A very interesting AV evening last, Out of this World by Steven Beard and Around the World in 20 minutes by Malcolm Roberts. Steve took us to Chile to see the landscape getting there and much of it actually looked like the Moon. He was the IT part of a commissioning team that was setting up a massive radio telescope, which we saw being assembled and then had some amazing photos of nebulae and stars – Patrick Moore would certainly liked to have seen his AV.

With Malcolm we were able to see most of the American canyons, India, Sri Lanka, Brazil and even Prestonpans among many other places. The selection of music on both AV’s were appropriate and tied in with the images.

Well done to both of you, it will be a good start to the new set up AV group.

From last week it seemed to be confirmed that there are real benefits in having a comprehensive ‘Data Base’ of images that represent the work of club members.

I unfortunately  have a ‘hang up’ that when I have an idea that I think really works that I am like a dog with a bone – once my teeth are in it I don’t let go. The ‘Data Base’ is my current ‘bone’, so I would like all members to get involved in this scheme and let me have new images and updated images, when improvements are made so that the data can be updated and improved upon. Just put them on the ‘Club CD’ and I will do the rest.

However any member that does not wish to be involved, like all good web sites ‘can unsubscribe’ – just let me know and give back the CD and then I will not ‘hound’ them.

With the two workshops under way in respect of AV and Photoshop these should help and encourage members to make the most of their images and presentations.

If anyone else have any ‘bone’ ideas, let me know and we can investigate them.

Next week we have Duncan Forbes from the National Portrait Gallery, which holds Scotland’s Photographic Collection.

The following week, 7th March(note we will be in room 32) we have an evening with Musselburgh Art Club where we will be comparing the two arts. Please also bring in your ‘Set Subject’ prints (abstract or some thing quirky).

Worth Visiting – award-winning photographer Laurie Campbell’s exhibition at SOC Waterston House, Aberlady. Closes on 27th  April. http://www.the.soc.org.uk.

Last night Duncan Forbes, Senior Curator of Photography gave us an illustrated and interesting talk about the history of photography and the leading way that the Portrait Gallery is building up such a valuable and educational collection of this fascinating art.
Representing not only Scottish photographers, but other renowned photographers from around the world.
We must find time to visiting the new exhibition and the others which he spoke about that are to held later this year.

Next week (in room 32) we have the evening with the Musselburgh Art Club, seeing and talking about their work, we will also be showing some of our work. Please bring along a colour print so that Joe can talk about it. In addition to this please bring in your abstract prints for the last club competition this session.

The recent web post relating to the Scottish Deer Centre was followed up by Joe who contacted them and has negotiated that if we have a least 10 members they will give us a discount and access to areas not normally open to the public. There is a sheet on the notice board on which you can put your name and if there is sufficient interest a weekend visit can be organised.

Have a look at  http://www.creativelive.com – who are holding live Photoshop tutorials, each 1.5 hours long. The last day is this Saturday, look at the  content and see if they are of interest to you.

Clive

A very interesting AV evening last, Out of this World by Steven Beard and Around the World in 20 minutes by Malcolm Roberts. Steve took us to Chile to see the landscape getting there and much of it actually looked like the Moon. He was the IT part of a commissioning team that was setting up a massive radio telescope, which we saw being assembled and then had some amazing photos of nebulae and stars – Patrick Moore would certainly liked to have seen his AV.

With Malcolm we were able to see most of the American canyons, India, Sri Lanka, Brazil and even Prestonpans among many other places. The selection of music on both AV’s were appropriate and tied in with the images.

Well done to both of you, it will be a good start to the new set up AV group.

From last week it seemed to be confirmed that there are real benefits in having a comprehensive ‘Data Base’ of images that represent the work of club members.

I unfortunately  have a ‘hang up’ that when I have an idea that I think really works that I am like a dog with a bone – once my teeth are in it I don’t let go. The ‘Data Base’ is my current ‘bone’, so I would like all members to get involved in this scheme and let me have new images and updated images, when improvements are made so that the data can be updated and improved upon. Just put them on the ‘Club CD’ and I will do the rest.

However any member that does not wish to be involved, like all good web sites ‘can unsubscribe’ – just let me know and give back the CD and then I will not ‘hound’ them.

With the two workshops under way in respect of AV and Photoshop these should help and encourage members to make the most of their images and presentations.

If anyone else have any ‘bone’ ideas, let me know and we can investigate them.

Next week we have Duncan Forbes from the National Portrait Gallery, which holds Scotland’s Photographic Collection.

The following week, 7th March(note we will be in room 32) we have an evening with Musselburgh Art Club where we will be comparing the two arts. Please also bring in your ‘Set Subject’ prints (abstract or some thing quirky).

