OPS Weekly Newsletter 13 October 2024
- Along with your camera, macro lens (if you have one) don’t forget to bring some items to photograph for our ‘table-top’ photography evening on Tuesday.
- Please start selecting your prints for our print competition on 22 October – two colour, two mono-chrome
- Last week’s meeting Tues 1 October: Ivor’s nature and wildlife, with a twist
Ivor gave a very engaging presentation his nature and wildlife photographs. The twist was that instead of having the audience sit is reverence silence Ivor got us to participate in the presentation.
He first set us all a task of trying to make the link with his first set of images which were in three sections. All the images were of wildlife Ivor had photographed and all the images were of course first class. But what was the theme each section had? Despite many valiant, and not so valiant, efforts of detecting each theme and a link between the sections, no one cracked the connection. The first set were images of ‘captured’ wildlife, second set were wildlife that had been ‘baited’ and the final set were wildlife that were completely wild. Ivor three, members nul points.
Ivor then moved on to skewer a shibboleth of camera club judges, and others, sometimes recognised by the phrase ‘fill the frame’. In a series of excellent wildlife and nature Ivor showed how important it was to have the subject portrayed within its environment. The subject only commanded five percent of the image which to Ivor’s view was sufficient. The images not only displayed the subject but also gave a sense of place and each supported each other.
Next up were Ivor’s images taken during the Covid lockdown. Unable to go far Ivor got his lightbox out and took images of flowers from his garden. A stunning set of close-ups of backlight blooms, their petals translucent. An excellent set of images.
Ivor is well known for his ‘getting down low’ point of view and his use of spraying water to get the early morning dew effect. His next challenge was to get us to shout out which image of butterflies, snake-head fritillaries, spider’s webs etc were sprayed and which were not sprayed. By now the audience had got into the swing of things and the volume began to rise. Obviously there were more sprays than non-sprays and we were assured that not animals were harmed in the making of this presentation.
The second half of the evening Ivor was chasing the birds, with images from South Africa, Southern France, Finland, US, Scotland, England and Alaska, plus tips of where to go and what to see.
First up was Cape Town and a botanical garden, Kirstenbosch, which was a haven for all manner of brightly coloured exotic birds. Then off to the Camargue in southern France with images of Flamingos and other birds that inhabit the area. We saw a Great Grey Owl in Finland which was a bit more than your common or garden bird on a stick, more a bird on a very large tree trunk in the forest.
Birds don’t have to be exotic and you don’t have to travel far to get some cracking shots. ‘Don’t right off any bird’ was Ivor’s advice and he had excellent shots of a Robin on a plant next to his window. To attract birds to your garden you need to feed them every day and one time Ivor had seven Woodpeckers in the garden in a single day.
Next up was the US: Florida and its own Woodpecker, Snowy Egrets, the manically dancing Tri-Coloured Herons (there must be something in the water) White Ibis, a big bird called the Great Blue Heron and an Osprey that had caught a fish that was too big to eat and which gorged itself on the beach while a crowd of photographers and passes by looked on.
In New Mexico Ivor visited a place that was like Slimbridge on steroids. He showed a fantastic shot of a full moon and a flock of birds. Then to finish off it was Alaska and the Bald Eagles.
What an evening. Many thanks to Ivor for sharing with us a spectacular set of images and getting us to participant in his enjoyment of photography.
- Next Tuesday’s meeting 15 October at 19.30: Tabletop Photography led by Ian Bray
A practical evening when you use your cameras and shoot anything on the tabletop you fancy having a go at. There will be continuous lights provided, background material, reflectors, diffusers and things to shoot. Bring your camera, a flash, small items to shoot, and most importantly, your photographic creativity.
- Upcoming meetings
Tues 22 October 19.30: Print Competition No. 1
Judge will be Peter Cox.
Tues 29 October 19.30: Inter-Club Competition, Bicester and Oxford
Competition consists of 40 images from each club. OPS members to judge Bicester images, and Bicester club members to judge OPS images.
Tuesday 5 November 19.30: Fireworks: light painting photography on bonfire night
Our take on bonfire night where we will do some painting with light: using light to add silhouettes of people, spiral and circular light trails, light orbs and other methods of light painting. Bring your camera, tripod and sparklers! Parkin optional.
