REPORT
Members’ Showcase 2019 Topics ranged from the Coal Industry, Churches in Berkshire, the Misericords of Downside Abbey, and The Art of Seeing, through to Lost Albums; Destroyed Negatives; Dark Places, The Stories Behind Photographs and the Heritage Highlights of Norfolk. MIKE SASSE
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his year’s event took place on 12th October at the Leatherhead Institute in Leatherhead, Surrey. The attendance was disappointing considering the recent trend of increasing numbers, but there was a variety of presentations fully exploring the range of members’ photographic interests in archaeology and heritage. Hiring a larger room gave space for display of prints between presentations, and for circulation during the mid-morning refreshment break, which was also new this year. Refreshments were available on arrival and, following a welcome from the Chairman and the organiser, the event opened with one of the regular presenters, Mike Sasse. In ‘Reminders of the Coal Industry in England’, Mike drew on projected digital images from around the country to depict what could be seen in the recent past and what remains of one of the country’s largest industries, which shrank rapidly and essentially disappeared in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The images were of mines in the later years of operation and following closure, mining landscapes, and sites where buildings and equipment have been preserved. Mining settlements and dwellings were
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also covered, as was the once ubiquitous coal train hauled by coal-powered steam engines, still an occasional site on preserved railways. Rodney Thring LRPS follows the practice of many earlier members of the group in depicting built heritage through traditional black & white prints, although digital and colour prints also featured in his presentation of ‘My Heritage Photography’. The subject matter included a number of country churches in Berkshire and the surrounding area, showing details or a wider view of the church interior, and the colour prints included a series on stained glass windows by John Piper. Images of other heritage sites were shown, including ancient monuments. The prints were accompanied by information and interesting stories about each site, as well as the camera techniques employed. A refreshment break allowed for further discussion, with some of Rodney’s prints on display. The morning session resumed with Walter Brooks, whose presentation ‘Photography at Downside Abbey’ concerned his recent commission to photograph the choir stalls at this 19th and 20th C working monastery for a large format colour book.
Speakers and attendees at the Members’ Showcase, Leatherhead Institute. Photographs by Eric Houlder LRPS.