Worth Visiting – award-winning photographer Laurie Campbell’s exhibition at SOC Waterston House, Aberlady. Closes on 27th  April. http://www.the.soc.org.uk.

The Twelve Way Competition last Sunday did not prove to be too successful for the MCC, what made it worse was  that Haddington CC came out on top and took the trophy. Congratulations to them, we aim to get the trophy back next year.

One of the main reasons we did not do too well is that we had a very small image pool to choose from. This situation is slowly improving as we have now had digital images from 20 members, but I still urge other members to commit their images to the supplied CD and let us add them to the data base.

However the most important aspect of our club is not necessary winning competitions, but that members enjoy the club with the prospect of picking up ideas and skills in order to get more satisfaction from the ever developing hobby of photography.

I hope that the benefit of having members work on the ‘Data Base ‘, was demonstrated last night by seeing how images could possibly be improved. To evaluate camera settings and see the benefits of shooting in RAW as opposed to jpeg and relying on the camera settings.

Even if the settings on a camera are reasonable, most images will still need attention of some sought, if you want help with this come along to the first meeting of the ‘Photoshop Workshop’ which will be held in our usual room next Tuesday (19th Feb,)7.30pm. If you cannot make next Tuesday and want to be involved, then let me know and I will see if you can be fitted in.

Jim and George Todd will be there and decisions will be made as to what members are looking for and how many workshops will be required in order to cater for their needs.

Next week we have Steven Beard and Malcolm Roberts who will show us their work and approach to get enjoyment from photography.

The following week we have a talk by Duncan Forbes from the Portrait Gallery, if you have not yet done so, perhaps you can find the time to ‘pop’ into the Portrait Gallery and have a look at their current exhibitions (as I described in an earlier post ‘Club Meeting 17.01.13’).

March 7th is the date to bring in your ‘Set Subject’ print images ( Abstract or ‘something quirky’). Hopefully most members have some good ideas that will make a good showing on 21st March.

Clive

Charlie Briggs and Jim Todd last night let us see what they have been up to and how they have developed their photographic skills. Charlie started out at the age of 12, through film and then buying one of the earliest digital SLR. and now onto an AV production. Charlie proved that you have to work at it, to experiment and to take the wife’s advise to join the best photographic club in Scotland.

Jim started off with a new camera on his Canadian holiday, then moved on gaining experience and has produced a number of skilfully worked out abstract images. He wants to develop further his skills and to share these with other members by heading up the Photoshop workshop.

We can all learn from other peoples work and adapt their ideas. To this end it is worth visiting the large photographic display in St Andrews Square, Edinburgh, which is part of the Edinburgh Science Festival, it is called ‘Patterns in Nature’. They are mounted on fixed boards, each 2 x1 metres, and are well worth seeing, it is on until April. Afterwards pop into the Portrait Gallery and see their photographic displays as I detailed in an earlier note.

Thanks to the co operation of members we are now managing to set up self help/funding workshops. Jim Todd has the first one on Photoshop under way, but there are more members who want to be involved. So George Todd has agreed to set up a second group, so we will be able to reduce the number on Jim’s to about 6/7 and  have a similar number on George’s group.

There is to be an inaugural meeting on Tuesday 19th Feb. in room 4, starting 7.30pm. If you want to join in come along and then it can be sorted out which group to be involved in and what members have to offer and what they want to work on. Or speak  to Jim or George about it.

In addition John Scott is to head up an AV group. Here we should limit it to 5 members and if there are many more members who would like to have a go, then we could think about having a second group.

If there are any other members who think that they wished to run or lead a group on other subjects let me know and we can consider it.

I would still like to receive the DVD’s and images from those members who have not yet got around to it.

Next week for the ‘un romantic’ (Feb. 14th) – I will be doing a presentation based on our data base and hope to give some ideas as to how we can improve our work. This should be interactive and could be a starter for the Photoshop workshops.

Remember that this Sunday (12th Feb) we are at the Lady Victoria Mining Museum for the 12 way inter-club competition. See my last week’s note for details.

Clive

We welcomed Beeslack Camera Club to a joint meeting last night at out Audio Visual evening. Many thanks to them for their AV group sharing with us three excellent projects consisting of a fascinating one relating to bridges, an out of space experience and a very interesting portrait of the Pentlands, seeing it in various seasons and some historic myths being illustrated.

John Napier took us on a rugged tour of  mountains in Spain. he said that this was his first attempt at AV, his excellent result must be an inspiration to us all to have a go to this different aspect of photography. Liverpool and the Beatles, was our destination, with the usual high standard of ‘our master’ John Knox.

I think this evening proved that we can  do solo AV or work as a team. If there are upwards of six members who would like to work together on a project, please let me know. Hopefully we can produce some new material which we can take to Beeslack next year.

