Castleton & Hope Valley Photographic Society

Jason welcomed all to the 2015 Exhibition review and judging meeting including three visitors. The following announcements then followed.

18th July Bamford carnival

David Allwood will be putting together and manning a CHVPS stand at this event. David would like prints from club members, plus volunteers to help set up on the day and raffle prizes. David needs 4 volunteers from about 11 am to 1 o’clock. If anybody can help or has prints, please contact David.

Steve Elliott exhibition

Steve Elliott has an exhibition in Castleton visitors centre up to the end of July.

Next year’s  (2016)  theme will be: “Street scenes”.

Further Details will be given later.

CHVPS annual exhibition

The exhibition will be held from 1st Aug to 8th Aug in Bradwell Church. We will need stewards to cover this time. Please let Jason know if you can help at any time during the week. The Stewarding slots on each day from Sat 1st to Sat 8th are:  10.30 to 12.30   12.30 to 14.30  14.30 to 16.30

Our 2015 competition – judging and the results:

Jason introduced Peter Yeo FRPS. DPAGB. APAGB. as the judge for the 2015 exhibition. Peter introduced himself as a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society,  having begun to learn this photographic skills while serving in the RAF. Peter lectures all over and has done lots of judging, having to judge as many as 6500 images in just as couple of days. It was Peter’s first time visiting CHVPS, he thanked Kate and Keith for their hospitably and meal. Peter also thanked Keith and Jason for their photo day out at Chatsworth.

Peter judged the 46 images in the general category and the 45 in the Architecture category. He also judged the Denis Thorpe monochrome category. Peter made reference to the high standard of all the images across the wide range of images. HERE ARE THE RESULTS:

Architecture 

1st “Morocco Wall” – Ann Smith

2nd “Cutting the Night Air” – Ian Stanyon

3rd “Reims Cathedral” – Richard Clemons

Commended “It’s All Greek To Me” – Pat Fowler

Commended “The Shard” – Alan Darlington

Commended “Hope Works By Night” – Steve Elliott

Commended “Ausgang” – Paul McGreavy

General 

1st “The Hoodie” – Les Nixon

2nd “Into the falls” – Paul McGreavy

3rd “Taking the view – a Winnats Sunrise” – Phil Sproson

Commended “Steps Over” – Jason Dietsch

Commended “Sea Eagle Fishing” – David Allwood

Commended “Singapore Skyline” – Roger Moore

Commended “In The Den” – Nick Chalkley

Commended “Knuckle Stone Grabbing the Sun” – Phil Sproson

Monochrome (for the Denis Thorpe trophy)

1st “In The Den” Nick Chalkley

2nd “Castillio San Cristobal, San Juan, Puerto Rico” – Roger Moore

3rd “Musician” – Susan Hughes

Commended “Interior of Blue Fin Building London” – Nick Chalkley

Commended “Classic Proportions” – Ray Fowler

Commended “Main Station, Berlin” David Allwood

Commended “L’amore” – Ian Stanyon

Jason gave the vote of thanks to Peter, adding we had all learnt a lot from his description and judging of the images.

Jason thanked Kate and Keith for their help with the evening moving the images around making the evening go smoothly.

Keith put a vote of thanks to Ray for all the hard work he had done mounting the images.

As our 2015 Chair Jason is on holiday, our Vice-Chair Kate Brown stepped into the breach. If you missed the meeting here’s a synopsis of the most important things you missed, including Roger Moore’s presentation on Blurb, which shows how you can prepare a Blurb printed book for yourself or your family. To view Roger’s Presentation CLICK HERE: RKM_Blurb-talk

• V.I.P. Now that we have 88 of the 91 2015 competition images captured digitally, we need a short sentence about each of the members’ exhibition pictures to go with the images to New York. Information about where each image was taken would also be appreciated. Please email this information to Keith Brown as soon as you can!
• Kate told everyone present that our meeting’s venue (The Peveril Centre) has had new equipment installed, including an automatic screen, a projector and a sound system. Members were invited to visit the new centre during the break to see the installations. So if you missed the meeting, visit the centre in the adjoining room and see the new equipment at the next meeting.
• There is a Morris exhibition in Sheffield on Saturday 13^th June, with dancing in Tudor Square, outside the cathedral and Town Hall between 10am and 4pm, and also in the Winter Gardens 10 – 11.45am and 2 – 4pm. There is also a photographic exhibition on Morris in Sheffield Cathedral – enter by the main door.
• Sue Hughes has won first prize in the Wilkinson Cameras Wilki Weekends Abstracts category with an excellent architecture image. (Editor’s note: 6 weeks ago I attended a meeting at Chapel Camera Club, to see Sue winning the ‘advanced section’ of the competition with a stunning image. This bodes well for Sue when our 2015 competition images are judged at the next meeting.).

