February 2015 Cape Camera

CAPE CAMERA February 2015 Official Newsletter of the

Cape Town Photographic Society

In this issue President’s message

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Topless bus tour

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New PSSA JAP course 15

News flashes

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125 year updates

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Top images set

Early CTPS members

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Juhan Kuus in March 13

Top images open

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Stanford weekend

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Composite images

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Gorilla photography

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AV news update

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Introducing judges

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125 Year Diary

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President’s message

e are now almost in the third month of our 125 year celebrations. The first two events have come and gone, but not forgotten. What a success they have been!

The weekend in Stanford far surpassed all expectations (see p8).

What made it such a success was the way we were able to socialise and get to know each other. Although we compete in monthly competitions, by knowing each other better, we can support each other to reach higher levels of proficiency.

Also, through going on outings together, we are often able to learn more than we would in some crowded lecture hall.

I speak on behalf of all of us when I record our sincere thanks to Richard Goldschmidt and his team, led by his wife, Joyce, for organising the programme and all that went with it.

The meals, the boat trips and the visit to the brewery with wine and beer tasting took place without any hiccups. Richard’s contacts in Stanford also played a valuable part in making the outing the success that it was.

Plans for the next functions are well under way and it would be a pity if anyone was unable to take part due to missing a deadline to book a place. Keep an eye on the planned events as each month progresses (see p12 and back page).

On the way home from Stanford on Sunday Barbara

Monthly meetings Monthly meetings are held in the St Stephens Church Hall in Pinelands at 7pm.

1st Wednesday: Competition 2nd Wednesday: Audio-visual 3rd Wednesday: Education & Development For updates about speakers and topics visit our website at www.ctps.co.za, or join the new Cape Town Photographic Society Facebook group on www.facebook.com/ groups/1530153687246454.

Or look out for the Snapshot.

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and I stopped off in Hermanus to have lunch on the cliffs overlooking the sea.

This was a not to be missed experience. It was high tide and to see the breakers crash over the rocks was quite a spectacle. We were able to observe the black oyster catchers in action. Sea gulls and other birds were there in large numbers. We then followed the route home through Kleinmond, Betty’s Bay and Rooiels.

With the many lay byes along the way, we were compelled to make many stops to marvel at the beauty of the mountains and the sea.

Gordon’s Bay and the Sir Lowry’s mountains did not disappoint us.

Getting back to work on Monday made one wake up with a bump. It is hard to believe that the first school term is almost half way gone.

One of the activities for our 125 celebrations is a photographic completion aimed at scholars in the Western Cape. One does not always get the desired response from the schools’ administrators.

Should you know of keen photographers who are still at school, will you please extend an invitation to them to enter our Schools Photographic Competition in their personal capacity, rather than as a member of a school team.

For now I wish you all pleasant shooting.

Yours in photography, Detlef Basel Hon PSSA, APSSA

Cape Camera dates 2015

On the cover

PDI Open Salon winner and top scorer for Judge 1: The Kat family (26) by

John Spence. “Fantastic positioning of the children (3 plus 1),” said judge Gail Reuvers. “The exposure is spot on.”

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Cape Camera is published after the last CTPS function of that month.

Any contributions are most welcome.

Material deadlines: March 2015:

23 March April 2015: 20 April May 2015: 2 June (after the CTPS Congress weekend) June 2015: 22 June July 2015: 27 July August 2015: 24 August September 2015: 24 September October 2015 31 October November 2015 23 November

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CTPS news flashes

Left: Black Church by Robert Marconi was the Digital Open Winner — Advanced in the February competition. Marconi and his wife will be leaving in March to live in Australia for an extended period, and he will therefore no longer be a regular at CTPS meetings. Robert will now become one of our long-distance members.

Parking at meetings

The churchwarden of St Stephen’s Church in Pinelands has kindly requested that CTPS members attending our meetings at the church “do not park behind the yellow lines (our private parking — there is a sign informing this) or on yellow lines anywhere in the vicinity of our hall.

Kindly inform Steven, the car guard, as he directs your members to park and they take it as legit.”

For the season of Lent, which started on 18th February, they will be using the church every Wednesday .

Welcome to two new members Eleanore Biggs and David Bruce.

Save and use your images of the 125 year celebrations

Members are encouraged to please share their best at www.facebook.com/groups/1530153687246454. images taken on outings this year in the following way: • You are encouraged to provide your images for the • Only images taken on outings can be entered in the making of an AV. Send images to Robert Maginley at Set subject of the club competition in our birthday rmaginley@worldonline.co.za; month (October); • All members who regularly enter CTPS club competi• Please send 2-3 images taken on all outings for publications may enter one print — on any topic — for the tion in Cape Camera (editor@ctps.co.za); public exhibition in the Artscape. Contact Pat Scott on • Post your images on our Facebook page. Join the group p.a.charteris@gmail.com.

