November 2021 in this issue Contacts - who’s who in Yorkshire P.1 Report by your RO P1, P2
Yorkshire Region Contacts
Tim Flach HonFRPS talk report P1, P2
Regional Organiser: Mark Slater E: yorkshirechair@rps.org T:
Mary Crowther ARPS receives Fenton Medal P3 Updates for Members - 2022 Plans, PhotoForums and the Visual Art North Group P3A
Regional Treasurer: Geoff Blackwell FCCA ARPS Brian Crossland LRPS, Yorkshire Villages P3B E: gblackwell@fastmail.fm T: Newsletter Editor: Brian Crossland LRPS E: RPS.Yorkshire.News@gmail.com T: Regional Secretary/webmaster: David B Hall
Report by your RO
What not to miss in Yorkshire P4 Distinction successes P4
Creative Eye - develop your photographic skills P4
Dear regional members, On the 12th October we had the pleasure of welcoming Tim Flach HonFRPS to the region to give a talk, in conjunction with Sheffield Hallam University. Tim’s images are striking in their nature and have been used widely, from appearing as one of the images used on the iPhone box, through to more recently on the cover of the Sept/Oct ’21 RPS Journal, making it one of our most striking and memorable covers. It features a beautiful photograph of a bright pink ‘Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo’ taken by Tim Flach, who received his Honorary Fellowship of the Society, our highest distinction, in 2013, the same year in which he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the Arts, London.
Looking at Tim's photograph of the cockatoo - and looking at so many of the photographs that we were privileged to see this evening, it would be a mistake to label Tim a ‘natural history photographer’ or a ‘wildlife photographer’. Yes, he is a photographer of animals and birds but, more so, he is a portraitist in the finest tradition of that genre. A portraitist that makes portraits of animals and birds, rather than of people. Although, that said, I have no doubt that Tim could take a fine portrait of a person; it might be a lot easier than dealing with some of the animals, but then again I suppose that depends on who the sitter is!
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November 2021 YORKSHIRE REGION
Report from your RO …continued…
…con%nued… Tim’s distinctive style is such that he is presenting not the ‘humanity of animals’ but, by allowing us to reflect on the subjects of his photographs he is allowing us to glimpse our own humanity through our emotional connection with animals. Simply looking at any one of Tim’s photographs communicates such a complex narrative of the human and animal co-existence. What an unexpected, but none-theless incredible, demonstration of the power of photography to alert, to inform, and to help fashion public opinion at a time when our co-habitation of the planet is so much in our thoughts and should be in our actions. It was a truly inspirational and entertaining evening and gave everyone an opportunity to think more deeply about our relationship with animals and their relationship with us.
On the Regional page on the RPS website you will find a number of upcoming activities, we are lucky to have such a wide number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) that are active in the region, along with a number of regionally organised events and talks. We are already planning for next year and are lining up a number of good speakers for the AGM. Keep an eye out for further details. Kind regards, Mark Slater RPS Yorkshire Regional Organiser
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November 2021 YORKSHIRE REGION
Mary P. Crowther ARPS Recipient of Fenton Medal
Dear members of the Yorkshire Region, and beyond I am truly overwhelmed, honoured and privileged to have been nominated and receive this award. My time with the RPS has been an enriching and illuminating journey, one with many passionate volunteers and photographers along the way. I love photography because it is a perfect blend of science, technology and art. You have the basic equipment and understand how lighting and exposure work, but it is the artist in you to see the shot that other people don’t and composing them in a creative way. It is the spontaneity to capture that moment as it happens, and over the years I have met so many great photographers who have spent time sharing their knowledge and experiences. Photography is a great way to connect with people, it is a community, it is something you can enjoy in solitude or in groups, exploring and appreciating a common theme. A great interest and pleasure to share, teach, study and appreciate other people’s photography. Thank you so much to everyone I have met along my journey, everyone who’s helped the region in many different ways and the Society for this recognition. As a new chapter for the society begins, so my adventure will broaden further.