The main focus of the evening were ‘workshop presentations’, starting with Prof Roger Moore, ARSP, who gave a PowerPoint type presentation on making your own photobook/book using the American company ‘Blurb’. Roger prepares a Castleton & Hope Valley Photographic Society YearBook every year, but based on Roger’s presentation and notes, I suspect I won’t be alone in trying to make my own photobook! A bit of advice: postage costs for sending books from Holland to the UK can be in the region of £7 or £8 per shipment So order as many copies as you need to be shipped in one consignment. Look for discounts offered on Blurb’s website as from time to time Blurb give substantial discounts!              

 

 

 

 

Our Hon Vice-President Ray Fowler gave a fascinating insight, along with lots of hints and tricks, on printing your images, including the best type of printers to buy to print either A4 or A3/A3+ images. A3+ printers are more expensive, but A3+ best quality paper is cheaper than A3 sized paper. So remember the maxim – a good bigun is better than a good littlun! It’s clear that Ray gets as much pleasure printing his images as he gets from composing and taking images. Ray’s a mind of information and is always available, if you’d like to ask Ray for guidance or technical tips.

Finally, Nick Chalkley aided by our ‘technical wizard’ Alan Hinchcliffe, gave advice on using off-camera flash. Nick is a natural, and always captures his audience’s attention with a Tommy Cooper-like style. Alan synched Nick’s camera to the computer and projector so members could see the results of changing the positions of the flash units, flash intensity, etc.

In his own inimitable Tommy Cooper-like way Nick showed how some off-camera flash tricks worked ‘just like that’; with others not quite working as planned. I could listen to Nick all night, as his laid back style demonstrates his gift and understanding of  photography.

 

 

Our Secretary Ann rounded off the evening by thanking all three presenters, plus Alan, for making the evening so informative and enjoyable.

Competition entries

The first half hour was a hive of industry as members handed in their exhibition prints. This year was a double record: 91 prints were submitted, with half of these being for the ‘theme of the year’; this year the theme was ‘Architecture’. We’re hoping that this year we’ll be able to capture and store all competition images.

So if you haven’t sent copies of your images to me (so I can archive them for the 2015 YearBook and our photo exchange with a New York club), please email them to me one at a time to ian@ian-ord.co.uk. OR if you have compressed them to 1920 pixel width and between 1 & 1.5 Mb in size, send all three to me on one email. OR you can Dropbox them to me, if this is easier!

A photographic tour of China, Alaska (by Hazel) and Namibia (by Ann).

Hazel & Ann gave a DPI presentation of images they’d taken on trips. I’ve shown some of the images Hazel and Ann showed members, within the body of this synopsis.

 

Synopsis of what Jason told members:

Photographic night at The Angler’s Rest, inc Stop Press update

From 1930 onwards, on May 18th there’ll be another informal night of showing some of your photographs at the Angler’s Rest, Bamford. There’s also a new idea of bringing a photographic gadget and showing others how you use it and how it helps your photography. If you plan to attend why not contact David Allwood (his contact details are shown on the back of this year’s programme). There’s an additional bit relating to member’s challenges: the challenge theme will be put into the hat and the winning challenge theme will be put on the website.

Stop Press: The challenge theme for the next Angler’s Rest informal club meeting will be ‘Musical instruments’. So start rummaging for images of musical instruments, to be shown as DPI’s at the next informal meeting (which is scheduled to be 1930 onwards at The Angler’s Rest on either Monday 20 and Monday 27 July – date to be confirmed later).

 

Whatever the Weather

This year’s Whatever the Weather social gathering for members, their partners and children will be held from on the afternoon of 9th August (further details to be published later). The venue will be the newly built Sports Club in Hope.

Visit to Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Jason announced that he’d email members, offering three dates, to determine the best date for a social/photographic photo opportunity visit to Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Jason suggested that members could pool cars, reducing the number of cars required to get those who want to attend the venue.

Bamford Carnival

Following the success of the 2014 Hathersage Gala in which we showed a selection of our prints in a gazebo, C&HVPS are going to book a stand, with a larger gazebo at the Bamford Carnival, which will be held on July 18th. If you’d be happy to volunteer to attend and help man the stand, and or bring some of your prints along, please contact Jason.

