Wednesday 10th April - Hindringham Hall Gardens + Binham Priory

Twenty of us, including four very welcome guests, met up at Hindringham Hall Gardens for our first venue of the day.  Bright and breezy with a nip in the air we all set off to explore the many different areas in the garden.

Although early in the year there was plenty to see with the wonderful architecture of the hall surrounded by a complete moat: the walled vegetable and fruit garden which supplies fruit and vegetables for the house, areas filled with daffodils and early flowering shrubs, the water garden and a pair of black swans with their single cygnet.

As with most WDPC events, a visit to the cafe was enjoyed with delicious cakes and hot drinks before moving on to the second venue of the day Binham Priory.

This is a very impressive Benedictine priory with amazing ruins as well as the much larger priory Church of St. Mary and the Holy Cross.   We spent some time both exploring the ruins and enjoying the interior of St.Mary’s with its incredibly high timber ceiling, some beautiful wood carving and the 15th century eight sided, perpendicular font.  Lichens in the graveyard also proved to be a fascinating photographic subject.

Most of us were ready to return home apart from five of us that continued to our third venue - Wells-next-the-Sea where we enjoyed an early fish and chip supper!

Some of our images can be seen below:

Hindringham Hall from the Moat by Dawn Osborn

Drumstick Primrose by Tom Thurston

Never too Old by David Wilkin

The Pergola by Jan Murphy

View Across the Water by Andrew Barnes

Sempervivum by John Kerr

Black Swan by Sue Baldwin

Crown Imperial by Jim McConnell

Daffodils in the Breeze by Andy Caws

Hindringham Moat by Jeff Bowley

Hindringham Hall by David Wilkin

Honorable Retirement by Tim Leonard

Found his Niche by Di Jackson

Black Swan Cygnet by Jeff Bowley

Black Swan Pen with Cygnet by Tom Thurston

The Old Window by Sue Baldwin

Binham Priory Ruins by Dawn Osborn

Let the Sun in by Tim Leonard

The Old Funeral Cart by John Kerr

 Church of St Mary and the Holy Cross by Jim McConnell

Wood Carving Detail by Di Jackson

A Beautiful Day at Wells by Jan Murphy

Lobster Pots by Andy Caws

Tuesday 2nd April – Portrait/Lighting Workshop

We welcomed Joe Lenton, an award winning commercial photographer, to run a lighting workshop for us. Joe had three set ups, two with flash and one with continuous lighting, and initially demonstrated the effects of moving the various lights around a model.
Several club members had been asked to act as models and we asked a couple of friends from outside the club to come along as well. Various accessories were available. 
Joe was on hand all the time to offer advice about composition, lighting and camera settings.
All members present got involved whether taking images, holding reflectors, posing or just "chimping".

As well as learning lots, a fun evening was had by all as the images below show. 

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