Friday, 30 January 2015

PAGB e-news

The most recent copy of the PAGB e-news is available to read here.

Exhibition at Kirkleatham Hall


Wednesday, 28 January 2015

Competition 'Three of a Kind'

Simon is on holiday for the handing in date of this competition, so could you please send all digital files to me at  john-sps@ntlworld.com  

Note: handing in date is 12th February

This competition  will be a little different to normal! There will a print section and a digital images section, for both Intermediate and Advanced sections as usual. For both prints and digital images you will need to enter a set of three separate prints or images. The idea is to show a related set, or panel of images, so a group of three good pictures should beat an unrelated group of three stunning ones.  Thus the best sets won’t necessarily be pictures that would stand alone as good images.


Sunday, 25 January 2015

Photography News Issue 16

Issue 16 of Photography News is available here.

Saturday, 17 January 2015

Ian Edge ARPS Panel

Those of you who were at our meeting on Thursday 15th January will remember Ian's great ARPS panel of underwater images. If you missed it and would like to see the panel it is featured on the RPS website.

Tuesday, 13 January 2015

IGPOTY Exhibition and Workshop

Nunnington Hall and Rievaulx Terrace are holding an exhibition of the winners of the two most recent International Garden Photographer of the Year competition from Saturday 14th February - Sunday 22nd March. We are the only confirmed venue in the North of England holding this exhibition and it will be opening in Kew Gardens in London at the same time.
In conjunction with this exhibition, internationally renowned photographer Phillip Smith, will be delivering a workshop entitled ‘Better Plant and Garden Photography’ on Saturday 14th March from 10.00 – 16.00 at Nunnington Hall. This is a rare opportunity to work with a talented photographer and pick up new skills in the beautiful surroundings of Nunnington Hall.
International Garden Photographer of the Year – Garden Photography workshop
Date - Saturday 14th March 2015
Contact details - Nunnington Hall, North Yorkshire, YO62 5UY, 01439 748283, nunningtonhall@nationaltrust.org.uk
Cost for the course will be £70 per person and will include lunch and free entry to Nunnington Hall
Schedule
Doors open 9.30 – 10.00 for coffee
Course starts 10.00
Lunch 12.00 – 13.00 in tearoom (set menu, we will confirm the exact menu details closer to the time. There will be two courses, vegetarian option available)
Course finishes 16.00
Course details
The workshop welcomes photographers of all levels and no specific level of expertise or previous experience is expected. The aim of the course is to provide you with a set of skills and techniques that you can use to improve your photography of plants and gardens no matter what type of equipment you use. You don’t need the latest expensive cameras – all levels are welcome.
The workshop is run by Philip Smith, professional photographer and Founder of International Garden Photographer of the year in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. His work appears in books and magazines worldwide.
There will be an emphasis on training the eye to see photographic opportunities, as well as ideas and techniques to enable you to make the most of the locations. The course will be a mix of lecture, practical work, and group discussion.
The lecture will consist of a talk by Philip Smith accompanied by images of his and other photographers’ work to illustrate key points. The aim is to give you a sound basis for developing your techniques later in the day. Topics covered will include macro, composition, depth of field, focus, priority modes, control of light, and light and colour. An overview of digital processing will also be given.
The practical work will involve work in the garden. You will pursue your own subjects and interest, in addition to undertaking projects suggested by Philip. There will be ample opportunities for one to one discussions with Philip about any aspect of your photography.
The afternoon will involve a group discussion about the work that students have undertaken during the course, with constructive and inspiring comments about the work on show by both tutor and fellow students.
You will get more out of the course if you have a camera with interchangeable lenses, and particularly if you have a macro lens. This applies both to DSLR and smaller compact system cameras. Extension tubes used with normal lenses are also useful and suitable for this kind of photography. You should bring a stable tripod if you can, a remote shutter release and lens hood. Bring your camera’s manual if you have been struggling with its controls. You will need plenty of media cards and a fully charged battery (or two!) for your camera.
The course is about exploration and moving out of your comfort zone to take great pictures. But it is not deadly serious nor is it a course about the latest technology. In a friendly, open environment, we aim to inspire you to get more pleasure and fun from your photography for years to come
For more information about Nunnington Hall please visit http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nunnington-hall/
For more information about the International Garden Photographer of the Year Competition please visit http://www.igpoty.com/

Sunday, 11 January 2015

PAGB e-news

The latest issue of PAGB e-news can be read here.
There are lots of pictures in this issue so it may be a little slow to download.

Monday, 5 January 2015

Abobe Lightroom Workshop

This is an RPS DI Group initiative with the Northern Region to bring a DI event to the North of England. David Mallows is a professional Photographer and re-toucher. He uses Lightroom and Photoshop routinely in his work. He has given several lectures in the Southern all of which were very well received. Also he lectured for Adobe at the NEC Photography Show.

You do not need to be an RPS Member to attend.


