RPS Southern Region Newsletter - Autumn 2019

Volume 3 | 2019

New slet ter WELCOME

The River Itchen by Jana Murray Hello and welcome to our latest packed and interesting Autumn Newsletter. It's hard to believe three years have passed since I took on the role of Regional Organiser - in this newsletter I will share with you some thoughts on my journey to date.

You will also find event reports and a list of events for the rest of the year.

If you haven't already signed up, don't miss our Imaging Festival in partnership with Sony - this is the Southern Region's flagship event for this year and it looks set to be a memorable one.

Enjoy the Autumn colours and we hope to see you soon at our events.

Best wishes, Paul Cox ARPS, Regional Organiser 1

Paul Cox, Regional Organiser, 3 years on Report by Paul Cox ARPS I have been in the role of Regional Organiser for almost three years now, so I thought it would be a good time to give you a precis of my thoughts, ambitions and impressions so far.

It?s been a very enjoyable, enlightening, satisfying, engaging, frustrating, and (sometimes) exasperating experience to date.

I officially became the Regional Organiser, responsible for the RPS?s activity in the region, in May 2017 after a three-month trial.

During my trial I developed a personal list of ambitions for my role and the region, which have seen some success but need more work.

So, to try to combat this we are redoubling our efforts for 2020.

We will be putting on more workshops and changing the direction of Advisory Days in addition to continuing with the photowalk event schedule in the region.

In brief, my ambitions were (and are): -

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Be more active and visible in the region Engage more members by offering a wider variety of activities, events and workshops Give-back to members by holding free (or near free) bi-annual speaker events Hold more Advisory Days across the region Improve volunteer numbers and community to facilitate improvements in activity offerings Seek greater collaboration and engagement with Special Interest Groups Engage with Camera Clubs across the region

We will organise Licentiate only and Associate only Advisory Days and hold them in different areas of the region (much like we have been doing for the last two years).

We held an advisory day on the Isle of Wight two years ago and will repeat that in 2020.

RPS distinctions are widely considered a gold standard measure of achievement for Amateur and Professionals alike in the photographic arena. Throughout 2020, to help members and non-members in the pursuit of their chosen distinction, we will set up a new series of workshop evenings dedicated to providing advice on achieving distinctions.

What I have found so far is that: Being more active in the region and getting more visible is an ongoing project for both me and the volunteer committee.

As a reflection of demand, we will be giving particular attention to the Licentiate level, but will also offer workshop advice on the Associate level too.

We have increased our level of activities and Advisory days and, although the Advisory days have increased in popularity, our other events are receiving weak to poor response.

Look out for format detail and dates for these events in our next newsletter and the 2020 event listings coming out in the next two months.

This was borne out by our free Speakers day event in June 2018 when out of almost 1000 members in the region, only 60 attended.

Thank you for your continued support for the RPS and the Region. I look forward to continuing with our efforts to improve what we, as a Region are achieving, and hopefully meet more of you, the members, soon.

It has become increasingly clear that what we are battling against is a level of apathy and competition with our own Special Interest Groups and Camera Clubs.

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EVENT REPORTS Avebury Photow alk, 5t h June 2019 Report by Paul Rigg ARPS A group of members assembled at the World Heritage Site, Avebury, and enjoyed an interesting evening capturing the magic of the mesolithic stone circle.

Although the light could have been kinder each brought their own particular style to bear in producing some memorable shots.

As always on RPS photowalks, we shared ideas and saw the stones through others' eyes.

Avebury Pano by Anthony Burdall

Avebury Stone by Paul Rigg ARPS Avebury Infra Red by David Ashcroft LRPS 3

Ot terbourne Advisory Day, July 14t h 2019 Report by Paul Cox ARPS All panel entrants and spectators enjoyed a good day at Otterbourne Village Hall, with Ian Wilson ARPS providing advice on Licentiate panels and Tony Worobiac FRPS advising on Associate panels.

As the number of panel entries was biased towards Licentiate, Ian was a little busier than Tony. However, Tony provided some valuable comments for Licentiate panels, as did Ian with the Associate panels.

The variety of subject and quality of images was, as always, wonderful to witness and advice given was genuine and very helpful to the entrants.

Lots of notes were taken by spectators and entrants alike, closely following the advisors assessments of technical and general photographic elements of each image, mounting and panel balance.

As with many previous Advisory Days, it was evident that there is need to provide a workshop type service that will help and enable photographers wishing to ?go-for ? an RPS distinction. We have decided that we will kick of a series of workshops to respond to the need. I have spoken about this earlier in this newsletter, so please keep an eye on future announcements for dates and times.

We took the opportunity to try out our new panel display frame(s) for the first time which were well received by all involved in the day. They took a little more time than expected to erect at the beginning of the day, but the results were worth the effort.