 

The unseasonably warm weather and the chance to listen to Karen Frankel give her illustrated ‘Coast to Coast’ presentation packed the hall with members and guests. Indeed it’s a long time since I recall that all of the stacked chairs had been taken from their stands – a sign of the popularity of Karen and her work!

My account of the evening includes a few local images, this time without even a snowflake in sight!

Our Chairman, Jason welcomed everyone and reminded members about the evening we’d recently enjoyed at The Angler’s Rest, Bamford, when a number of members displayed their DPI’s. David Allwood has suggested that the next member’s digital projection evening at The Angler’s Rest could be on May 18th. Please contact David or Jason if you’d like to attend.

 

 

Keith reminded members that the next meeting is the time for members to hand in their annual competition prints, along with digital images of each entry. These images should be about 1Mb in size and should be either passed to Keith on a memory stick, or a CD/DVD or email to Keith. If any member has problems resizing the images please contact me (Ian). In the meantime advice on the competition and the rules of the competition are shown at: http://www.hopevalleyphotosociety.co.uk/?page_id=717

Karen Frankel, who lives locally, is a talented professional photographer, and spent 90 minutes speaking to and showing images she took when writing her book entitled Coast to Coast. Having seen the book and listening to Karen’s presentation, I heard a number of members vowing to traverse this beautiful coast to coast walk. But unless you are a seasoned walker, Karen suggested that the walk can be enjoyed by walking different stages at different time of the year. You can see some of Karen’s work and learn more about Karen by visiting http://www.karenfrenkel.info/

Keith Brown gave a vote of thanks, remarking how spectacular the evening had been. Keith, using his FRPS skills then briefly outlined how each and every one of Karen’s shots, showed her skill as a truly talented landscape photographer, and that we cannot wait until Karen returns to our club to demonstrate more of her skills.

Despite the weather being less than spring-like, we had a really good turnout, including two new members to listen to Hathersage based photographic photo/artist Anthony Marshall (examples of his copyrighted work are shown below) give his presentation – more of this later. Our latest two new members are Chapel en-le-Frith resident Phil Sponson and Bradwell based Janis Ibbotson. Until Ray Fowler can produce an addendum to our 2015 programme, you can obtain Phil or Janis’s contact details from me (Ian) or our Secretary, Ann.

If you missed our meeting here’s a few points which will bring you up to speed:

• David Allwood has arranged an informal members’ evening at the Anglers Rest on Monday 16 March starting around 7.30pm; •Sheffield PS have organised a digital-image knockout competition, held between 15 photo clubs in the region at their church hq in Sheffield at 1930on Saturday evening;
• 17 members had ordered the Blurb 2014 YearBook. I handed out these YearBooks during the evening. If you were too late to place your bulk order, taking advantages of discounts and sharing postage costs, instruction to order the 2014 (or indeed the 2013) YearBook can be found on: http://www.hopevalleyphotosociety.co.uk/?p=715
• I’ve sent everyone who ordered a YearBook the link to enable them to download the YearBook (at no cost) to their iPad. But if you aren’t an Apple/iOS convert, Roger Moore will soon give download instructions to Android or Windows Kindle users;
• Jason reminded everyone about the rules for our forthcoming competition. Here’s the link to give comprehensive details: http://www.hopevalleyphotosociety.co.uk/?page_id=717s

Presentation by Anthony Marshall – whose photographic artwork can be seen on http://anthony-marshall.com/

  Anthony’s presentation was truly fascinating. I’m sure that I can say without fear of contradiction that all attendees truly enjoyed his stimulating presentation. Anthony was unusual in that he didn’t give a slideshow presentation of his work, but concentrated on telling us how 40 years ago he was only one of three full time British based professional landscape photographers; gradually moving to being an abstract impressionism artist, who uses photography as a means of capturing images, before he works on the photographic data, using an iPad and Apps such as TangledFx; ImageBlender; Snapseed; Picsplay pro.

Along with many books, Anthony brought along examples of his work, printed directly onto aluminium. The printing organisation Anthony uses is a German based company called ‘pictures for you’.

