RPS Creative Group Newsletter January 2016

Featuring Distinction panels by Paul Lee ARPS, Valerie Elliott ARPS, John Currant ARPS, Richard Luxton ARPS, Michael Leek LRPS & Myra Stokes LRPS

CREATIVE EYE No. 69 January 2016

The magazine of the Royal Photographic Society’s Creative Group

EDITORIAL

CHAIRMAN’S NOTES

A Happy New Year to all our members but especially to those Overseas whose contact with the rest of us relies on this magazine and par�cipa�on in our Electronic Imaging Por�olio Group (see www.rps.org/crea�ve for more on the EIPG).

A bumper issue this �me with lots of interes�ng ar�cles for your delight. Please write to our Editor if you would like to share your opinion on this, or our magazine generally. I would also like to hear your views on what makes an image “crea�ve”.

Below you will see the results of our recent 4-On-ATheme compe��on. A disappoin�ng entry but my thanks go to those who made the effort and congratula�ons to those who won.

Entries are now open for our annual Print and Projected Digital Image exhibi�ons. Entry forms and rules are enclosed and can also be downloaded from our website. Along with a short AGM being held on the same day, Saturday 28th February, 2016, we again intend to award RPS medals to entrants place 1st, 2nd and 3rd in both exhibi�ons on the day.

I was really pleased that so many of our members responded to my invita�on to present their successful dis�nc�on panels for our delight and encouragement.

An amazing array of styles, illustra�ng the breadth of the descrip�on “crea�ve”. Well done to them all. I intend we should con�nue with this feature in future issues as an inspira�on to all of us.

Yet again I record my thanks to the commi�ee, a dedicated team of volunteers without whose efforts the Crea�ve Group could not con�nue, and also to all of our members whose par�cipa�on is both appreciated and essen�al.

Barry Collin - Chairman and Webmaster

This issue features four ARPS Print Panels and two LRPS Panels, all on two page spreads. There has been an excellent response to le�ers sent out by our Chairman to recent dis�nc�on par�cipants, invi�ng them to show their work in the Crea�ve Eye. I hope volunteers will con�nue to offer their work.

The next mee�ng is the AGM and Exhibi�on Selec�on on 28th February, see page 15 for details.

Enclosed with this magazine are Print and PDI exhibi�on entry forms/rules, �cket applica�on form and Commi�ee Nomina�on form.

On page 15 are details of the showing of our exhibi�ons, including the last appearance of our 2015 Exhibi�on. Please make an effort to visit them as Exhibi�on Secretary, Moira Ellice ARPS, has put a great deal of effort in arranging the venues for our benefit.

Every �me I order the prin�ng of the Crea�ve Eye the quan�ty increases, this is mainly due to the con�nual increase in our membership, which currently stands at 458.

The next issue of Crea�ve Eye will be posted towards the end of May 2016 and copy closes 24th April. If you would like to submit an ar�cle please get in touch with me.

Barry Freeman ARPS DPAGB APAGB 01379 668749 photo.bazfee@b�nternet.com

What’s On in 2016 Sunday 28th February at Whi�lesford – AGM and Print/PDI Exhibi�on Selec�on 23rd April to 3rd May at Wingfield Barns, the Annual Exhibi�on of Prints and Projected Images, including a selec�on of recent Dis�nc�on panels .

The date is to be confirmed for the summer showing at Smethwick Photographic Society.

The Edinburgh Photographic Society will be hos�ng the exhibi�on in November.

crea�vechair@rps.org

‘4 on a Theme’ Compe��on 2015

The 4 on a Theme Compe��on has now taken place for 2015 and vo�ng closed on 22nd November. Results have been worked out from votes given by you, the Crea�ve Group members. Each panel given a 1st place vote was awarded 3 points, 2nd place were given 2 points and 3rd place were given 1 point. Every image voted as ‘best image’ was awarded 1 point.

The Results: 1st: “Water Drops” by Tillman Kleinhans ARPS EFIAP/b DPAGB, 2nd: “Water Garden” by Joan Jordan LRPS, 3rd: “Men At Work” by Roy Morris, Best Image: “Image 1 of Misty Landscapes” by John Credland.

Sunday 26th June – Members’ Mee�ng at Foxton October/November – Crea�ve Group Lectures mee�ng held jointly with East Anglia Region - date, loca�on and speakers to be confirmed.

The picture on the front cover

This was taken by myself and it came about a�er a�ending our mee�ng in October.

