MARCH 2013 Members Choice - February

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1 MARCH 2013 Members Choice - February What s on this month Committee meeting 4th 11th 6:30pm: Welcome to NEW MEMBERS 8pm: Exhibition Night: REPETITION + OPEN Judge: Roy Killen Misty Morning Mandy Ferretti Inside this month: Guest speaker YAN ZHANG reviewed. 2 Exhibitions to visit. 3 18th Sunday 23rd 25th WORKSHOP: PHOTOSHOP Presenter: Shayne Cocks SPRINGWOOD FESTIVAL Exhibition of our work in Church Hall Guest Speaker: PETER ADAMS Some photos from February exhibition night. 4 Theme definitions & other events this month. 5 Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst. (Henri Cartier-Bresson) The Blue Mountains Photography Group aims to support our shared love of photography, by providing a forum in which to learn, develop skills, discuss images and encourage each other. Meetings are held on the second and fourth nights each month at the Presbyterian Church hall, Macquarie Road, Springwood, 7.30 for 8pm. Visitors welcome. 1

2 Guest speaker: Dr Yan Zhang Dr Yan Zhang is a professor at UWS with a background in mathematics, computing and engineering, and a specialty in artificial intelligence. He very generously spent time with us describing his way of thinking, his techniques and of course, his photos. You can see more of them at: and he is also published in the book. His photographic journey began in 2007 when he bought a Canon 400D and began to explore his local area. He took photos using his intuition and looking for the unique before focusing on small things and special characteristics of his subjects such as water, rocks, trees and grass. He specialises in landscape photography. Some of the thinking Yan Zhang considers in his photography are: SIMPLICITY (compositionally simple). To achieve true simplicity is very hard, as it is not a trivially simple presentation of the subject but rather delivering the essence of the subject in the simplest way. SOUNDNESS (technically correct). Whenever possible, preview what methods you are going to use to take a photo and have a plan in mind this helps minimize mistakes. MYSTERY. How are you going to attract attention. Light always plays an important role in creating a sense of mystery, so use filters to balance light and exposure stacking in Photoshop. BE CREATIVE. This is the most important factor and means considering your photographic approach, viewpoint and light handling. Inspiration can come from comparing your own work with that of others. BEAUTY (a beautiful image) is the overall primary goal. This means different things to different people. Yan illustrated his talk with images he has taken in Australia (particularly the Blue Mountains), New Zealand (which he considers a photographic paradise), the Canadian Rockies and China (his birth place and whose landscapes he is passionate about), including a series called East Meets West. Check out his gallery at Yan suggests considering the use of single or multiple shots. Some competitions only accept single shots and consider multiple shots as interpretive photography. He stressed that a digital landscape photograph should NOT change the nature story of the subject at the time it was made. He frequently uses multiple shots to control noise, particularly in long exposures, and control changes in light. He then merges the separate images in Photoshop manually, not using auto. This allows him to use the area of each image he has set his camera for. Yan left us with a thought from the great landscape photographer, Ansel Adams: Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer, and often the supreme disappointment. Thank you Yan Zhang for sharing your photography with us. 2

3 EXHIBITIONS MARCH 2013 EXHIBITION REVIEWED Birds in the Garden: Photography by Warren Chad. Chad is from Cowra and a twitcher who is also an amateur photographer. He was invited to take part in a project called River to River (involving the Penrith and Lachlan Shires) and taking photos in the famous gardens of the Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest over a few days in spring Chad identified and photographed 35 species of birds that visited the gardens. Some 20 odd prints of beautiful close-ups of a number of birds is shown. Technical details for each shot is provided for those interested. A delightful exhibition well worth taking a look. Ancher House, Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest, 66 River Road, Emu Plains. Daily 10am-5pm. Until 24 March Free. SHOWING The Greatest Wonder of the World. Documentary photographs by Henry Beafroy Merlin and Charles Bayliss of gold producing areas and of cities in NSW and Victoria around the 1870s that form the Holterman Collection at the State Library of NSW. Galleries, State Library of NSW, Macquarie Street Sydney. Weekdays 9am-5pm; weekends 10am-5pm. Until 12 May Free. The fashion of Helmut Newton and Bettina Rheims. Some 50 fashion photographs by two internationally known 20 th century photographers.lower level two photography gallery, Art Gallery of NSW, The Domain Sydney. Open daily 10am-5pm, Wednesdays until 9pm. Until mid Free. Autumn Season Photography by Robert Besanko, Brad Buckley, John Conomos and Ian North. Australian Centre for Photography, 257 Oxford Street, Paddington. Tue to Sun 10am-5pm.Until 19 May Free. White shadow white shine [Anne Noble] and Home [George Schwartz]. Anne Noble s photography of Antarctic centres over 10 years and 80 year old Schwartz s personal views about home after a life of travelling around Australia, Europe and Asia on his motorbike. Stills Gallery, 36 Gosbell Street, Paddington. Wed to Sat 11am-5pm. Until 13 April Free. OUT OF TOWN Picturing New York: Photographs from The Museum of Modern Art. This is an exhibition from the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, New York as part of the Art Gallery of Western Australia s Great Collections of the World Series. Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth Cultural Centre, Perth, Western Australia. Wed to Mon 10am-5pm. Until 12 May Free. GOING Flashback: 160 years of Australian fashion photos. This display shows the evolution of Australian fashion photography through the State Library s collections. Level 1 Macquarie Street, State Library of NSW. Weekdays 9am-5pm; weekends 10am-5pm. Until April Free. Compiled by Ted Szafraniec 3

