"APERTURE" newsletter

Issue 78 - Oct 08

The other day a very good friend of mine asked me how my photography was going. I reluctantly had to admit that I hadn’t opened the camera bag since we had last had a day out together.

It’s not always easy to make the time for photography when you work full-time and you have family commitments, especially with the nights drawing in as they are now. But any artistic endeavour requires practice and familiarity with the tools. This applies to so many things in life, and it most certainly does with photography too. The less often I use my camera the more errors I make when I do use it. How many times have you forgotten to reset the ISO setting or found that the camera is in manual mode when you thought it was in aperture priority mode? It is only with plenty of practice that the errors lessen and your photography starts to improve.

I know that few of us have the luxury of being able to go out for some photography whenever we feel like it, but the camera should really be let out of the bag as often as possible. The more often our eyes look through the viewfinder assessing and evaluating all the components of our images, the more experienced and competent we become. In other words, the more a photographer photographs, the more that photographer will see, and the better their images will get. Mick.



Chairman’s Chatterings
Some exciting new developments are on the way, or being discussed at committee level, for possible proposals to the membership at a later date.

1. A new member has recently developed a new temporary website for the club, and very impressive it looked too. Work is now underway to construct a new permanent site with lots of info and our own gallery of Members images. The new site will be very much easier to navigate around and promises a much needed step in the right direction in this day and age. Your opinions and suggestions would be welcomed, to any member of the committee.

2 It has been suggested that the open and set subjects might be separated into two separate leagues so as to give more choice to members who feel they can't enter all of the competitions. If a split was introduced, members who don't like say, set subjects, could choose to enter only the open rounds. There would still be an award for each league at the end of the season, as an extra cup or shield would be purchased. Once again your views are needed so that we know which way to proceed.

3 One other idea that has been suggested is going back to two classes, general & advanced or numbered if you like. In the past this has worked up to a point, as it allows new and less experienced members to feel that they have more chance, just competing against others of similar experience. However, is also has it's opponents, as if the winner each year is promoted to the advanced class, it's not long before we have no one left in the general class. Again it is only if you make your feelings known, that we will know what the majority of members want!

Those of you who would like to enter the KCPA Carter cup for monochrome slides but thought mono slide film was no longer available will be interested to know that such a film is out there, details as follows: The film is called Fomapan R100. Available through www.Silverprint.co.uk or www.thedarkroom.co.uk Processing kit available from www.retrophotographic.com this will process 8 films. Alternatively, www.dr5.com will process it. The only person we can find to process it here in the U.K. is Peter Winter, 74 Darwin Drive, Tonbridge, Kent. He charges £10.00 per roll.

John Ship from Battle Camera Club uses him and says returned films are good but can take 2 weeks or longer. All the best to everyone, keep smiling and keep snapping. Glyn.


Dates for your diary
§ The KCPAs fourth open digital image competition is taking place at Detling Village Hall on Saturday 1 November 2008, starting at 6pm. Judge is Roger Reynolds Hon FRPS APAGB.
§ On Saturday 22 November 2008 the Ross Cup, the KCPA inter-club print competition, takes place at Hayesbrook school, Brook Street, Tonbridge, TN9 2PH. The exhibition of entries opens at 1:30pm with the judge’s commentary and presentations at 4:00pm. There will be a raffle and light refreshment will also be available. Admission is £2.00 per person payable at the door.
§ The Marley Medallion five-way club battle between Staplehurst, Maidstone, Malling, Tovil and ourselves will be held on Friday 21 November at Staplehurst. Please see the notice board or a committee member for further details and make the effort to support your club.


Walks, Walks, Walks

?
There used to be club walks once a month to act as a social and photographic get-together outdoors. It was suggested that we might revive this, so I have taken up the challenge. I often do walks with the local ramblers which gives me some idea of possible venues but I guess you won’t want to do 10 miles before Sunday lunch! So I’m aiming at about 2 hour walks, with not too many hills, on the first Sunday of each month, at a pace that allows time for photography (OK you have got to get out of the car!!). Hopefully, there will be a nearby refreshment stop afterwards if you want a drink or Sunday lunch. I’ll publish a list of where and when for the start of the new club season – just keep the first Sunday morning of each month free (but I think I’ll leave out January in case you are away). If you have some good ideas for places to go let me know – I have a list of 10 possible locations so far but it takes time to check them out and later to cut down the undergrowth!!

