Talk - Alphamarine Photography: From Dome Ports to Deco Stops 07/07/21

Shrimps that pack a punch with such force as to crack the glass of lenses, creatures with the most potent venom known to man, the sleek outlines of a giant Manta Ray gliding overhead, the vivid colours of life in a coral reef: These were some of the extraordinary images and tales regaled to members last night by Phil Medcalf, BSoUP in his talk “From Dome Ports to Deco Stops”.

Members could marvel at Phil’s images of the magical colours of wildlife caught underwater with the aid of encased cameras, macro and or wide-angle lenses aided by spotlights, in exotic locations such as the Philippines and the Red Sea. Phil gave us an inspiring insight into a new (for some) and exciting world under the sea, describing the physical constraints faced by underwater photographers, the equipment required to overcome the limited and filtered light in a watery world. The photographic equipment and accessories required cannot come cheap. However, Phil’s company (Alphamarine Photography Ltd.) exists to help both the novice and experienced choose the kit best suited to their needs and to provide training in its use.

Are you up to the challenge?

Monthly Challenge – Film Title 30/6/21

With Wimbledon in full swing and pleasant summer weather it was good to see 29 members (including a guest) joining our meeting. Inspiration for this month’s subject came from its choice as a future Interclub ‘set subject’.

A wide range of images were submitted by 22 members with the emphasis on creativity, as the aim was to produce an image recognisably depicting a well-known Film Title. In giving their critique, Sheelagh Davidson and Alan Stopher rose to the additional challenge of researching each of the films in order to give a more complete opinion of the relevance of each portrayal. Ordinarily, text is frowned upon but in this case it was accepted to help the viewers’ recognition of the film title.

As with previous Monthly Challenges, members were circulated with the images a few days beforehand so that they could give their votes for 1st 2nd and 3rd. The outcome was revealed after the critique had been given.

Shown here are the three most successful images on the night giving the club a good start in identifying which one to enter into the Interclub in October.

Congratulations go to the three winners. Well done to all entrants for showing us their carefully thought out images.

A Fistful of Dollars - Graham Sykes

War Horse - Barbara Sheldrake

The Legends of Sleepy Hollow - Mike Hey

Speaker - Janey Lazenby - Inspired By Art 23/06/21

We welcomed back tonight, the talented, Artist, Teacher and Equine Photographer Janey Lazenby.

Janey explained that her art background always comes to the fore when producing images, whether they be for her own use, clients or for competition work.

When looking for a project or certain look then Janey turns to her Art books, whether it be for a style of lighting, composition, colour, clothes.

Many Artists have inspired Janey’s work, her particular favourites are Caravaggio, Rembrandt Van Rijn, Gustav Klimt, Alphonse Mucha, Edgar Degas, George Stubbs and the Pre Raphaelites.

Janey took us through each Artist, a brief background to their work and works that they are famous for and what it was about that particular artist that inspired, from whether it be the chiaroscuro effect, composition, rich colours of the clothes, the emotional state or the dynamic storytelling.

Janey showed her fantastic images each created a story on its own and the detailed elements such position of hands, fingers, reference to the particular period, Baroque, Dutch masters, Pre-Raphaelite to name a few.

In the second half Janey took us through the process of creating an image first in the Rembrandt style and then in Degas style using Photoshop. Janey produces her own textures and went through each step on how to achieve this.