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FOCUS June 2001 |
Ratings Reversal at Romily! Twelve clubs took part in the Knock-out slide competition at Romily Forum on Friday 4th May as part of the Romily and Bredbury P.S. Annual Exhibition. The judge was Ray Brighton from Sheffield. Frank, Marjory, Graham and Bill represented NCPS. As Frank commented "The slides stay the same; only the judges change! He had seen many of the slides at the Altrincham K.O competition. At Altrincham Bill's 'Winter Tree' and Steph's 'Night Heron' went out early whilst Brian's 'Morning Mist' and Ted's 'Stadium of Light' reached the later stages. This time 'Morning Mist', and 'Stadium of Light' were all removed in round one together with Dorothy's Trotting Horses. At this point your NCPS reps knew the game was up. Tony's 'Scholars' and Bill's 'Winter Tree' lasted as far as the fifth round (with 17 of the original 60 slides remaining). South Manchester CC won the competition with 28 points, followed by Bury (25p), Chapel (22p) and Bramhall (20p). Overall a very pleasant and relaxed evening with a good cup of tea at half-time. Bill Chadband |
Giant Daffodil Frightens the Judge The Fourth Quarterley Competition had an end-of-season jovial atmosphere to it on Tuesday 8th May. A reduced attendance with several members on holiday revealed the down-side of an increasingly retired membership! Our judge, Tony Pioli, had 31 prints and 40 Slides to consider. Tony chose to judge the entries cold, on the night. This gave members an insight into his thought processes as he considered the pros and cons of each image out loud. On reaching "Daffodil in Situ" he felt it filled too much of the frame, in a threatening manner; and would have preferred a smaller, more manageable, version. He was perturbed that the tree behind the daffodil was also in focus and suspected some jiggery-pokery. As a mere observer it is interesting to note that whereas great artists have no problem with all parts of their paintings being in focus, great photographers apparently must have bits out of focus to prove it is still a photograph! Tony noted that it is often difficult to get the depth required into, for example, a garden scene, and that several images failed because the three dimensional nature of a scene failed to come over in the recorded image. Inevitably, in considering the images cold, first impressions played an important part. Equally it seems likely that this approach accounted for the high numbers of commendations given. Tony made the following awards: Prints: Advanced Pictorial: Best in Section Gordon Robson - Morning Gossip, Burano VHC Gordon Robson - Liverpool Waterfront HC Dorothy Redford - L'Estroga C Colin Pickles - Monte Rosa and Gorner Glacier Prints: Advanced Applied: Best in Section Dorothy Redford - Winter Postcards VHC Gordon Robson - Lioness In Masai Mara HC Tony Redford - No Sale C Stuart Forbes - Blotto Prints: Advanced Portrait: Best in Section Dorothy Redford - Impressed HC Graham McIntosh - J.L. C Stuart Forbes - Angelique Slides: Advanced Pictorial: Best in Section Tony Redford - TreeTops VHC Frank Hutchinson - Study in Red & Stamens HC Kath Anderson - Walk in the Park & Grasmere Lake C Graham McIntosh - Welsh View Slides: Advanced Portrait: Best in Section Gordon Robson - Chinese Poverty VHC Tony Redford - Tomb Guard HC Stuart Forbes - Jan C Dorothy Redford - Street Artist Slides: Advanced Applied: Best in section Gordon Robson - On Guard (Amboseli Nat Pk) VHC Colin Pickles - Robin HC Frank Hutchinson - Lion Cub at Kill C Bill Chadband - A Paul Scarlet Climber Bill Chadband (Competition Sec) |
Rosalind Bramley Trophy There were thirteen entries of Monochrome pictorial prints for the Rosalind Bramley Trophy. The winning entry was Dorothy Redford with an image entitled "Spiral Stairs" Bill Chadband |
Photographer of the Year Table 2000/2001 Print Photographer of the Year is Tony Redford Slide Photographer of the Year is Gordon Robson Photographer of the Year is Gordon Robson Bill Chadband (Competition Sec) |
| 50 YEARS OF CLUB PHOTOGRAPHY (THE EARLY YEARS)
N.B. This article has been prepared from material, kindly provided by Trevor Harrison In 1951, three people from Mirlees Blackstone, including Malcolm Bowker, decided to start a camera club in Hazel Grove. The club had become well established by the 1960s when the leading lights of the club were the Bowker Family, Simon Frazer, Des Lowe and Joan, Nev Cooper and his wife, and Joan Allen. Trevor and Hilda Harrison joined in 1968 closely followed by Jack Boston. Brian Bower was very active (the first Club member to gain an RPS Distinction) and the Hazel Grove Photographic Society annual exhibition catalogue for the exhibition held in the Civic Hall from 12th to 19th March shows that the President was A Jennings, the Secretary H. Hayman, the Treasurer, C.N.Merry and the Exhibition Secretary none other than B.R.Bower. The club held its 21st Year celebration dinner at Harden Park hotel in Alderley Edge on November 3rd 1972 where the Guest of Honour was Arthur Downes F.R.P.S. Trevor Harrison then started his Presidential Year and the exhibition stands which we still use date from that time. Early shows were held in Hazel Grove School in Jacksons Lane and Committee meeting held in the Grapes pub. The Wesleyan Methodist Schoolroom in Hazel Grove was used for a slide show in 1974 by Scottish Photographer Andy Paton and this was to be the forerunner of many more including such names as Chris Bonnington and Sir George and Lady Pollock. After attempts by the members (including an appeal to the local MP) failed to get any reduction in the costs charged by the Civic Hall, the Society moved to Poynton and became the North Cheshire Photographic Society. With technology advancing at such a rate one wonders what sort of imaging society we can expect in another 50 years? Frank Hutchinson |
