Blandford Forum Camera Club

The updated version of these notes has been posted in the Photoshop Techniques section.

sharpeningver3-3feb.pdf

On Tuesday 2^nd February we held the fifth of our 2009-10 Points Cup competitions and it was our pleasure to welcome Barry Senior as our judge for the evening – and, of course it was delight to see Fiona who also came along.  Barry gave, as might be expected, a careful, considered and valued commentary on our various offerings.  In judging the total of eighty-four images, he focussed on the importance of getting technical aspects right from the start, if only because these are elements that are completely under our control and deficiencies are there for all to see.  In particular, it was noted that images could really suffer from being ‘overworked’ in the post-capture processing stage.  Barry identified several examples of this from among our images which had resulted from excessive sharpening.  However, we at Blandford are not alone in this respect because it so happened that Barry was also the judge at the SAPA All v All DPI competition at Wimborne last week and he made similar observations on images submitted from all around the area. Having commented on technical matters, a judge would then focus on the more subjective aesthetic aspects of the image.  It was at this stage that we were reminded, for example, that a larger picture is not necessarily a better one. 

In the event, the slide entry of thirteen failed to yield any maximum marks but both David Cornes and Julian Forder were awarded nines. The DPI competition, with thirty-seven entries, resulted in one ten going to Evan Jones and with four others coming close with 9½ each.  They were John Burt, Norman Carey, Evan Jones and Marilyn Peddle. The prints competitions (34 entries) lead to the award of three tens, one to Dionne Horsfall for a colour print and one each to Malcolm Bowditch and Peter Gafney for monochrome entries.  Three other entries - by Malcolm Bowditch, Peter Gafney and Marilyn Peddle - came within a whisker and were awarded 9½ each. 

As an aside, it was again interesting to note that although slide entry numbers continue to be quite low, projected images as a class are booming with the numbers of DPI submissions exceeding the numbers of prints entered. 

Malcolm Bowditch

The first SAPA digitally projected image (DPI) competition was held on Monday 25^th January when some ninety SAPA club members were welcomed by our hosts, the Wimborne Camera Club.  The competition was judged by Barry Senior who gave a perceptive, helpful and entertaining commentary on the seventy-two images submitted by the twelve competing clubs.Fordingbridge emerged as winners with 56 points with Ringwood (54) in second place and Blandford in third spot a point behind on 53.With only one image to be accepted from any one worker, these All v All events do showcase the efforts of quite a wide spectrum of local photographers.  Against that background, our Norman Carey therefore deserves recognition for being awarded the maximum score for his image and for making a valuable contribution to what was a very successful team effort. 

This was a very good evening and we can all look forward to welcoming Dr Barry Senior as our judge for the fifth Points Cup competitions next Tuesday, the 2^nd February.

Malcolm Bowditch

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

I have joined a group that participates in Jurassic Coast walks. They are organised by Andy Pedrick who runs a Jurassic Coast holiday company.
There is a charge for most of his walks with a lunch or afternoon tea at a suitable venue included.
The next walk is on Sunday 31 Jan at 12:00 and visiting Lulworth Cove & Durdle Door:

‘This will be a 2 hour walk around these classic Jurassic Coast sites with a Ham, Cheddar, Egg Mayonnaise or Beef Ploughman’s Lunch.
We will start in West Lulworth, parking on the road up from the Castle Inn where we will eat afterwards.
The price is £12 - to include the walk, the Ploughman’s Lunch and a £1 donation to the Dorset Blind Association’.

Please contact me if you are interested (on 01258840082)
I will publish the details of future walks for those interested.
Keith

Elements course 1