Colin Southgate FRPS when showing his crea�ve work, included photographs taken with “inten�onal camera movement”. This inspired me to try my own ICM’s. I have spend many hours in my garden photographing flowers whilest moving my camera. It isn’t easy to get meaningful images - direc�on, skew, speed of movement, shu�er speed, focus and depth of field all affect the outcome.

100s of failures to start with, un�l I had some success.

I was pleased with the picture of Crocosmias shown on the cover. Barry Freeman ARPS

2

Altogether we had 39 entries for this compe��on, not a huge number considering we have over 450 members but personally I was secretly glad that not everyone entered. It would have given me a huge amount of work downloading all your entries and turning them into a format which could easily be viewed ready for vo�ng.

Con�nued on page 3

Even fewer of you voted. Why was this, I wonder?

All members who had submi�ed email addresses to the RPS should have received instruc�ons on how to vote via an email, which also gave a direct link to the vo�ng form on the RPS website. Maybe you didn’t receive the instruc�ons? If so, please contact Simon Bibb at RPS HQ if you wish to allow our use of your email address (simon@rps.org). We do try to provide for all our members to par�cipate where they can and need to know if we have failed you in any way.

The winning results will be shown at our AGM on Sunday 28th February 2016 and then on the website as well as in the subsequent issue of the Crea�ve Eye. There will be RPS cer�ficates awarded to the winners, so if you entered the compe��on you might like to think about a�ending on 28th February if you possibly can. At this mee�ng we will also be selec�ng our annual print and DPI exhibi�ons so there will be plenty of images to view – the AGM usually only takes up about 30 minutes of the day.

If you have any comments to make about the 4 on a Theme compe��on please email me at cgmembersec@gmail.com

Joan Jordan LRPS – Membership Secretary

From Rob Kershaw ARPS

The Coccon building is located in Shinjuku in Tokyo but there are two floors below street level with a li� down to the bo�om and the “crea�ve” shot was taken looking up through the stairway down with the li� sha� on the right.

Tokyo has a large number of skyscrapers/modern buildings and I have shot varied views of many of them over the years. Some images can be found @ www.robckershawphotography.com more specifically h�p://www.robckershawphotography. com/gallery_595202.html

Above is the street view of Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower and below is the crea�ve view from the bo�om floor.

“Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower is located in Tokyo’s dis�nc�ve Nishi-Shinjuku high-rise district and contains 3 different schools: Tokyo Mode Gakuen (fashion), HAL Tokyo (IT and digital contents) and Shuto Iko (medical treatments and care). The building’s innova�ve shape and cu�ng edge façade embodies our unique “Cocoon” concept. Embraced within this incuba�ng form, students are inspired to create, grow and transform”. Quote from web page below by way of explana�on. h�p://www.archdaily.com/139167/mode-gakuencocoon-tower-tange-associates h�ps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mode_Gakuen_ Cocoon_Tower

3

www.rps.org/creative

PAUL LEE ARPS panel submission 15th October 2015 ARPS Assessment Comments

It took about two years of prevarica�on a�er my LRPS before I se�led on the theme for this panel but the ‘eureka’ moment came when I realized that my interests in architecture and nature could be combined with a li�le playfulness into interes�ng images. There was a li�le confusion about the correct submission category with a brief flirta�on with ‘Conceptual and Contemporary’ before the panel found its home in ‘Crea�ve’. I hope viewers can spot some of the landmark buildings; you may just need to turn your head a li�le…

4

Panel Layout

Statement of Intent by Paul Lee - ARPS Crea�ve Category The immense entrance to Nanjing railway sta�on has a soaring roof held up by monumental columns that resemble pixelated lotus flowers. When viewed at a different angle and out of context they become other-worldly. This was the image that led to a panel presen�ng uneasy montages provoking the viewer to examine what could be architecture in more detail and perhaps see in it line, form, textures and ar�stry that otherwise a casual glance would miss. All images are quite faithful to the subjects but are subverted by the viewing angle and juxtaposi�on of the background. The viewer is challenged to appraise the images in their own right and at different levels, perhaps resolving them into the familiar with a sense of sa�sfac�on.

5

VALERIE ELLIOTT ARPS Statement of Intent

The unique Greek island of Santorini is the source for this panel. I am inspired by the extraordinary caldera and the limited colour pale�e together with the shapes, textures and shadows, all enhanced by the beau�ful Aegean light.

