MY COVID ANTIDOTE

from RPS-Benelux Chapter eJounal - volume 22 - Spring 2021

PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE PAST Peter Hayes FRPS

The RPS Benelux Chapter DISTICTIONS

Héctor B. Epelbaum

“There I liked to watch the water surface of the ponds acting as a deforming mirror. It was never still, endlessly fascinating and almost hypnotic”

During winter 2020, when Covid-19 started

spreading worldwide, it became evident to me that a long period of self-isolation was looming. I wanted to fill this period with positive experiences and focusing on a challenge like achieving an ARPS would even improve my quality of life. Close to where I live, there is a park and an arboretum that offer possibilities for extended photographic explorations whilst also respecting social distancing. I could choose between wildlife, animal behaviour, plants and physical phenomena related to water and to the atmosphere. The self-isolation meant I had the time and concentration to discover the richness of my possible subject, reflections on a water surface. There was a full spectrum of phenomena and appearances to explore and to show. I decided to limit my panel: no animals, no particular concentration of waves generated by animals and I wouldn’t generate waves by throwing stones into the water nor introduce colours through reflections. I started taking photos in the middle of March 2020 guided by a concept that would become my Statement of Intent after minor changes:

FROZEN OSCILLATIONS

During the Corona lockdown I frequently visited my local park, Park van Tervuren in Belgium. There I liked to watch the water surface of the ponds acting as a deforming mirror. It was never still, endlessly fascinating and almost hypnotic. The foliage of the grass banks with their waving trees, combined with the clouds drifting overhead and the occasional cyclist or jogger were all reflected. The presence of clouds and the position of the sun strongly affects the light spectrum and intensity. These continually influence the contrast and how we see the colours. Birds and a brisk breeze agitated the water contributing to the symphony of oscillations. I processed the colours a little to my taste. My photos visualise the beauty I found on the water surface of the ponds.

Words are essential for understanding the meaning of photos. For instance, my original title was “The Beauty of Oscillations”. I changed it to “Frozen oscillations” thus making it more informative while taking out the subjectivity. During the first weeks I tuned my photo technique for achieving enough depth of field with a telephoto lens. Simultaneously I decided to apply to the Fine Art Category with printed photos.

SHOWN ONLINE

At the end of May I stopped taking photos for the ARPS panel because the ponds were partially covered by algae and it became very difficult to take photos of reflections. The variety of colours in the reflections also diminished drastically because of it being summer: green was the preponderant colour.

My photos were shown online, together with my Statement of Intent, to our Benelux Study Group. The feedback I received was positive and energising!

A REASSURING EXPERIENCE

My photos were shown online, together with my Statement of Intent, to our Benelux Study Group. The feedback I received was positive and energising! To visually optimise a panel without diminishing the appeal of individual photos was a learning process of ongoing adaptation to the goal. The Study Group guests were specialists that gave me a very qualified feedback! Enhancing the consistency of the panel through subtle colour changes in the printed results helped to further my development as my own assessor. And finally, being able to show and discuss the printed panel before sending it for the Assessment was a reassuring experience. Additionally, through the concentrated dedication for achieving the A Distinction, I improved my planning, visualisation, writing down of the concepts and not least, learning from my mistakes. This is a good way to learn how to achieve meaningful photos.

I ACHIEVED MY ARPS!

It is now interesting to return to the places where I’ve already been several times. I can achieve more under similar circumstances as my perception is more differentiated and I learned a bit about birds’ behaviour, how colours and shapes change with the seasons, the cycles in nature and many features I overlooked in the past. The only requirement: my mind should be open.

My assessment in October 2020 was positive. Fantastic! I achieved my ARPS!

Evidently the self-isolation would not end in December 2020 but knowing that I am able to transform limitations into creative opportunities feels like I have found an antidote! Today I continue my visual explorations of wildlife, the botanical world and physical phenomena.