Quarterly RPS VAG Newsletter by Royal Photographic Society

October2024No.23

WELCOMETOOURNEWSLETTER

TheSummerdownhereinGuernseyhasbeen great,notamazingbutlovely.Butnowasthe nightsaredrawinginandtheweatherstartsto getcolderwecanstarttothinkaboutour winterphotography.Thiscanbemoreoutside shootsespeciallycoldandfrosty,morenight shoots,sunriseorevenmorephotographs takeninside.

OurrecentCardiffresidentialwasfabulous (thanksMikeandSally.Themarketwas interestingandImanagedtotakethisimage ontheflowerstall.

Pleaseenjoytheusualarticlesincludedinthis newsletter.

Pleasecontactmetoarrangetoshowcase yourworkinafutureeditionofthisour membersnewsletter.

CarolPaesARPS

CARDIFFRESIDENTIALDEBRIEF

Followingweeksofrain,stormsandfloods SallyandIwereexpectingtheworst......Cardiff havingsomethingofareputationforbeinga trifledampatthebestoftimes.

Howwrongwewere.Wewereblessedwitha weekendofsunshineandalthoughabitchilly

attimes,perfectweatherforourfavourite pastime.

SallyandIpitcheduponThursdaytosetup andironoutanywrinklesreadyforourguests arrivingonFridayandwekickedoffwithour customarywelcomedrinksonFridayevening. Itwasgreattoseealltheusualfacesandquite afewnewonestoo.

SallyandValGlenny,ourVAGmembership secretaryweretheretowelcomethemwhileI helpedJonathanVaines,ourfirstspeaker(who wasalsoleadingtwoworkshopsoverthe weekend)tosetuphisprintsandPowerPoint intheconferenceroom.

Wehadourusualcontingentofthree workshopleaders/speakersovertheweekend andallwereexcellentandgavetheirteamsan interestingtakeontheirrespectivespecialties, Jonathancentringonhisloveandskillof creatingmultipleexposuresanddelvinginto theintricaciesoftheprocessandalsothe creativebenefitsofworkinginprojects.His teamvisitedtheSeneddBuilding,(designedby SirRichardRogersandthehomeoftheWelsh Parliament)withitsamazingconstructionof sustainablematerialssuchasWelshslateand themarvelloussteambenttimbers,thiswasa placetodemonstrateJonathan'stechniquesto theirbesteffect.

ThenwehadEdRumble,aLightandLand leaderwhotookhisteamintoCardiffgivinghis insightsintophotographingarchitecturaldetail ratherthanjustpicturingthewholestructures andalsotakinghisgrouparoundtheold Market.

Lastbutcertainlynotleastwewerejoinedby TomSullam,anawardwinningphotographer andanotherLightandLandleaderandthe nephewofCharlieWaitenoless.Bigshoesto fillwhichhedidadmirably,takinghisteam alongtheWelshJurassiccoasttoDunraven BayandNashPointtwoareasofoutstanding naturalbeauty.Tomcreatessomesuperb seascapesandwastheperfectpersontolead ateamhere.

Eachofourworkshopleadersalsogavea presentation,Jonathanfurtherexpandingon hismultipleexposures,sometimesgoingin verydiverseandabsorbingdirections.

Ed'spresentationcentredonthephilosophy behindthecreationofanimage,whetheritbe otherformsofartorphotographyand althoughitmaysoundabithardtogettogrips with,wasneverthelesstotallyabsorbingand explainedtheethosbehindthecreative processwhichweallfollowinsomerespects, althoughunknowingly.We'llallbeawareof sinuouscurvesandjaggedlinesfromnowon.

Tomtookusinyetanotherdirection. Explaininghowthroughouthisadultlifehe triedtocreateabalancebetweenthefinancial necessitiesandachievingthesatisfactionwe allcrave,(Aworklifebalance).Atruejourney ineverysenseofthewordgoingfromLondon, wherehequicklyestablishedareputationas aninteriordesignphotographerworkingwith someofthebestknowndesigners,toTanzania wherehelivedandphotographedforsome yearsandDarEsSalaam(wherehewas commissionedtodoaseriesonorphanages) andbacktoLondonwhereheisnowbased andalongwithhisinteriordesignworkalso runsprofessionalcoursesintheUSAwith CharlieWaite.Histalkwaspepperedwith someveryamusinganecdoteswhichhadusall laughingbutalsosentthemessagetofind whatweenjoyinlifeandstickwithit.

IshouldaddthatbothEdandTomnormally workasateamforLightandLandandboth useHasselblads(veryenvious)and subsequentlyhaveamasteryofthesquare image.

