Best Picture: Water Vole on the River Test (Click to enlarge)

The Group met at 10:15 on 9th May with the theme ‘Spring’. Of the six portfolios submitted, Theresa Twitchell was voted best set of four and John Hawke’s photograph of ‘Water Vole on the Test’ was voted Best Picture.
Discussions centred on various attributes of some photographs submitted. Mike Liberson asked whether the difficulty in taking a picture should be taken into account when judging. It was agreed that pictures should be judged by impact – quality, difficulty, composition and novelty all being part of that impact.
John Hawke suggested that future meetings should include a presentation from a member on topics of their choice. Theresa Twitchell was ‘volunteered’ for the next indoor meeting!

Rosemary Crumplin had been liaising with a local farmer to arrange a Group visit. This has now been arranged for 21st June and will override the June indoor meeting

Starlings on the Somerset Levels

The Group met at 10:15 on 11th April with the theme ‘Group of Three’. Of the six portfolios submitted, John Hawke was voted best set of four and his photograph of three ‘Starlings on the Somerset Levels’ was voted Best Picture. (click on picture to enlarge it)

Theresa Twitchell was given an honourable mention for ‘Three Colour Pencils’.

Discussions centred on macrophotography. Initial comments concerned using the macro function on fixed lens cameras with the conclusion that it was better to use a sharply focused zoom setting with subsequent cropping to fill the frame.
John Hawke discussed the use of extension tubes to create macro photographs for cameras with interchangeable lenses – a cheap option to a dedicated macro lens. Theresa Twitchell showed her album of superb macro photographs submitted as part of a past photography course.
The need to be aware of unwanted/misaligned objects in the background of pictures were also emphasised!

Pam Liberson announced that HP had acknowledged that their printer was faulty and it had been replaced – both hers and Mike Liberson’s prints were well colour balanced as a result.

Best Picture by Mike Liberson. “Spider’s Web” Click to enlarge it

The Group met at 10:15 on 14th March with the theme ‘Fragile’.
Of the six portfolios submitted, Pam Liberson tied for best set of four and Mike Liberson’s photograph of a spider’s web was voted Best Picture.
Theresa Twitchell could not attend but sent a portfolio – her adjudged best picture wittily showed a gin bottle, beer bottle and aspirins!
Discussion centred on autofocus modes, especially the advantages of using spot focus/exposure to maintain accurate colour for the prime subject in the picture – especially when photographing wildlife.
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Theme for next meeting is ‘Group of Three’.