Monday, December 16, 2019

SAFARI EVENING

A LIGHT HEARTED LOOK

The evening started well with John H confusing a television show with a very British beverage.
Fleabag, a dry-witted woman, known only as Fleabag, has no filter as she navigates life and love in London while trying to cope with tragedy. The angry grief-riddled woman tries to heal while rejecting anyone who tries to help her, but Fleabag continues to keep up her bravado through it all. 
Tea Bag, a dry perforated bag, also known as Tetley, PG tips, Twinings, Ty-phoo & Yorkshire. Navigates hot water through tea leaves to help the consumer to cope with the tragedy of life with a nice cup of tea. Even those that reject it for a Latte or Cappuccino. But keeps up it's bravado especially in Yorkshire, well someone has to keep Michael Parkinson in work.

The second round saw, what was probably the most irresponsible comment from a judge that I have ever heard. One of the pictures showed some machinery with part of a red notice, the judge suggested that the notice should have been cloned out. This sign was actually a Health & Safety Notice, removing it could have caused serious injury or death. Someone could have their eye out. I think judges should keep their comments to moving to the right a bit or stepping back a bit that way only the photographer ends up in danger.

After two rounds a bit of a pattern was emerging, the final image in both the  first two rounds were given a ten. I heard murmurings around me, with people hoping that there image was not going to be the last in the next round, there were audible sighs of relief when an image came up in the middle of the set, only to be disappointed when it was given a ten, annoyed that they had been lulled into a false sense of security.

The tea break came with the usual comparing of points. "I've got two tens, luckily the rest are sevens"

Dick realising that his team were doing better than expected tried to miss out a round luckily there were some observant members that noticed.

The eventual winners were that well known firm of solicitors Ellis, Saville & Travasso.

             

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

DAGENHAM INVITATION TROPHY

For the second year running we have won the Dagenham Invitation Trophy and one of our members has won the best print.
Congratulations to Eric Bush for his image of, yes you guessed it Southwold Pier.





Thursday, November 21, 2019

NOVEMBER MONTHLY PDI (TRIPTYCH)

WINNING IMAGES.

ADVANCED

1st Brighton
by Martyn Addison-Smith

2nd Three Daffodils
by Dick Williams

3rd Autumn Leaves
by Martyn Addison-Smith

H.C. The Universe in a Soap Bubble
by Dave Wilcox

INTERMEDIATE

1st Whitby Silhouettes
by Iris Donovan

2nd Delightful Dahlias
by Sue Waterman

3rd Start To Finish
by Rana Chakraborty

PRELIMINARY

1st Brick Lane
by Steven Christie

2nd By The Thames
by Peter Owen

3rd Early Morning
by Peter Owen

Monday, November 11, 2019

NOVEMBER MONTHLY PRINT

A LIGHT HEARTED LOOK

It is always good to try something new and last week saw a new method of judging. We now have our very own Regan & Lacey. Our version of the good cop bad cop of photo critiquing Waterman & Bramham. Just as you think you may have a half decent image up comes Gordon to shoot you down in flames. Your artistic masterpiece won't pass the mustard with the judges, because cut something off or something on the edge of the frame, that no one else has noticed keeps drawing the eye.
Gordon introduced a quizz, which was really for anyone well into their seventies.
I don't think our average ages are quite that old. Someone called Arthur somebody, there were several guesses English, Askey, Mullard (he did have hit in 1978 with "Your The One That I Want"  though he was not a singer, if you heard it you would know why)
Turns out it was Tracy. Spencer & Dick's brother. 
The advanced section was back to our usual method, one person commenting. This was Dick's turn to impress us with his knowledge and experience. However, all did not go to plan, after admitting he was not an expert, while talking about an abstract of Brighton Pier. It all went wrong after that, his comments not matching the scores.
Never mind Dick, I had a word with John afterwards, next time you are critiquing he will whisper the score when he puts the print up, so that you can tailor your comments appropriately.  


  

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

METRE CUP & STILL LIFE TROPHY

A LIGHT HEARTED LOOK

The still life competition always has me searching around the house looking for subjects to pose and photograph. It seems that other members do the same, and this gives an interesting insight as to what our members are like. Well the conclusion I have come to is that we are glutinous, alcoholic lot.
Avtar likes to have a little bit of a tipple, although he ensures me that it was cold tea and that he poured it all back after, well I will check next year as I have noted the  levels on the bottles I will take a small amount into consideration for evaporation.
 Then there was Iris's wine glasses, is that what the background looked like before or after she finished the bottle? or was it to do with the magic mushrooms in her other image?
Jean is in denial, and hides her G&T in a flower vase and blames the cut flowers. (Personally I pour mine on the lawn, so that it comes up half cut.)
Although we did get to see another spectacular image of her ashtray collection.
 It appears John Hastings doesn't do much DIY as those screws looked a little bit too shiny for me.
Those of you that were hoping to borrow Sue's Ivory Chess set, make a copy with resin, then grind down the original to sell on the Chinese black market as an aphrodisiac, you're too late, how do you think she could afford all that camera equipment?

Let's Have Another Bottle, the lines might straighten. 
  

NOVEMBER MONTHLY PRINT

WINNING IMAGES

ADVANCED

1st Tenby Beach
by Colin Smith

2nd Out of The Shadows
by Dave Wilcox

3rd Valleta
by Colin Smith

INTERMEDIATE

1st Who Needs Botticelli
by Peter Wills

2nd The Finale
by Peter Wills

3rd Red Rufus
by Peter Wills


Monday, November 4, 2019

Gordon Bramham MPSA2 

Congratulations to Gordon for achieving his MPSA2 (Master Photographic Society of America Level 2) in PSA of America for 2,250 acceptances in international competitions.
Awarded Diamond Level 3 for 2,313 acceptances in International Competitions.

