RPS Northern News May 2018 by Royal Photographic Society

NORTHERN NEWS Issue 7

May 2018

Northern Diary Monday 14 May 2018, 19:30 to 20:30

Annual General Meeting of the RPS Northern Region Corbridge Parish Hall, St Helen's Street, Corbridge NE45 5BE Minutes of the 2017 AGM are on the regional website

Sunday 9 September 2018, 10:00 to 15:00

Northumberland Coastal Walk Guided walk around Craster and Dunstanburgh See website for full details

Sunday 28 October 2018, 10:00 to 16:00 Newton Community Hall, Newton, Stocksfield NE43 7UL

Distinctions Advisory Day Advisory day for LRPS and ARPS (All categories - see website) Hazel Mason FRPS, James Frost FRPS, Leo Palmer FRPS Full details and booking on the RPS Website

Sunday 18 November 2018,

10:00 to 16:00

Newton Community Hall, Newton, Stocksfield NE43 7UL

Fellowship Advisory Day Before booking, please read the criteria on the RPS website

Sunday 25 November 2018, 10:30 to 16:00 Newton Community Hall, Newton, Stocksfield NE43 7UL

Landscape: How to Cope with Challenging Conditions Tony Worobiec FRPS Full details and booking on the website All bookings should be made via the Northern Region Events page on the RPS website 2

Message from

NORTHERN NEWS

Carol Palmer ARPS

Issue 7 May 2018

Regional Organiser Northern Region

THE NORTHERN TEAM Regional Organiser Carol Palmer ARPS northern@rps.org Deputy Regional Organiser Geoff Chrisp LRPS Treasurer Bob Turner ARPS Secretary Bob Gates ARPS northernweb@rps.org Cover Image ÂŠ Alan Walker ARPS NORTHERN NEWS INFORMATION ÂŠ 2017 All rights reserved on behalf of the authors. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder. Requests for such permission must be addressed to the Editor. The Royal Photographic Society, Northern Region and the Editor accept no liability for any misuse or breach of copyright by a contributor.

As usual we have an excellent selection of articles in this newsletter and my thanks go to everyone who volunteers to write the articles and provide me with the images. Please let me know if you have something you feel will interest our members that can be illustrated with your images. My congratulations to Jacqui Mair and Julia McNeil Richardson for their stunning images which have been recognised nationally. Jacqui in the Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year 2018 and Julia in the RPS Nature Exhibition. If you have seen any of the images from these two national selections you will know the standard is exceptional. Very well done. Both Jacqui and Julia posted their images on our Facebook Group where otherwise we as a Region may not have known about their success. If any members have any national success or know others who have then please post the images or let me know at northern@rps.org Our Facebook Group which is vibrant and growing daily is also providing me with a wealth of material for our newsletter and I am delighted that everyone who has been asked to help has done so willingly.

Carol

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the RPS or the Northern Region.

Editor: Bob Gates ARPS northernweb@rps.org

On the streets of Newcastle with Durham photographer David Trout LRPS Don't get me wrong, I love the British countryside, especially the Scottish Highlands and Snowdonia, but I get more buzz out of wandering city streets with my camera than I ever get out of a visit to the Lake District. The man-made environment with vibrant architecture, both modern and historic, plus its inhabitants, is where I find photographic inspiration. I have a fairly wide range of photographic interests which include covering events such as the Whitby Goths Festival and The Edinburgh Fringe. Here I can increase my experience of portrait photography. But the three things I currently most enjoy are street photography, architecture and snapping steam railways. The latter is not the subject of this article but the two former are included here because they can be combined on a photographic expedition. In quality modern architecture I seek out the colours, shapes and abstracts of the buildings, the more abstract the better and definitely not with technically precise verticals. With historic architecture, particularly cathedrals, I am in awe of their magnificence.

