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6th December
Out of Focus, or a Pleasing Lack of Definition!
- News and views by Christine Hodgson
Amongst all the activities WCPG have been involved in of late, has been the Western Area Battle. This is an annual event when 8 neighbouring clubs compete in a friendly, mutually suportive but deadly serious battle to be the winning club. This year was deemed the year WCPG were to play hosts.
Prints and digi entries were submitted and Tom Dodd FRPS did a stirling job of being judge for the occasion. His phrase 'a pleasing lack of definition' to claim a deliberate photographic technique as opposed to having taken an out of focus shot fair tickled me. Apologies Tom for pinching it for the title but it seemed to adequately illustrate how words can radically alter perception.
Initially our group were serious contenders, but fell by the wayside when the digi images were judged. Absolutely no criticism intended Tom, but why were burnt out areas sometimes highlighted, (if you'll pardon the pun) and ignored at others? Nothing to do with one of mine being sorely judged of course!!
Seriously, Tom made it a very enjoyable evening. His relaxed and knowledgable approach plus his own excellent images felt like salve being applied to an open wound.
Congratulations to Dumfries as overall winners and well done to the rest of us for a good show of images. A big thank you to Graeme and Kate for the work they put in getting it all up and running, to Tom (Chatterley) and Keith and their wives for the excellent buffet, and to the Dean Church of England School for allowing us to use their hall for the evening.
The rivers Cocker and Derwent burst their banks -
many homes and businesses have been flooded in Workington and Cockermouth causing widespread evacuation and disruption.
You may have heard of the severe flooding in parts of West Cumbria this week. This has meant that our usual venue in Camerton is not available just now, and the WCPG relocated to Distington Community Center for the recent meeting. This proved to be a comfortable venue with lots of space and will be used for the foreseeable future. Most people turned out for the meeting, and following sharing some of our flood experiences, a good night was had by all. Pictures were selected for the inter club competitions and various awards and ribbons were presented to individuals. We feel very fortunate and our thoughts go to those who have had to leave their homes.
A shy leader?
It has taken some persistence and a number of requests to our esteemed leader, before Tony Potter felt able to submit a paragraph about himself for this page. As I usually do, I asked for a profile describing his beginnings into photography, his main interest of subject etc. etc. What came back was the following, copied verbatim, well almost, a little different but gratefully recieved!
What makes a good picture?
For almost all my picture taking life this has been my quest. In my early camera club days, talk was about "pictorialism", not as today when it is 'Photoshop'. I have been very fortunate in that the clubs I have been a member of have helped me explore and develop my understanding of pictorialism. Being encouraged to enter competitions and exhibitions has helped me to learn from others and their pictures.
I feel looking beyond the camera club is also important in the quest of better and more meaningful pictures. Two hard lessons to learn were to do your own pictures, and not to be put off by rejection. I am still searching for the picture that will...win the next gold medal? NO! That's great, but to capture the picture that expresses what I feel about a place, person or situation is my aim. Today I feel priviledged to be part of a group of photographers who also search for that 'good picture'.
I try not to hunt pictures, but rather let people and places present themselves to me. Have I got good pictures? Who knows? Do the salon judges know? Am I happy with my pictures? Well some of them yes, and some of the pictures I enjoy most, other people cannot see why!
Well it's been almost 50 years of trying. Do I know what makes a good picture? The answer is YES. It's not always perfect, but for me it's the picture that takes me into itself and leaves me feeling pleased I took it, or more often wish I had taken it! And the quest continues.....TP
-Thank you for your insight.
As Christmas approaches, it just leaves me to wish you all a very happy and joyous time, whether or not it involves picture taking. X.