Brian.


First Camera Club Walk 7 Sep 2008
I got to the start at Cobtree Manor Park in good time to check that the cafe cabin was open. Weather threatened but it was not raining…..so far. Lots of members and their friends were expected but in the end there were only four of us. Jon had made it from distant Tonbridge – well done! (I’m sorry two members just missed us due to them being given an incorrect start time - all walks will be leaving at 10am).

So what did we see on the walk? We visited the remains of the zoo – just the elephant house and some animal gravestones. We had a look at the so-called “Foxglove Tree” which was covered in seed pods like walnuts. The flowers came out in early spring. There were also a lot of specimen trees throughout the park. Under a sycamore, patches of cyclamen were out in flower. Our path took us out of the park in a loop through fields of seeding flax and back by the golf course.

We eventually arrived back in time to have a meal at the cabin (note Glyn; we got back before it closed!). Did it rain? Well, yes, but not much so you could have all come. We enjoyed the walk even if there wasn’t the light for photography. Join me next time on Sunday 2 November at Eyhorne Street south of Hollingbourne. Meet near the Sugar Loaf Inn at 10am (bring waterproofs and jungle gear!). Brian.

Our Lottery Fund grant
Following much form filling and hard work by members and a fair amount of hassle, we finally received a lottery grant of £2545 in April. This was to enable us to purchase new equipment for the benefit of the members and the local community. So far we have purchased a digital projector, a laptop computer and bag, an Epson A4 photo printer, the ColorMunki calibration unit, a loudspeaker system and a copy of Photoshop Elements 6. Still on order is a spare bulb for the projector (£311-38!). We intend to also buy a copy of ProShow Gold, the AV programming software and, as we have spent less than anticipated, a new screen.

Part of the application for the grant involved providing details of how the money will help the local community. To this end, we have already used it at the Hole Park presentation evening and at the two digital workshops we recently held at Detling. We are fortunate to have in our club an IT guru in the shape of Mike Tomkins. He has been very helpful in advising us what to buy and getting it working! Thank you Mike.

We hope that this grant will add to the enjoyment of our evenings and prove to be very useful in the future. In addition we hope to offer a service to members whereby their equipment can be accurately calibrated. This will take some time to arrange, so please be patient. Roger.


For sale
Old club screen, now surplus to our requirements. Approximately 2 metres wide and sold as seen. Offers to either our equipment officers or any other committee member. No reasonable offer refused. Buyer collects.

KCPA definition of nature
Following a recent vote on the KCPA’s definition of Nature, for anyone wanting to enter the annual exhibition, please see below the rule now in place, following a landslide vote in favour of a broad based definition. “Nature is defined as flora; fauna; geology and astro photography. Flora may be cultivated or wild. Fauna may include wild, captive or domesticated animals (including pets). Mounted specimens and flower arrangements are not permitted. Photographs should enable a well informed person to identify the subject material”.


Handley Shield – 4 October 2008
Here is a list of slides that were chosen to represent Invicta Photographic Club, together with their marks scored, in the recent Handley Shield competition. We came a very creditable fourth out of the eighteen clubs that entered this year. The entry was well down on previous years and unfortunately is a sign of the times, the popularity of digital imaging having a deleterious effect on film photography, particularly slides. Unless the number of clubs entering increases next year it may prove to be financially unviable to run this event in the future and we could see the demise of a county competition that has been running since 1954.

Carnival clown Mick Sayer ARPS BPE3* 15
Autumn Raindrops Fay Edwards 16
White Mantle Ron Edwards EFIAP 18
Great Blue Heron Peter Ratcliffe LRPS 17
Spiralling Mass George Pearson CPAGB 17
Balustrade Mick Sayer ARPS BPE3* 15
Nettle & Rust Ron Edwards EFIAP 19 (Certificate of Merit + Judges comment)
Morning Light Fay Edwards 18 (Judges comment)

The winners of the Handley Shield for 2008 were Tonbridge Camera Club, and the Carter Cup, the individual competition for monochrome slides, was won by Katrina Devenport from Ashford Photographic Society.