55 degrees

Don't stare Edith

In the Pink

Street photography involves using the human figure, not portraits and certainly not posed, to work in juxtaposition with the environment. I look for humour, pathos and dramatic backgrounds. Visiting a new location I search out interesting backdrops, possibly part of a building or maybe a wall covered in graffiti, and then wait for the actors to walk on stage. It sounds simple - it is. But you need to develop an observant eye to identify your target. I'd rather work this way than sit in a freezing hide for hours on end waiting for a crested maggot gobbler to make an appearance. I really admire the work of natural history photographers who do this, including some of my Durham Photographic Society friends, but my longest lens is 200mm and anything heavier doesn't appeal to me. My collection of street photo locations includes London, Bath, Birmingham Bristol York and Paris but my natural hunting ground is Newcastle. Here is where I was born, spent much of working life and.....well just love. Each of the pictures in this collection comes from walks through the city, some more recent than others, but almost every time I make one of these walks I can find something new. And if not, there are many coffee shops on the way.

Fast food break

Gallowgate

Northumbria Uni

What I did on my Holidays Edward Forster ARPS After 16 hours flying time and a one hour train journey we finally reached Central Tokyo to meet up with our fellow travellers to discover the history and culture of the Heart of Japan. First impressions were the cleanliness, efficiency that exists in Japan and the friendliness of the Japanese people, which was to continue. Our accommodation was a mixture of western style hotels and traditional Ryokan inns, with bases in Tokyo, The Kiso Valley, Takayama, Kanazawa and Kyoto. Moving around was on foot, by taxi, public transport using underground and over ground trains and bullet train, giving a feeling of being part of the community. Most of the food was traditional with an abundance of raw fish and tofu! We visited museums ranging from the National Museum in Tokyo to a small block printing museum in Ena. There were castles, shrines, Buddhist and Shinto temples galore along with ornamental and meditation gardens. We walked part of the ancient Shogun highway â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Nakasendo Way and bathed in hot springs in snow covered Takayama in the Japanese Alps. The bullet train took us from Kyoto to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park and museum. Lighter moments were a traditional Japanese play, a tea ceremony and a Geisha show in the Giron. An amazing experience despite missing the cherry blossom by one week and not seeing the beauty of Miyajima due to low tide, mist and heavy rain.

Scottish success for Jacqui Mair LRPS This image, entitled ‘Contrasting Time’, was commended in the Scottish Landscape Photographer of The Year Award in March 2018. Settings were: f16, 90s exposure, ISO 50, 20mm, Lee Filters Big Stopper and .9 ND soft grad. I have always enjoyed visiting the Hebridean Islands and last June I booked a week-long holiday on the Isle of Lewis. My main area of interest is photographing the natural world, be that wildlife or landscapes. The Isle of Lewis is such a gorgeous location and there is no shortage of photographic opportunities ranging from stunning coastal beaches and sea arches, to rare birds including corncrakes and red-necked phalaropes. The island is also steeped in history and one of the highlights of my trip was visiting the Callanish (Calanais in Gaelic) standing stones. These stones, which are made of rock (Lewisian gneiss) three billion years old, were erected in the late Neolithic period 5,000 years ago. They are arranged in a cross shaped pattern with a central stone circle. I always feel a profound sense of awe, excitement and mystery visiting these ancient structures. I spent several hours at the stones, initially soaking in the atmosphere and views and exploring each stone’s shape and position, followed by photographing the stones from numerous angles and viewpoints. As the evening approached the wind picked up causing the clouds to move quickly across the sky. I was struck by a sense of time and aimed to capture this feeling by taking a long exposure of the scene. The resulting long exposure image captures contrasting time: the fleeting cloud movement above in comparison to the stones which had stood in place for five millennia.

My LRPS Success Adelle Rowe LRPS

I've been interested in photography since getting my own camera aged 8, and took it seriously when I joined a club in 2012. The first evening, a member talked about their experience of gaining their LRPS. I was inspired and immediately read the guidance that evening. I soon clocked the high standard but saw that working towards a Licentiateship provides a great framework to improve photography skills across a range of disciplines, so I started keeping a folder of images with potential. I attended an assessment day as an observer to gain insight into the process. Then I got some informal advice from a former panel member who thought I had 4 of the necessary 10 images ready. So there was a way to go but a base to build on. Over the next couple of years, I produced more and more images, refining my vision and style. I had brilliant support and encouragement from fellow group members. I spent time considering the balance of the panel and a unifying colour palette. All the photographs were taken locally, with 8 taken just steps from or even at home. I admire travel photography but you don't have to travel to take unusual images. Crucially, I went to 2 advisory days, where panel members very gently critiqued the panel, picking up faults Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d never have spotted. Finally, in October 2017 I applied for the distinction and was successful. I work full time and have a young daughter, so this was just for me. I would like to apply for an Associateship, but will take my time! If I was offering any advice, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say; take your time, accept critique at advisory days, they know what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re talking about and enjoy the whole learning process. The feeling of achievement is worth the work!

