10 Images in 10 Minutes - The meeting on 13th Oct 2009
This meeting was conceived as a chance for newer members to present some of their images, without being in competition. Despite President Roger Dye’s best efforts these members were reluctant to come forward and the meeting was taken over by the old guard! Roger began with a series of shots from Poynton Show. Under the banner of “Rocking Horse” four riders performed acrobatic feats whilst riding one, two or three horses. Brian Turnbull had spent a wet week in Scotland and argued the case for monochrome images when the weather (and light) were bad. Colin Pickles used the opportunity to view some of his older images which he felt had not been appropriate for club competitions, though some thought that the blue rope holding the red ship could have done well. Joyce Streets showed that she had a good eye for an image. Her symmetrical fern, she claimed was real; and we all felt sorry for the dog up to his knees in mud. Having confused Joyce’s Marmot with Marmite Jonathan Bawden went on to show images of his own. He took time to explain, and demonstrate how images could be improved with simple manipulations. He compared his straight shot of a Canarian Pine with attempts to satisfy a judge’s comments, and wondered if there was any improvement. He also described the effort which went into his competition winning Hellibore image. Tony Redford used prints to illustrate that digital photographers with image manipulation software such as PhotoShop were no longer constrained by the simple view before them but, like all true artists, could produce stunning images using bits of previously recorded shots. So nowadays his photography had expanded to recording images which he felt could be used later to build up, or improve other images.
With no more offers on the table Roger turned to his backup, a disc of images from the RPS Digital Imaging Group 2007 Exhibition.
We saw a great range of images and in the absence of sound on our system tried to imagine what the commentary might have been, particularly in the opening sequence when a man talked directly to us before showing the images. In the event, the early tea (at 8.30, so as not to interfere with the Gilbert and Sullivan in the main hall) was no disadvantage, and only once did the full chorus from next door hit us.
Roger thanked Barry for his skill in working the projection system, and all members who had provided images. The meeting ended at 9.55pm.