OPS Weekly Newsletter 30 March 2026
- Please upload your three images for our Digital Image Competition no 32 at Photo Contest Pro by midnight Sunday 5 April.
- Last meeting held on Tues 24 March: Phil Joyce: Themes and Projects, Dave MacKay Three Weeks in Vietnam and a members’ show and tell
Phil started his talk with his entertaining and poignant images of Elvis who has found a new place to dwell, and it is in Porthcawl. Tens of thousands go to the Elvis festival to dress up as the king of rock and roll and generally have a good time. Phil showed great photos and peppered them with very humorous commentary fitting to the nature and enthusiasm of the event. It was one big soundtrack of Elvis clothes, regalia, look-a-likes and look-nothing-likes and a guy in the Fish Shop who swears his Elvis. Wonderfully eclectic and thoroughly British.
His next project was on the Gypsy Horse Fairs. Some great black and white shots to start this presentation which looked timeless. The purpose of the fairs is to sell and buy horses and sales are agreed with a theatrical slapping of the hands which seals the transaction. Lots shots of feisty beasts rearing up and bareback riding up and down muddy tracks by some very skilful youthful jockeys. Dogs are also an important part of gypsy culture and so are caged birds and fighting cocks, which of course are kept for their beautiful plumage. Lots of great shots of the variety of people who ply up and down the fairgrounds and children and grandchildren.
Dogs, the ones with waggly tails, were the centre of the next theme. This was Crufts, the annual show held in the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, and Phil’s photos captured the essence of the place with its dogs and their owners, though at times it was not sure which was which. Lots of humour in the capturing of dog and owner and their interactions. A great deal of grooming takes places and looking at the rear end, dog and owner, and a lot of kissing … but not of the rear ends. Plus, lots of merchandise to make that special one be a little bit more special. Superb commentary and superb imagery.
His final story was people in zoos, or to more precise people visiting zoos, though at times it wasn’t clear who was ‘behind bars’. Again, as always, there were expertly captured decisive moments of man and beast that Cartier Bresson would have been proud of. People dressed up looking like the animal they were looking at. Choice images of visitors clothing such as a ‘Hello Kitty’ emblazoned wellington boot next to a tiger behind a glass viewing pane.
Phil left us with a quote that summed up his approach:
“You can find pictures anywhere. It’s simply a matter of noticing things and organizing them. You just have to care about what’s around you and have a concern with humanity and the human comedy.”
― Elliott Erwitt
Next up was Dave MacKay and images from his three weeks in Vietnam. Dave had gone with two other photographers and a Vietnamese photographer who had organised the three-week visit. All was going well, great shots of rice terraces and scenery from narrow twisty roads in the mountainous area. But soon plans had to be quickly change as Vietnam was hit by a force 5 typhoon. More than 325,000 residents in some coastal provinces were planned to evacuate as the typhoon approached the country and speeds on up to 100 miles an hour. Total damage in Vietnam reached US$244 million.
Due to the storm and the narrow roads/tracks the only way to get around was by motorcycle. Dave visited several mountainous tribes and had delightful portraits of a woman in traditional dress. He also visited a few small craft villages. Wonderful shots of clay pot making and a fantastic shot from above of a woman in traditional straw conical hat as she made a pot on a potter’s wheel with round mounds of clay next to her. The whole image was a harmonious series of circles, straw and clay.
He also visited a village of fish trap makers. The village had been making fish traps for at least 200 years and followed the same time old way of fashion the traps out of bamboo and weaving the expertly cut slivers of bamboo into delicately made fish traps. The traps have become fashionable decorations for urban families.
Not far away was an incense making village with a 300-year pedigree in making incense sticks. The people of the village live in two story houses. Ground floor is where the animals are kept and the upper story is where the family lives. The bamboo is cut with an enormous, hooked knife, and when cut narrow enough, it is dipped several times into water which is laced with leaves. The incense is made by drying leaves and pounding them into a fine powder. The wetted bamboo is then rolled in the leaf dust and left to cure. All this is expertly done and the incense sticks are bound together ready for sale.
Next up was a cultural village of the Lô Lô people who limit the number of tourist/visitors as they want to preserve their traditions. They wear very ornately decorated and embroidered tradition outfits. Once a year they have a children’s festival and Dave was lucky to visit as the annual event was taking place.
After this it was a trip down to Hạ Long Bay and great shots of the landscape. An excellent and informative presentation.
In the second half show and tell Sandra D showed great shots of her friend’s birthday reliving his youth with his whole family and friends at a recording studio in Muswell Hill making his own version of his favourite Kinks hit ‘Sunny Afternoon’. All together now:
“The tax man’s taken all my dough
And left me in my stately home
Lazin’ on a sunny afternoon…”
John Boteler was up next with images using his new lens. Shots of goldfinches and a fox with a bad paw, who sadly did not live long enough to see a print of itself.
