Author: onedytoo

For the August meeting, we decided to leave the members’ photos till the end of the session and to have a look at magazines and books to each find two photos.  The aim was to find one photo we thought was excellent and one we didn’t like- then think about and explain why. To give our blog readers a chance to try this, here is a selection of free stock photos to check out. (click each photo to see full size) What do you like or dislike, and why?

Please do leave a comment at the bottom giving your choices and explanations.

We then looked at our Members’ photos on the theme of ‘Summer Landscape’, this time grouped by member instead of a random mix.

Again, you are welcome to comment.

Our photo theme for the next meeting is Close-Up or Macro (extreme close-up) photography.

Finally, I leave you with news that our page is in the process of being improved. Hopefully there will be a diary of meetings and events, a section for members’ photos other than the themed shots,  a members only page and contact details for the club as well as the continuing blog.

There’s been a bit of a gap here but we we’ll try to fill in the gaps when we have time.  And having some time today, I thought I’d add a post about our recent meeting.

The meeting didn’t go quite as planned, as you’ll see, but let’s start as usual with member’s photos. The theme for the July meeting was Photos of Durham. We’d met a few days earlier for a photo walk around Durham, so most of the photos are from that walk. Some who didn’t make the walk shared photos from other visits there.

The Cathedral illuminated and in fog – and a ghost photographer.

Those who were on the walk shared their images.

Detaisl from Palace Green…

and views from the riverside.

A different perspective in the same areas…

…and some architectural details.

 

The plan after that was that we would take a walk round the school to take architectural shots. Unfortunately, since I considered the idea and checked that it was OK, they have installed new security fencing  so this wasn’t possible. However, they did give us permission to take some internal shots so we did get a practical session even if it wasn’t quite as intended.

Here are the our best shots.First a staircase that we could get to outside and reflections in from a science lab.

A couple of shots of the locker room…

…more lockers, and the path outside the main entrance.

Then a detail shot from the lockers and a couple of architectural details.

 

Next month, you can look forward to some Summer Landscapes.

 

 

You may have noticed a gap here. We were unable to have a meeting in January as the centre was closed, and some members were unable to make alternative dates. The theme from December was continued, so here are a selection of Chrismas or Winter shots.

First, two winter birds –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Christmas image –

– and then some winter scenes.

One from above Crook,                           

another from Willington,

one from Bollihope

 

 

 

 

 

 

and finally this from the Lake District

During the session, we looked at a powerpoint (courtesy of Stephen) about different types of composition. We then took some photos, inside and out, trying to use as many composition types as we could.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What can you see? Triangles? Thirds? Lead-in lines? Framing? Maybe a combination? Add your comments underneath the post.

Our theme for next month was to take as many different photos of the same subject (static, at one time) as we could, exploring the use of different angles and compositions.

 

We were missing a few members this month due to other events, but as usual, we started the meeting by sharing the photos we had brought in. Macro, or close-up, was the theme.

Ronnie or Joan took this at Butterfly World. Perhaps you can remind me which one of you?

 

 

 

A fuschia bud from Freddy –

 

 

 

 

– but I have forgotten what plant the leaves were from.

 

 

 

Add finally, a visitor to my kitchen window posed perfectly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the practical session, we looked at the difference light can make to a subject –  something we can apply to any kind of photo anywhere. Light and shade emphasise texture, lines or  shape whether in abstract, landscape, portrait – any type of image.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This pair of photos were lit from different angles. Which do you think shows the texture best?

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a ‘portrait’, which of these shows the teddy best? Light from a little above and a little to the front,  or from above and to the side?

The light and shade have enhanced the form and texture of this rotary grater.

 

 

 

Our next meeting will be in December, and the theme is Autumn Weather.

The meeting started , as usual, with a look at photos people had brought in.

 

 

 

 

 

The theme set was to use the’rules’ of composition for any subject….

 

 

 

 

…or to show how the ‘rules’ could be broken.

 

 

 

 

In our practical session, we looked at photos emphasizing colour,

 

 

 

 

form,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unusual perspective,

 

 

 

 

curves,

 

 

 

and texture.

For photos to share at November’s meeting, we chose to take macro shots.  Can’t wait to see them.

At this month’s meeting, we were very happy to welcome four new members. After introductions and chat, we began by discussing a possible change of meeting day as one member’s working hours had changed. Since Friday was more convenient for everyone, we agreed to change from next month. New posters will have to be printed for publicity, but it’s easy for me to adapt the original ones.

We now looked at the photos people had brought in.

Some were landscapes with movement  while new members and those with less time brought in still landscapes.

After looking at these, and giving positive critiques, we talked about  the common  types of composition and looked at a few examples.

For the practical session, since it was a lovely day, we went to the Green to put
some of these into practice.

The theme for next month’s photo discussion was to take a photo using any of these types of composition – or a shot which, for good reason, didn’t follow any of them.

The date of the next meeting will beFriday 3rd October.

On the 6th of August, we went to the velo29 cycle races in Bishop Auckland.

 

 

 

 

 

There were a number of classes, from junior (primary school age) to adult

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were several very tight bends with only short straight sections and a very narrow race track hemmed in by barriers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It made for some good action shots.

 

 

 

We found that the best place to take these shots was on the bends .

 

 

To make sure there were no mishaps, there were outriders ahead of and behind the races.

 

 

 

The organisers had kindly given us a press pass which allowed access to all areas, including    the pit lane.

 

 

 

 

While the races and action shots were the main focus, there were also opportunites for other subjects such as candid  shots…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

..and the awards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Between races, Matt Hemmings, a champion ‘flatland’ BMX stunt rider,  gave a short demonstration of his skills.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We welcomed another new member this month and after a chat, had a belated look at our ‘Spring’ photos.

 

 

 

Most of us had taken this in the expected context,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

but this one raised a laugh all round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our photo theme for the next meeting – September 2^nd – is ‘Dynamic Landscape’. First we talked briefly about how people might choose to capture some movement in their photos. Some ideas were trees blowing in the wind, people/traffic moving through the scene or fast moving water. We spent the rest of the meeting looking at the various camera settings and controls we could use for these. This being my first time leading the practical session, we possibly looked at too many!

As we have no meetings planned for the holiday season, we will be arranging some walks and photo shoots as a group. If you’re not a member, you’d still be welcome to bring your camera along on the walks.

Phone Sue on 746036

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because several of us couldn’t make the regular meeting date, we decided instead to take our cameras for a walk along the riverbank on the following Saturday morning. We met at 10am at Jubilee Meadows and walked along to the bridge at Sunnybrow.

 

 

As it was a dull day, we looked for strong shapes and colours in our shots rather than landscapes or river reflections.

 

 

Sadly, we found that a favourite tree – a leaning post for some of us, and a feature in photos for others – had been lost to the floods.