4 Some February images: Images, both Theme (cityscapes) and Open Clockwise from top right: 1. Judy Thistleton-Martin 2. Mark Cocks 3. Colin Purser 4. Jan O Leary 5. Judy Thistleton-Martin 6. Sue Evans 7. Robyn Cook 8. Anne Baker 4

5 EXHIBITION THEMES: "Repetition" is where multiple objects of the same shape or line are positioned in a regular, or alternate manner, to form a pattern. Not surprisingly, repetition and patterns are all around us. For Example, a row of trees; a field of flowers; a line of people; a supermarket shelf; arches of a bridge or viaduct; electricity wires and pylons; the lines created by windows in buildings. Repetition is, however, a tool which can be used to calm the viewer, making them feel comfortable by creating a sense of order and balance. When repetition is used well it can greatly increase the emotional impact of a photograph, giving the eye a pleasing journey across the image. "In the style of Brett Whitely, Michael Kenna, Olive Cotton, Ruby Spowart" Images submitted should be inspired by, or based on, the style of one or more of the artists/photographers named. The artist/photographer and title of the actual painting(s) / image(s) which have inspired your photographic representation, need to be identified on the evening using a small label which will be displayed beside the print. If the image is to be digitally presented, then the author must be prepared to orally identify the inspirational artist or photographer, painting or image. UPCOMING THEMES: April In the style of Brett Whiteley, Michael Kenna, Olive Cotton, Ruby Spowart May Industrial past and present June Altered Reality / Creative July Self Portrait August Abandoned September Street Style October Childhood Memories past and present November Low Light GUEST SPEAKER: PETER ADAMS Peter Adams grew up in the UK, and at age eleven, was given a camera for Christmas by his grandfather. That small Bakalite Box Brownie camera started his life-long love of photography - mind you, it has been interrupted from time to time by other careers. After high school which I couldn t stand and never completed, Peter took a position as an apprentice toolmaker - the only formal training he ever had. Two and a half years later he became a London advertising photographer, taught photography at a regional art school and painted and sold abstract paintings. In 1966 I emigrated to Australia as a Ten Pound Tourist and, between getting on the S.S. Canberra and landing in Sydney, the advertising agency I was supposed to join had gone belly up and I was out of a job! I had about five quid in my pocket at the time!. After working as a ceiling painter for twelve months, he was hired by Bryce Courtenay as an advertising agency art director. Whitewash, says Peter, was the perfect credential for being involved in the advertising business! Adams worked in the advertising industry for 14 years - including a six-year stint in New York where he started and ran a Graphic Design Division. Peter returned once more to Photography starting the Blue Mountains Photography Workshops in Katoomba, where he now lives. Adams lectures extensively, has work included in many collections and has won many awards. He is currently working as a photographer and graphic designer. COME AND HEAR HIM SHARE HIS PHOTOS ON MONDAY 25 TH. 5 Of course, every exhibition night also includes an open section for images of your own choice. Don t forget to check the website for the rules for exhibitions, such as image sizes, prints and digitals.

6 PROJECT OF PASSION: Each year, some members of our Photography Group choose to participate in a Project of Passion. Each person works on their own theme / project and presents it to the whole group later in the year. It is designed to help us to challenge ourselves to improve our own photography, and as it is quite personal in theme, suitable for all levels of experience. To support this, we meet once a month to share our work, discuss progress and give ideas, suggestions and help. We have a professional photographer to work with us this year it will be Dave Glazebrook. Those who have participated in past years have really enjoyed and benefited from the experience. Give it a go! There is a small cost this year to help cover the hire of the hall. SPRINGWOOD FESTIVAL: Is on Saturday 23 rd March, and your photos are NEEDED. Please bring any images you would like to show next meeting (11 th March) or at the latest on 18 th March. They need to be in a mat, but not framed. PHOTOSHOP WORKSHOP: SHAYNE COCKS Shayne is really experienced in Photoshop and uses it professionally. She will look at both CS and Elements, and suggests you bring a laptop with your version, if you are able. If you can t bring a computer, then it doesn t matter, come anyway. MEMBERSHIP: IS NOW OVERDUE If you, or a friend has not renewed membership, please do so or encourage them to do so. Our $60 membership is used to pay for insurance, hall hire, token travelling expenses of guests, equipment, and the general running of our group. There are additional small charges for additional meetings such as POP, workshops etc, to help cover hall hire costs. Your BMPG Committee are: President Greg Farmer Vice President Shirley Steel Secretary Robyn Cook Treasurer Anthony Judd Legal Officer Ted Szafraniec Minutes Judy Thistleton-Martin Member Ann Dent Member Jeannie McInnes BMPG we are: Blue Mountains Photography Group The Secretary BMPG P.O. Box 352 Springwood 2777 Phone: (02) info@bmpg.org.au Web Site Newsletter Jeannie McInnes jemci@me.com articles, information, photos 6