2015 Set subject themes Members may enter a maximum of three images in any category per competition.

The Set subject themes for 2015 will be: 4 March: Composite image 8 April: Monochrome 6 May: Nature 3 June: Hands and feet 1 July: Low key 5 August: Macro 2 September: Scapes 7 October: 125 year celebrations 4 November: Shadows and/or reflections 2 December: Rustic

CTPS meetings in 2015 Month March April May June July August September October November December

Competition 4 8 6 3 1 5 2 7 4 2

AV 11 15 13 10 8 12* 9 14 11 9

E&D 18 22 20 17 15 19* 16 21 18 No E&D

*The PSSA congress will be held in Swellendam from 9 – 14 August. A combined AV and E&D evening will be investigated for the 19th of August.

Visit www.ctps.co.za for more information on competitions and meetings

Contact CTPS council members

President

Vice-president Development & Education

Honorary Secretary

Honorary Treasurer

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Detlef Basel president@ctps.co.za Nicol du Toit treasurer@ctps.co.za Karyn Parisi development@ctps.co.za Jacoba van Zyl info@ctps.co.za

Nicol du Toit treasurer@ctps.co.za

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Property Manager Competitions Convenor

Audio-visual Convenor

Public Relations Officer

Publications Officer

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Richard Goldschmidt Lesley Parolis competitions@ctps.co.za Robert Maginley rmaginley@worldonline.co.za Steffne Hughes webmaster@ctps.co.za

Trudi du Toit editor@ctps.co.za

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This map of Cape Town is an update of a 1884 map of the city. The update was done under supervision of City Engineer and CTPS founder TW Cairncross.

The memorial plaque to JD Cartwright by the Friends of Christ Church in Kenilworth.

CTPS 125 years

Outstanding early members JOY WELLBELOVED delved into the history books to learn more about the early Cape Town Photographic Club members and found that many were leading society members or world class photographers

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he first CTPS president (Sir) David Gill was not the only impressive personality that helped to establish Africa’s first society of photographers (see Cape Camera January 2015). There were several other interesting personalities involved in the early years of CTPS. TW Cairncross

First up is Thomas William Cairncross (1845 – 1918) who became City Engineer for Cape Town in 1886 and began the smelly job of designing and laying the current waterborne sewerage system in Cape Town. By 1894 the city had eight miles of sewers, seven of which had been laid during his tenure.

It was his discussion with fellow photo-enthusiast BA Lewis over a tickey beer in the Thatched Tavern, that resulted in the formation of the photographic society. At the founding meeting of 30 October 1890, he was elected vice-president of the Cape Town Photographic Club.

He was also a founder member of the society for Advancement of Science.

Cairncross lived at Leeuwenhof, a popular venue for

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early club outings.

BA Lewis Next up is B A Lewis, who was the manager of the new “Cape Town and District Gas Light and Coke Company Ltd”. In 1890 gas streetlights were still modern technology. To be a manager of a firm supplying the latest technology shows Mr Lewis to be quite a guy. We should not be surprised that he was one of the three men responsible for founding “CTPS” Looking back to 1890 from 2015, it is hard to imagine Cape Town without water-borne sewerage, street lighting, or any form of electricity. It was only in 1895 that electricity eventually supplanted gas lighting in Cape Town’s streets.

He was elected the first honorary secretary and treasurer when the Cape Town Photographic Club was formed.

JD Cartwright Our focus now moves to John Dean Cartwright (1845 – 1930), a merchant and politician who was president of the Cape Town Photographic Society twice – from 1907

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Right: Cartwright’s Corner was for long a Cape Town landmark and is one of the legacies of former CTPS president John Dean Cartwright.

Above: On the left is first vice-president TW Cairncross and standing second from right is fellow founding member and first honorary secretary and treasurer BA Lewis. Seated is cometphotographer Edgar Hallis Allis.

Andrew James Fuller to 1908, then again from 1911 to 1912.

Aged only 21, using an inheritance from his mother, he Up to now, most of the early personalities have been adbought out the Cape Town firm Jacob Watermeyer and ministrators — movers and shakers — men who made Co. and changed its name to JD Cartwright and Co. things happen. We will now look at personalities who In 1888 he moved the business to bigger premises in were more active photographically.

Adderley Street. Later, he erected the six-storeyed ManAndrew James Fuller (FRPS) of the Defence Departsion House on the corner of Adderley ment, was secretary of CTPS from 1892 and Darling Streets, which became Elliott seems to have to 1908. He was elected a council memthe firm's headquarters, and for genbeen determined to re- ber at the first AGM in 1891 and served erations thereafter was known as 'Cartcord as much as he was as Honorary Secretary for 17 years from wright's Corner'. able to of the old farm- 1892 to 1908.

He was very active in politics, and was houses, buildings and He was a very able secretary with a one of the founders of the Y.M.C.A. streets that were rapidly neat handwriting and a member who, movement in the Cape, whose premdisappearing whilst not being intolerant, nevertheises hosted CTPS meetings for many less, guided the society successfully years. He also founded the East End through some awkward and difficult Public School in De Villiers Street, Cape Town. periods.

The Cartwright family is remembered by brass memoDuring his period as secretary he was elected a Fellow rial plaques in Christ Church in Kenilworth, and by Cart- of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain to bewright’s Curry! come the first Fellow in the society. It also appears that Frederick Smith he was the first Fellow to be elected in South Africa.

