LOCKDOWN FEBRUARY 2021
in this issue Yorkshire Region Contacts Regional Organiser: Mark Slater E: yorkshirechair@rps.org T: 07718 336298 Regional Treasurer: Geoff Blackwell FCCA ARPS E: gblackwell@fastmail.fm T: Newsletter Editor: Brian Crossland LRPS E: RPS.Yorkshire.News@gmail.com T: 07540 824112 Regional Secretary/webmaster: David B Hall
Contacts - who’s who in Yorkshire P.1 Notes from your RO P1 Contemporary North SIG P1 Photo Books - John Pyatt FRPS P2 & 2A Abstracts:: Mary Crowther ARPS P3 & 3A What not to miss in Yorkshire P4 New Yorkshire members P4 Distinction successes P4
Notes from your RO As the year that was like no other came and went, let’s hope that was a once in a generation event. With the vaccine now rolling out we can look forward to getting back to some sort of normality, but take care not to rush into it. The committee has been looking at a range of events for 2021 and the regional diary is already starting to look busy, with a range of talks, trips, advisory days and photography forums (see back page and website). I hope you find something of interest and join in with some of the activities and events within Yorkshire and the wider RPS and I look forward to meeting you next year. If you think of other ideas, please let us know. Lastly, I send my best wishes to you all and hope you had a happy, safe and enjoyable Christmas and make the best of 2021. Hope to see you soon.
Mark
Contemporary Photography is Zooming in Yorkshire…. Following requests for details of current or recent activities, Avijit Datta, Deputy Chair of the Contemporary SIG northern sub-group sent these links to recent reports and virtual meetings. These can also be found by searching at www.issuu.com :
https://issuu.com/royalphotographicsociety/docs/rps-contemp-north_july20
Also available on the RPS website www.rps.org : https://rps.org/media/y3dbvndi/cn-newsletter-2020-09.pdf The reports contains much evidence of ongoing photography, as well as indicating the continued success of this group, which is convened by Patricia Ruddle ARPS. Congratulations to Richard Hall ARPS, who appears at the very end of the September report displaying his photobook submission, for which he was awarded his ARPS.
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Lockdown February 2021 YORKSHIRE REGION
HAND MADE BOOKS John Pyatt FRPS
Since January 2020, I have made 7 hand made books, 3 of which were printed/bound by a book printing service like, Blurb, Bobs Books or Photobox to name but a few of the exultant providers out there, the other 4 were printed and bound by me as lockdown projects. My intent is not to sell, but my advice for anyone considering that would be to use a professional publishing house.
Subject matters range from travelogs to concept based photo essays. Personally, working with pictures is just so motivating and learning the craft of book binding proved very absorbing. Before I go any further I wish to state I do NOT consider myself an expert in designing or binding books, I just enjoy doing it. However I am willing to risk putting my thoughts to paper and hope they are not too basic and boring.
This is the description of one book made using pictures taken prior to lockdown.
The book is titled VACANT SHOP Finding the shop was a chance encounter, whilst taking photographs for another project on the Shropshire-Welsh border. Walking from the car park, back to the project, a window caught my eye and I glanced into the small empty shop. Someone was working outside on the shop’s exterior, so I simply asked if I could take a snap or two. Inside was a gem, so I asked to photograph more. The workman stopped work and showed me round, I did feel I was intruding so I worked fast on pure reaction. Even though I had permission I was still a little uncomfortable seeing something so personal.
..continued‌.
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Lockdown February 2021 YORKSHIRE REGION
HAND MADE BOOKS John Pyatt FRPS
The subject matter lent itself to being hand-bound in the style of a journal, using some hand made marbled paper to provide a rich feel to the cover, adding to the experience of seeing the contents. Choice of size was my next consideration. My next decision is size, based on cost, use and reader experience - particularly the latter.
I intended to call the book 7 minutes 11 seconds, as this was the time I’d spent inside the shop taking photographs (thanks metadata). It meant something to me, but I called it Vacant Shop, mainly because this represented an instant description of the book’s content.