Li�le white washed villages abound, with steep gradients, narrow paths, odd corners and clusters of �ny buildings.

My inten�on is to convey a sense of peace - how light on white, with touches of blue harmonising with simple lines can sooth and upli� the human spirit.

To evoke this feeling the panel consists of gentle, textured images combining tones of white seen in steps and angled walls; shades of blue in doors, water and sky and the serene curves of Cubist Church architecture.

6

Hanging Plan 7

JOHN CURRANT ARPS

Corel Painter is wonderful so�ware if you like to give your photography an ‘arty look’. The style that I have created has been developed from my love of pencil drawings. I was, however, very dubious as to its suitability for an ‘A’ submission.

With some trepida�on I presented a few examples at the Crea�ve Group mee�ng in June 2015 and I am very grateful to the members for encouraging me to produce this panel. I’m convinced without this encouragement I would not have progressed this idea any further and I think it shows the value of belonging to a ‘special interest group’ and, if possible, a�ending its mee�ngs.

STATEMENT OF INTENT

As a former draughtsman, I was inspired by the me�culous detail in the drawings of the au�s�c ar�st Stephen Wiltshire who is able to accurately sketch architectural scenes a�er only a few moments viewing.

My own crea�ve style developed from a love of both drawing and monochrome photography which I have used to explore, with camera and computer, the essence of London through its buildings and public art.

The Capital’s rapidly evolving environment is never more evident than along the banks of the River Thames as London moves from marine trade to that of finance and tourism.

The City of London has always been at the centre of ground-breaking architecture. In order to retain our cultural heritage the extensive regenera�on is being sensi�vely undertaken; mixing vibrant glass buildings with the best of the tradi�onal architecture whilst the new statues show a young and confident future.

8

9

RICHARD LUXTON ARPS

Richard’s Notes

Following an unsuccessful a�empt at the ARPS I contacted the dis�nc�on department to ask advice on how to redeem the failure. I had collected 15 images, previously taken, that I thought other people would like and would work together and then I wrote a statement to explain the panel. A lengthy conversa�on with the Dis�nc�ons Department “liberated” my thinking and my next submission would be something that I wanted to create. This �me I wrote the statement before I had taken any pictures and the next 12 months was spent crea�ng the images for my panel, all focused on the statement. This �me I knew that the images came from within.

12

Statment of Intent by Richard Luxton ARPS Beyond the veil

As we walk through our life we are constrained to inhabit a par�cular loca�on for only a brief instant before moving on. Many parts of our life are defined by place and �me and characterised by movement.

In this set of images I explore the possibility of another dimension, hidden behind a veil, not perceived by us and exis�ng outside of �me. This other dimension is inhabited by beau�ful beings not constrained by our �me or space who take an interest in our daily comings and goings, observing our lives from beyond the veil.

This helps explain why some people feel that we are not alone but have a sense that there is another world beyond ours.

Very rarely the veil parts crea�ng a portal linking dimensions and allowing the possibility of beings from the other dimension crossing over and visi�ng our world. But do we no�ce?

Panel Layout

The centre image of Richard’s Panel at a larger scale showing the details of his workmanship 11

MYRA STOKES LRPS Curiosity led me to observe an LRPS Assessment during the Photography Show in Birmingham in 2013 and resulted in my joining the RPS in 2014, when I started to formulate ideas for my LRPS panel.

With a degree of trepida�on, I booked an Advisory Day in June this year and found it extremely helpful. The assessors on the day subs�tuted two of my images for spares and although ini�ally unhappy about it, I realised it made for a much more cohesive panel. Their posi�ve feedback encouraged me to book an assessment just a month later, when I was delighted to be awarded my LRPS.

Panel Layout 12

MICHAEL LEEK LRPS - About Me

For the last 6 years I have lived in the village Horrabridge, which is within Dartmoor Na�onal Park. Previously in the 1980s we had lived not far from this place and I was a member of the Dartmoor Rescue Group for 8 years un�l my job took me to Cardiff.

A�er re�rement we decided to return to Devon and walking on Dartmoor has been one of my main ac�vi�es.

I have owned a SLR camera since my teenage days and photography has always been a major interest of mine. In the 1970s and 1980s I used to process my own colour prints. There was then a long period when my photography was limited to family photographs and during this period I used a compact camera. I bought my first digital camera in 2000.