Chasing the Dragon with

Irene Berry LRPS and Mike Berry ARPS

It's always going to be a challenge when revisiting a location to get something new. That's why planning and research is so important. It was eight years since our last visit to Hong Kong, when I was the only one taking photographs. I wandered the streets with no plan. Yes, I got some interesting images, but there wasn't a cohesive link that joined them up into a photographic essay or panel. "We need a fixer" We needed someone on the ground, local, with the knowledge to get us to where we wanted, and maybe more importantly, keep us out of trouble. Enter Alex, a Frenchman living on HK Island, and as it happens a photographer. I told him I wanted to record how the less fortunate, the less financially mobile lived in what is one of the most expensive cities in the world. I wanted to visit the massive government housing projects, and the famous Yik Fat complex. Irene seemed content to just do her own thing (but still tagged along). This time it worked, (there's another story having just returned from Bangkok where it didn't!). Alex, as it happend, turned out to be a bit of an urban guerrilla, nowhere was off-limits to him. We just looked confident, like we belonged and ended up on rooftops of high-rise complexes, with the satellite dishes and the washing - fantastic! Apparently, by law in HK, the rooftop entrance doors should never be locked.

ÂŠ Mike Berry ARPS

Hong Kong is the fourth most densly populated region in the world, 7.3 million people live in an area of 1,104 Km2. In 1953 fire destroyed the shanty homes of 53,000 people, forcing the government into a mass public housing building programme. These estate complexes housed upwards of 45,000 residents and are still in use today. In a small, one room, apartment with a small kitchen, a family of five or six living together is common.

ÂŠ Mike Berry ARPS ÂŠ Mike Berry ARPS

Urban expansion has now left some of these older estates deep in central Hong Kong, standing alongside stunning modern buildings. HK is the city with the most skyscrapers in the world, 8,000 buildings with more than 14 floors. Shortage of land has forced residents to consider, "on-line" burial plots. Traditional plots can cost upwards of ÂŁ65,000, and burials in public cemeteries are exhumed after six years. However, life expectancy is more than 81 years, the 6th highest in the world - maybe because they consume triple the world average amount of tea! Light, as we all know, is important and when deep in the concrete canyons of a city even more so:; it can add huge drama to an image. Unfortunately, the one element we have no control over is the weather. You have to be flexible in your approach, if the sky is falt and grey don't include it in your shot, take detail shots you can add to the project. Shoot inside and if it's raining embrace it, look for the reflections and umbrellas. The company we used is cityunscripted.com They seem to go out of their way to fix you up with someone who is a good match for what you want.

Dad's Garden Sylvia Slavin ARPS My Dad died in 2016, at the age of 92. He gained his doctorate surveying the flora of the Brecon Beacons. He discovered a new species of plant in Hong Kong which is named after him (Boeica guileana) which is similar to an African Violet. In his attic he had a hand made herbarium which is now in Kew Gardens. Dad was an ecologist and devoted his life to educating and improving the environment. In his latter years he stopped his globe trotting and his world became his garden, his music and his cats. The garden contained some rare trees and plants but the lay out was such that it was a haven for wildlife and full of secluded areas. I have always said that inside every large picture there are a multitude of smaller images, you simply have to look for them. A large garden is full of tiny intimate scenes, life goes on everywhere. Underneath leaves tiny insects go about their business, spiders weave webs, flower petals unfurl and a tiny eco system exists. As when I was a child these scenes fascinate me and I love to capture the fantasy feel of it and imagine that I am tiny and a part of it.

A Snail Explores - Haiku: Fragile protection, Your semi-translucent shell. Snail upon a bloom

A Laydybird Drinks - Haiku: Heavy rain has passed, Droplets lie on leaves of green. A ladybird drinks.

