WCC Contemporary Photography – July
Despite evidence that the ‘holiday season’ had taken its toll with a few of our members taking time off, we nevertheless enjoyed a full evening of photography with a wide spectrum of work. Here’s a brief résumé.
Taking the broad theme of ‘travel’, Dr. Charles Ashton presented scenes in and around two mainline railway stations in London, whilst Geoff Hicks swept us to Madeira to illustrate how shop owners seek to entice customers by using brightly coloured display items. Eric Williams enjoyed a sojourn on a small island off the southwest coast of Ireland to rediscover his ‘photographic mojo’ – and very successfully too! The Auvergne was the chosen destination for Alex Isaacs where he captured scenes of street-life in Clermont-Ferrand, Vichy and Thiers.
In direct contrast, staying close to home was the ambition of Derek Skinner who sought inspiration in taking a fresh look at familiar local landmarks and surroundings. Also remaining close to home, Tessa Mills, found some unexpected military connections during a peaceful stroll along the canal tow-path. Maintaining the wartime thread, Clive Haynes’ series of pictures showed how numerous UK citizens are keeping solidarity with the beleaguered people of Ukraine by flying their national flag and colours.
Scenes to represent moments of quiet contemplation, particularly in peaceful country churches, were the source of inspiration for a set of tintypes by Gill Haynes.
Sally Robinson made her debut in the group, with a set of images to illustrate her delight in the variety of ‘breeding stock’ animals to be enjoyed at county shows. In contrast and through an eloquent set of black and white pictures, Bob Oakley revealed how a form of immortality is achieved by ornate monuments, headstones and simple grave-markers.
We were entertained and informed by the all-seeing and observationally quirky eye of Stewart Bourne in his constant and perceptive revelation of the obscure, the quaint, and the just plain curious objects in the world about us. You just need the eyes to see and the imagination to communicate.
Our two ‘outside sources’ contrasted well. First, a splendid set of images by Jon Pountney showed not only how he ‘waits for the light’ but also how he combines ‘the right light’ with ‘the right moment’. Two links to follow:
Our second ‘source’ was ‘The Ameriguns’ by Abriele Galimberti. A visual exploration about how many ‘normal’ individuals in the USA are obsessed by collecting guns and who happily display their weaponry.
Link The Ameriguns
Video Recordings
As a few members were on holiday, we experimented this time by making a video recording of the July session. It will be available shortly and we’ll let everyone know.
Recordings of CPG meetings could become a regular feature if, a) there’s a demand and, b) that someone volunteers to oversee the recording, doing a little ‘tidying’ and popping it on the WCC website. If you would like to help, please contact Clive.
Going Out and Getting Pictures
We’ve been pondering over the idea about organising a series of easy-to-reach locations for everyone, not only as places to get some contemporary studies but as ‘likely hunting grounds’ for photos of any genre. The outings will be posted as Ad Hoc Events for any WCC member to join. After chatting with Club Chairman, Richard Broomfield, we’re choosing locations (including some we successfully visited years ago) where weather wouldn’t be a dominant factor should it prove inclement. We have in mind, Upton-upon-Severn, Tewkesbury, Evesham, Pershore and Bromyard just to begin with. They’ll be on Tuesday evenings until the club season begins after which, if there’s enthusiasm, we’ll swap to another day. Look out for the ‘Tuesday Evening Shoot’ (series) in the list of Ad Hoc Events in the Members’ Area of the WCC website. We hope to meet many of you ‘on location’.
All members images and individual statements from the session are ready to be viewed in this month’s edition of ‘Viewpoint’. Click on the image below or use this link: Viewpoint