- Programme Secretary vacancy
We have a full and varied programme for you this season thanks to the hard work and excellent choices by Les. Unfortunately, due to unexpected changes in Les’s work commitments he cannot continue in the role and we need someone to step forward to start the planning and booking of speakers for next season’s programme. Please do contact me or any other committee member if you are interested in taking on the role.
- Events photographic in Oxford
Documentary Photography Awards – Royal Photographic Society
A diverse range of superb pictures from nine photographers covering war, memory, childhood and aging
10 October 2024 to 27 October 2024
Kendrew Barn
St John’s College,
St Giles,
Oxford OX1 3JP
Learn to Use a Film Camera and Develop Your Own Black and White Film at Home
Enjoy your vintage camera and cut the cost of film photography. Safe, satisfying and a lot of fun.
Sessions start at £60 for one person and £90 for 2. Mondays and Fridays
The River Studio, Salter Brothers Yard, Folly Bridge, Oxford OX1 4LB
https://stoneandco.uk/Develop-your-own-Film/
Paul Kilsby: The Pensive Image – exhibition
These photographs, in their different ways, allude to the complex ways in which art and science co-exist, sometimes sharing a single vision while at others occupying a much more ambivalent and uncertain dialogue.
The North Wall Arts Centre
South Parade
Summertown
Oxford OX2 7JN
2 October – 19 October 2024
Free
https://www.thenorthwall.com/whats-on/paul-kilsby-the-pensive-image/
Ashmolean NOW: Bettina Von Zwehl
The Flood
18 Oct 2024 – 11 May 2025
Gallery 8
Admission is FREE
The third in the Ashmolean NOW exhibition series, where contemporary artists are invited to create new work inspired by the Ashmolean’s historical collections.
This exhibition will feature photographs by London-based artist, Bettina von Zwehl (b. 1971). Von Zwehl’s aim is to rekindle wonder and curiosity as critical tools for exploring new ideas and practices.
During a residency in Oxford from 2022–23, von Zwehl spent time researching the Ashmolean’s founding collections – the wonderfully diverse objects and works of art which were displayed when the Museum first opened in the 17th century.
The artist’s time at the Ashmolean served as inspiration for a unique photographic ‘Wunderkammer’ installation that moves between portraiture, silhouetted fragments, still-life, monumental and miniature elements, as well as non-art objects and specimens from natural history collections.
https://www.ashmolean.org/exhibition/ashmolean-now-bettina-von-zwehl
- General photographic interest
Wildlife photographer of the year 2024 winners – in pictures
Selected from a record-breaking 59,228 entries from 117 countries and territories, the winners of the Natural History Museum’s prestigious wildlife photographer of the year competition have been announced, with an exhibition opening on Friday 11 October. The Canadian marine conservation photojournalist Shane Gross was awarded wildlife photographer of the year 2024 for his image of tadpoles, The Swarm of Life, captured while snorkelling through lily pads in Cedar Lake on Vancouver Island, British Columbia
A world in motion: Bristol photo festival 2024 – in pictures
The second edition of the showcase opens on 16 October with the theme ‘The World a Wave’. It features photographers from around the world investigating global flux in social, political and environmental issues
A year in focus: Walkley award photographic finalists 2024 – in pictures
War, protests and sporting feats are showcased by Australia’s best photographers as the Nikon prize winners and Walkley award photography finalists are announced
Amateur Photographer is 140 years old
As of the 10th October 2024 – Amateur Photographer magazine is 140 years old today, with the first ever issue published on the 10th October 1884. Since then the magazine has been published every week, for 140 years. As AP enters the 140th year of publication, we have published a range of articles looking back at our history, the history of cameras, as well as what it means to a variety of photographers impacted by AP.
https://amateurphotographer.com/latest/photo-news/amateur-photographer-is-140-years-old-today/
Homeless portraits form part of arts festival
Portraits giving an insight into the lives of people experiencing homelessness are about to go on display in Kent as part of an arts festival.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpdqyd48d79o