Report - 29th November 2008
A few members of the Club were invited to attend a Fashion Show by Posh Frocks of Epworth held at Haxey Memorial Hall. It was a terrific evening with the opportunity to photograph models on the catwalk, and in the changing room. The glitz and glamour really comes across, as models ( mostly local girls ) paraded in ball gowns, evening wear and cocktail dresses. Behind the scenes, there were good shots to be had, but some even better shots had to be missed in the name of decency!
It was a great evening, and lots of fun. As some members know, I have been trying to organise such an experience for some time. There have been many setbacks, but many thanks to Leesa at Posh Frocks for allowing us to go to her first show. It was a privilege, and as she is hoping to make it an annual event, members who were unable to attend this time may get the opportunity in future.
Fashion Show 1
Sue Otley
Finale
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Report - 1st October 2008
Members and visitors to
Axholme Camera Club recently enjoyed an evening
presentation by Geoff Trinder. Geoff, a club member and
member of the Royal Photographic Society, brought digital
images from his recent trip to the Kalahari Desert and the
Okavanga Delta in Botswana, Africa. He gave an extremely
interesting talk, entertaining and informative. Not only
had he captured some stunning images of wildlife, his
speciality, but also the landscape, the people and the
culture. Aware that we have many new members, Geoff also
threw in some very useful tips for improving our
photographic technique. No doubt a few of our members are
now thinking they would like to visit this beautiful area
of the world in the hope of taking photographs as good as
Geoff's.
Last year we had a visit from Anita Wright who brought her
fantastic photographs of the Everest region where she had
been trekking some years ago. On Tuesday November
25th, Anita will be returning to Axholme Camera Club to
tell us about her 'Return to Nepal'. We are all looking
forward to this event with great anticipation. Non-members
are also welcome to join us, there will be a small door
charge of £1.50. We meet in the Church Hall, Haxey at
7.30pm.
Members have a varied programme planned for this month,
photographing fireworks, getting advice on how to take news
photographs and taking part in the second competition of
the season.
23rd
September 2008
“The
Confessions of a Nature Photographer”
Robert Hawksworth FRPS.
Members
were treated to an evening of fine photos and down to earth
practical advice when Robert Hawksworth visited the club on
23rd September 2008. Geoff Trinder introduced Robert as a
respected nature photographer of many years and as a past
Chairman of the RPS Nature Group.
We didnít quite know what to expect from the title but what
we got was an introduction to all the various facets of the
natural world and sound advice on the techniques that
Robert has used to photograph that world. From plants to
funghi; birds to squirrels; lichens to ferns; they were all
there. Various approaches to the difficult lighting
situations encountered were explored and explained in a
plain language. Locations where it was possible to
photograph various species in sympathetic conditions were
disclosed and illustrated.
All of this was delivered in a humorous and expressive way,
supported by stunning colour slides. The real value of the
evening, in addition to enjoying the presentation, was the
enormous amount of insight that Robert gave into tackling
this area of photography. We were able to go away thinking
ëI can improve my photography without spending vast amounts
of money but by just thinking a bit more deeply about how I
approach each shot.í
This was a photographerís evening presented by a master
photographer.
Allan Rowsell
Report - September 2008
The new season at Axholme Camera Club got off to a good
start as many members, and a number of new members, met in
Haxey Church Hall on Wednesday evening. New style
membership cards, sponsored by Tom Dennis Cameras of
Scunthorpe, were issued by the Treasurer, Peter Webster.
Ex-Vice Chairman Emlyn Perrett,
soon leaving the area, was honoured with a Life Membership.
Emlyn has been at the centre of the camera club for many
years, and was instrumental in its recent renaissance. He
is an experienced and talented photographer, embracing the
new digital era in spite of his advancing years. He is also
very active in Parish and Church matters, and will be
missed by everyone. The Axholme Camera Club wish him well
in his new life. To commemorate and perpetuate his efforts
with the club, the annual award will now be the Emlyn
Perrett Trophy. In celebration, Charmian Roberts presented
him with a cake she had made herself, aptly decorated with
a model camera in icing.
For the rest of the evening a presentation of stunning
Nature photography by the Royal Photographic Society Nature
Group was enjoyed. The Group Chairman, Geoff Trinder,
is a club member.
Tony Ferris, of the Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum, gave a
short talk as a forerunner to a visit by the club on
October 11th, when the trolleybuses, sheds and other
paraphernalia will be available to view and photograph.
During the summer, two of our members received
commendations for their work in a national exhibition run
by the Camping and Caravanning Club of Great Britain,
Albert Phillipson and David Ulyett. Albert's superb black
and white photograph of the interior of Litchfield
Cathedral thoroughly deserved the award, and David's 'Gone
Fishing' was describe by the judge, Malcolm Sales,
as 'a peep into someone's life' and was praised
for the delicate handling of the backlit leaves framing the
picture.
Haxey Parish Council, in conjunction with Axholme
Camera Club, is running a Photographic Competition for
local residents. There will be three categories; Children;
Adults; and Camera Club members. With prizes of £75
offered, it is worth considering entering, but do look at
the rules first.
With such a start to the season, the Axholme Camera Club is
looking forward to a successful year.
Lynda.
Vist to Austerfield Field
Study Centre July 2008
When Axholme Camera Club was
asked for volunteers to spend an evening in a room full of
snakes, spiders and insects, I'm sure
no-one expected the ladies to be first in the queue.
However, the ladies outnumbered the men by 2 to 1 when the
Camera Club visited Austerfield Field Study Centre to
photograph the livestock on Wednesday.
Head of Centre Andrew Jagger (BEd) hosted the session for
the group, talking about the creatures he presented for
photographs, so the evening was entertaining and enjoyable,
with some members taking so many photos they ran out of
film or digital capacity.
The snakes were very popular, and posed nicely for the
photographers, or perhaps they were just basking in the
heat of the floodlights. With their beautifully smooth,
patterned skins and slow movements, they made good subjects
for the cameras. However, the expert advice of experienced
photographer Alan Townsend was much appreciated by those
new to photography, helping them to get the best possible
results.
Some of the ladies were happy to hold the snakes, but only
Monica Bland was keen to get more closely acquainted with a
Mexican Red Spider ( commonly known as a Tarantula)!
She picked it up and allowed it to crawl up her arm, its
hairy legs delicately feeling the warmth of her bare skin.
Hissing sounds emanated from the cockroaches when Andrew
demonstrated their self defence mechanism, and due to their
size, bigger than a £2 coin, they were easy to photograph.
The strangely shaped Australian Leaf Insects clung to a
sturdy shrub for their portraits.
The star of the show was undoubtedly the Firebellied Toad.
The striking green and black warty skin of its back was
replaced by a fiery orange when it turned over and played
dead! Numerous repeat performances kept us amused for ages.
The heavily pregnant Firebellied Newt, however, refused to
indulge us.
Gerbil City, a high-rise of white plastic apartments,
contained families at all stages of life,
from the jelly- baby-like one day olds, pink and wriggly,
with no eyes, ears or fur, through all ages to the elderly
gerbils, all albinos.
With the constant chatter of cockatiels demanding attention
in the background, the members of Axholme Camera Club had a
great evening, and some good photographs should be
appearing in future competitions.
We are grateful to Andrew Jagger for his time and
expertise, and would recommend a visit to anyone
interested. Andrew can be contacted at 01302710415 or by
Email on AFSC1882@aol.com
for group bookings.