PRESENTATION COLIN HARRISON

The RPS Benelux Chapter VIRTUAL MEETING

Colin

Harrison

Having a sense of humour is great, you don’t need to be so serious all the time. Having fun is what it is mostly about

After our Benelux Chapter Annual General

Meeting on 23rd March 2021, we invited Colin Harrison FRPS FIPF FBPE MFIAP MPAGB EFIAP/ d3 MPSA GPAS AWPF APAGB to give us a presentation which was titled Digital Adventure 2021. Colin is an extremely enthusiastic talker. He has been awarded many Distinctions as you can see by all the titles behind his name. He is very experienced and likes to share his knowledge.

He began with showing us examples for setting up an Licenciate Distinction panel of ten photos. Colin explained about colour schemes and what the criteria are and how you need to show technical ability. Colin then proceeded to tell us and show us his workflow which is always interesting as you can pick up new tips and tricks this way.

Having fun is what it is mostly about

Colin uses a mouse to make his selections and cuts out his images to then make montages, creating a new work. He is extremely creative, likes to have fun and even goes to extremes!

Having a sense of humour is great, you don’t need to be so serious all the time. Having fun is what it is mostly about. I really appreciate this, as I think this is very true. Life is complicating as it is, so enjoying your hobby like this gives you a sense of freedom.

© Colin Harrison - The Clock Watcher

Keep it simple!

Colin showed us some of his panels of success, for example the SPSA – Photographic Society of America Silver Portfolio. This was with 15 photos in a panel of old red abandoned cars in fields taken in America. For his Gold Portfio, GPSA – Photographic Society of America Gold Portfolio, he showed us his panel of 20 images which was of abandoned vehicles with a blue night sky and red tinted windows repeating in all the photos. Statements of Intent are required for both. Colin showed us his method in Photoshop, it looks easy but you do need the skills!

We then saw a large selection of his work which has gone into many international photo salons. His work is beautiful and he is prolific in many, if not all genres.

Colin tips us with ‘Keep it simple!” His ideas often come later, he takes many photos and gets triggered later. He doesn’t use a tripod and has even made his own self built flash.

It was a joy to listen, there was time for questions after and many of our viewers took this opportunity. Colin is happy to help, contact him through his website. Colin sent us all a pdf of the talk, so very handy for us to refer to. If you want a copy, please email us. Colin also tipped us about many software programmes which he uses, one of which is called ‘Original Flood’ it’s free and can be found at http://www.flamingpear.com/older.html at the bottom of the website page you find it.

A few weeks later we also had to opportunity to listen to another RPS talk by Colin, on a Flower Photography Masterclass. This was also extremely inspiring! Your own garden can be a huge source of inspiration. The creative ability of Colin is truly amazing!

Instead of asking for a fee, we donated to a cause close to his heart and in The Netherlands we collected money from our members in our Benelux account. Jeroen, our Treasurer, transferred this to www.KWF.nl (Koningin Wilhelmina Fonds voor de Nederandse Kankerbestrijding) and we are very pleased to announce we raised €132. Some opted to donate directly themselves, also in other countries, so we came up with a total of approx. €185. This is fantastic and we’d like to thank everyone who donated.

Colin’s talk was inspiring and left us with a lot to think about, creatively and positively. Thank you to all who attended and especially thanks to Colin! Do check out his website!

Screengrab of part of the group in Zoom meeting

© Colin Harrison - End of the battle