A message from Steve & Ann Toon

Dear Photographer,
We're just sending round an email to advise of a new photo event we've arranged for next November: the Winter Wildlife Weekend at Caerlaverock Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust reserve, on the north shore of the Solway Firth in south west Scotland. The reserve is less than an hour's drive from Carlisle and the M6.
This is a two night residential weekend, with accommodation in the farmhouse at the heart of the reserve, on the nights of Friday 27 and Saturday 28th November. All meals and refreshments are included in the price of £165 per photographer. We've aimed to make this an affordable break. The farmhouse is recently refurbished, and while accommodation is simple and homely, it's cosy and comfortable and makes a great base for photography. Because we're staying on the reserve we can be out at first light, hours before the public have access.
Caerlaverock is famous for it's huge flocks of overwintering barnacle geese, but also has a wide variety of other water birds, including beautiful whooper swans. There are plenty of hides for photography, including a very comfortable heated hide only yards from the farmhouse. Roe deer and foxes are often seen on the reserve, and as a special treat we're almost certain to be visited each night by badgers, which feed outside the conservatory window.
It's more of a pre-Christmas get-together for like-minded people who enjoy wildlife and photography, than a formal teaching event, but we will have a short tutorial during non-photographing hours, and there will be plenty of opportunity to chat to us for advice, or to show us your pictures for critiques.
Single guests will be sharing a room (though we won't mix genders!), allowing us not to charge a single supplement. Some rooms are en suite, others share a bathroom: en suites will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis, so book early!
There are more details on our website and as usual we're happy to answer any questions you might have before booking.
Hope you can make it!
Steve & Ann

Sunday, 4 January 2015

NCPF Northern Focus Magazine

The Winter 2014 edition of Northern Focus is now available for download as a PDF file from the home page of the NCPF website.   At the bottom of the page there is a link to download the PDF file.

This edition in particular features a must read article by Richard Speirs concerning Judging the Judges, together with an article about Arnold Hubbard and many other interesting topics.

Wednesday, 31 December 2014

Micro four third lenses

The following has been received from club member Graeme Cattell:

Maxwells Electricals in Northallerton are discontinuing all of their camera products, Fuji Film Digital and Panasonic, at great Sale prices.

There is a small range of micro four third lenses in a display cabinet which are at bargain prices, even compared to the latest web sites. I bought a 7 - 14mm wide angle zoom and saved £349 on the best web prices! These will fit Olympus as well.

They also have a selection of cameras, but I have not checked the prices against the web. I would assume that since the lenses are heavily discounted, the cameras would be as well.

Sunday, 28 December 2014

Jane Bown

I was sad to read of the death last week of the photographer, Jane Bown who worked for the Observer newspaper for 60 years. In the opinion of myself and many others she was the finest portrait photographer of the 20th century although far less well known than many others of lesser ability. She always shot in B&W, using only natural light and went on assignments with her equipment in a shopping bag. I have two books of her photographs which cover the entire range of subjects from rich to poor, famous to unknown. If you want to take a look at some examples of her work, copy and paste the following links in your browser - https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=jane+bown+photographer+national+portrait+gallery&biw=2560&bih=1242&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=fAegVLysH4TjaP_WgqAH&ved=0CC8QsAQ or read the feature in the Observer at http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/dec/28/jane-bown-remembered-obit

Tuesday, 23 December 2014

PAGB e-news 129

Click here to read Issue 129 of the PAGB e-news.
In this issue there is a code to get tickets for £10.95 instead of £18 on the door or £13.95 pre-booked. If we could get 10 club members to all go on the same day we could even get the tickets for £9.95 each. Anybody want to organise it?

Thursday, 18 December 2014

Photography News 15

The latest issue of Photography News can be read here.

NCPF Website

As you know, due to serious damage it became necessary to rebuild the NCPF website. The site is now up and running, and remains at the same web address.

Over the coming days/weeks the webmaster will be endeavouring to replace the archival material on the site, and appreciates your continued patience whilst this takes place.

Tuesday, 9 December 2014

Inner Landscapes, Wilder Shores

An exhibition of photography by Garry Brannigan


Garry Brannigan’s fourth exhibition at The Station sets out to reveal an intrinsic beauty within Northern Britain’s upland landscape through 33 new photographs made during 2013 and 2014.
Garry is one of the country’s most popular instructors in the art of landscape photography and his exhibition “Inner Landscapes, Wilder Shores” features photographs made in Swaledale, Northumberland, Borrowdale, the Isle of Skye, and also Glen Torridon and Inverpolly in the North West Highlands of Scotland and Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides.
In each photograph prominence is given to the subject ahead of the photographic process, while at the same time exploring a fascinating paradox…it is often a photographer’s vision, expressed through composition and technique, which brings an aesthetic to the picture and enables the viewer to then appreciate the unique qualities of the subject.
The exhibition runs until January 8 and The Station Gallery is open every day from 9am to 10.30pm (except Christmas Day). Entry is free.
***Garry will be giving a talk about the creative process involved in making the photographs in the exhibition on Tuesday, January 6 starting at 7.30pm. Please get in touch directly with Garry if you would like attend as places are limited. The number to call is 01748 821041 or email: info@rivertoridge.co.uk  Tickets cost £7.
Directions to The Station:

Garry Brannigan's website:

Thursday, 4 December 2014

PAGB ENews 128

Click here to read issue 128 of the PAGB ENews.

Birds of Prey Photography

Colin Carter is oganising a photography session at the Thirsk Birds of Prey centre. Full tuition available if needed or left alone to get shots if more experienced.
Colin recommends a dSLR and a lens around 300mm (200mm on DX) or over for the best opportunities.
This will be the centre's closed season so participants will have the place to themselves.
The price is £50 each with no more than 15 participants. If anyone is interested please contact the centre direct and book a place sooner rather than later.
Colin is their resident photographer They now take all the static birds outside the centre for much better photographic opportunities, backgrounds, lighting, perches etc.
The centre's website is www.falconrycentre.co.uk

Wednesday, 3 December 2014

NCPF Website

As many will have realised, there is a problem with the NCPF Website.

Unfortunately it is about as serious as it can be, because the bespoke background structure has been corrupted.

Please be assured that the NCPF are working towards a solution and that they will keep clubs informed as best they can. That being said with the best will in the world it will take a few weeks to get a working website back up and running.

The NCPF Executive is of course fully involved and will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that the Federation continues to function during this period..