A study of the catalogue of 1902 exhibition of the Royal The next person on whom our spotlight falls is Sir FredPhotographic Society shows that Fuller had eight acerick Smith, who was mayor of Cape Town from 1908 to ceptances, and Marloth six.

1912, and president of CTPS from 1909 to 1910.

Not a lot of information is available about him, except James Luckhoff that Rhodes Memorial was built and dedicated while he We now come to Dr. James Luckhoff, who was president was mayor. of CTPS from 1913 to 1919.

He called a meeting in the City Hall on 30 April 1908 at Luckhoff appears to have been a lover of nature, and which The Society for the Protection of Child Life (SPCL) he campaigned successfully for the preservation of the (now called the Cape Town Child Welfare Society) was area that was opened to the public in 1895 as De Waal established.

To p6 Park. To him the park was not only a histori-

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Above: Arthur Elliott’s 10 000 photographs of the old Cape Town buildings is not only valued as a pictorial record, but also for their artistic value.

Above right: The old police station in Wale Street is part of Arthur Elliott’s collection in the Cape Archives.

Right: A page from Rudolf Marloth’s mammoth six-part publication on Flora of South Africa.

Far right: Dr Rudolf Marloth travelled across Southern Africa to photograph the plant life with camera weighing about 100 pounds.

Prominent members from p5 cal heritage, which is both beautiful and useful, but also of spiritual value.

Luckoff and his son were friends with Dr. Rudolf Marloth (see below), and accompanied members of the Cape Town Photographic Society on various outings to collect and photograph interesting botanical specimens.

To these people, photography was not just an amusing pastime, it was an important new tool that helped them in their quest for knowledge.

Arthur Elliott Among the prominent photographers of the time who were early CTPS members is Arthur Elliott (1870 to 1938).

His collection of 10 000 photos of Cape Dutch buildings was acquired by the Historical Monuments Commission because these artistic historical images created such an excellent pictorial record of the Cape’s architectural heritage.

Elliott seems to have been determined to record as much as he was able to of the old farmhouses, buildings and streets that were rapidly disappearing with the ever-growing pressure to modernise. He had an almost

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infallible eye for the essential elements that made up a good architectural image. He explored the south-western Cape taking photographs of old Cape Dutch homesteads.

Elliott's photographs have proved an invaluable source of information for historians and architects.

For more than thirty years he had a studio at no. 134 Long Street, where you will still find a memorial tablet.

It was his greatest ambition that his collection of historical negatives should be bought by the government, and he therefore declined tempting offers — such as one of R14 000 from the US — but he died without realising this ambition.

A few years after his death the Commission for the Preservation of Natural and Historical Monuments bought the collection for R5 050. It is kept in the Cape Archives, Cape Town, from where the public may obtain prints of the photographs.

Dr Rudolf Marloth Botanist and lecturer Rudolf Marloth (1855 -1931) dis-

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‘The world’s greatest’ sea- and landscapes

Albert Van Rheede Van Oudtshoorn (Hon. FRPS, FRSA) was CTPS president from 1930-1943 and was therefore a leading worker during a later era as the early members. But, he deserves special mention because he was world-renowned for his bold land- and seascapes that featured in International Salons all over the world during the late twenties. He was described by the American Annual of Photography as one of the world's greatest exponents of land- and seascape photography.

Read the tributes his friend and former CTPS president Eric Vertue paid him on the PSSA website (www.pssa.co.za). Go to About Us - PSSA archive - Masters-of-yesteryear. covered many new plant species and was also instrumental in founding the Mountain Club of South Africa, which shared many outings with CTPS. Dr Marloth arrived in Cape Town on 30 December 1883, and the story goes that within 24 hours of landing in Cape Town from Germany, Marloth was looking for specimens on top of Table Mountain.

Spending much time botanising in the mountains, he came into contact with the mountaineering fraternity, and played a role in the founding of the Mountain Club of South Africa in 1891, of which he was chairman from 1901-1906. He received their gold badge in 1906.

He formed a close link between the Mountain Club of South Africa and the Cape Town Photographic Society that lasted for many years.

He travelled widely in Southern Africa, Bechuanaland (now Botswana) and South West Africa (now Namibia), collecting, photographing and documenting the unique

flora of the region. Not so easy when your photographic equipment weighed about 100 pounds, and the only transport was by ox-wagon!

He was the first man with a broad and thorough botanical training to settle in South Africa and to study and record the country's flora. His Flora of South Africa is a monumental work, published in 6 volumes between 1913 and 1932. The aloe Marlothii was named after Rudolf Marloth, and so is Marloth Park, an important nature reserve and holiday town in Mpumalanga.

He was an indefatigable walker — he often came home so late at night from his walks and left again so early the next day that his wife did not always know whether he was returning or leaving when she saw him at home at night.

He was also an expert photographer: whatever he observed on his expeditions he photographed and used the photographs to illustrate his publications.

Gill or Allis: who was the real comet photo planner?

Edgar Haggar Allis was the Cape Town photographer who supplied the camera and photographic skills that Gill used to obtain the photograph of the great comet of 1882. Gill was keen to obtain clear photographs of the comet, but, as the necessary equipment and expertise was not available at the Royal Observatory in Cape Town, he called upon Allis for assistance.