Wehadourusualshowandtellsoverthe weekendwithsomewonderfulworkfromall withtwosuperb“F”PanelsandonSunday eveningwehadourfinaldinnerofthe conference.

Imustalsohandoutthankstoallthestaffat theMercurehotelwhomadeusallvery welcome.

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We'reoffnorthwardsforournextConference, Yorknoless.Wehaveprovisionallybookedour speakersandworkshopleadersforthe weekend,CarolinePreeceawell-respected Londonbasedstreetphotographerwhoissure toprovideaveryinterestingtakeonthe Shambles.LizzieShepherdasuperblandscape photographerwhoisbasedinYorkshireand maypossiblybeheadingtowardthecoastand anoldfriendoftheVAG,NatCoalsona multimediaphotographerwhowillbe exploringabstractforms.

Thehotelisbooked,theMercureYorkFairfield Manorandthedatesare11th-14thApril 2025.Don'tforgettoputitinthediary.

We'vealreadyhadquiteafewpeoplemaking enquiriessoIwouldgivemyusualadviceto getintouchASAPwhenthebroadcastgoes outinthenewyear.

BothSallyandIlookforwardtoseeingyouall then.You'vebecomeourveryextendedfamily andmeetingupisalwayssomethingwelook forwardto.Meanwhile,happysnappingina visuallyartisticway.

MikeKitchingmanARPS

VAGSelectionDay

IthasbeenmyprivilegetocuratetheVisualArt Group’sExhibitionforeachofthelastthree years.Whilstphysicallyandmentally exhausting,myteampullsoutallthestopsfor theRPSspecialinterestgroupsannualevent.

Wesendouta‘CallforEntries’toallthegroups membersaskingthemtosubmituptothree printsoftheirchoice,forconsiderationtobe includedinatravellingexhibitionthatwehold throughoutthefollowingyear,atseveral venuesupanddownthecountry.

Inordertodothis,wegathertogetherthree learnedindividualstomakeselectionsfrom themembers’submissions.Theseinturnare gradedintoSelectedentries,Commended, HighlyCommended,SelectorsChoiceand finallytheoverallGoldMedalWinner.Every yearourstandardsarenotonlymaintained butthebarisconsistentlyraised,showingthe breadthoftalentthatourgrouppossesses.

Withover256entriesfrom87submissions,it wasalongday!Eachsubmissionwasgiven equalconsiderationbythisyearsselectors, JamesFrostFRPS,HazelFrostFRPSandMark

ReevesFRPS,whotravelledfromopposite endsofthecountrytoscrutiniseeach individualprint,agonisingforsometimeover theeventualawardwinners.

TheExhibitionsWorkingGroupTeam: MartynPearse,ColinLambFRPS,BobBracher ARPS,TomLeeFRPS

TheSelectors:MarkReevesFRPS,HazelFrost FRPS,JamesFrostFRPS

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ScrutinisingSubmissions

Ourheartfeltthanksgototheeffortsofthe selectorsandofcoursemyExhibitionWorking Groupteam,withoutwhomIcouldnot administertheseeventsinsupportofour members.

Thefollowingmembersreceivethisyears honours:

OverallGoldMedalWinner: MartinAddison-“FromtheEarth”

SelectorsChoice-HazelFrostFRPS

WendyMeagherLRPS-“Books,Books,Books”

SelectorsChoice-JamesFrostFRPS

JanetDownesLRPS-“PortIsaac”

SelectorsChoice-MarkReevesFRPS

PaulAdamsARPS-“AWalkintheRain”

HighlyCommended:

TomLeeFRPS-“Lily’sLament” MartinParrattFRPS-“Containment(Oiland Water)”

SamanthaRuthARPS-“VeiledBeauty”

Commended:

BillWheeler-“InnerVisions” FredBarringtonFRPS-“TheUmbrella” ClaireCarroll-“CameraShy”

Thetimesandvenue’softheupcoming ExhibitionswillbepostedontheRPSVAG webpages,socialmediaandnewslettersindue course.Wearestilladministeringtheevents butanticipatethatnewswillbeavailableearly inthenewyear,togetherwithanonlineZoom eventthatwecancelebrateeveryone’ssuccess atbeingselectedfortheexhibition.

ThereisanopportunityforanewExhibitions Leadorganisertotakeonthe2026events

goingforward,sopleasegetintouchifyouare interested.