I use whatever camera equipment I have with me at the time, some images are made using a compact, others using a DSLR or a mirrorless body with a variety of lenses. I find that working with a project in mind creates a body of work which gives more of a feel for the subject than a single image would give. Some of these images have multiple textures mainly of bokeh and other out of focus things which may be layered with home made textures in a variety of blend modes an opacities in Photoshop. Some images are composites but the aim is to create a dreamy ethereal feel and revisit the wonder of nature from my youth. Images are then finished in Nik Colour Efex, I can rarely remember exactly what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done when creating an image, rather it evolves as I work on it. Sometimes I write Haiku poems to accompany images which add to the mood.

World of Green - Haiku: Raindrops caught in leaves. Aphid in a world of green. Wonder to behold.

Daisy Bud - Haiku: A tiny insect. Daisy bud upon a lawn. Miniature world.

Climbing Hydrangea - Haiku: Climbing Hydrangea, Petals in a haze of pink, Shelter Dad's window.

Yellow Iris - Haiku: Yellow iris shines, Dancing in a shower of rain. Brightens up the pond.

Newcastle photographer's Licentiate success Philip Preshaw LRPS

Photography is a fantastic hobby. It combines elements of creativity, art and technology, with an underpinning of science and a need for technical skills. This is a combination that I find very appealing! In my teens, my parents gave me a compact film camera as a birthday present, and when I was in my early 20s, I bought a second hand SLR camera from a friend, together with a range of lenses. I really enjoyed using those lenses in a variety of situations. Then along came digital cameras, and in those days (about 15 years ago), I had a compact digital camera. I was never happy with it compared to my SLR, as I could never apply the same levels of control, but 35mm film seemed to be progressing towards extinction, and my interest in photography waned. Fast forward a few years, and I now have a digital SLR camera. For a couple of years, I was using it in automatic mode as a ‘point and shoot’ until I told myself that I really needed to learn how to use it properly. The turning point was enrolling onto one of the Digital SLR courses provided by Newcastle City Learning, with our excellent tutor, Jayne Renwick. I am now on my 6th DSLR course, and I am so proud that I achieved the LRPS in late 2017. What an achievement! It still feels great. I think it is important to have something to aim for, and it took over 2 years from first becoming aware of the RPS and the Distinctions to actually being successful. The Advisory Days are essential for understanding the high standards that are required (I submitted images to two), but also nervewracking! The RPS assessors are friendly, fair and supportive, and in the process, you begin to realise that a Distinction may actually be achievable. I like many different forms of photography; wildlife, landscapes, and architecture are particular favourites. More and more kit seems to be needed (which translates to more cost) and while we always complain about the conditions (too light, too dark, too cloudy, too sunny), it is tremendously rewarding when that great shot is achieved (and for the rest, you can always press ‘Delete’). Photography is a great way to spend time, and to be part of the RPS and the wider photographic community is a wonderful opportunity.

Wildlife Photography is fun... ...or is it? Alan Walker ARPS and Julie Walker ARPS I have been takinf photographs for over fifty years, but until relatively recently I had mainly focussed on landscapes, street and travel photography. A few years ago, my wife Julie said, "lets try wildlife photography, it might be fun". I naively believed her! Most of our more sane friends spend their holidays relaxing in the sunshine, maybe reading a book whilst sipping a glass of chilled wine by a pool. Not us! We seek out the coldest, or hottest, places we can find and then spend hours, usually in considerable discomfort, waiting for our often elusive subjects to appear and to behave in the manner we want to capture. Wildlife photography though has certainly taken us to some amazing places. We've been to Antarctica, Svalbard in the Arctic Circle, Yellowstone in winter and remote wilderness areas in Alaska to name a few. Our most recent trip was to Japan where, rather than photograph the beautiful cherry blossom, we endured blizzard conditions in deep snow photographing Whooper Swans and Red Crowned Cranes. Whilst there we also photographed Steller's and White-tailed Eagles on sea ice. This too involved challenging weather conditions as well as early morning starts. The boat which took us out to the sea ice and eagles in time for sunrise departed at 5 am and at that time in the morning the wind-chill reduced the temperature to minus 30C. Nevertheless, it was wonderful to see the eagles silhouetted against the rising sun. As all keen wildlife photographers will know, although the challenges involved are considerable, every trip has its compensations as there is enormous pleasure, not just in capturing a special moment, but also simply observing the wildlife. Our trips have been many and varied. Bears are a particular favourite of ours and we have Red Crowned Cranes in Snowstorm, Hokkaido travelled to Alask, Finland and Svalbard to photograph them, but these adventures have ÂŠ Julie Walker ARPS not been without risk. In 2016 we went to Brook Falls in Alaska to photograph Grizzly Bears fishing for salmon. This involved a wallk of about a mile to a viewing platform through dense forest on a narrow path that was frequented by the bears. We had been told to talk loudly as we walked to ensure that the bears were aware of our presence. We had not been told what to do if we encountered a large male ambling towards us on this narrow path so, on finding myself in this situation together with a fellow photographer, all we could do was press ourselves against the trees while the bear passed within a few feet of us, sniffing in our direction as he went as if if was weighing up wheter we would be tastier than salmon. It's no exaggeration to say that I thought my time was up! 28

