Monday 1st April.....Training Practical Session

Several members requested a Back to Basics Session. So in February we ran two sessions on camera basics, which although based in the classroom were very practical with all attendees having the chance to get to grips with their cameras.
To put learning into practise we then decided on a trip to Pensthorpe. This was the first outing with another one to follow for those who could not attend today.
Members were trying to achieve differing effects and help was on hand if needed.
Some of the images from both trainers and trainees are shown below.

Avocets by Jeff Bowley

Chaffinch by John Kerr

Red Squirrel by Jeff Bowley

Mallard by John Kerr

Wren by Jeff Bowley

Turtle Dove by Jeff Bowley

Grey Lagged goose by Francesca Shearcroft

Gull by John Kerr

Teal by Francesca Shearcroft

Avocet with Reflection by Di Jackson

Barnacle Goose by Maureen Campbell

Bearded Tit gathering nesting material by Di Jackson

Garganey by Maureen Campbell

Tuesday 26 March - Round 2 Print competition - Monochrome

The theme for Round 2 of the print competition was Monochrome.  Our judge, Tony Bramley, FRPS, had a total of 53 prints to study, critique and score.  Up on the print stand and under the light, nothing would escape his close inspection!  The wide variety of subjects and Tony's comments on each image provided an informative and entertaining meeting.

Many thanks to all the members who entered a print.  You can see the high scoring images below.

 These nine images were awarded 20 out of 20:

PILGRIMAGE by David Turner

PRACTISING THE FLUTE by Ann Barber

TRIANGLES by Chris Kot

FLAKSTAD, LOFOTEN by Liz Akers

JOIN THE CLUB by Andy Caws

JUST PASSING by Dawn Osborn

SEA POOL by Liz Akers

LOFOTEN FISHING STATION by Nick Akers

OCULUS AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE by Jan Murphy

These five images were awarded 19 out of 20:

CLEETHORPES PIER by David Turner

SHALL WE DANCE by Caroline Tillett

THE WOODTURNER by Ann Barber

SINOPIA by Chris Kot

WIND FLOWER IMPRESSION by Christine Alcock

Tuesday 12th march – A talk by Tesni Ward

We welcomed Tesni Ward, wildlife photography who lives near Sheffield in the Peak District.
Tesni explained the difficulty in capturing wildlife images and the need for patience and persistence. She related some biographical details whilst showing some of her beautiful wildlife images. These ranged from water voles in the UK to details of hippos in Africa, from terns on the Farne Islands to red billed ox peckers in Africa.
Tesni was very good at involving the audience even if we were unable to find the animal in one particular shot!!
Tesni's enthusiasm was very evident and she went to some considerable lengths to explain the plight of some animals. The images from her project on badgers were different and spectacular.
To see some of her images please check out Tesni's web site www.tesniward.co.uk.

Tuesday 5th March – Members Critique Evening

We had some 20 or so images submitted by members who were prepared to share their images for critique by other club members.
This gave all members present a chance to be a judge and appreciate the difficulty that this entails, whilst at the same time giving others a chance to realise the obvious flaws in their image once it was blown up full size on a screen. 
A good evening and thanks to all those brave enough to submit their images.

Siberian Husky Racing - Sunday March 3rd

Thanks to everyone that turned up on this rather wet Sunday morning.

There was plenty of action with huskies racing in teams of 8, 6 and 4 right down to a single dog with cyclist in tow!

The organisers were very friendly and helpful and the refreshment wagon was very welcome.

Some of our images can been seen below:

Taking the Bend by Jack Mitchell

Team of 6 by Geoff Lingwood

Coming Out of the Bend by Andy Caws

A Walk in the Woods by Graham Frost

Hanging On by Di Jackson

Rounding the Bend by Geoff Lingwood

Just Walking the Dogs by Christine Frost

Full Speed Ahead by Di Jackson

Leading the Way by Andy Caws

Tongues in Front by Jack Mitchell

Tuesday 26 February - Digital competition 'Scapes'

Judge Andy Swain reviewed and scored 68 'scapes' images.  Club members had been quite inventive in their interpretation of this theme and we saw a good variety of photographic styles and locations from near and far.  Andy gave a concise critique of each image before awarding a score.  At one point he commented on the overall high standard of the images, some of the best he'd seen in the last two years of judging.

Thank you to everyone who entered images and very well done to those who achieved high scores.

Here are the high scoring images:

Images scoring 20 out of 20

AN URBAN LANDSCAPE by Heather Ryder

BLEA TARN by Geoff Lingwood

BODYSCAPE by Chris Kot

BOSCOMBE PIER AT DAWN by Andy Caws

COLD AUTUMN DAWN by Dawn Osborn

LAGANGARBH CLIMBING HUT GLENCOE by Graham Frost

THE DORSET COAST by Tim Leonard

TIMANFAYA by Diana Graham

Images scoring 19 out of 20

A BREAK IN THE STORM by Di Jackson

KICKING HORSE RIVER FALLS by Dawn Osborn

SAND DUNES AND SALT PANS by Tim Leonard

SEA LAVENDER AND BOAT by Christine Alcock

THE SEA BATHING POOL by Nick Akers

WINTER by Francesca Shearcroft

WOOD PILINGS IN THE EAST RIVER by Jan Murphy