Snappers’ report by Jonathan Bolgar

Like all the Bristol 1904 Arts interest groups, the Snappers’ year 2020 – 2021 was dominated by the need to comply with Covid requirements. However, we managed better than many, as photography is essentially a solo exercise unless carried out in a studio. Once we had taken the photographs, we shared them with fellow members for interest, comment and mutual experience. Learning how to take good photographs comes from looking at, analysing and discussing the work of others. In pre-Covid days we would meet in the Upper Studio and each member would project a selection of images. During lockdown, we were able to do this satisfactorily over Zoom, enabling us to hold meetings most months and thus remain active. Again, pre-Covid, some members would bring in historic cameras from their collections for others to examine. There was some impressive delicate engineering achieved by our forefathers. John Stone impressed and amused the assembled members by demonstrating an adjustable telephoto lens he made, when a boy, from two co-axial black painted cardboard tubes and a normal 35mm lens borrowed from his mother’s camera. Viewing historic equipment was not possible during lockdowns, so that was one activity that was curtailed.

During the partial break in the lockdown rules in the summer of 2020, Snappers organised a photoshoot and lunch at Portishead Marina. We had lunch in the Aqua outside seating area and thus complied with fresh air and distancing rules. This meeting was enjoyed on a beautiful sunny day and resulted in some memorable photographs. More recently we have visited Bristol Museum to inspect photographs on display as part of the Bristol Festival of Photography, and arranged a photoshoot at Severn Beach which gave us opportunities to take muscular photographs of sea defence works and the Second Severn Crossing. During lockdown Snappers were appreciative of and contributed to the monthly Smoke Signals. Each month the appeal went out, ‘more images needed for “Smoke Signals” and members came up trumps. Snappers hope that other members of the Society enjoyed and appreciated the images shown. As a result of the change of name and identity from Savages to Bristol 1904 Arts, there has been a demand for photographs of the various activities of the Society and the various interest groups. Snappers have been rather caught out. We do not, by and large, take record photographs. We try to take photographs which are a pleasure to look at, e.g., portraits, landscapes and fine architecture, or raise questions and concerns in the mind of the viewer, e.g., graffiti, rough sleepers and derelict housing. Photography can, at different times, be artistic and/or provide brutal social comment. In the New Year Snappers will consider whether a suitable project to tackle would be a series of documentary images on the various activities of the Society. Snapper members are also members of other interest groups and, of course, the main body of the Society, and take part in their activities. Maybe, next year we will have more to report.