Allis supplied a camera with a rapid portrait lens, as well as the necessary dry plates and the means to develop these.

Gill attached the camera to the declination axis counterpoise of the 6” Grubb Equatorial telescope in such a way that the camera moved with the telescope.

A number of photographic plates were obtained, with exposure times varying from 30 to 140 minutes.

Gill said: “I am indebted to Mr E H Allis, Photographer, Mowray, for the loan of the camera in question, and for his assistance in the work.”

Gill sent prints of the photographs to various over-

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seas correspondents, who reacted with enthusiasm.

The photos were later published in the Annals of the Cape Observatory (Vol. 2, Part 1). He donated Allis’ negatives to the Royal Astronomical Society and they are now in the Science Museum in London.

In a letter to the Photographic Journal in England, Allis, however, implied that the idea of mounting the camera on a telescope originated with him, and that he obtained Gill’s help to carry it out.

Gill responded by explaining in a letter to the secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society that he was the originator of the concept, and that Allis had merely acted as a most able assistant. Gill’s version of the events is generally accepted.

Either way, on 5 January, 1893 Mr E H Allis was elected an Honorary Member of the Cape Town Photographic Club – the first member to receive this honour. A collection of photographs ascribed to Allis are in the Picture Collection of the National Library in Cape Town.

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CTPS 125 years:

Lots of fun and photos in Stanford The first weekend outing of our 125th year celebrations to Stanford was a fun-filled event packed with photo-opportunities, informative entertainment and intensive socialising, all expertly orchestrated by Richard and Joyce Goldschmidt. These images of Stanford tell the story

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Images 1-3 taken by Anna Engelhardt.

Image 4 by Len van Wyk. Image 5 by Nicol du Toit.

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Images 6-8 by Jeanette Brusnicky. #8 is the Eagleyes Lodge.

Images 9 & 10 by Johan Greeff. #11-13 by Pat Scott. #12: the original door of Sir Robert Stanford’s house. #13: The wedding dress dates from 1890.

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15 & 16 by Carin Hardisty.

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Memorable outings The 32 CTPS members who went on the Stanford weekend were treated to a walk through the quaint town guided by architect Guy Whittle, two river cruises to photograph birds, visits to the bird hide, a tour, tasting and lunch at Birkenhead beer and wine cellar, a riverside meander, a talk by a bird expert, breakfast and a cave visit at De Kelders and two evenings of getting-to-know-you around the braai fire ... courtesy of organiser Richard Goldschmidt, and his wife Joyce.

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17: The lagoon by Brian Hallock.

18 & 19 by Richard Goldschmidt.

20 & 21 by Barbara Hallock

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Groups of twelve could choose to go on the river cruise on Friday or Saturday evening. Photo Richard Goldschmidt and architect Guy Whittle organise maps for the guided walk.

by Neels Beyers.

Lunch and wine- and beer tasting at Birkenhead beer and wine estate. Photo Pat Scott.

Right: Breakfast at De Kelders left to right: Joan Ward, Stella Coram, Anna Engelhardt and Kim Stevens, with Detlef Basel in the background. Photo Richard Goldschmidt.

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Right: Our host at Eagleyes Lodge, Roy Frith, gives directions to the cycling Pridays. Photo Carin Hardisty.

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Stanford was (nearly) all about photography ...

Right: Even while wine- or beertasting at Birkenhead, photography is still at the forefront for Cathy Bruce, Jenny Powis and Carin Hardisty. Photo: Trudi du Toit Left:Margaret Collins caught Cathy Priday, Pat Scott and Leslie Maginley in action on the riverboat, as well as (left middle) Richard and Joyce Goldschmidt.

Right: Jeanette du Toit on the river boat. Photo Neels Beyers..

Left: Richard Goldschmidt captured Joan Ward, Pat Scott, Kim Stevens and Anna Engelhardt birdwatching on the river boat.

Left: Enjoying the caves at De Kelder. Photo: Len van Wyk. Barbara Hallock and Cathy Bruce at breakfast. Photo: Trudi du Toit.

Below: Joyce Goldschmidt capturing our ‘base lodge’ Eagleyes.

Margaret Collins getting a macro shot in the Eagleyes lodge garden. Photo: Trudi du Toit.

Right: Jeanette du Toit during the architectled walk. Photo Margaret Collins.

Richard Goldschmidt photographed Kim Stevens and Joyce Goldschmidt in the cave and several members on the river cruise (right).

Far left: Neels Beyers on the boat.

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Stanford weekend in pictures (continued)

Chantal Oosthuizen (standing left) from the Stanford Tourism Bureau not only handed out ‘goodie bags’ to CTPS members, but also invited members to enter images for a competition with enviable prizes. Looking on are Margaret Collins, Pat Scott, Jolette Frahm (seated), Jacoba van Zyl, Barbara Hallock, Jeanette Brusnicky (back to table), Eagleyes owners Royd and Lindsay Frith, Neels Beyers, Joyce Goldschmidt (seated), Len van Wyk, Robert Maginley (seated), organiser Richard Goldschmidt and seated with back to the camera, Carin Hardisty. Photo John Spence.

Gathering around a braai was a jolly way to end the days.

