July 2023 Newsletter
Phew…scorcheroonies. Apart from the football night at Hampden that is. The similarities continue as we are not that used to such prolonged fine weather, and we’re not that used to such heady heights as top of the table. Bring it on.
I guess it’s holiday time for lots of folks, and I’m sure many of you will be away in warmer climes, like maybe Dunoon or Golspie. I’ll be making my annual pilgrimage back to the Western Isles later this month, it’ll be 42 years since I left there, and I’ve only really missed my trips back in the COVID years. Over those years my focus has changed, from drink fuelled hedonism, to family breaks with wee kids, to exploratory travel weeks with friends, to cycling up and down the Butt to Barra, and all that time my photography has changed focus too, and that’s normal as we develop our styles and tastes. You’ll all recognise that journey as you look through old albums and photos, and it’s at those times that we sit back and reflect on advice and comments we received, from within the RPS and from other sources. Accepting those comments, and moving along in a progressive direction isn’t always an easy task, and it’s one area where I feel the RPS does get it right, and it’s non-competitive ethos is genuinely nurturing. That’s not say that any old rubbish goes, and if you have done or are doing your Distinctions you’ll be well aware of that by now, but the breadth and width of photographic styles within the RPS is second to none. Go, fill your summery sandals, and enjoy.
Monthly Competition
Congratulations to Findlay whose balletic “Sports” image is shown above. A tougher brief for you all obviously, but the quality was good. Lots of voters though, so keep that up.
July /August’s (yep a 2monther) topic is Summer Holidays, and you should submit your entries to Ken, sized at 1000px wide, by as many pixels as you want tall, via
Scotlandweb@rps.org.
Opponents in Harmony Findlay Rankin ARPS
What’s On in July?
Flow Photofest…Eigg Landscapes: Mairi MacAulay LRPS, XOKO Inverness
Shambellie House events…there’s a few, so here’s the home link:
https://www.shambelliehouse.org/
Pollok House, Glasgow: Martin Parr - think of Scotland, until end of August.
Adam Geary - Sweet Spot, Arbroath Brothock Gallery, July to October:
https://www.adamgeary.com/#
28th July Stornoway…RPS Day Oot. If you’re going to be there or thereaboots contact Steve on scotlandsec@rps.org, for joining details. Not an awful lot else by the look of things, but there will be local arts / crafts / Open Studios type days going on all around Scotland, so you should try and get along to as many of these as you can, as it opens your visual horizons. Further ahead?
Stirling Photography Festival, August:
https://www.stirlingphotographyfestival.co.uk/
Landscape SIG day at Linlithgow Loch & Peel, led by Viv Cotton 4th August.
https://billetto.co.uk/e/member-led-event-linlithgow-loch-peel-tickets-846697
Edinburgh International Print Exhibition, RPS Scotland Exhibition, and RPS Visual Arts Exhibition - EPS, Fringe Venue 130, 5th - 27th August
Contemporary / Documentary, Landscape, Creative Eye: Day Oot, Edinburgh 8th August, details below, booking essential by the end of July.
DIG / Landscape: Talk-Walk-Talk Coastal sessions, 7th Sept - 31st Oct.
Contemporary / Documentary: Douglas May FRPS, 12th September, to join this SIG regional group contact Steven sqarehole@btinternet.com
Northern Group - Day Oot to Kingussie, 16th September. mortong31@gmail.com, or dshillabeer@tiscali.co.uk
Northern Group Photo forum 7th October, Nairn
Landscape SIG: Birks of Aberfeldy 16th Oct - led by Annette Forsyth
RPS Scotland Photo Talk: Kit Martin 17th October 19.30
Landscape SIG: The Hermitage 31st October - led by Annette Forsyth
Northern Group Day Oot: The Hermitage and Killiecrankie, 22nd October
Northern Group Weekend: Fort William 27-29th October
Landscape SIG: Cairngorms 5-11 November Residential workshop, with Mark Banks
Ongoing?
https://igpoty.com/exhibition/dundee-heritage-trust-igpoty-16/ A wonderful plant based exhibition at The Verdant Works, Dundee, until the end of August….24 separate categories of stunning imagery, not just about a bonny rose. There’s also a smaller Exhibition upstairs by Matthew Schwartz, and that’s pretty cool too. Tomato soup and Cheese Scone is a winner.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000v4db Dealbh is Slighe - Image and Path, a wonderful series of photography programmes, hosted by Calum McLean. It is in Gaelic, but there are subtitles, and each episode is short but very sweet. Recommended.