Holidaying in Brazil
The itinerary was outstanding! Rio-Iguaco-Pantanal-Amazon-Salvador; what more could a birder/photographer want? Well, how did it stack up in reality?

The direct flight from Heathrow to Brazil was as bad as all long hauls, but no worse; and I still had my luggage at the end of it. Transferring from Sao Paulo was fine but then the troubles started. Dollars are not the currency of choice anywhere now, and we were immediately advised to get some Brazilian notes at the airport. Several fraudulent transactions later and temporarily short of stolen £1600, I still had no ‘Reals’. I had to change $1000 dollars to keep afloat.

But Rio was something else; superbly located surrounded by mountains and great beaches it also has a wonderful cable car journey to Sugarloaf. The vibrant beaches had music, footballers, surfers but none, repeat none, of the scantily clad maidens I had expected. But I saw an explosive, literally, football match and a joyous Samba school.

We flew down to Iguacu and the huge scale of Brazil became apparent; some days we were flying for 8 hours via the Sao Paulo hub. The falls were in spate and glorious. The helicopter ride was much less exciting than the boat journey from the Argentine side into the worst of the spray. Seriously stimulating, adrenaline pumping and difficult to breath for the 4 plunges into the torrent. The area was great for birding and butterflies and I heartily recommend a visit.

I was most of all looking forward to 4 days in the Pantanal famed for its abundant bird life and access to mammals like the Giant Ant-eater. But frankly it was a little disappointing since our lodge was only on the fringe of the park and there was almost no records in that area of rarer mammals although I did get brilliant views of the CITES listed endangered Hyacinth Macaw. My advice for both here and in the Amazon is to get exact details of the locations of lodges because that is crucial. Seeing wildlife outside zoos is seriously difficult and involves hours of patient watching. Getting any kind of photo is an absolute bonus needing both naturalist and photographic skills. Since natural history photography can never be a level playing field different categories are the obvious answer but even that is problematic at reserves which attract game by feeding.

After a full days travelling we arrived at 3am at Manaus for a quick sleep before beginning a boat journey into darkest Amazonia. Since I had been to the Ecuador and Peruvian Amazon I was realistic about the possibilities of seeing much in the jungle. But this was the pits! The lodge was very plush but with absolutely no chance of seeing anything located as it was on a tiny island. The guides were rubbish, even my dodgy book learning was infinitely better, and they had no interest anyway. Warning! Do better than me with prior research.

But after this our final days in Salvador were blissful. A Portuguese Colonial city on the coast it was colourful, seedy in parts but extremely photogenic. We all went to shows and danced and dined into the early morning. A glorious end to a patchy trip. George.

Internal competition results

First open competition, judged by Peter Tulloch on 24 Sep 2008:

Print title Author Score Place
Pretty in Pink Ian Bryan 14
Lotus at Speed Penny Lewington 16
Rock Pool and Limpets Trevor Garton 17
Sky, Sand and Stone Jon Adkins 16
Two Into Druids Glyn Bareham 16
Rainbow Power Fay Edwards 14
Petals Brian Paxton 19
Boats Facing the Incoming Tide Anne Harrison 15
Olivia Bill Bassant 17
Orange Supreme Avril Espinosa 15
Eagle Slayer Roger Birchall 17
Sunrise Ron Edwards 16
Swale Trio of Masts George Pearson 19
A Mass of Tulips Mick Sayer 15
Sedge Warbler Peter Ratcliffe 17
Fez Tannery Ian Bryan 20 2nd
Light on the Fell Penny Lewington 18
Lakeland View Trevor Garton 17
A Spot of Red Jon Adkins 15
The Lay of the Land Glyn Bareham 20
The Abandoned Mine Fay Edwards 14
Passing Rain Brian Paxton 17
Bright Beard Anne Harrison 14
Roberto Bill Bassant 13
Grand Funk Railroad Avril Espinosa 15
Golden Palm Weaver (Placeus Bojeri) Roger Birchall 19
Avocet Feeding Ron Edwards 20 3rd
The Smoker George Pearson 16
Roofscape Mick Sayer 17
Seadoo Peter Ratcliffe 15
Mousehole Ian Bryan 19
Sunset Penny Lewington 18
Late Afternoon Sun Trevor Garton 16
Seven Sisters Jon Adkins 16
Anew Dawn, A New Day Glyn Bareham 20 1st
Common Male Tern by Feeding Female Fay Edwards 18
Rhodo Show Brian Paxton 14
Suffolk Sunset Anne Harrison 14
Hern Windmill Under Water Bill Bassant 17
Indian Tails Roger Birchall 18
Misty Morning Ron Edwards 20
Meadow Flowers George Pearson 15
Ethereal Trees Mick Sayer 18