TomLeeFRPS,ExhibitionsLead

SOUTHWESTVISUALARTGROUP EVENT

SATURDAY,16TH NOVEMBER2024

ThenextmeetingoftheSWVisualArtGroup willbeonSaturday,16th November2024(10am –4pm)atWoodburyVillageHall,FlowerStreet, Woodbury,EX51LX.

OurspeakerwillbeDavidTownshendFRPS( https://davidtownshend.com/) withhis presentationentitled“CreatingGood Impressions”.Thiswillbeanopportunitytosee howDavid’sstrikingimpressionistandabstract imagesinterprettheworldinadifferentway, exploringcolourandshape,textureandlight. Davidwillexplainhowhecomposesimagesin thefieldusingin-cameramultipleexposures combininglayersfromthatplaceonthatday, laterusingLightroomtocompletethecreative process.Davidwillillustratehistalkwitha

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generouscollectionofprints,andhewillalso showushisFRPSPanel.

Asusual,theafternoonwillbededicatedtoa “Show&Tell”sessionwhenallparticipantsare invitedtoshowandtalkabouttheirwork(DPIs, Printsorboth)

Formoreinformationaboutthisevent,contact MarijaLees visualartsouthwest@rps.org.

Topurchasetickets,Ctrl+Click https:// events.rps.org/en/visual-art-south-westautumn-meeting-5a2NN268r3h/overview

MarijaLees

RPSSWRegionVisualArtOrganiser

LIFEONTHESTREETS

Forsometimenow,andespeciallyoverthe lastyearorso,Ihavebeenchasing‘moments’ onthestreets.Armedwithasmallcamera,a primelensandanoptimisticattitudeI’ve stalkedthestreetsfromNewcastletoBrighton andmanypointsbetween.Butmymainareas ofinteresthavebeenOxfordandLondon, thereissomuchgoingon,allthetime.In LondonlastNovemberIfoundmyself unexpectedlyinTrafalgarSquareasoneofthe firstproGazademonstrationswastaking place.OnmanyotheroccasionsI’vebeenin therightplaceattherighttimetocapturea specialmomentintime,anunusualencounter, decisivemoment,amusingsignageetc.etc.

documentary,reportageandurban photography,evenportraiture.It’snoteasyto capturesomethingspecialanduniqueevery timeyougooutandyoushouldn’texpectto. Butwhatyoushouldperhapshopeforis somethinginterestinganddifferent,asceneor situationthatdrawsyouinandmakesyou looktwice.

Differentpeopleapproachthisindifferent waysandthereisnoshortageofopinionon YouTubevideosaboutthebestwaytogo aboutit.Iamnoexpertbuthavefoundwhat worksforme.It’sgoodtoblendintothe background.Notrushingaroundlooking franticisalsogoodandsoiswalkingina relaxedwaythroughthesceneandnot appearingshiftyorcreepy.

Street,orcandidphotographyisagenrethatis difficulttodefine,withoverlapsinto

Don’tmakeyourselfconspicuousinbright clothing,butdowearcomfortableshoesas you’llprobablywalkalongway.Icaneasily rackup15,000+stepsinamorningaround

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Oxford.Dresslikeatourist,bereadytosmile andengagewithpeopleandalwayshaveyour cameraready,focusedandswitchedon,lens capoff.Smallgearisbest,it’sdifficulttoblend intotheshadowswithabigzoomlensanda tripod.

Thereareoccasionswhenyoumayget challengedbutangryconfrontationisveryrare andcanbediffusedwhenyousaywhyyouare takingthepicture,forexample“I’mdoinga projectonxyzandwouldliketoincludeyouin thisscene.”Icarryacardtogivetopeople,it givesthemmyname,areferencetomyRPS membershipandmyemailaddress,butnot myphonenumber.ItellpeoplethatI’llsend themtheimageiftheyemailme.Somedoand somedon’tbutthecontroliswiththem.Iam anoldblokewithalittlecamerasoIreally don’tgetnoticedandIhaven’tyetbeen challenged.

Myaimalwaysistoenjoythedayandtobe happyifsomethinggoodcomesmyway.Much ofitisserendipitous,whenImightcome acrosssomethingunexpectedandgood,so luckisinvolved.Butyoucanplanyourdayand makeyourownlucktosomeextent.It’seasyto findoutwhenfestivals,parades,sportsevents, demonstrations,marchesetc.willbetaking placeandbethere,readytotakeadvantageof theevent.Whenobservinganinteractionor mannerismstayinplaceasitisverylikelyto berepeated.