Jill then followed with fantastic shots of water droplets frozen in time and lit in very effective abstract ways. An amazing set of images.
Helen ended the evening with an interesting set of images of a recent trip to Mexico all very well taken a capturing a part of the country.
An excellent evening was had by all.
- Next meeting Tues 31 March: The Cameraman’s Cut with Colin Clarke ARPS
Colin, a documentary cinematographer and photographer, draws on fifty years behind the lens in his memoir “The Cameraman’s Cut”, reflecting a life spent observing the world through imagery. In the first half of his presentation, he will explore how still photography and cinematography overlap and diverge, using stories and visuals from his extensive career to illustrate the craft. The second half turns to his photographic practice, showcasing a selection of studio and environmental portraits, including work from his ARPS panel.
Copies of his book will be available on the night – £14.99
More info on the book website: cameramanscut.com
Website: http://colclarke.co.uk/
- Upcoming meetings/events
- 31 March: The Cameraman’s Cut with Colin Clarke ARPS
- 7 April: Digital Image Competition no 3 – Judge: Mark Buckley-Sharp
- 14 April: Less is More with Linda Wride
You can see the programme here and download it:
https://oxfordphotosociety.co.uk/programme-download/
- Photographic events in and around Oxford
Camera Club: Spring Exhibition
Camera Club is part of The North Wall’s YouthLab programme, which supports young people aged 12-17 in developing their creative skills alongside professional artists. Every year a group of 6-8 aspiring photographers works with artist Elina Medley to create images using digital SLR cameras and then to curate an exhibition of photography.
Sat 28 March to Thur 2 April.
This exhibition takes place at Magdalen Road Studios
https://www.thenorthwall.com/whats-on/camera-club-exhibition-2026/
FOTO FOLIO : A Studio Portrait Photography Workshop imagex
A Studio Portraiture workshop for advanced enthusiast – professional photographers.
1-5PM/£50 + booking fee/Sat 11th Apr 26
imagex, Unit C2, Bure Place, Pioneer Sq, Bicester, OX26 6FA
Spring Wonder: mindful photography walk & gentle writing reflections
The Lamb and Flag with the Writing Well
Mindful image gathering and guided writing response. All levels welcome. Free coffee and pastries.
10am–12.30pm/£30/Sat 18th Apr 26
The Lamb & Flag12 St Giles Oxford
Oxford Photomarathon
12 topics, 12 Photos, 24 Hours
July 25-26 2026
The First Oxford Photomarathon will start at 10:00am on July 25, 2026
Save the date! You will have 24 hours to take 12 photos – the subjects will have a distinct Oxford theme, but you can be based anywhere in the world if you can’t make it here.
- Exhibitions further a field
Best photography exhibitions to see in 2026
- Astronomy Photographer of the Year, National Maritime Museum
- Bird Photographer of the Year, touring
- RPS Landscape Group Members’ Outdoor Exhibition, touring
- Wildlife Photographer of the Year 61, Natural History Museum
- Boris Mikhailov: Ukrainian Diary, The Photographers’ Gallery
- Lee Miller, Tate Britain
- Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2025, National Portrait Gallery
- Richard Avedon: Facing West, Gagosian Grosvenor Hill
- The Last Resort, Martin Parr Foundation
- Catherine Opie: To Be Seen, National Portrait Gallery
- Sony World Photography Awards 2026, Somerset House
- Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait, National Portrait Gallery
- Tim Walker’s Fairyland: Love and Legends, National Portrait Gallery
- Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2026, National Portrait Gallery
More detail here:
https://amateurphotographer.com/latest/articles/best-photography-exhibitions-to-see/
- General photographic interest
In a rebuff to National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson’s quote “If you want to become a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff” That Icelandic Guy shows How to Take Great Photos in Boring Places on his YouTube Channel
It’s a full moon on Thursday so….Why your moon photos look so bad (and how to fix it): the best Australian photos of March – video
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/video/2026/mar/30/guardian-australia-best-photos-march-how-to-capture-blood-full-moon-picture
These gorgeous monochrome architecture shots will stop you in your tracks today
With a passion for urban architecture, photographer Andy McDonald ARPS, has a truly stunning portfolio
White stuff: capturing a land without colour – in pictures
For six months out of 12, Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido is covered in snow. Elizabeth Sanjuan’s haunting images make the most of this monochrome landscape
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2026/mar/25/silent-snow-hokkaido-by-elizabeth-sanjuan
These gloriously colourful images of Route 66 celebrate 100 years of an American icon
The notorious Route 66 first opened in 1926 – these pictures of motels, gas stations and all-American logos hark back to a simpler time.