Sports Illustrated - Roger Evans MPAGB FBPE EFIAP/p

"Splashdown"

Roger's talk was extremely entertaining.  An excellent raconter, he took us through his very earliest days as a sports photographer - a 'stringer' (part-timer) for the Telegraph, when he modestly admits it was a case of 'all the gear, but no idea'!  But his love of sport and his passion for photography made him determind and a fast learner.  His first days were in boxing, where lack of knowledge meant he missed a golden opportunity to photograph Frank Bruno, so he soon realised that 'preparation is key' and he now plans every detail of the event he is attending - from who will be there, and when, to where the sun will be at any given time of the day, and therefore the best locations.   Over 40 years, he has photographed over 25 different sports - from amateur cricket to top class athletics at the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.  His favourite is gymnastics.   He was the recipient of both a Silver Medal and a Special Merit in the Gynmastics section of the World Photography Awards 2021.   Across all sports, he has witnessed both triumph and disaster and captured both the same.  As his skill developed, he has pushed himself to take images with a difference and has won many accolades for his efforts.  Our members enjoyed a very entertaining evening, whilst picking up many tips and tricks.

Flowers through my Viewfinder - Hemant Jariwala ARPS

Hemant Jariwala was a big draw this week with so many members keen to see his images and learn from his techniques.  Hemant is an award-winning photographer, who specialises in botanical, garden, landscape and iPhoneography. His images have been regularly published in popular photography & garden life-style magazines, greeting cards, calendars and books, around the world.  He began by explaining that his prime technique is that he composes his images 'through his viewfinder ALWAYS - not looking at the backscreen and not relying on post processing/cropping.  His backgrounds are natural - as he finds them.  And he says, the more you practice, the more you see the image further ahead of you - not 1 metre, but eventually 10 metres!  His presentation was threaded through with a clear joy of photography and a love for nature and flowers.   Hemant treated us to a photoessay, presenting an intimate study of flowers - close-up and portraits, that were once considered exotic are now common and mundane to Britain. Indeed, botanical photography is often considered as ‘record photography’, but Hemant showed the ‘artistic persona’ and beauty of flowers that have been taken for granted.  

In 1993, Hemant Jariwala won two major awards: Practical Photography magazine’s ‘Photographer of the Year’;  Royal Photography Society (RPS) International Slide Exhibition (General Category) Gold Medal & The Agfa Trophy.  Hemant is an Associate of the Royal Photography Society, and member of Bedford Camera Club

Landscape and Seascape Photography in the UK

Roger Hance FRPS AFIAP DPAGB BPE5*

A good friend to the club, Roger Hance presented to a packed audience this week.  Landscape and Seascapes Photography is one of the most rewarding areas of photography, as well being one of the most challenging. Roger demonstrated with his spectacular digital images, accompanied by high quality prints, just how he meets those challenges and comes out with award-winning images.  In the first half of this presentation he covered composition, lighting, exposure, equipment, preparation and research, as well as Infra Red Photography. He gave us the technical information on the focal length of the lenses he uses, and how, depending on lighting and composition, he decides which lens to use.  ND filters, both in and on the camera, plus slow shutter speeds were all explained.  Most helpful were his tips on how, when you arrive at your location and the weather is against you, you can adapt your approach and perspective and still come away with some great images.  In the second half of the talk he took us to eight of his favourite areas in the UK. Cornwall, The Lake District, The Scottish Highlands, The Peak District, The Northumberland Coast, Snowdonia, Devon, and Dorset.  A thoroughly entertaining and inspiring evening, enjoyed by all.

Calling Young Photographers!

Competition details.  Entry closes 31st January 2024

Once again, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Cambridge, we are supporting this competition to encourage the next generation of photographers.  Please encourage your children, grandchildren friends' children, to pick up a camera and take up this opportunity.  There are prizes, plus Winners of each age group go on to a District and possibly National competition. The competition entry will close at the end of January and be judged in Febuary.  John Barrett (Rotary) is pictured at the Cambridge Photography Show on 7th Oct, with the YPC display.  He reported good interest from the public. 

Thanks to our fellow sponsors

An East Anglian Photographer's Year - Kevin Sawford

With many members being keen nature photographers, Kevin was welcomed to a well-attended meeting.  Kevin is a multi award winning wildlife photographer based in Suffolk.  His lecture is a photographic journey throughout the seasons displaying the diverse flora and fauna around East Anglia illustrated with many of his published award-winning images with tips on the fieldcraft behind them.  He encouraged everyone to 'practise' on the common species in your garden, or local parks, so that when you see something more unusual, you are ready to go.  And as his images proved,  just because a species is common, doesn't mean they are not photogenic.   He emphasised the importance of being patient, getting to know the subject, their habitat and behaviour, and returning to the site as often as possible.  Follow him on instagram, facebook and visit his website for great inspiration.

Mastering Long Exposure Techniques - Anthony Zacharias

It was a well-attended meeting for Antony this week.  He is a commercial and fine art photographer, tutor and speaker, specialising in architectural and urban images using long exposure techniques. He has won many awards and is particularly known for his vivid architectural images and his unique perspectives on cities ranging from New York to London. He explored in depth the situations which require long exposure - firstly when there is low light, and secondly for creative effect, as with the image above.  His mantra was 'carry a [lightweight] tripod at all times' and throughout the talk he generously gave excellent tips on handling the light and getting the right colour balance, in any given situation.  His work has been commissioned by Toyota US and Sky Atlantic, and published by the BBC, Guardian, Times, and Ecologist.  Please visit his website  Anthony Zacharias  and consider one of several books he currently has available.