Thanks to those that brought in their prints and DVDs last night. We still need more images for consideration for competitions, if you cannot remember what score you had and think that your work could be considered for inter club competition, please bring in the print, even if it has not been in a club competition. The more we have to choose from the better, also all other prints will be selected for the forth coming exhibition that tours the libraries later on in the year.

I am still missing a number of DVD’s of your work, please get this together and let me have it asap. Remember my tip of using software that makes copying CD/DVDs very easy, go to the free download Ashampoo Burning Studio 6 free:-

https://www.ashampoo.com/en/usd/pca/6/Burning_Software

Next week we have Jim Todd and Charlie Briggs who will take us on a tour of their work and efforts, well worth coming along to. You can also bring along those prints and DVDs!!

On Sunday 10th Feb, there is the 12 way inter-club competition which will be held again at the Lady Victoria Mining Museum, Newtongrange. It is held in the ‘Turbine Hall’ which I suggest that you wear some warm clothing as it can be on the ‘cool side’. It starts a 10am and goes on into the afternoon, there is a canteen for lunch etc.

If you have not come along before, give it a try, for directions visit their web site:-

www.scottishminingmuseum.com/

Clive

Neil Scott really illustrated how by using one’s imagination you can create some stunning photos, all you need is black velvet, kitchen table and a life time of getting out there and taking photos.

His task is by no means simple, taking advantage of lighting, plus a certain amount additional lights, he said afterwards that he fits a toilet roll tube (black inside) and fits it over hid flash gun to  get a spot light.

Have a look at his web site ‘www.neilscottphotos.co.uk’  and you will be able to see even more of his art and his humour.

A challenge to us to take more notice of what is around us and stretch the imagination. We have our set subject competition next with entries to be in by 7th March. the subject is ‘Abstract or something Qwerky’ So will everyone start thinking about it and coming up with some good ideas.

Jim Todd has got his Tuesday’s workshops organised for the eleven members involved. We have now three members who are interested in an AV (Audio/Visual) workshop, we need three more to make it viable, so let me know if you are interested.

Next week we have a AV evening in conjunction with Beeslack Camera Club, this might give some incentive for more members to have a go.

As I have said before there are a number of benefits for  having a data base, apart from selecting competition images, it gives material for training and advice. The greater the range of ability the better.

As advised last week I am planning a Power Point presentation for the meeting on 14th Feb, but still require co operation from some members to bring in their images on the supplied DVD – please put on what you have – they do not need to be ‘perfect’. Just bring them along next week.

I would also be grateful if members who got a mark of 16 and over to bring their prints along next week so that we can make a selection of prints for the forth coming inter club competitions.

Clive

Last night Brenda Thomson gave us her judgement and opinion on our efforts in the club’s Monochrome Competition and I have put details of the winners on the web site.

Brenda commented on the fact that mono photography is more demanding than colour, where a good contrast (black to white) is essential to make the image stand out, interest in the sky is also important and to get the best quality images, the mind must see an opportunity as a mono, as opposed to having a colour image that ‘might also work as a mono’.

A number of members brought in their dvds last night and I can now start loading these on the data base, will everyone else please let me have their disc asap, but if you do not have many images in each category, don’t worry, just give me what you have.

Apart from selecting for display, we have now decided to select a good number of images and make some ‘quick’ amendments via Photoshop and then have an evening on 14th February, projecting ‘before and after’ and then discuss what was done and then open it up for comments.

So please lets have the material!

Last Saturday I visited the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and there were three exhibitions relating to photography.

Just inside the door on the left there was a display of large portrait prints by KK Dundas a threatre and portrait photographer from Glasgow. He had a commission to photograph students and past students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

In the Photography Gallery on the first floor was a display of images by a Czechoslovakia woman Jitka Hanzlova, it consists of a great range of her work, many of which would certainly be criticised by club judges, but worth looking at.

However on the second floor (gallery 8) here is an exhibition by  Fred Bremner who was born in 1863. He spent many years in India with a dry collodion glass plate camera.

The quality and detail of these monochrome  images and the way he has framed each of them are outstanding.

I am sure that none of our club judges could find fault, certainly worth a visit.

On the 28th of February we are to have a talk by Duncan Forbes from the NPG, who will tell us about the Scottish Collection of Photography, so it would be a good idea if you are in town to go along and spend half an hour or so, as photographers we can then have a better idea of what’s on offer.

Next week we have a talk by Judge Neil Scott, so lets see what his personal angle on photography is.

I have come across an interesting web site  – http://www.slrlounge.com/ – that have some interesting articles. If you come across such sites, let me know and I can circulate.

Clive