Members’ Night is a non competitive evening that gives members the chance to share a selection of their own images with fellow photographers and invite comments on the success or otherwise of what is viewed and thoughts on how an image could be improved.

Andrew Hague presented two sets of images entitled Before and After. From the latter, members viewed several images considered by Andrew to be the finished product. For each one, the former set contained the source from which it had been derived. This was an effective way of encouraging discussion and the sharing of opinions. Some photographs were simply cropped others manipulated within Photoshop. Images included: a pair of swans leant neck against neck staring straight into the cameras lens; rows of bikes in a station bike park in Holland creating an interesting pattern; Swiss fireman rushing onto a bridge; pyramids looming against a backdrop of red and orange in Cairo; a slow worm uncharacteristically seeming to pose for the photographer and an atmospheric image of a yacht, sails furled, on Lake Neuchậtel, the largest lake entirely in Switzerland.

Close to Nature, Mean Machines, Sun Moods and Taking It Easy were the titles of the contribution to the evening by John Coombs.  The first set were largely close ups of natural history subjects. One of these images of the head of a swan led to discussion about the direction the head should face to give the most impact. Facing to the right was suggested as the solution because that is the direction in which, we in this country, read! Living in Sheriff Hutton, John is well placed to photograph stunning sunrises and sunsets and include occasionally the castle’s silhouette. The Take It Easy selection encouraged smiles as John had captured a selection of more mature individuals with clear character taking time out to read, contemplate or take refreshment wrapped in their own individual bubble. These contrasted with an image of a  teenage girl sat leaning against a door frame, books and folders resting on her lap not quite so relaxed as her older counterparts. A proud father carried his young son aloft on his shoulders and smiled happily into the camera.

Peter Dobson shared some of the thought processes that led to decisions about a finished image. A grey set of steps plus a hand rail taken on a dull day led to work in Photoshop to produce tones of blue and green that lifted an otherwise uninspiring image.

Dave Higgins, the club’s general secretary who also maintains the club website where competition winning images can be viewed, concluded the evening.  The magnificent head of an alpaca defied the general rule that the eye of an animal should be clearly visible and the focus of an animal portrait. It also happened to be facing to the right – remember the swan - against an almost black background. Again Dave was able to explain his thinking behind actions taken via Photoshop.

He also provided an unexpected bonus to the evening; a friend had forwarded a video sequence ‘promoting’ Yorkshire Airlines. This was a short witty spoof film of, of course, an imaginary airline clearly not in competition with BA. It cleverly interwove all those clichéd perceptions allegedly held by those in the south of genuine Yorkshire folk. This reminded members that a future competition is entitled Essence of Yorkshire when hopefully such clichés will be avoided!

Next week the club will be host to the Yorkshire Film Archive.