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VISITING SPEAKER - RICHARD SERCOMBE
Friday, 25 October 2024 7:30pm - 9:30pm Masonic Hall, Crediton
We were blown away by the skill and complexity of Richard Sercombe’s knowledge and ability to do extremely complex composite photography.
He does this using charity shop finds and objects he's collected over the years. Previous photos that have texture, sky and architecture to utilise as a layer in the final image. Manipulating them to fit the composition.
One thing that impressed us the most was Richard’s devotion to detail . For him nothing is arbitrary. He showed us how he scouts for specific locations, adjusts props meticulously and even adapts the lighting conditions to match the final vision. By the time he steps behind the camera, he has a mental map for what he needs to do to accomplish his vision.
Once he has his shots, Richard moves into Photoshop where the magic truly begins.
The pure dedication to his craft to get the final image from concept to completion was awe inspiring.
A huge thank you to Richard for showing us how he goes from concept to completion, including tips for Photoshop so that we can all have a go at our own composites.
And … don’t forget to get your images in for our Members work evening this coming Friday, 1 November
PROJECT EVENING 1
Friday, 18 October 2024 7:30pm - 9:30pm Masonic Hall, Crediton
Our first project evening for bringing your own camera. I for one gained knowledge and experience at each station so a huge thank you to Mick Wells., David Reid and Mike Elliott for setting up such great workstations and sharing your knowledge with all of us.
Mick shared and showed us how to style still life photography using staging equipment, including lights, mirrors and reflectors.
David showed us how to capture water droplets with his very complex set and also set up a few other stations with oil and water mirrors, et cetera. So our creativity could be unleashed.
Mike showed us how to paint with light in lots of different ways so that we can all get creative and artistic with some of our photography shots.
I can’t wait to see the final images from you all on the 20th of December.
Next night 25th October we have visiting speaker Richard Sercombe talking about Creative photography.
The week after 1st November it’s a chance for members to share and discuss your images and have these critiqued should you wish?
OPEN COMPETITION 1
Friday, 11 October 2024 7:30pm - 9:30pm Masonic Hall, Crediton
Open Competition 1 - Visiting Judge Mac Chivers
Mac is a photographer with his wealth knowledge and experience attend our lovely club. He had perused and judged the submitted digital images and photographic prints at home before bringing them back to club to be judged and critiqued. He gave some invaluable advice and discussed each image with careful consideration and constructive critiquing. This was by no means an easy feat as the calibre of all the entries were amazing - so well done to all who entered and a very well done to the winners on the night.
Photographic print first place and a huge congratulations goes to Mick Wells. Second place had two winners because the judge just couldn’t decide. He loved both prints equally so congratulations to Mike Porter and Tina Garrard.
Digital images first place Tina Garrard, second place Cyril Chudley, third place, Emma Wyer and highly commended Richard Burston.
Once again, a huge thank you to all the members who submitted and a huge thank you to Mac for doing such an excellent job and gave us all a great evening.
TECHNIQUE EVENING 1
Friday, 4 October 2024 7:30pm - 9:30pm Masonic Hall, Crediton
A huge thank you to all the speakers who gave us their insights into the technical aspects of gear. This included lenses, filters, tripods, camouflage equipment, camera bodies, and which cameras to buy for your budget. We also had to talk on alternative options for doing photography, giving us a glimpse into drone photography and action cameras. What a treasure trove of information giving us all practical insights into improving our photography experiences . It prompted us to think do we need all the kit or just a few choice purchases?
Throughout the night, the common theme was the importance of investing wisely in your photography gear. To think about your current and future photography goals before making big purchases. The consensus was clear - buy the best gear you can afford, but think are you going to use it? And will it work for you? It also highlighted not to forget the essentials like extra batteries , memory cards and camera bags. There is nothing worse than going out for the day and having your battery die halfway through.
The night was a fantastic resource for all photographers of all levels . Whether you’re debating your next camera body upgrade or exploring accessories like filters or tripods the information shared by the club members provided clarity and enabled us to make confident choices when choosing our next bit of kit. It helped us to understand the capabilities and limitations of our equipment. If you missed the evening, be sure to catch the next techniques evening - you’ll walk away inspired and ready to take your photography to the next level .
Next week is our first Competition event for digital and print with visiting judge Mac Chivers.
VISITING SPEAKER - GORDON ASPLAND
Friday, 27 September 2024 7:30pm - 9:30pm Masonic Hall, Crediton
This Friday we had visiting speaker Gordon Aspland
Gordon inspired us by giving a talk about Street photography, ICM (intentional camera movement) and Multiple Exposures. We all found a new appreciation for the subtle art of capturing every day life. He shared his techniques emphasising a combination of skill, intuition and respect for the world around us. Transforming a simple Street view into a compelling Street scene. The art of finding meaning in the mundane. Freezing moments in time that often go unnoticed
He also went into the legalities of Street photography. He also showed us his techniques and the equipment he uses for stealth which enabled his candid shots
His approach was refreshingly different and showed us how sometimes imperfect compositions can sometimes tell the best stories. A tilt, different angle, off-centre framing or blurred motion can create an emotional impact that the perfectly composed image might lack - he taught us to embrace the imperfections because they often bring the raw energy of the street scene to life.