Slide title Author Score Place
Gargoyle George Pearson 17
Dry Ivy Avril Espinosa 15
Yellow Rose Brian Paxton 15
Bull Elk in Velvet Peter Ratcliffe 19
Lone Tree Glyn Bareham 17
Skyward Penny Lewington 16
Pushing Home Mick Sayer 16
Cock Pheasant Fay Edwards 17
The Old Bothy Ron Edwards 16
Low Cloud Base George Pearson 19
Queuing Avril Espinosa 20 3rd
Celtic Cross Brian Paxton 15
Bolt in the Blue Peter Ratcliffe 18
Lonesome Walk Glyn Bareham 18
Tools of the Trade Penny Lewington 15
Winter Beach Mick Sayer 19
Lonely Pines Fay Edwards 16
Blue and Gold Ron Edwards 20 2nd
Mirage George Pearson 17
Blue Heaven Avril Espinosa 14
Stone Rose Brian Paxton 17
Great White Egret Preening Peter Ratcliffe 18
Cordes at Dawn Glyn Bareham 17
Lakeland Penny Lewington 16
Columns Mick Sayer 19
Early Morning Scottish Light Fay Edwards 20 1st
Lochside Ron Edwards 18



Imagination Trophy, judged by John Wigmore FRPS MPAGB EFIAP on 1 Oct 2008:

Slide title Author Score Place
The Witching Hour Fay Edwards 20 2nd
Driving Off Ron Edwards 18
Where Does He Come From Fay Edwards 17
Double Rose Brian Paxton 15
Baled Up Fay Edwards 18
Pump Up The Jam Fay Edwards 18
Alcoholic Vision Ron Edwards 20 1st
On The Edge Fay Edwards 19 3rd
Last One To Fall Ron Edwards 19
Rock Around The Clock Fay Edwards 17



Print title Author Score Place
The Performance Glyn Bareham 19
Q George Pearson 15
Feeding the Imagination Sheila Hammer 14
Should Have Turned the Tap Off First Trevor Garton 15
Graphic Grandeur Glyn Bareham 16
Green Wedges Brian Paxton 20
In a World of Her Own Avril Espinosa 18
Bluebell Wood Mick Sayer 17
A Design in Glass Ron Edwards 18
Mountainous Architecture Glyn Bareham 17
A Thin Film Interference George Pearson 16
The Light Glyn Bareham 20 3rd
Shapes in Rock Trevor Garton 18
The Tree in the Pool Brian Paxton 18
Under the Surface Mick Sayer 14
The Old Mill Ron Edwards 20 1st
Dawn at Thirty Five Thousand Feet Glyn Bareham 19
Is She Isn’t She Trevor Garton 17
Star Pine Brian Paxton 18
Spirit in the Sky Peter Ratcliffe 19
Curtain Call George Pearson 16
Stepping Over the Crack Mick Sayer 18
Venetian Enigma Ron Edwards 20 2nd
Menacing Posture Glyn Bareham 17

Overall winner of the Imagination Trophy for 2008/09 is The Old Mill by Ron Edwards. Well done Ron!

Just a reminder to all our members that we still need a permanent Internal Competition Secretary for this season. Ron has handled the first few competitions admirably alongside his other responsibilities, but we urgently need somebody else to come forward and take on this very important role as soon as possible. Ron is willing to guide you while you learn what is required ready for next season, so please speak to any committee member (as listed in the previous edition of Aperture) if you are willing to perform this task for the benefit of the entire club.