From left: Joyce Goldschmidt, who planned and oversaw the catering, with Neels Beyers behind her, Robert Maginley with Len van Wyk behind him, Leslie Maginley, Detlef Basel, with Sue and Stephen Docherty behind him and Cathy Priday at the back. Photo John Spence.

Left: Brian and Barbara Hallock and Jeanette du Toit relaxing after a hard day’s photographing. Photo John Spence.

Right: Johan Greeff, Jenny Powis and Barbara Basel around the Eagleyes braai. Photo John Spence.

Nicol du Toit managing four fires and grills during the Friday braai. Photo taken by Johan Greeff with his cell phone.

Audio-visual news update

More about recent audio-visual winners and the March talk by Juan Venter, reports ROBERT MAGINLEY Hannelore Seifart, a CTPS member and accomplished AV-maker has had one of her AV’s, A Far Away Place, chosen for the FIAP (Federation Internationale de L’art Photographique) 2015 Collection.

She was also the winner of the Challenge section of the February CTPS audio-visual competition with the AV Just a Weed.

The February meeting was the first competition night for 2015, and the following audio-visual makers also won prizes: Winner Open Section: Jeanette Du Toit for Colourful Overberg; Winner Beginners section: new member Mark Sorenson Browne with Babe.

Any of the other members who entered AV’s are welcome to email Robert if they would like to receive their individual scores.

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Juan Venter in March Juan Venter, the winner of the CTPS AV challenge for 2014, A place near here, will be the speaker at the March meeting on Wednesday the 11th. He will be showing some of his exceptional AV’s and explain why and how he made them.

“We will also be giving our Tip of the month and show some AV’s that we can comment on,” says Robert.

CTPS 125Th Anniversary Salon The brochure for the AV section of the CTPS 125 Year Anniversary Salon has been loaded on the PSSA website (www.pssa.co.za).

The AV director is Nellian Bekker and the Documentary Judging Panel is Thomas Niemeyer, Friso Woudstra and Paddy Howes. The Open section will be judged by Izak van Niekerk, Ronnie Hazel and Ingrid Gane.

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CTPS 125 years:

Go topless to celebrate Photograph Cape Town from the top of the Red Bus on our March outing to celebrate the 125th year of CTPS. Organiser KEITH BULL explain what to expect

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ee the city from a different viewpoint — from the top of a topless tourist bus. On 21 March CTPS members will be able to go on a custommade Red Bus tour, planned to provide the best photographic opportunities. The tour will include the following: • Drive past civic buildings, old buildings, parliament, Mount Nelson hotel in the city centre • Stop at Castle of Good Hope for photos • Drive past UCT to • Groot Constantia’s vineyard and architecture • In Hout Bay stop at Imizamo Yethu entrance for photos • Hout Bay Harbour with boats, sea and wildlife • Drive past Suikerbosse to Llandudno • Victoria Road as the sun sinks (bring refreshments) • Signal Hill to look over the city as darkness creeps and the lights start coming out • Finish at the V&A Waterfront with optional restaurant meal at approximately 8pm There is a competition prize for the best photos taken on the trip, including the Red Bus

Red Bus trip details at a glance

Date: Saturday 21 March Departure time: 3.45pm Where: Meet at the Waterfront V&A coach pick-up

point opposite the Victoria Wharf shopping centre on the Granger Bay side Booking: contact Keith Bull on keithbull007@yahoo. co.uk by 7 March 2015.

Cost: R100 per person. First come first served – 50 members and their families only!

Payment: Bring cash to the club meeting on March 4

or EFT stating your name and CTPS as reference to: Bank: Nedbank Account holder: Keith Bull Account: 1009 766945. Sort Code: 10-09-09

Forthcoming 125 Year celebration events updates 1980-2010 Images needed: Images taken by CTPS

members between 1980-2010 are urgently required for the major 125-year photographic exhibition planned for the Artscape Opera House at the end of July. Pat Scott and Malcolm Jones are keen te receive up to five prints taken in those periods by members no later than the March competition evening (on the 4th). Active current members are also urged to start selecting prints for possible consideration for the exhibition.

Bein Wein April 25: This outing to a private cellar and hike to a spectacular vantage point overlooking the Vlottenburg vineyards is fully subscribed. Contact Pat

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Scott at p.a.charteris@gmail.com to find out about last minute cancellations.

De Hoop May 29-31: The Mini-congress at De Hoop is also booked to capacity (60 people). Contact Pat Scott at p.a.charteris@gmail.com in case of cancellations.

The speakers will be Paul Bruins (Photographing the Night Skies), Chris Fallows (Above, below and beyond), Nicole Palmer (Evocative Images), Martin Osner (The Art of Photography), and Guy Palmer (An Introduction to De Hoop Nature Reserve). All speakers have offered to interact with members over the weekend addressing any photographic queries if they can.

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An image from Juhan Kuus’ essay on the Bosasa Horizon detention centre for awaiting trial youths.

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From the photo-essay Down and Out with Jesus and the Ladybird in the Klein Karoo.