The pages I chose for inside are off white matt with a slight parchment feel due to the subject matter being a little sad and nostalgic. Using a square format, 220 x 220, as I wanted the book to represent a more intimate experience.
On most book projects I would now spend hours on sequencing pictures to visually flow and tell the story ‘however on this one I decided to follow the time line using all my pictures (excluding duplicates) and captioning the time the picture was taken, this also documented my journey through and round the shop’s interior. I also reasoned the time line was an important feature as it reflected on the time capsule I had stumbled into and had the privilege to record.
The slip in case was used to provide a title and picture on the outside, without disturbing the marbled cover, hoping to dilute the ‘journal’ effect, as well as my limited skills in bookbinding.
This is an independent piece of work, but it also sits neatly within a larger body of work that I have been working on for some time, the truth is, chance plays a part but you do have to be there. I am still looking for a project which will empower me to use a leather binding. (new skills are also required for that). A photo opportunity for after lockdown?
Wishing you happy snappy (lock-down rules permitting)
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Lockdown February 2021 YORKSHIRE REGION
Mary Crowther ARPS
Lockdown – Abstract project During this ongoing pandemic, like many others I have had time to think about what is actually important in life. Firstly and obviously, family and health, beyond that the one thing I miss most is my volunteering, especially at the local hospice. Video calling can only help with so much, but I have had the chance to digitally meet some patients and other volunteers in ZOOM meetings and to some degree, that brought us together. Video conferencing has become the ‘new norm’ and for many RPS members, online workshops have been so refreshing and enjoyable during this time. ‘Attending’ online means more accessibility, attracting a wider audience that might not have otherwise been possible. I thought I had an extensive knowledge of the craft of photography, but we can never under estimate how much can be learn from someone else’s perspective on a subject. One such experience - an online workshop on ‘abstract photography’ - led me to start experimenting with ammonite fossils. For me it’s not just the photography, but experimenting with effects caught in camera and papers for print. The paper you print on can make or break an image in many cases. Unfortunately, the full effect of the sample images cannot be experienced as intended because they look much more substantial on art papers which give more of the tones and textures. Here are just a few examples of work from the online course.
…continued…
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Lockdown February 2021 YORKSHIRE REGION
Mary Crowther ARPS
Lockdown – Abstract project (continued) The beginning of this project started with my favourite sculptor, Barbara Hepworth, her work and a study of her ideology of nature and its origin captured in her work.
‘Landscape is strong – it has bones and flesh and skin and hair. It has age and history and a principle behind its evolu;on’. Barbara Hepworth – Sculptor The images shown are just a few examples of work from the online course.
Please respect the copyright of all images
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Lockdown February 2021 YORKSHIRE REGION
WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT MISS (SEE BELOW) Please check the RPS website for further details, updates, cost and any essential booking information. The range of events and on-line activities/workshops can be found on the RPS website.
Listed below are some of the activities and events which have been discussed and planned, but the Covid-19 situation adds variable limitations.
Please check the website for details, which may change at short notice due to the pandemic.
The Yorkshire Region continues to grow. Welcome to our new members:
NOTE: Due to the current virus situation, and some RPS staff being on furlough, information from HQ has been limited. Congratulations on your Distinction: Mark Noblet LRPS Alison Taylor ARPS Joanne Gower FRPS Geoff Walker LRPS Julie Cowdy ARPS
Lesley Peatfield ARPS Harry Wentworth ARPS James Renshaw LRPS Valerie Mather ARPS
NOTE. If anyone has been missed, or there are any errors, please email the correct details to the editor for checking and correction.
Please visit the website, under ‘What’s On’ for details, including times, cost, any other details. Photography Forums Advice £3, Observer FREE: 19th February; 24th April; 18th June;
A Place of Work - talk by Ian Beesley, artist and photographer; 4th March.
Photo Walk Blackpool - 23rd April: Price, from £15
Swaledale Wildflower Meadows - 7th June: from £62
North York Moors - 23rd August: from £62
York Photo Walk - 23rd September: FREE
Autumn Woodland - 26th October: From £62
Falling Foss autumn colours - 30th October: From £62
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