Photography News Issue 30

Photography News Issue 30 absolutephoto.com

Camera Club of the Year IN ASSOCIATIONWITH

Round 5: The power of nature

We are all aware of the power of nature and it can be awesome, wonderfully photogenic and a real challenge to photograph. But also, aswe havewitnessedwith the floods in parts of the UK at Christmas and new year, it can be totally devastating and dangerous. So it is apposite at this time to remind everyone that no picture is worth risking life and limb for. Please take care and think about what you are doing, whatever you’re shooting. Good preparation is really important. This doesn’t just mean charging the batteries and keeping your lenses nice and sparkling, because you are probably in a state of readiness to shoot pictures at any time anyway. It is more about considering your subject and what conditions you might have to deal with to get decent pictures. Some items you might have in your camera bag as a matter of course, but there again you might not. So, for example, if you’re thinking of capturing the beauty of a waterfall or the energy of a Smethwick Photographic Society is well known in the camera club world for being successful, and now they have qualified for our final with a great performance in Round 4. Smethwick finished two points clear of the chasing pack, so our congratulations go to them. As well as a place in the final, Smethwick PS wins a Canon PIXMA Pro-100S professional A3+ photo printer. This month is the last chance to qualify for the final so good luck.

thunderstorm, then spray is a hazard. You need a strategy to keep your camera dry and your lens free of water droplets. Many cameras are weather resistant and even those that don’t claim to be can be remarkably resilient but there is no point taking any risks. Perhaps you might pack a stuff bag so that you candrape it over the camera when you’re not actually shooting, and instead of a standard lens cloth, take a microfibre travel towel for greater drying capacity. The same accessories are ideal at the coast too where salt spray is a real hazard. If you have protection filters on your lenses right now, you already know their benefits. If you haven’t now is time to invest – remember, the cost of replacing a UV or protection filter is much less than having to buy a new lens because you ruined the front element. Incidentally, when water spray is around, it is worth checking your lens front before every shot and giving it a towelling down if

Images The Power of Nature has huge potential for creative interpretation so have a good think before sending in your entries. necessary. It does slow you down but it’s better that than getting home to find you have lots of out of focus droplets on your shots. Cloning out defects is an option in some cases but more often then not such droplet-afflicted shots are fit only for deletion. The physical challenges aside, think carefully about the theme and how to creatively interpret it. The Power of Nature could mean how glaciers have carved out the landscape or how derelict buildings are reclaimed by nature, so consider the obvious as well as more oblique interpretations of the theme. Good luck – and stay safe!

Round 4: Results We asked for stunning images that creatively interpreted the theme of movement

Scores Smethwick Photographic Society

Peterborough Photographic Society

New City Photographic Society

Beckenham Photographic Society

West Wickham Photographic Society

Paragon Group

Harlow Photographic Society*

Blandford Forum Camera Club

Consett Photographic Society 81 Halstead & District Photographic Society 81 Cymru Monochrome 81 Parkwood Camera Club 79 Macclesfield Camera Club 79 Brentwood & District Photographic Club 79 Dronfield Camera Club 77 City of London and Cripplegate PS 77 Wakefeild Camera Club 77 Wokingham& East Berkshire Camera Club 77 Dunholme Camera Club 77 Deal and District Camera Club 77 Harpenden Photographic Society* 77 Chapel Camera Club 75 Fraserburgh Photographic Society 75 Tonbridge Camera Club 75 Park Street Camera Club 74 Skegness Camera Club 74

Clockwise fromcentre: Full circle no hands by David Keel; Moving by Dinah Jayes; Damian at the Tate by Andy Fryer;

Cascade over rocks by Alison Fryer; and Running through by Peter Gennard. SmethwickPS Roger Parry of Smethwick PS says

SmethwickPhotographic Society made it to the final with a set of five images that explored the theme brilliantly.

“We are very pleased to have made the final. This round was the most challenging so far, trying to find some movement shots that were a bit different. We look forward to the final.”

*Already qualified for the final