E & D in March continues 125 Year theme

Juhan Kuus to discuss his unique portfolio

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As member of the Photographic Archival Preservation Association (PAPA) Juhan Kuus is very excitied to share some of his images that document South African society and history over more than 40 years. On March 18th he will give us an overview of his uncompromising, stark, but often poignant portfolio. Be sure not to miss this rollercoaster ride from one of South Africa’s best photojournalists.

ven as a long-legged and red cheeked teenage pho- Mail to come and work for him at the Sunday Times betographer at Die Burger newspaper in the early cause you can’t take good photographs working for a daily.

1970’s Juhan Kuus made a lasting impression. Us At that stage Juhan had already made his mark as awardyoung reporters went on assignments with him winning photographer at Die Burger, Beeld, Rapport and with mixed feelings: you would be exposed in the frontline Rand Daily Mail, but, he says, “what I see today and know, and in the thick of the action — on the other hand, chanc- Soullier and Berry taught me.” es were good that your story would be on the front page Ian Berry was "a brilliant photographer" says Juhan, who because his photos were so good. was invited by Henri Cartier-Bresson to join the prestigAnd yet, claims Juhan, it ious Magnum agency in was only decades and several 1962, after he became South African Press Photog- South Africa’s Press Photographer of the Year one world-renowned as the rapher of the Year awards of the World Press Photographers of the Year and only photographer of the later that he found a mentor, hailed as South Africa’s best documentary photog- Sharpeville massacre. He actually two, who taught him rapher ... Juhan Kuus has received many awards and became an honorary Felaccolades, but he calls himself an amateur. about photography. low of the Royal PhotoHe had run away from school graphic Society in 1996. as a seventeen year old to work for Die Burger as darkroom The three of them would travel across the country, takassistant, messenger and soon photographer. He taught ing photos. These two were the only photographers Juhan himself by studying images in every photography book he ever worked together with on shoots, otherwise he always could lay his hands on, trying to decipher how did the pho- worked alone because he never saw the sense of all the tographer get this effect? What did he do here? photographers bunching together and getting exactly the One of his mentors was James Soullier, chief photogra- same shots. pher of the Sunday Times, who would teach invaluable lesTherefore, after 44 years as a professional photographer, sons if you asked the right question between the second he says "I don’t celebrate my own photography. I celebrate and third beer at the press watering hole in Commissioner photography by all photographers, because that is how I Street. Using a Leica and only natural light, Soullier was one learnt my photography." of South Africa’s best feature photographers.

He labels himself an amateur, because an amateur is It was Soullier who lured Kuus away from the Rand Daily someone who takes photographs for the love of To p14

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E & D: Composite images explained

During the E&D evening in February, Malcolm Venter, Head of Photography at the Vega School of Brand Leadership in Cape Town, gave a talk on Composite Images, reports Karyn Parisi.

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ith his presentation slides of some of the earliest known composite images and photomontage, Malcolm Venter (right) engaged the audience and got them enthusiastically involved in analising photographs such as a combination of three images in Fading Away by Henry Peach Robinson from 1857, and the photomontage Two Ways of Life by Oscar Gustave Rejlander, which shocked Scottish society in 1858.

He showed various other thought provoking composite images, amongst them images created for political reasons featuring Stalin, Hitler and even Abraham Lincoln.

Malcolm stressed the importance of consistent lighting in all photos when compiling composite images. Subtlety is a key aspect when combining different exposures for a panoramic composite image, he said.

He also recommended looking at the photography of

Juhan Kuus continued from p13 it, despite three times being ranked among the top three press photographers in the world; despite being the only South African whose photographs are included in the Taft University collection ( among people like Cecil Beaton, Elliott Erwitt etc.), despite having worked for the prestigious Sipa Press Agency for 15 years, despite having been Pictures Editor at Die Burger, despite publishing a book of his images South Africa, in black and white, and despite always being under the names mentioned when people are asked about South Africa’s best photojournalist, street photographer, or our answer to Weegee.

Yet, he is now doing his best work ever, says Juhan, shooting essays with an amateur camera in areas easily accessible from the St Monica Shelter for the Old Aged in the Bo-Kaap, where he lives. His presentation on 18 March will include work from these essays.

Uncompromisingly honest, in word and work, Juhan’s images reflect the harsh reality of the world he sees. His photos often depict brutality, but also the poignant moment that tells an intricate story. Don’t expect to see pretty pictures, landscapes or Photoshopped images.

“I am not an artist. I am a photographer,” he says.

Many of his photos are instantly recognised, like the photos of Madiba and Bill Clinton on Robben Island. But, says Juhan, he hasn’t taken his iconic photo yet.

“I photograph the imperfections of humanity that are

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Alexander Rodchenko, and a very useful and interesting photography website called Cambridge in Colour.

Photoshop tips: • Manage contrast: combine images shot at different exposures to lessen or increase shadows and highlights without changing aperture or depth of field: in Photoshop select File-Automate-Merge to HDR. • Increase field of view: create a panorama and stitch together in Photoshop: select File-Automate-Photomerge.

• Remove distracting elements: Merge several shots of an interesting scene with people walking into the shot by selecting File- Scripts - Load Files into Stacks. Then erase elements that you don’t want.

• When creating a photomontage by dragging one file into another: convert the layer to a smart object so that it can be resized without losing quality. lovable. For me photography is about people on the margins of society. Prostitution, blood rituals, children in jail, the homeless, stray animals, the liberation struggle, farm workers ... I’ve done them all.”