Anthony explained that thousands of image editing apps have been designed for the iPad, but only a handful that allow you to work at a hi-res file size. Up to now image editing has been done by using very large, complex and expensive software, requiring significant investment of time to master the techniques. Anthony said that working with less complex software Apps on the iPad is like a breath of fresh air allowing him to work quicker and more intuitively. Anthony explained that although photography plays an integral role in his work, he thinks like a painter; producing imagery which is minimalist, focusing in on detail, texture, shape and abstract design. Anthony explained how he often creates images which have been superimposed to create a more abstract effect.

Next month’s speaker

We have a completely different type of speaker for our meeting on April 9th – so make sure you clear your diary for that evening, so you can listen to and view Karen Frankel who’ll show her stunning ‘Coast to Coast’ images.

Latest update: A Pdf version of our latest (2014) YearBook is now available. The Pdf version is also readable on a Kindle device. Please click onto the link shown below. On the right hand side of the webpage you’ll see the various purchase and download options. http://www.blurb.co.uk/b/5960395-2014-year-book. If you’d like to pay the Club £5 to allow you to purchase an electronic version readable on Apple devices (iPads etc.) please contact me (Ian) and I’ll generate a link to the relevant part of Blurb’s website. Please note that the code on the link expires within 48 hours of me generating this link.

Initial posting: If you order your 2014 YearBook via me using ian@ian-ord.co.uk or phone me on 01433 621, or see me at the March 12th meeting. I’ll place one bulk order on behalf of C&HVPS members or friends, hence sharing the postage costs between all who place an order. Orders close on March 14. Thus those who took an order slip from Roger may prefer to contact me, thus sharing the cost of the postage.
The price for a hardback copy will be £24.89, £17.89 for a softback (plus a small element of postage). The cost of an eBook version will be £5 – Roger or I will send you the eBook download link (which clearly doesn’t incur postage costs). I’ll use the link http://blur.by/1yta gD6 to place the bulk order.  You can also click onto the link to preview the YearBook – I think you’ll be surprised and hopefully delighted. There’s nothing to stop you using the link to place your own orders, but you’ll bear the full postage costs. If you’d like to place an order for the 2013 YearBook it’s still available for purchase using the link http://blur/by/1mQSrpt
The following already have a 2014 YearBook, and will soon be given a link to allow them to download the eBook version: Roger Moore, Ray Fowler, Keith Brown, Alan Hinchcliffe, Ian Ord
To date, the following have placed orders: Richard Clemons HB (Hardback); Nick Chalkley HB, Axel Chatburn HB, Michel Waquet HBx2, David Allwood  SB (Softback), Jason Deitsch SB, Susan Hughes SB, Bea Deacon SB, Joan Clough, SB. Barbara Wilkinson SB. They will receive a free eBook version with their order. Ann Smith and Steve Elliott have placed orders for the eBook version.

By the time we met for our February meeting, the last vestiges of the snow which has shrouded the Hope Valley for the past two weeks+ had all but vanished, but spring still seems quite a while away.

Despite the weather there was a really good turnout to listen to 10 of our members who each gave 10 minute presentations, showing off some of their recent or most interesting images. I think that all agreed that it was a truly enjoyable evening, demonstrating the depth and breadth of talent we have in our club.

Roger Moore presented our newest YearBook, which looks simply splendid. To get a flavour of the YearBook you can preview it by clicking on to http://blur.by/1yta gD6 . If you’ like to order a hardback, softback or eBook though me, thus sharing the postage costs equally, click onto the following link for further details. http://www.hopevalleyphotosociety.co.uk/?page_id=671.

Alan Hinchcliffe reminded members that to date only a few members have placed images in our web gallery. Alan is right, we are a photographic society and many visitors will browse our website to look at photographs members have taken. Thus if you’d like to add some of your most interesting images to our web gallery contact Alan, or me ( ian@ian-ord.co.uk ) or phone me on 621 431.

David Allwood announced that there’s another opportunity for members to show and speak to their images. As David Allwood has made arrangements with the Angler’s Rest in Bamford to open their doors to members from 1930(?) on Monday 16th March. There’ll be potable alcoholic beverages, plus soft drinks on tap, as well as simple food. So put the date in your diary and bring along some of your most interesting images on a memory stick. Jason or David will give an update and confirm the time at the next meeting.

