Photography News 04

Latest photography news

Readers tell it like it is: commenting on club friendliness, subjective judging, Nikon’s Df and, of course, PN Your feedback on… PN, theDf andDel

“Excellent job with the first three issues, and they are getting better. It fills a hole in the market for camera clubs. Hang onto the high grade of paper too – excellent feel. I particularly like the accessible and friendly style – and not too Clever Dick or cliquey. This is perfectly illustrated by the excellent series of Photo School/Camera Class. “Loved loads of it thus far. Rikki O’Neill’s comments in Issue 3 touched closely on the same issues as Del Barrett regarding clubs and in particular club competitions. Del seems to have had an awful experience or may on the other hand have just got the judging issue out of proper perspective and confused it with club friendliness, which is a different matter. “I judge for the Chilterns Association of Camera Clubs – occasionally stray into East Anglia and have escaped with my life thus far. We try, and I believe have succeeded, to maintain an encouraging/ improving theme to our judging. Stan McCartin LRPS, CPAGB, APAGB runs a workshop-style training school each year so judges go out knowing what to do and what to expect. The authoritarians don’t get through the audition.” Dave Hipperson Ed: Dave, you’re right, PN is dedicated to camera clubs, and that’s why we are always asking for feedback, news stories about the club or individual members, details of ‘big name’ talks to promote your ticket sales, forthcoming exhibitions and so on. So, all you in charge of publicity for your club, group or society, please note down this email address and send anything you think people outside of your club will appreciate, enjoy or benefit from: clubnews@photographynews.com. “Interesting article on the Nikon Df. I have been following the specs on this since it was announced – great idea, especially that it is designed to work with older lenses. However, I think Nikon seems to have missed the really obvious with this one: no video. I work with a couple of D800s and a variety of Nikon DSLR bodies in producing video as well as stills. I don’t use autofocus with video, so older, top spec, manual focus lenses are a great alternative. The price puts it out of the range of many ‘pleasure’ photographers, but it has real applications in the hands of pros, many of whom I’m sure would go for its advantages with video applications. So Nikon, any chance of a Df with added video?” Iain Ferguson

“There is one thing I would love to read in PN : your dream camera. The idea is that the same question is answered by photographers of all levels, and not as a choice from what’s on the market, more like a concept camera. For example, for me it would be something like a Nikon FM2n with a big 40-megapixel plus sensor, no AF, no autoexposure and Raw output. The Nikon Df is promising, but it is so much more expensive than the D610. Surely stripped down should cost less?” Andrzej Kowalik Ed: Andrzej’s idea is a good one so if you have any thoughts on your perfect camera please email your concepts to opinion@photographynews.co.uk. We know all the camera makers read PN so you never know, your idea might become reality. “I wanted to congratulate Del on her Opinion regarding camera clubs! Our club is generally friendly, we also endeavour to avoid the ‘ladies make the tea, men make images’ stereotype with some success. The thing that rang a bell with me is the requirement to submit images that fit with club photography. Woe betide anyone who puts up an image that’s good for its own reasons! Our club is fortunate to have a member who regularly gives us guidance and reassurance that it is OK to enter a ‘different’ image as long as it is technically competent. Personally I don’t bother entering club competitions because I don’t make images they would like, I make images for my own enjoyment.” Terri Jacobs “I believe Del is correct about photography clubs. I am a member of a club and they are very stuck in their ways. There are exceptional photographers within the club and they do get some good speakers in, but the judges are a joke. They are too stuck in their own way of thinking and anything new would be brushed aside. And unless you know the judge, don’t expect a high mark. I sit at the back and laugh about what the judge says. There have been examples where an image has done poorly at the club but has won a national competition. “I have completed a three-year photography degree course and work in a photographic business. I thought it would be fun showing images and getting to know other photographers but I was wrong. I have paid my fees for this year and I’ll still go when I can, but I’m leaving next year.” Jennifer Hampson

“In response to Del’s opinion: I joined my local club a year ago. I was in awe of the images the members produced for our internal competitions. In fact I seriously thought of not joining. How wrong I was! The members welcomed me with open arms, offering constructive criticism and practical advice. They have opened my eyes to alternative ways of taking photographs. “We have a laugh and a joke about our work, especially between the Canon and the Nikon (spit!) users. We are a club that thrives on sarcasm, criticism and most importantly encouragement and friendliness. We have guest judges and while some are excellent and encourage, there is the odd one who is a bit pretentious. In the end however it all boils down to the questions you should ask yourself. ‘Would I buy that image?’, ‘Would I like it on my wall at home?’ and if the answer is yes, then who cares what other people’s opinions are. It’s all subjective. “Del, go and find a proper club like ours where you can have a laugh as well as be inspired by, or “I joined my local camera club, and it was exactly as Del said – but men were also asked to make the tea. The judges were all taught at the judge school and looked at the photographs subjectively. The same people always got 20 out of 20. Most top scores were those who went on outings with professional photographers who knew exactly where to be at the right time. As one professional said to me, ‘So really it isn’t their own work, is it?’ “It’s taken two years, a few 20s and winning the 17-and-under category to make me feel at home, but I’ve made three friends for photo outings.” Jeanette Thomson inspire, others.” Alan Bromiley

Many thanks for your informative and refreshing newspaper. The issues flewoff the shelf very quickly

at our club AlanBelton

If you have an opinion about anything photographic and especially what you’ve read in Photography News, please drop us an email at opinion@ photographynews.co.uk WHATDO YOUTHINK?

Congratulations on an excellent journal. It contains a lot of interesting snippets that generate enough interest to seekmore information. The contributors are all plainly knowledgeable as well as having a lot to say that’s worth reading. Please continue with your endeavour Francisco de Souza

Photography News | Issue 4