Just a glance at the front cover of ‘Viewpoint’ for June will confirm the eclectic range of topics we enjoyed this month.
Holidays and destinations frequently provide stimulus for ‘seeing with a contemporary eye’. Geoff Hicks took us on a brief excursion to what he calls, ‘Yer Actual Norway’ - that’s to say a glimpse at some of the more prosaic and quotidian aspects of this scenic country. Bob Oakley took advantage of a recent club outing to Liverpool where, striking out independently, he sought a personal interpretation of the city. Urban life was also the focus of Dr. Charles Ashton’s ‘alert and seeing eye’ for capturing ‘telling moments’ in time. On this occasion London commuters were his principal subject. Meanwhile, Eric Williams enjoyed the rural idyl of South Wales where he interpreted the delights of Aberglasney Gardens.
Whilst Clive Haynes was on holiday in Pembrokeshire with his wife Gill, they chanced upon a long abandoned village general store. As Gill kept watch, Clive made a quick photo-essay of what remains. His images show how the closure of the store is emblematic of the sense of loss in these small communities.
Collections of related subjects frequently form the basis for contemporary exploration. Nigel Reader’s well-considered set examined an art installation of sculptures within the setting of a stately home and its garden. Very much in contrast, Tessa Mills adopted an abstract approach for her exploration of ‘Visible Light’. Stewart Bourne revealed one of his constantly evolving sets of personal observations. This time his keen eye was attuned to ‘clothing’. Lucy Allum showed how an apparently disparate collection of images do indeed have a purpose, in this instance, to make us respond, which is what our photography is all about really.
We enjoyed inspiration from two ‘outside sources’ and they didn’t disappoint.
Alexander Harding’s, ‘Painted Light’, is a playful and painterly example of photographic free-thinking through the mixed media of photography, painting and re-photographing. Here’s the link:
Our second ‘OS’ was by Sharon Johnson-Tennant
Persuing her project ‘Detritus: Fragments of Untold Stories’, she traverses the coastline to discover humble and strange objects of human archaeology transformed by the sea, each revealing a journey through time and water. As Johnson states, “Nature is a powerful editor.”
Here’s the link:
Detritus: Fragments of Untold Stories
All members’ work from our session can be seen in our Viewpoint e-book for this month. Click on the image below or this link: Viewpoint and choose the June edition. The same link provides access to many previous issues of ‘Viewpoint’ - a fascinating treasure-trove waiting for you to explore!
