! A very striking horizontally striped green and mauve image should have been a garden scene. Needless to say, that camera has now been replaced.

Peter Dobson produced pairs of images to illustrate how he may have digitally ‘improved’ a photograph and asked members their opinions as to the image considered most effective of the same subject. One such image was a tree in winter, the image was flipped horizontally. Elements that distracted from the main subject were removed in others. A Northumberland beach scene led to discussion about cropping and generated much debate. There were members who felt the image would be improved if the foreground was reduced while others speculated that a reduction in sky would lead to the better result.

Keith Schubert presented images taken around Estepona Harbour in southern Spain. Three or four images of silhouetted fishermen and their lines, for example, enabled members to consider which had the most impact.

The evening was the first of its kind for the club and the open forum gave everyone an opportunity to voice opinions. Particular thanks are due to the members who shared their images and finally congratulations to Ken Proudley for his success in the Scriven Shield competition.

Next week, Roger Walton will be visiting again to answer questions about Photoshop and Elements.