Bear Brawl 2288
Honorable Mention Bangladesh

Mountain Lion 2582
Honorable Mention U.S.A.

 Siberian Lynx 3724
Certificate of Merit India

Bear Brawl 2265
Certificate of Merit India

Bear Brawl 2266
FIAP Gold Medal & GPU (Global Photographic Union) Honorable Mention.


Pelicans Feeding
Gold medal



Friday, November 1, 2019

LANE STILL LIFE TROPHY 

AND 

METRE CUP

WINNING IMAGES

LANE STILL LIFE TROPHY

1st All The King's Horses....
by Sue Waterman

2nd Screw York Skyline
by John Hastings

3rd Shadows
by Iris Donovan

H.C. Refuelling
by Jean Gerrish


METRE CUP

1st Scorpion Fly
by Brian Clark

2nd Pink Lily On Satin
by Iris Donovan

3rd Meccano Helicopter
by John Knight

H.C. Unknown Bug
by Andy Laing

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

A Light-Hearted Look At

Alaska- Bears, Eagles, Killer Whales, Glaciers, 

And Humpback Whales Bubble Net Feeding.

Little did I realise when I arrived at the club on Tuesday evening that my sleepless nights would be over. No, I did not doze off during the presentation.
It was the answer to my horticultural nightmare. How was I going to get my grass cut. It is still growing thanks to the warm weather and the rain, but it is too wet to mow it. So it was great revelation to find that Bears ate grass, who knew?
Well obviously Derek Howes DPAGB did and probably Sir David Attenborough. 
So I have ordered a couple of Bears from ebay, you're probably thinking why doesn't he buy some sheep they do the same thing, well they tend to poo anywhere and you have to pick it up, or you tread in it and it gets walked all over the house. Where as Bears, as we all know go in the woods. We have got a few trees over the road, so I can let them through the fence a couple of times a day they can do the business and come back. This will give our local burglars something to think about.
 Of course they do hibernate, this is not too much of a problem as the grass hardly grows in the winter, but where do they hibernate? Derek Howes DPAGB was very vague on this point and Sir David nevers answers his emails. Then I remembered a documentary series when I was growing up about a couple of Bears in one of America's famous National Parks Jellystone, where did Yogi & Boo Boo hibernate? I think it was in one of chalets in the park when the visitors had left for the winter. I haven't got room for one of those in the garden but I have got a spare room, so I will chuck a couple of bales of straw in there, and turn up the central heating. It seems there is no need for a Midwife or Gas & Air or Epidurals.
As Bears cannot live on grass alone, I thought with a bit of  investment I could introduce fish into their diet by re landscaping the garden, construct a stream a small waterfall and a water pump, then a couple of times a day I would throw in a few Goldfish at the top of the stream a let them drift downstream for the Bears to feast on.
I could recoup the money I have spent by charging photographers to come and photographing the Bears fishing, we have also got a few Magpies that come into the garden, just to make it a bit more authentic.
This will be a lot cheaper and more comfortable than spending a couple of weeks on a cramped boat in the freezing cold.
All I need now is to come up with a plan to accommodate a few Humpback Whales, my local fishmonger tells me he can get me as much Krill that I need. 
    

Sunday, September 29, 2019

HALF YEARLY PDI 

WINNING IMAGES

ADVANCED

1st Barn Owl on Perch
by John Hastings

2nd Diamond Beach
by Martyn Addison-Smith

3rd Bonellis Eagle Feeding
by Reg Mellis

H.C. Galloping Giraffe
by David Lund

INTERMEDIATE

1st South Quay Canary Wharf
by Iris Donovan

2nd Queens 2019
by Jean Gerrish

3rd Barn Owl
by Rana Chakraborty

H.C. Blue Dragonfly
by Rana Chakraborty

PRELIMINARY

1st Cyril
by Andy Brett

2nd Swan Wake
by Steve Christie

3rd Broad-Bodied Chaser
by Steve Christie

H.C. Lucy
by Madeline Williams


Salon Success

Gordon Bramham

FIAP Gold Medal South Devon International.


Bear Brawl 2266


Bronze Medal. F2 Argentina 


Bear Brawl 2276

Gold Medal. Lens Queen Salon India


Bear Brawl 2328


Monday, September 23, 2019

HALF YEARLY PRINT

WINNING IMAGES

ADVANCED

1st Waterfall View
by Martyn Addison-Smith

2nd Dianthus Bug
by Andy Laing

3rd Katie
by Dave Wilcox

H.C. Botany Bay Sunrise
by Dave Wilcox

H.C. Granny's Bonnet
by Andy Laing

H.C. Battling The Rapids
by Dick Williams

INTERMEDIATE

1st Sorry But We Can't Stop
by Peter Wills

2nd White Vases
by Iris Donovan

3rd Altered Egos #1 
by Sue Waterman

H.C. Stourhead
by Andy Shorey

H.C. Red Kite
by Andy Shorey

H.C. Queen's Guard
by Peter Wills

PRELIMINARY

1st Rose In The Rain
by Bob Weir

2nd Connie
by Bob Weir

3rd Window
by Bob Weir

H.C. Flora In The Garden
by Avtar Matharu