Talk-Walk-Talk (T-W-T)
RPS Landscape (LS) and DI groups have joined forces to deliver a new programme for members. The first one starts in the autumn when we focus on Coastal photography. We have had the initial organisers meetiungs, walk details are being uploaded as you read this, bookings go live in July, so keep an eye out for them on the DI and LS websites. I’ll publish the Scottish ones here as and when they come up.
RPS Grampian outing…the Doric Boys and Girls had a day out in May, their first, and hopefully not their last, and they published a very cool wee e-zine, which is mentioned and linked in the RPS broadcast for this newsletter, but here it is again:
https://issuu.com/royalphotographicsociety/docs/zine_20_may_2023
The Landscape SIG have quite a few events coming up in Scotland, the Contemporary / Documentary SIG have a new Scottish Group, which can all be found on their webpages within the RPS e-presence. As always prebooking is required, so the best advice I can give anyone is join some SIGs, check out the various What’s On pages, and get involved.
The 2023 Exhibition is currently on the road between Carnoustie and Edinburgh, where it’ll take it’s place within Edinburgh Photographic Society’s hallowed walls, and be open to the consistently biggest crowd of culture vultures, booze hounds, and thrill seekers that Scotland sees. Fringe venue 130, and two other fine exhibitions on too at the same place. In general Scotland is awash with culture, in all it’s forms, including photography, so if you know of anything going on in your area, let me know and I’ll spread your words. Speaking of words the first of our next season talks has been confirmed, Kit Martin, 17th October…keep your eyes on the website for booking details
RPS Scotland
August: Edinburgh Photographic Society
October: Kirkcudbright Arts Centre 2024.
January: Eden Court Theatre, Inverness
February: Aberdeen Arts Centre
The Rain Came Down Mike Tibbs ARPS ExhibitionJune has brought yet another Scottish F in the from of our wee webmannie, Ken Ness. Ken has been working on this project for a few years, and has built up a fabulous portfolio / booklet about his beloved Rollies. His first submission was very well received, with just a few changes required and on his resubmission he was adjudged to have met those requirements and awarded the RPS’s highest distinction, the Fellowship. This is a pinnacle achievement, and the work that leads up to this is not to be underestimated, so very well done Ken. Special mention goes to the long supporting and suffering Pat, as these journeys are difficult on everyone within cursing range.
Botanical Art and Photography Show, currently running at the Saatchi Gallery, and moreover received a Silver Medal, which is a huge achievement considering the volume and quality of entrants to that. Check it out on:
https://www.saatchigallery.com/exhibition/ rhs_botanical_art___photography_show_2023#_ And the bigger story at:
https://issuu.com/royalphotographicsociety/docs/di_online_april_23_affinity_6
Margaret also had an acceptance at the prestigious London Salon, so it’s been a good spell for her, and she’s a member of Bearsden & Milngavie Camera Club and the Scottish Photographic Circle.
If you have a recent Distinctions or other success you want to share, then get in touch and let’s blow that Tartan Trumpet for all it’s worth. Braw.
Edinburgh Day Oot - a Festival Photography Day
Tuesday 8th August
Contemporary / Landscape / Creative Eye / Documentary SIGs
9.30 @ Edinburgh Photographic Society
Edinburgh International Print Exhibition
RPS Scotland 2023 Exhibition
RPS Visual Art Group Exhibition
Accompanied walks
Festival Performers @ The Fringe
Cityscape and Architecture @ The New Town
Nature and Art along Leith Walk
RPS Members:
C / L / CE / D SIG Members -£5 per head.
Non - C / L / CE / D SIG Members - £7 per head.
Non RPS Members:
£10 per head
Charlotte Square
Colin McLean LRPS
All to include entrance to the EPS Exhibitions (Fringe Venue 130), and a copy of the Exhibition catalogue (all fees reduced by £5 if you have already paid to enter the EIPE)
To book your place email Steven Whittaker ARPS: sqarehole@btinternet.com
RPS Scotland Committee
RPS Regional Organiser:
Dave Ferguson LRPS scotland@rps.org
Committee:
Ken Ness FRPS scotlandweb@rps.org
Kirsten Bax LRPS scotlandtreasurer@rps.org
Steven Whittaker ARPS scotlandsec@rps.org
Local contacts
Northern
Dave Shillabeer ARPS
Morton Gillespie ARPS
Grampian
Nigel Corby FRPS
Tayside
Robin Millar
Fife
Monica Vella
Ken Goodfellow LRPS
Mark Reeves FRPS
Central
Bob Black
Lanark
Douglas Thompson FRPS
Glasgow
Andy Pinch LRPS
Anne McKelvie
Borders
Fiona Cadger ARPS
Colin McLean LRPS
Ayrshire
Clive Watkins LRPS
South West
Jean Robson FRPS