I originally kept a log of my walks on Dartmoor and then I decided to keep a blog of my walks on Dartmoor mydartmoorwalks.blogspot.com There are now details of more than 400 walks on my blog. For me walking and photography offer the perfect combina�on.

In September 2013 I joined Blipfoto - a photo sharing website now known as Polaroid Blipfoto. This website allows you to post one photograph a day and my challenge was to post a photograph every day for a complete year. I completed this challenge on 10 September 2014. I found the discipline of taking a photograph every day and the help and support from other members enabled me to improve my photography and do new things which I previously hadn’t thought was possible. I was aware that a few other members of this website had obtained their LRPS and decided to find out what was involved.

I a�ended an RPS advisory day as an observer and this helped me to understand what exactly was required for a successful panel.

There then followed an extensive period of planning and working on my panel to determine what I would submit. My main area of interest is landscape photography but, I knew for the dis�nc�on I had to be able to show a variety of different techniques.

It really was a ma�er of trial and error to work out what would go into my panel from my large collec�on of photographs.

I a�ended the appraisal day in Bath on 16 July 2015. Of course si�ng there wai�ng for the judges to view and comment on the panel was quite stressful and I was delighted when they announced I had been successful.

My aim now is to move to the next level and I have iden�fied a couple of themes which I will work on over the next few months in the hope that one of them will come good!

Panel Layout 13

RPS Joint Speakers Mee�ng East Anglian Region and Crea�ve Group on 4th October 2015

Our joint mee�ng with the Eastern Region of the RPS at Foxton Village Hall, Cambridge was a great success.

We had two excellent speakers with Colin Southgate FRPS and Kathryn J Scorah MPAGB FBPE, both offering different visions of crea�vity and inspira�on.

Colin spoke first. I have always admired his Fellowship panel depic�ng details of Henry Moore statues and this body of work inspired my own Fellowship panel. I was surprised with the wide range of images that he had subsequently created, his clever itera�ons of a basic image showed how even ordinary subjects can become extremely original images.

Kathryn followed on in the a�ernoon, this was the first �me that she had spoken in this area. She is an extremely successful exhibitor and her composite work is truly inspiring, the images o�en possessing considerable ‘depth’ and emo�on. Kathryn started showing images created from her early days in photography and showed us how her work evolved into the sophis�cated images that she now makes.

Overall it was a varied, interes�ng and highly enjoyable day of photography, showing that crea�vity can be approached in many different ways.

I must thank the Regional Organiser Ian Wilson and his excellent team for the smooth and efficient running of the day.

We hope to organise another mee�ng on a similar theme later next year.

Viewing Colin’s prints

Viewing Kathyn’s prints

David Jordan FRPS - Programme Secretary

Crea�ve Group’s 2015 Annual Exhibi�on The Projected Image Exhibi�on and a Selec�on of Exhibi�on Prints Sunday 3rd to Friday 29th January 2016 Woodbridge Library, New Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1DT Open during library hours Admission Free 01394 446510

Above: Barry Collin, Colin Southgate, Kathryn Scorah and Ian Wilson

Willy Lott’s Cottage by Peter Cox LRPS

14

RPS Crea�ve Group Print & PDI Exhibi�on Selec�ons & AGM

2015 RPS East Anglia Region and Crea�ve Group Exhibi�on of Prints and Projected Images

Tuesday 2nd to Sunday 28th February 2016 The Apex Art Gallery, Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3FD Admission Free ooooooo Celebra�on and Private View Each member and a guest is invited on Friday 5th February 2016, 6.00pm to 8.00pm Please R.S.V.P. to Moira Ellice ARPS, 01473 720928 moira.ellice2011@b�nternet.com

To be held 28 February 2016 10:30 - 17:00 Whi�lesford Memorial Hall Mill Lane Whi�lesford, Cambs. CB22 4NE

Non RPS Member Group member not entering either exhibi�on Group member entering either exhibi�on in addi�on to entry fee

£8.00 £5.00 £0.00

To book by post – using inserted form or download a PDF from Website Exhibi�on Rules and Entry Forms are enclosed and also available on the Crea�ve Group website, Downloads page.

PDI selec�on will start at 11.00, followed by a short A.G.M. A�er lunch we shall hold the Print selec�on.

All images will be judged by an invited judge and each entrant will have at least one PDI/print accepted.

We hope that Colin Southgate will be the Judge.

RPS medals will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed images in each sec�on.