The AGM of NCPS Tuesday 22nd May 2001 President Frank Hutchinson welcomed 22 members to the meeting. Frank spoke of the achievements of the past year and felt it had not been a bad year, with plenty of successes to the credit of the Club. He thanked all members for their help. He particularly welcomed the Paris trip as a very successful social occasion, and hoped we would have many more such ventures. Following reports from serving officers of the club Frank moved on to Presentation of Awards. Trevor Harrison was made a Life Member of North Cheshire Photographic Society, and presented with an illuminated address. Commenting on Trevor's long support and service to the club the President said it was appropriate that the Life Membership award should be made at the start of the club's 50th year. The Award was greeted with acclaim from the club membership. Investiture of the new President Retiring President Frank Hutchinson handed over the office to Bill Chadband, wishing him all the best for the coming session. Bill thanked the members for their trust, which he would endeavour to live up to. He noted that even if he broke no other record the fact of becoming president at his first AGM might well be one. Bill proposed a big vote of thanks to Frank for his work and general enthusiasm whilst in office. Bill only hoped that he might do as well. In musing on how he had gotten into his present situation he noted that it was through personal contact (Brian Turnbull) that he had joined NCPS. He had appreciated letters of encouragement from the President (Jill Hargreaves) in the closed season during his first year and had subsequently been encouraged by Gerald to become Competitions Secretary. When on the committee he had no one to blame but himself for volunteering to be Focus editor because of a belief that good communications between club and members was vital for a healthy club. As to the future: a club was only as good as its members and therefore we should look after our members; make everyone feel involved and excited about coming to meetings (and mortified to be missing one). Bill had no specific aims, other than to get at least half of the club members to dance the circle dance CLWYD at the next Christmas dinner. His general aim was to foster a happy prosperous club. Election of Officers for 2001/2002 The following nominations were confirmed: Secretary - Joyce Street Election of Selection Committee Syllabus Secretary Sheila Edwards had been approached , but in her absence and without confirmation from her that she would accept the post no confirmation could be made on the night. Confirmation was left in the hands of the new committee. Sheila has subsequently accepted the post of syllabus secretary for the coming session. Bill Chadband |
Poynton Show - Sat 25th August 2001 Please note that Frank Hutchinson is organising the NCPS input to the show and is keen to attract more photographic help on the day. Please contact Frank to offer your services. |
Summer Activities 2001 for NCPS Following general discussion at committee meetings the following programme of events has been suggested. It is accepted that members may not wish to attend all the proposed activities but it is important for Colin to know that each proposed activity has sufficient support to make it viable. Having studied the list would you all please tell Colin (by phone, letter, or email) which activity you will support, and equally importantly, which you will definitely not support. This will allow the club to decide whether or not to pursue each particular proposal. Note that unless you have indicated that you will support a particular activity Colin will not expect to inform you of its cancellation (if it has to be cancelled) June 14th (Thursday) - Visit to the Lowry (Salford Quays) to view the Denis Thorpe exhibition. Travel independently, visit exhibition, assemble outside at 8.00pm and perhaps do some evening photography before a meal. June 26th (Tuesday) - Visit to Langley & Macclesfield Forrest - Meet 7.00pm at Poynton Civic Hall. July 1st (Sunday) - A Day visit to Bradford Photographic Museum, followed by a visit to either Saltaire, or the Muslim Festival. Meet 9.00am Civic Hall. If sufficient interest is shown a minibus can be arranged. July 10th (Tuesday) - Visit to Lyme Park, Disley. Meet 7.00pm Civic Hall. On each occasion it is proposed that we have a meal, or drinks, together after the activity. Colin Pickles |
First Committee Meeting of the New Session This took place on Wednesday 30th May. The new syllabus was received. Note that the first meeting of the new session is on Tuesday 11th September, which is also hand-in time for the first Quarterly Competition. The next AGM will be on 14th May 2002. It was agreed that the June Focus should be mailed to members as soon as it was ready and that we should aim to send out the new syllabus and invitations to renew membership during August. The next committee meeting is set for Wednesday 15th August 2001. |