There were many fun moments on this trip that countered this heart-stopping moment. Watching a female bear encourage her three cubs to climb a tree to ensure their safety while she went fishing, and observing their antics whilst up the tree, was enormously entertaining. Observing the different methods used by the bears to fish, some quite chaotic, was wonderful. Some encounters with bears have been a little more trying. In April last year we went to Finland to photograph European Brown Bears in snow. This involved three nights in a hide, similar in size and construction to a small garden shed, in temperatures well below freezing. A hard wooden bench, just about wide enough for the two of us to sleep on was Fishing at Brook Falls, Alaska ÂŠ Alan Walker ARPS provided together with sleeping bags. Even clothed from head to foot in several layers suitable for arctic conditions it was very, very cold! To make matters worse the only bear willing to brave the cold conditions didn't appear until dusk just as it was getting too dark to photograph and disappeared into the forest again at dawn before there was enough light to take a reasonable image. However, the ride to the hide in a sleigh pulled by our guide on a skidoo through a winter wonderland was enchanting, although it may not have entirely compensated for the lack of bears. Photographing British wildlife can be just as challenging as well as rewarding. In January this year we went to Scotland to photograph Mountain Hares. Although these hares have often been photographed they can be difficult to find, especially against a suitable background, and conditions can be harsh. Considerable patience is required as these cute creatures often remain relatively motionless for long periods of time for their own safety. Julie sepnt four hours lying on the ground patiently watching two hares but, although this was uncomfortable, she was rewarded by being able to observe their behaviour at close quarters. Not all our wildlife photography is carried out in cold climates. We have travelled high into the Andes in Chile in search of flamingos where altitude sickness and strong winds present the greatest difficulties. High temperatures in Africa have also been challenging. During a visit to Botswana in October a few years ago we encountered temperatures of over 40C inside our tent. The only way to keep cool while resting in the afternoon was to cover ourselves with wet towels. Despite the challenges, wildlife photography remains a passion and yes, it's fun even when the conditions are harsh. It was wonderful to watch three young lion cubs, whilst in the Masai Mara last year, stride out on their own with no mum in sight, we think she had probably gone shopping! When they were frightened by a troop of baboons they ran towards two male lions and we were concerned that they were placing themselves in yet more danger. It was quickly apparent they were safe as one was their father. He greeted them with a show of affection and sheltered them when it started to rain.

Dad babysitting ÂŠ Alan Walker ARPS

Steller's Eagles fighting, Rausu, Hokkaido

ÂŠ Julie Walker ARPS

Snow Hare, Findhorn Valley, Cairngorms ÂŠ Alan Walker ARPS

There is only space in this article to mention a few of the wonderful moments we have experienced. For more information, including details of the talks we give on wildlife and other genres of photography, some undertaken in more comfortable surroundings , see our website www. awalkerphotography.co.uk