Overall it was a masterclass in the art of street photography and creativity reminding us that photography is as much about storytelling as it is technique. His photos and AV slideshows showcased extremely complex techniques and skill.
We look forward to seeing the photos from members following on from such an amazing talk.
A huge thank you to Gordon for inspiring us. Love or hate ICM it is definitely an art form, mix that with street and multiple exposures and you get next level photography.
Next week is Technique Evening 1: The Gear
MEMBER’S WORK 1
Friday, 13 November 2024 7:30pm - 9:30pm Masonic Hall, Crediton
Friday we had the privilege of experiencing the talents of our member’s work. Giving us insights into each member’s perspectives and demonstrating a great range of styles, techniques and viewpoints.
The evening was filled with images from country houses, serene crumbling abbeys to nature’s delicate details showcasing natural fauna and flora. Our members showcased photographs from ground to Sky and everything in between including images from industry, seascapes and landscapes to name but a few.
We were able to explore and visualise and be inspired by our member’s different styles and techniques. This ranged from AV, macro, challenging light, low light photography and ICM. What a talented bunch of members we have.
Apologies to those we didn’t get to see. We will endeavour to showcase these in the next member’s work evening.
A gentle reminder to get your prints and digital images (up to maximum of three each) ready for (at the latest) Friday 27th. They will then go out to be seen by our visiting external judge Mac Chivers.
Next week we look forward to hearing from our visiting speaker Gordon Aspland.
INTERNAL SPEAKER - DAVID REID
Friday, 13 September 2024 7:30pm - 9:30pm Masonic Hall, Crediton
The evening started with the title “a tale of hardihood, courage and endurance plus some snaps “ well David and Rosie didn’t disappoint.
David and Rosie talked about their epic adventure with Maisie the cockapoo and a revamped campervan from California named Gaby.
The tale began with the refurbish and design of Gaby, a left-hand drive 1974. VW T2, bay window campervan.
This gutsy campervan didn’t disappoint. She was a fabulous model for lots of David and Rosie‘s epic landscapes.
This was a tale of David and Rosie’s trip to the Outer Hebrides and mainland Scotland. A journey that merged serenity with adventure.
They drove along rugged roads and enjoyed the tranquility and amazing landscapes along the way. Wild camping in remote spots allowed them to experience the quiet isolation of the Outer Hebrides. Each step offered something new, ancient standing stones, picturesque villages and castles were but a few.
They also had the chance to meet some locals, mix with the wildlife and enjoy lots of lovely local cuisine.
David’s selfies improved throughout the night. 😁. He also gave us a highlight into some of his editing techniques using Lightroom - showing us how photographs can be edited to make them look stunning.
We had the chance to see up close some lovely art and photos in the coffee break. Handmade resin art using shells collected from the beaches by Rosie. A beautiful needle felted, quilted and embroidered wall hanging from the Blue Pig craft store.
In total David and Rosie travelled 2,000 miles, for 17 days and 16 nights and took 2,035 raw images and 915 Mobile images.
The photos shared with us throughout the evening we’re absolutely stunning and David and Rosie‘s presentation was a personal tale of their adventures and we were very privileged to have been invited along for the ride - thank you David, Rosie, Maisie and Gabby for an amazing evening.
OPEN EVENING and WELCOME to the 2024/25 SEASON
Friday, 6 September 2024 7:30pm - 9:30pm Masonic Hall, Crediton
Friday night marked the return of the camera club after the summer break and what a fantastic evening it was. We welcomed back an array of talented members, exciting plans and captivating content.
The new season kicked off with a bang whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just getting started. There’s something for everyone in this season’s program. The highlight was to see the presentation from our some of our talented members who showed us a glimpse of what they have been up to during the summer. We also had some AV magic which took us on a journey beyond the still image. This was set to a complementary soundtrack with seamless blending of photography music and movement which captivated us all. Showing us how photography can evoke our emotions.
A Stellar program ahead.
We look forward to all our members joining us throughout the new season whether you’re here to refine your craft, learn something new or feel inspired or simply enjoy the company of fellow photography enthusiasts. There is plenty of time to get involved, so grab your camera, polish your lenses and get ready for an incredible season. We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting. Stay tuned for updates and future gallery images for the season ahead.
VISITING SPEAKER - ADRIAN HARRIS
Friday, 10 January 2025 7:30pm - 9:30pm Masonic Hall, Crediton
This week we had Adrian Harris who packed his presentation with so much information, tackling lots of subjects and ended with a bonus AV to finish.
He showed us how to make a micro aquarium and utilise macro lenses and lighting to get some amazing close-up shots of pond life . He showed us how to use different lighting techniques to get dramatic effects and much more.
Again we went away inspired to try something new. He also inspired us to go off-grid and find hidden gems on Dartmoor. He encouraged us to check out those little roads that we often pass, never giving them a thought and missing out on different views or micro climate shots.
Overall an excellent evening.