Mad Ha�er’s Tea Party by Patricia Jacobs LRPS

Essex/Suffolk Disussion Group

David Jordan FRPS Email - daveandjoanjordan@yahoo.co.uk 01603 866475

Wingfield Barns The Crea�ve Group’s 2016 Annual Exhibi�on of Prints and Projected Images Saturday 23rd April to Monday 2nd May 2016 11.00am to 4.00pm

(Closed Monday and Tuesday, apart from the Bank Holiday) Church Road, Wingfield, Stradbroke IP21 5RA Also showing will be a selec�on of recent Dis�nc�on Panels

15

Since the last Crea�ve Eye the group have had a day-out and a discussion mee�ng.

In October we visited Ipswich Docks in the morning to take waterside photographs and had lunch at an old dockland pub. A�er lunch we had a tour around the Ipswich Transport Museum. [See the photograph below of an old Chevrolet Bus, which was used in Ipswich Town before the 2nd WW] Following the day-out we have held a discussion mee�ng in November at my house, with many crea�ve photographs on view.

We have our next discussion Group mee�ng planned for the end of January.

Barry Freeman ARPS

ICELAND. An Uneasy Calm’ by Tim Rudman FRPS

A new collec�on of stunning photographs presented in a stylish hardback coffee table book and a small signed and numbered deluxe limited edi�on presented in a clamshell box with an original limited edi�on silver gela�ne print.

Iceland has become a hugely popular des�na�on for photographers around the world. Now ‘Iceland An Uneasy Calm’ presents 98 reproduc�ons of toned silver gela�ne prints taken and printed over the last eight years by Tim Rudman, described by Ilford Photo / Harman Technology as “one of the very finest landscape photographers working today, easily iden�fiable by his supreme gi� as one of the leading photographic printers of his genera�on”. This book is a sumptuous celebra�on of the photographic art and tradi�onal interpre�ve darkroom prin�ng by an acknowledged master of the cra�.

The book, suppor�ng the exhibi�on of the same name, has a foreword by US photographic ar�st Bill Schwab and is published by Opas Books with a first edi�on print run of 1000 copies and 75 limited edi�on signed and numbered books in a silk bound clam shell box with one of three hand printed limited edi�on handmade silver gela�ne prints that are unique to this edi�on.

“A tour de force” - Ilford-Harman Technology “Up there with the world’s best” - Exhibi�on review, Sydney, Australia “These images go far beyond the common and strike deep at the viewers’ core, resona�ng with power and beauty” - Bill Schwab, Photographer, USA. Tim Rudman is an award winning photographer and printer known interna�onally for his pioneering work in Lith Prin�ng and dis�nc�ve toning methods of black & white silver gela�ne prints. His prin�ng workshops in UK, America, Canada, Australia and Europe o�en sell out overnight. His work is widely exhibited and held in many private and public collec�ons.

‘ICELAND. An Uneasy Calm’ book and prints will be available to order from: www.opasbooks.com www.iceland-anuneasycalm.com For book and exhibi�on enquiries and more informa�on about Tim Rudman visit: h�p://www.�mrudman.com

16

RPS London Region / Crea�ve group First Tuesday Mee�ng - 27th October 2015

In the summer, I was invited to represent the Crea�ve Group at the RPS London Region’s First Tuesday Mee�ng in the Greenwich Gallery.

Unfortunately due to my working part �me, the only window of opportunity was actually the last Tuesday of October! This was arranged and Joan and I stayed at Norman Smith’s house, Norman is the organiser of the First Tuesday mee�ngs.

The evening was divided into three sec�ons: 1) showing the Crea�ve Group’s 2015 PDI Exhibi�on Presenta�on; 2) looking at how my fellowship panel came into being and a�er a break; 3) my lecture �tled ‘It’s a Lens Jim, but not as we know it’, which looks at how different lenses can be used to produce crea�ve images.

The Greenwich Gallery accommodates about 30 people and it was full on the night. Joan had brought along a stock of Crea�ve Eye magazines and some copies of the new brochure designed

by Moira Ellice to promote the Crea�ve Group, all quickly disappeared from the table as everyone showed enthusias�c interest in the Group. Hopefully some new members will emerge as a result of this outreach mee�ng.

This is the second �me that I have been invited to represent the Crea�ve Group in RPS regions within the UK but outside the East Anglian Region where I live. It is always enjoyable to travel and meet other photographers.

David Jordan FRPS – Programme Secretary