Observationiskey,itseemsthatthelonger youdothistypeofphotographythemoreyou gettunedintoyoursurroundings.Whenthis happensyouseeandhearmorereadilyand acutelyandyoucananticipatewhatwill happen.Therearealsooccasionswhenthe situationismoreedgythanyouwantbutthat’s usuallygood. Someplaceswillnearlyalwaysgiveyouthe

visit,friendlypeopleandvibrantcolourshelp thingsalong.PlacesinLondonaremanyand variedbutI’vespenthappydaysatBrickLane, CamdenMarket,SouthBank,WestEnd/Soho/ Chinatown,theCityofLondonandanywhere ontheUndergroundortheriver.There’s alwayssomethinggoingoffinTrafalgarSquare andalongOxfordStreettoo.Oxfordiscloser tohomeandIvisitregularly,usuallyto coincidewithsomekindofevent.ThisyearI’ve beentherefortheTownandGown10Krun, severalGraduationDays,OxfordPrideandlots ofsmallerevents.

Everythingisavailabletousonthestreets,we justhavetobecarefulandrespectful.Some areasaregenerallyofflimits,forinstance homelesspeople,oranyonewithadisability, thesepeoplehaveenoughproblemswithout ourinterference.Materialonthissubjectis plentiful.TherearecountlessYouTubevideos, someofmysubscriptionsareAlanSchaller, Streetsnappers,Framelines,andPaulReid Photography.CheckAmazonforbooks, anythingbyBrianLloydDuckettisexcellent,as isMattStuart’s‘Thinklikeastreet photographer’.Therearesomanyothers,too manytomention.ThelistofbooksontheRPS Documentarywebpagesisalsoexcellent.

Streetphotographyisnotvisualartbutit’sfun andrewardingandyouneverstoplearning.It keepsyousharp,youmeetalotofinteresting peopleandyougetplentyofexercise.

I’mveryhappytohaveahobbythatkeepsme on thestreetcorners

JohnCavanaARPS

VISUALARTLONDON–FIRST MEETING 28TH SEPTEMBER2024

Thefirstmeetingofthenewsub-groupwas heldatTheOldDioramaArtsCentreNW1and wasagreatsuccesswithover35members attending.Therewasanopportunityfor everyonetochatwithlike-minded photographersinthebreaksandthedaywas enjoyedbyall.Thevenueworkedverywelland iseasytogetto,beingwellservedbypublic transport.

ThepresentationsbyRogerandAngelaFord wereexcellent.RogergainedhisFellowshipin 1992,isaMemberoftheLondonSalonof Photographyandhasbeentakingimagesfor almost50years...fromdarkroomtodigital, graintonoise.Hisimagescapturedlifethrough aseeingeye,ofteninvolvingmovementand momentinacreativeway.Angelaisan AssociateoftheRPSandherpresentation showedavarietyofimagesachievedbyheruse ofdifferenttechniquesandideasonhertheme of‘Festivals’.Theybothshowedprintsaswellas theirdigitalpresentationsandthesewere greatlyappreciated.

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WelookforwardtowelcomingbothRPS membersandnon-memberstoourfuture meetingsandthenexttwodatesarelisted below:

1st February2025 –Members’Day ApresentationonHaikubyMaryDavisARPS, followedbysuccessful Distinctionspanelsand‘ShowandTell’ 24th May2025 PresentationsbyVandaRalevskaandLinda WevillFRPS

LindaWevillFRPS

TYNGFOUNDATION

FollowingtheTYNGFOUNDATIONAGMatthe Photographer’sgalleryonMonday21October. Ihavetoreportthatunfortunatelythereare goingtobechangesamongsttheteamofTyng FoundationTrustees.

BoththeTreasurerandtheCompanySecretary haveaskedtostanddownforpersonalbut quiteseparatereasons.PaulMitchellFRPS, ourChairhoweverwillremaininpostandI confidentwillablyguideus.

Ifwouldliketobeconsideredforeitherof thesepositionsandfeelabletomakea contributiontotheTyngFoundationthen pleasecontactmyselfinitially.Iwilltryan explainourmissionanditsresponsibilities.

Ihavegreatlyenjoyedbeinginvolvedin‘The Tyng’sofarandinwhatisbecominganewand excitingventureintheestablishmentofanew ‘TyngCollection’.TheformerTyngCollection remainsinthecareoftheVictoria&Albert Museum,whereofcourseitisavailableforus alltoview,albeitbyappointment.

RobertHerringshawARPSTyng FoundationTrusteeandVAG Committeecoordinator.

MikesArchitecturalshortsNo3 LloydsBuilding,No.1LimeStreet.