Tools not Rules - Caroline Preece

It was great to welcome everyone back again, including a good number of new members.  Our first meeting of the new season was presented by Caroline Preece. The first part of the talk covered photography as a visual language and communicating your personal take on the world through your images. In the second part Caroline tackles how people interpret the visual elements within an image; the impact of your compositional choices on the end image and how the viewer experiences it.  Inspiring and thought provoking.  See her website for more inspirtation.

Caroline Preece Photography

"Documenting Cambridge" website launched

Annual Exhibition 2023

Autumn in Great Wilbraham  —  Tony Ryan  —  Winner (Mayor's Choice)

Preparation  —  Clive Downes  —  Highly Commended

Roosting Under Blackpool Pier  —  Gyles Glover  —  Highly Commended & Sponsor's Award (Samsung)

The Village Life in Sarai Mohana, India  —  Shelagh Wooster  —  Commended

Inside Out, Outside In  —  Sue Vaines  —  Commended

Goldfinch Hovering  —  Christine Bulpitt  —  Commended

Two World War II Heroes  —  John Hunting  —  Commended

Welsh Highland Steam  —  John Hunting  —  Highly Commended

Reflecting the Roof of Ely Cathedral  —  Barry Badcock  —  Highly Commended

Ready to Go  —  Clive Downes  —  Commended

Abandoned  —  Eleni Paliginis  —  Winner (People's Choice)

Marbled Whites with Dawn Dew  —  Ann Miles  —  Highly Commended

Triple  —  Sally Freeman  —  Highly Commended

The Last Race at Brighton  —  John Bulpitt  —  Highly Commended

Oil Droplet Adventures  —  Martin Parratt  —  Selector's Award (Peter Yeo)

The Vessel  —  Andrew Colgan  —  Commended

Brighton Palace Pier with Murmuration  —  Ann Miles  —  Winner (Travel)

Ely Cathedral  —  Bob Coote  —  Commended

Morning Flight  —  Dave Oates  —  Highly Commended

Robber Fly with Prey  —  Bob Coote  —  Winner (Nature)

Bowler's Delight  —  Nick Bowman  —  Winner (Colour People)

Back to Front!  —  Ann Miles  —  Sponsor's Award (Cambridge Independent)

Oil and Water LD73C  —  Martin Parratt  —  Winner (Colour Pictorial) & Print of the Year

Towards Infinity  —  Eleni Paliginis  —  Sponsor's Award (Campkins)

Walking the Dogs  —  Lachlan French  —  Commended

Northern Gannet Sky Dance  —  Nick Bowman  —  Sponsor's Award (WEX)

24 Minutes Past 12  —  Barry Badcock  —  Highly Commended

Winston  —  Clive Downes  —  Highly Commended

Photography at the Tate Modern  —  John Bulpitt  —  Highly Commended

The Nightstand  —  Sue Vaines  —  Commended

The Only Way Is Up  —  Chris Worrall  —  Selector's Award (Rusty Lindsay)

Frozen Trees  —  Bob Coote  —  Winner (Monochrome Pictorial)

Mountain Hare  —  Lachlan French  —  Highly Commended

Frozen Caterpillar  —  Jane Moore  —  Selector's Award (Barbie Lindsay)

Wet Rocks  —  Eleni Paliginis  —  Sponsor's Award (OM Digital Systems)

Merman  —  Sally Freeman  —  Winner (Creative)

Marbled White on Field Scabious  —  Allan Hale  —  Commended

Don't Look Down  —  Sue Vaines  —  Commended

Green Shieldbug Egg-Laying  —  John Bulpitt  —  Highly Commended

Moon Setting Beside Stac Pollaidh  —  Gyles Glover  —  Highly Commended

King Lear Mourns Cordelia, Cambridge Shakespeare Festival  —  Michael Harris  —  Winner (Monochrome People)

Bleak Midwinter  —  Martin Parratt  —  Highly Commended

Nutcracker Dispute  —  Sarah Kelman  —  Commended

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(Award Winners from the 2023 Print Exhibition)

The 2023 Annual Exhibition might be over, but the images are still available for viewing online.  Click on the carousel above to explore further.

Photographic Projects - John Bradshaw FRPS

"The Laser and the Dome"

A green Laser beam can also be seen crossing the river at this point indicating the track of the Meridian. This beam originates from the Greenwich Observatory and given the right atmospheric conditions can be seen almost forty miles away to the north of London.

John Bradshaw treated us not only to wonderful images, but history, poetry, his adventures with historic film printing techniques,  and more.  All delivered with humour  and a wonderful Irish lilt, John is another photographer who likes to work in projects - some lasting months, others lasting years.  His  talk covered some 7 projects completed since 1997, two of which are a study of the Grand Tour and Impressions of Irish History, both of which are film and darkroom-based, and include some19th century printing techniques.  Other projects cover the Atlantic Slave Trade and the Greenwich Meridian, as well as industrial and agricultural revolutions and a more recent project based on the Isle of Wight.  His work mainly comprises mono and infra-red digital images.  Visit John Bradshaw Photography