Like a doctor, he has learnt to compartmentalise while working, shutting off his emotions. “I cry when I am alone.”

The work he is most proud of was taken in 2003 when he was working in his father’s leather factory in Oudtshoorn because he was broke. He photographed the workers on the neighbouring farms before and after his 12-hour shifts or over weekends for an essay Down and out with Jesus and the Ladybird in the Klein Karoo.

As a member of Gavin Furlonger’s PAPA (Photographic Archival Preservation Association) the role photography plays as a record of history and collective memory is very important for him.

Not that everybody always appreciated becoming part of recorded history. He had to dodge stone throwers (several times), had been assaulted, arrested, threatened, shot at ... and he has retaliated. His decision to buy — and use — a firearm for protection when he was often the lone photographer recording a hot spot, resulted in serious repercussions for his career. During the 1980’s furious debates raged about the ethics of a photojournalist arming himself and he was eventually expelled from the Foreign Press Association.

Yet, he does not make excuses or dwell on the controversy surrounding his career. Like his work, he is brutally honest when it comes to his own mistakes.

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Cape Camera • February 2015

PSSA Entries: Every month a judge must nominate a competition entry from a senior and junior photographer to enter in the PSSA club competition. See the PSSA website at www.pssa.co.za.

Right: PSSA junior entry and Intermediate winner Print Set (24) Urban Decay by Kathy Priday.

Judge Frank Reuvers complimented the superb lines and circles that are well balanced and work well together. He also liked that the bland sky had been cut to a minimum.

PSSA senior entry and Salon PDI Set winner (26): Reflections by Kim Stevens. Judge Frank Reuvers liked the fact that all the triangles are so well balanced. The dark-clad figure in the foreground is in a very strong position and adds much to the image, he says.

Left: Salon Print Open winner (26) and top scorer for Judge 3: Landing by Joan Ward.

Right: Digital Open Salon (25) and top scorer for judges 2 & 3: Delicate Lines by Jeanette du Toit.

Competition News

Please remember to give feedback to council about the new three judge-panel system introduced for a fourmonth trail period until April. The judges’ scores are recorded on remote devices and the average score is automatically calculated.

Members will be asked to vote after the April competition evening on the best way to proceed.

Apart from introducing the multi-person judging panel, images are now sent to the judges before the competition evening, but they don’t judge remotely..

Give your feedback on the new system to competition convenor Lesley Parolis on competitions@ctps.co.za.

Good news for prospective judges

CTPS members interested in learning more about how to become a club competition, and ultimately salon, judge, will be interested to hear that the JAP (Judge Accreditation Programme) will be resurrected in the Western Cape.

Antenie Carstens, one of the developers of the new programme, will give more information about the implementation of the JAP programme on Wednesday 4th March, before the start of the competition evening — where he will be one of the judges.

February and March judges

In February the competition entries were judged by three very experienced club members and judges, Neels Beyers (left), Gail Reuvers and Frank Reuvers.

They took turns to comment on the images entered.

Again, the average score of the three judges was 22, with two judges giving an average score of 22 and one giving an average score of 21.

The March competition entries will again be judged

by CTPS members with extensive experience as PSSA judges. They are CTPS president Detlef Basel, and members Antenie Carstens and Alicia Greyling.

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Winning and top images February

Set subject: Windows and/or doors Left: Print Set subject Salon winner: Glass & mirrors (23) by Kim Stevens.

Right: PDI Set Advanced winner: Guarded Door (26) by Jacoba van Zyl. Below. Print Set Advanced winner: Beckoning Doorways (23) by Cathy Bruce.

PDI Set Intermediate winner: An armful of window (22) by Kathy Priday.

PDI Set Advanced: Topkapi Patterns (23) by Mo Bassa.

PDI Set Salon: The Blue Door (25) by Neels Beyers.

PDI Set Salon: Vergelegen Reflection (25) by Richard Goldschmidt.

Left: PDI Set Advanced.

Life to Sailors (23) by Keith Bull.

Left: PDI Set Advanced.

Cottage Window (22)

by Robert Maginley.

PDI Set Advanced: Coffee Time (23) by Robert Marconi.

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PDI Set Advanced: Window in Marrakesh Garden (25)

by Jacoba van Zyl.

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Cape Camera • February 2015

Open section

Above: PDI Open Salon: Catch of the day (25) by Jeanette du Toit.

Right: Print Open Intermediare winner: A cup of tea (23) by Kathy Priday.

Above: PDI Open Advanced. Blue Mood (23) by Mo Bassa.

Left: Print Open Salon. Running on water (25) by Joan Ward.

Right: Print Open Salon.

Dalebrook Sunrise on water (24)

by Lesley Parolis.

More Set subject: Windows and/or doors Right PDI Set Salon. Photogenesis (25) by Kim Stevens.

Below right PDI Set Advanced.

Light through mosque window (22)

by Johan Greeff.

Above PDI Set Advanced.

Burnt doors (24) by Richard Goldschmidt.

Right PDI Set Intermediate. I do not do windows (21) by Mark Sorenson Browne.