TheLloyd'sbuilding(sometimesknownasthe Inside-OutBuilding)isthehomeofLloydsof London.

ItislocatedatnumberoneLimeStreetonthe formersiteofEastIndiaHouseinthefinancial districtoftheCityofLondonandwasdesigned bythearchitectRichardRogers.Itwasbuilt between1978and1986andBoviswasthe contractor.Thebuildingisaleadingexampleof radicalBowellismarchitectureinwhichthe servicesforthebuilding,suchasductsandlifts etc.arelocatedontheoutsidetomaximise spaceintheinterior.Thetwelveexteriorglass

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liftsareuniqueinthefactthattheywerethe firstoftheirkindintheU.K.

(AnotherbuildingofthistypeisthePompidou CentreinPariswhichwasco-designedby RogersinconjunctionwithRenzoPiano).

BacktotheLloydsBuilding,it'sgradeonelisted andissaidtobe"universallyrecognisedasone ofthekeybuildingsofthemodernepoch".

Unfortunately,havingthecomponentsrouted outsidethewallshasledtoveryexpensive maintenancecostsduetotheirexposuretothe elements.Becauseofthecostofcleaningand maintainingtheexterior,Lloydsconsidered vacatingthebuildingin2014anditsformer chiefexecutiveRichardWardwassaidtohave stated:"Thereisafundamentalproblemwith thisbuilding.Everythingisexposedtothe elements,andthatmakesitverycostly"butit's stillthereandfunctioningandwithitsgrade onelistingwillremainso,it’smarvellous stainlesssteelconstructionlookinglike somethingfromFritzLang’s“Metropolis”

Thebuildingitselfhasthreemaintowersand threeservicetowersaroundacentral, rectangularspace.Itscoreisthelarge UnderwritingRoomonthegroundfloorandif thesecurityguardswillletyouin(Veryunlikely) ithousestheLutineBell(supposedlyfromHMS Lutine)withinitsRostrumwhichhashungat Lloyd'ssincetheywerehousedatTheRoyal Exchangein1859–1928upuntilnow. Thebellwastraditionallystruckwhennewsof anoverdueshiparrived–onceforthelossofa

October2024No.23

ship(i.e.badnews),andtwiceforherreturn(i.e. goodnews).Thelasttimeitwasrungtotellofa lostshipwasin1979andthelasttimeitwas rungtoheraldthereturnofanoverdueship wasin1989,itbeingcrackedandsomewhat fragilenow.

TheFinancialdistrictitselfisagoldminefor architecturalphotographerswiththe LeadenhallBuilding,theWillisBuildingand KohnPedersonFox'sScalpelBuildingall surroundingLloydsandashortwalkawayat30 St.MaryAxeisthewonderfulGherkinBuilding. Ifyou'venotbeenbeforeandhavealoveofthe subjectdovisit.I'vespentmanyhoursaround thisareaandwillnevertireofexploringitand (whenIhavethetimetoqueue)sometimes enjoyinglunchattheSkyRoomat20Fenchurch Street,justashortwalkaway;andit’sanever evolvingareaalso,havingrecentlybecome hometoitslateststructureat22Bishopsgate, the‘Horizon’building,nowthetallestbuilding intheCitywithamagnificentviewingplatform onLevel58(Entrancefreebutpre-booking essential).

Ifyoudovisittheareabesuretoallowyourself plentyoftime,youwon’tregretit.

LloydsBuildingNo.1LimeSt.EC3M7HA

MikeKitchingmanARPS

COMMITTEEMEMBERS

ThefollowingmembersmakeupyourVAG committeefor2024/25:

Chair MarkDeutschLRPS

Secretary&Newsletter CarolPaesARPS

Treasurer BarryBarkerFRPS

Membership ValGlennyARPS

PublicationsCoordinator WendyMeagherLRPS

ExhibitionsCoordinator TomLeeFRPS

SocialmediaCoordinator StevenGalvinARPS

Exhibitionsmember MartynPearse

WebEditor MichaelButterworthLRPS

CirclesCoordinator GillDishartARPS

Residentialweekends MikeKitchingmanARPS

CommitteeMembers PaulBullockLRPS BobBracherARPS

Therearealsothreesub-grouporganisers andoneVisualArtGrouprepresentative fortheTyngCollection,heldcurrentlyat theV&AMuseum.Theyare:

VisualArtNorth

MaryCrowtherARPS

VisualArtSouthwest

MarijaLeesLRPS

VisualArtLondon -NEW

LindaWevillFRPS

TyngCo-ordinator

RobertHerringshawARPS