Landscape: How to Cope with Challenging Conditions with Tony Worobiec FRPS

For many, an ideal "landscape" needs to conform to a “set of rules” under “ideal lighting conditions” We should be aware that as soon as we leave our home we are entering a “landscape” in all sorts of weather conditions. We need to appreciate that landscape is an extremely wide-ranging genre; such as industrial, coastal, urban and pastoral etc. It helps to understand that every location will have its golden moment and it is simply a matter of being at the right place at the right time. Many photographers are often quite disappointed when visiting a photographic "hotspot", as it rarely appears quite as they had envisaged. It is only when we understand that the defining quality of any landscape is the weather; it governs the two most key features, notably lighting and mood. Rather than determine where you wish to photograph on any specific day, it is often far better to assess the weather, then choose a location that best suits. The purpose of this workshop is to help you to the potential of photographing landscape, whatever the conditions. We should be aware of the excellent opportunities in all challenging conditions and these will help to define the landscape in front of you; it's all a matter of learning how to respond.

Sunday 25 November 2018 at Newton Community Hall Booking and full details on the website 32

DOCUMENTARY NORTHERN The RPS Documentary Group has a thriving Northern sub-group based in our region. We are a keen and supportive group of documentary photographers who have been meeting regularly in the north-east over the past year. We have visited various exhibitions together, presented our own work and taken part in practical exercises. For the future we have lots of ideas for meetings and hands on practical activities. We would welcome new members to join us. Meetings are held in the Kibblesworth Village Millennium Centre, Kibblesworth, Gateshead NE11 0XN. Check the RPS website for details of the next meeting. If you would like to attend please contact docnorthern@rps.org for more details

Malaga Market ÂŠ Marj Baillie LRPS - Documentary Northern member

ADVANCE NOTICE

Bookings being taken on the RPS website for two Distinctions Advisory Days to be held in the autumn at Newton Community Hall 28 October - Licentiate and Associate Advisory Day 18 November - Fellowship Advisory Day 33

RPS Nature Group Exhibition

Congratulations to Julia Richardson who had this image accepted into the RPS Nature Group Exhibition. Julia says, "I took the image on a recent trip to Scotland. My aim and hope was to capture 2-3 birds interacting in the same shot. In this shot, the crested tit flew in to threaten and push the coal tit off the branch so it is a good example of bird behaviour. It was shot at 1/4000th of a second which shows how fast they are.

Crested Tit versus Coal Tit

ÂŠ Julia Richardson

From the RPS Collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum This image in the RPS Collection was taken by the English fashion and portrait photographer Norman Parkinson (1913-1990). He began his photographic career in 1931 as an apprentice to the Royal court photographers, Speaight and Sons Ltd in New Bond Street and then opened his own studio in Piccadilly in 1934, luring debutantes to his studio with promises of a ride in his four-seater tourer. He worked for magazines such as Harper's Bazaar and Bystander. During the Second World War he was a reconnaissance photographer for the Royal Air Force. From 1945 to 1960 he worked for Vogue magazine as a portrait and fashion photographer and from 1960 to 1964 was Associate Editor of Queen magazine. He was never shy or retiring and was known to the staff at Vogue as 'Parks'. He cultivated an exaggerated personal style and his eccentricities included a large, white, last-days-of-the Empire moustache and Victorian smoking cap. This made all the more striking as he was 6 ft 5 in tall. During this time his great rival, Cecil Beaton, described him as being, 'a bit flash'. After seeing Jerry Hall in one of Parkinson's photographs, Bryan Ferry asked her to pose as a mermaid for the cover of Roxy Music's fifth album, Siren. After her marrage to Mick Jagger, she and Jagger became close friends with Parkinson and his wife, Wenda. He often photographed the Royal Family and produced the first official photographs of Prince Charles at his investiture as Prince of Wales. In 1980 he photographed the Queen Mother sat between her two daughters, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, for her 80th birthday. In 1963 he moved to Tobago (largly to avoid tax on his considerable earnings), and began rearing pigs. For years, his famous "Porkinsons Bangers' were served on Concorde and at The Ritz. He continued to make regular visits to London working as a freelance photographer. In the 1981 New Year's Honours he was made a CBE and in the same year was awarded the RPS Progress Medal and Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society. He died in 1990, aged 76, following a cerebral haemorrhage whilst on assignment in Malaysia. He wanted his obituary to read: 'He took photography out of the embalming trade and, for a time, the open shutter of his camera was a window to the shimmer of a vanishing England.' 35

Bob Gates ARPS

Three's a Crowd