Finally Chris (Ord), who’s been ill for some time and couldn’t attend the meeting, has told me that we’ll liaise with Jason & Keith to make arrangements for another ‘Whatever the weather’ clotted cream and scone social in our garden and garden-room in late June or July this year.

i was asked to find information about the tin bath tour steam train travelling through the hope valley

m well here’s the info http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t15/t0215a.htm

A view of Win Hill imposing over Castleton and the Hope Valley. We meet in a building smack in the centre of this image

Our AGM

Members didn’t join our photographic society to listen to admin bits relating to our AGM. However, there are one or two newsworthy items to report. Firstly three new members turned up at the AGM, which brings our membership into the forties. Secondly, the members elected Hon Life Member Ray Fowler (otherwise known as Mr C&HVPS) as our first Vice President. Thirdly, we have two new committee members: Nick Chalkley and David Allwood. Finally I proposed that Arthur Packham, who recently moved ‘south’ with his wife Betty, to be closer to their family, be made a life member (another ‘first’ for our club). Unsurprisingly, the proposal was greeted by a unanimous show of hands – so Arthur, next time you are in the area on a meeting night, do call in. Everyone will welcome you and you won’t have to pay the £3 entrance fee!

Bits & bobs

Keith Brown presented our 2015 programme. So if you want to know what’s on for this year, click onto: http://www.hopevalleyphotosociety.co.uk/?page_id=571 Then Roger Moore spoke about our 2014 YearBook. Roger explained that the deadline for submitting entries would be 2359 on 11th January.

Our new Chair entertains

Our new Chair – Jason – then gave a thoughtful presentation, covering the theme of our 2015 competition – architecture. Jason’s illuminating presentation took an A to Z form, with Jason illustrating images relating to each letter. Some images were Jason’s, some were images of outstanding bits of architecture, new and old and some were images by world renowned photographers. A really enjoyable evening and a great start to Jason’s year.
I’ve downloaded a few of the images Jason presented. Members can refresh their memories about the rules relating to the architecture category, as well as the ‘general’, theme and a ‘monochrome’ theme  of our competition  by clicking onto: http://www.hopevalleyphotosociety.co.uk/?p=442

 

Our newest member: We are now an international club, as we have a new member; Michel Waquet, who’s moved from Provence in France.

Arthur Packham: Keith & Kate Brown recently visited Arthur & Betty Packham, who are moving south, as Betty is ill. Ian has sent an Interflora bouquet on behalf of the Club

New display boards & microphone: We are going to buy some new display boards and also a microphone for speakers, bought from  proceeds from various fundraising activities this year.

Booking your place at our 2014 Christmas Party: If you haven’t submitted your menu details and cheque for our Christmas Party, please click onto the following link: http://www.hopevalleyphotosociety.co.uk/?page_id=426 Erica would be grateful if you could respond to her NOW. Please make cheques payable to “The Millstone Country Inn” and post your menu choices and cheque to Erica Dietsch at 3 Mayfield Terrace, Hathersage, Hope Valley, S321BE.

Our 2014 YearBook: There’s a lot of work behind the scenes which goes into the YearBook, which is an important record, both in book and e-book form. So if you haven’t submitted your images, see the website: http://www.hopevalleyphotosociety.co.uk/?page_id=415 Or pass your CD to Alan or Ian, or hand them in to Ian at the Christmas Party.

Our 2015 competition, including the Denis Thorpe Monochrome trophy: Now’s the time to rifle through your best images for the 2015 competition. I’ve put simple guidelines on the website: http://www.hopevalleyphotosociety.co.uk/?p=442

Put some of your best images on our website: Please think about submitting a selection of your images onto our gallery on the website. If you’d like to summit a portfolio of images contact our webmaster Alan, or contact Ian.

Our November 2014 presenters: Roger Moore couldn’t make his scheduled presentation, which has been deferred until next year. Nick Chalkey stepped into Roger’s shoes, as two talented members from our Club gave us insights into their views on photography. Susan Hughes had clearly put considerable thought into her presentation, entitled a ‘mixed bag’. We followed Susan through a magic journey, from some stunning prints shown on a light-box, to projected images (which displayed Susan’s interest in a wide range of subject), finishing with a compilation of themed images shown through PowerPoint.

Nick followed Susan, bringing on a variety of bags containing the ‘goodies’ he uses when he takes photographs. Described by Nick as “things I can’t afford and sometimes don’t use, as I pursue my interest in photography.” Nick showed us how he’d suspended a camera on strings, giving the impression that his young daughter was holding the camera and about to press the shutter – post processing made the strings disappear as if by magic. Talking of magic, Nick has an uncanny knack of capturing the audience’s attention, sometimes with Tommy Cooper like gestures and lines.  A truly innovative presentation which left every member of the audience hanging on to every one of Nick’s words and observations.