Mary portrait by Ian Marshall CPAGB
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November 2021 YORKSHIRE REGION
Mary P. Crowther ARPS UPDATES FOR MEMBERS
PhotoForums In 2022 we hope to move reintroduce face-to-face mee6ngs, where possible and when safe, but in the event that we have to experience more social distancing and isola6on, we’ll con6nue to develop our use of Zoom and other aspects of the digital world. PhotoForums are always informal mee6ngs where you share your images and receive posi6ve and construc6ve feedback about your photography as preliminary steps towards the RPS Advisory Days and submissions for Dis6nc6ons. Further to the PhotoForums, it is planned to have two Advisory Days in Wakefield, look out for these events on the RPS Website.
2022 Plans Throughout 2022, we already have plans in place for two outdoor photowalks, a guest speaker at the Regional AGM and Advisory Days as well as on-line ac6vi6es and workshops. (Covid permiOng) Details will be on the RPS Website for bookings, all are welcome.
Visual Art North Recently, the Visual Art North Group met for an outdoor event at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP). The weather was very kind, the lunch and hospitality from the YSP staff were wonderful and hopefully some of the images taken from the day will form part of the presenta6on at the VAN November 25th online mee6ng. Look Out for VAN ac6vi6es and updates on the RPS website. Their next outdoor mee6ng is currently being planned for early Spring 2022.
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November 2021 YORKSHIRE REGION
Yorkshire Villages with stories to tell
Do you know of any villages where you make photo-visits which you’d be happy to share with members, possibly leading to a visit by a small group? It doesn’t have to fit into a specific SIG category, indeed it may even be of interest to several SIGs, or none at all.
I visited the village of Fishlake a couple of months ago, remembering the flood which devastated them two years ago. Only 25 miles from home and I’d never been. Before the flood hit the news, I’d never heard of it, sadly, so I had to take the camera. The village is quite impressive and contains many picturesque buildings. The day I visited happened to be the launch day of a book about that flood. Photographers and many villagers, who had contributed to ‘their story’, were out and about as well. I learned a lot about this once inland port. Their website www.fishlakefloodbook.co.uk provides a taster of the book and the village.
If you’ve never been to Wentworth in South Yorkshire, you’re missing another pretty village, steeped in history, with the largest fronted private house in the UK (Wentworth Woodhouse) and lots of industrial history focussed on coal mining. Some surface workings of one of the old mines is being renovated to preserve it, and may soon be ready for a photo-visit. Please let me know if you’re interested.
If you’ve discovered such a place which others may enjoy visiting and learning about, please send the Editor a brief note and a picture or two and we’ll try to share it in the coming newsletters, hoping to encourage others to want to know more.
Thank you, Brian Crossland LRPS (editor) RPS.Yorkshire.News@gmail.com
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November 2021 YORKSHIRE REGION WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT MISS Activities are being discussed and planned, as far as possible, for 2022 - see page 3A of this e-News. Please check the RPS website for the latest details, updates, cost and any essential booking information for a range of activities and meetings. Due to Covid we are still in a state of flux and things may change at short notice. Explore all the RPS online events at: https://rps.org/what-s-on/
The Yorkshire Region continues to grow. Welcome to our new members: NOTE: Due to the on going virus situation, information from HQ has been limited.
Congratulations on your Distinction:
Chris Goodacre LRPS Susan Mitchell LRPS Annette Crook LRPS Geoff Carr LRPS Jenny Owen LRPS Christopher Russell LRPS Lorraine Spittle ARPS Geraint Evans ARPS Julie Kirrane ARPS Exemption Barbara Sheldrake ARPS Exemption
NOTE. If anyone has been missed, or there are any errors, please email the correct details to the editor for checking and correction.
Crea%ve Eye – online workshop to help develop your eye for photography It’s not always the crea0vity aspect that’s difficult for new photographers, it’s simply figuring out how to use their crea0vity to develop their photographer’s eye. During these sessions, we offer a few quick and easy 0ps that will help refine your crea0ve eye such that you make more interes0ng photos. Maybe you’re most interested in portraiture, landscapes, nature or street photography, and it’s okay to enjoy one type of photography more than others, but there will always be wonderful opportuni0es to develop your photography by taking chances and crea0ng images that are out of your comfort zone. - Six session Monday 24th January – Monday 28th February 2022 [18.30pm – 20.00pm]. See the RPS Website – Yorkshire Hub for details.
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