Blandford Forum Camera Club

An evening’s entertainment with Brian Winkle is a regular feature at this time of year for club members and yesterday we enjoyed the latest in the series.  On this occasion he gave a DPI-based presentation featuring visits by him to Bruges, Vienna and Kenya during 2009.  Events of this kind are normally either a commentary on acquired images or a talk supported by images, depending upon where the emphasis lies.  This was an exception in that the oral and the visual components were equally matched – and both were very good indeed!    

He started with his visit to Belgium in March, involving travel by ‘bus and train – both eventful and described in his inimitable way to the great amusement of his listeners.  His photographs were of architecture, bicycles, electrical engineering and women of various ages with ice-cream.  None of this will come as a surprise to those of us who know of Brian and his interest in street photography.  In July he went to Austria and, tempted by the offer of two lady acquaintances from Vienna to show him around, he decided to go.  The logic was compelling; after all, they were Viennese so why not give it a whirl?  More interesting images were featured, with mobile ‘phones being added to the list of his favourite subjects.  The visit to Kenya in August involved travel by air of course as well as by coach and rail and, once again, this aspect was the source of a series of amusing anecdotes to which we were treated prior to the illustrated tour itself.  As can be imagined, a range of animal pictures were shown but, rather less conventionally, images of the background to life in Nairobi and Mombasa were also presented in addition to the wildlife.  

Had Brian chosen not to be a teacher he most surely could have done well as a stand-up comedian come raconteur.  Not unlike a cross between Sandy Powell and Rik Mayall, Brian gave wonderful value and a full house had a most enjoyable evening.

Malcolm Bowditch