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Photographing mountain gorillas

n December and January we had the wonderful op- the Nturingo Gorilla Group (comprising of 19 members), portunity of being able to photograph mountain go- we were met by two armed guards who accompanied us rillas in their natural habitats. in case we had unforeseen encounters with wild buffalo We flew from Johannesburg to Kigali, the capital of or elephants.

Rwanda, where we met a Ugandan guide who drove us It was about an hour long, hard, uphill slog to the start to the mountains bordering Rwanda, Uganda and the of the forest, from which we had about another 90 minDemocratic Republic of Congo. utes of steep climbing through dense vegetation and We stayed overnight in a very friendly lodge where we slippery muddy paths. It dawned on me at this point watched the videos Gorillas in why they were known as mounThe Mist and Gorilla King. This tain gorillas: sometimes one has The feeling of a giant silverback really set the scene for the next to go very far up the mountain waking up and looking you in the day, and we found ourselves bein order to find them! eye as you photograph it, is a very coming very excited and even a Our guide, who had been radihumbling experience bit nervous. oing the gorilla trackers who had We were up at 5am the next left early that morning to track morning, dressed in the required long pants tucked into the gorilla movements, then announced that the gorillas long socks, hiking shoes, long sleeved shirts and gloves had been found and were nearby. Great news! for protection from stinging nettles and …. particularly, We were instructed to leave all our bags behind at the dreaded red army ants! that point and only take our cameras. From there, it We drove to the gorilla camp starting point, where we was about a 30 minute walk through dense vegetation, were allocated a guide, put into groups of eight people, hacked clear with machetes in order to get through.

Finally, we arrived in a clearing in which there were 19 briefed on which tribe we would be visiting and told the rules of how to behave with the gorillas. i.e. no closer mountain gorillas. An unbelievable sight… and … right at than seven meters, no eye contact with the silverbacks, the start of the group, a giant silverback, protecting the group, lay sleeping. and, in the event of being chased… Never Run! As we were only permitted to stay an hour with the After driving to the nearest starting point for our group,

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Cape Camera • February 2015

CTPS members Dante and Karyn Parisi had an unique opportunity to photograph mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda. KARYN PARISI explains what to expect when you embark on such an adventure group, we began taking photos immediately.

The feeling of a giant silverback waking up and looking you in the eye as you photograph it, is a very humbling experience.

The sight of the rest of the group sleeping peacefully together, while two babies played under the sleepy watchful eye of a mother gorilla, is an image that will imprint itself in your mind for a long time.

After spending an hour with the gorillas, we were told it was time to go and we began our long journey back.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest We were also very fortunate to be able to travel to Uganda afterwards, to trek to the mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Here we saw the Nshongi Group, a smaller group of 14 gorillas. After a steady uphill mountain walk of about 90 minutes, we were able to photograph an adult female gorilla feeding, literally hugging a tree, while she tried to get her mouth inside the hollow of a Sweet Bark Tree.

From then on it was a fairly difficult trek up and down the very dense mountain slope, while we attempted to keep up with the gorilla group that was on the move.

We stopped only briefly, about three meters behind a silverback that was feeding from a branch, while a baby gorilla swang from the branches above us.

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It was not an easy gorilla trek, this time and very, very challenging for camera focus, through dark forest light and dense vegetation.

It was truly a privilege to be able to experience something so wild and natural, to contribute towards the conservation of mountain gorillas and to share this experience with other photographers afterwards.

Baby gorilla smiles by Karyn Parisi won the Advanced Print Open section in the February competition with a score of 25. Judge Gail Reuvers said the sharpness is exactly where it should be, on the baby’s hand and face. She liked the extra light on the teeth. “A beautiful mother and child image.”

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125 Year celebration diary Save these dates for 2015

March 21, 2015

Red tourist bus late afternoon outing around the Peninsula with unique stops for photography. See p12 for details.

April 25, 2015

Bein Wein Private Cellar outing in Vlottenburg with wine tasting at sunset. Donkeys transport cameras. Limited number can go — enquiries Pat Scott at p.a. charteris@gmail.com.

CTPS Congress for members in De Hoop Nature Reserve. Expect top speakers like Chris Fallows, Paul Bruins, Martin Osner and Nicole Palmer. (See p12). Contact Pat Scott at p.a.charteris@gmail.com.

May 29-31, 2015

Schools photo competition launched.

June 2015

Outing in Stellenbosch area under guidance of a renowned photographer.

July 20 to 4 August, 2015

Exhibition of members’ work across 125 years in Artscape Opera House foyer.

Postberg outing during flower season.

Date and details to be confirmed.

August 2015

PSSA National Congress in Swellendam 9-14 August. Organised by Swellendam Photographic Society and Cape Photographers. See PSSA website at www.pssa.co.za (Congress tab).

September 16, 2015

An illustrated talk on the club’s 125 years’ history. Possible AV shown?

October 2015

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Cape Town Photographic Society 125th Anniversary Salon for print (Antenie Carstens), PDI (Lesley Parolis), AV (Nellian Bekker). Coordinated by Nicol du Toit.

On October 30th, the society’s birthday will be celebrated with a gala dinner at Granger Bay with a good speaker, where old and current members will be honoured.

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