Members of Snappers Camera Club enjoyed a relaxed meeting in April, preparing for the first outing of the year and reviewing images from both the previous month’s practical session and the latest photographic challenge.
The meeting began with members who had brought prints. Peter Yeo, a retired demonstrator of Photospeed papers, shared a series of supersized photographs taken in various locations, including Burano and Venice. Thanks to his past role, Peter had acquired some A2 photo paper, making for an impressive display. As is typical of the club, the presentation was interactive, prompting discussion on the merits of taking selfies in front of world-famous landmarks.
Paul Lancaster also brought along prints, including some taken with his light box from the previous month. He shared a varied selection from the motorbike sand racing events at Mablethorpe – a pastime clearly not for the faint-hearted.
Members then presented digital images from the previous month’s challenge, which was to photograph houseplants. The theme had been interpreted creatively, with submissions including plants beside houses, in gardens, and even in garden centres.
Some members had exercised considerable imagination. Michael Hinks showed a humorous composite image of a dog appearing to knock a plant off a coffee table. He explained how he photographed each element – the table, plant, pot, and soil – individually. The Labrador featured in the image was actually paddling in the sea at the time, which accounted for its cropped feet. Kerry Muscott also experimented, showing different creative results using Photoshop, demonstrating how both random actions and artistic tools can lead to intriguing outcomes.
Des Lloyd, widely known for his exceptional nature photography, gave an impromptu talk about his photographic journey. He initially took up photography to document his entries in regional bonsai competitions. Des brought along some of his bonsai images and explained the care and cultivation of the trees. As the hobby took hold, Des sold part of his bonsai collection to invest in cameras and lenses.
Dik Allison demonstrated a new gadget enabling phone photos to be displayed via a cable connected to a projector or TV.
In April, 20 members, some accompanied by their partners, visited the Walks of Life Museum and The Museum of the Horse in Tuxford. The outing offered a productive day of photography and an opportunity for socialising. The resulting images will be reviewed during the May meeting.
Please see www.snappers.org.uk for more information.