Finally, my thanks go to Ian Wilson and Tony Worobiac for their help with advice and all volunteers working on the day for their help and dedication, without which we could not hold these events.

Tea, coffee and biscuits were available throughout the day as usual, which was appreciated by all attending.

CONGRATULATIONS Many congratulations to Southern Region members awarded distinctions in the first half of this year: Associate:

Licenciate:

Mr Colin Foster

Mr Brian Allen

Mr Zoltan Balogh

Mrs Linda Collins

Mr Paul Berkeley

Mrs Valery Griggs

Mr Tony Cowburn

Mrs Helen Otton

Mr Tony Goodger

Mrs Joy Gardner

Mr Paul Rigg

Mr Francis Sandbach Mrs Susan Veal 4

UPCOMING EVENTS 2019 is rapidly drawing to a close but we still have some fantastic events lined up in the Southern Region - read on for details.

Our next Distinctions Advisory Day, will be held in Old Basing Village Hall on 24th November. For more details and to book click h er e.

You can also check out the regularly updated even t pr ogr am m e on the website where details will be added once available.

Event Programme - to end of 2019 DATE

EVENT

LOCATION

September 15th

Celebration of Photography (L, A & F)

Littleton Village Hall, Winchester

October 4th

Photowalk

Autumn Colours at Hillers Gardens, Ampfield

October 6th

Southern Region & Sony Imaging Festival

Ashburton Hall, Hampshire County Council Buiding, Winchester

October 27th

Southern Region Annual General Meeting incorporating Mount Cutting Workshop with Longridge Mount Cutters

Bramshaw Village Hall, SO43 7JE

November 1st

Photowalk

Winter Woodland, The Vyne, Basingstoke

November 24th

Distinction Advisory Day (A&L)

Old Basing Village Hall, Basingstoke

Event Programme for 2020 We are currently working on the full breadth of our events and workshops for the 2020 season and do not have a detailed listing available at this point.

We are also planning a few more educational workshops and will continue to try to organise ?events with a difference.?

We aim to get a full program of planned events out to members by December this year.

Paul already touched on what is being planned regarding Advisory Days and Distinction Workshops and the continuation of photowalks earlier in the newsletter.

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Celebrat ion of Photography 15t h Sept em ber 2019, Lit t let on Village Hall, Lit t let on , SO22 6QL Join us for a Celebration of Photography. This special day is a great opportunity for anyone wishing to view successful bodies of work close up and develop their understanding of photography and our Distinctions.

The Distinctions Team will present a range of submissions from all genres.

you can become one of the many thousands that have gained Distinctions with the Society. You will also will be able to ask questions and find out more about the RPS Distinctions and how we can help you improve your own photography.

Learn and be inspired by others as successful applicants talk about their experiences and present their submissions.

Spaces are limited, so book your place early through our w ebsit e.

We will explain what our assessors are looking for, what you need to do, what to avoid and how

Sout hern Region and Sony Imaging Fest ival 6t h Oct ober 2019, Ash bu r t on Hall, Win ch est er It's not long now until our Southern Region Imaging Festival on the 6th October in Winchester, supported by Sony Cameras.

This is our flagship event for 2019 and not to be missed.

The event will include talks and demonstrations from Sony, Longridge, Fotolight and Rotolight.

Sony will have a full range of their digital cameras available to test out with a memory card provided to take home.

Award winning photographer Rober t Pu gh will carry out an easy to understand live tethering demonstration using the model Pip Atkins and a ?Tribal Leader ? theme.

Rob will demonstrate how to create amazing portraits using Speed-lights and gels. Starting with just one Speed-light he will continue to build the stage by adding multiple lights to create the final image. Using a styled model, he will show you where to position your first light and work out what your camera settings will be.

Rob will break all the rules by shooting at f2 in the studio and look at the details in the image. Most importantly, we will tether our camera to the computer and demonstrate why you should tether.

Please visit the w ebsit e to book.

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Photo by Robert Pugh

2019 Annual General Meet ing and Longridge Mount Cut t ing Workshop 27t h Oct ober 2019, Br am sh aw Village Hall, SO43 7JE Time flies and our Annual General Meeting is once again upon us.

If you are interested in having a go at any of the three officer roles and would like to apply for your chosen role, then please get in touch with Paul and he will send you an application form.

It will be Paul's third AGM as Regional Organiser for the Southern Region, and, along with the Secretary and the Treasurer, he will be standing for re-election, hoping to continue for a third term.

Once the official business is out the way, we will move on to the fun stuff.

extremely fortunate to have them share their knowledge with us at the AGM.

This year we're hosting a Mount Cutting workshop by Chris and Eden Longridge of Longridge Mount Cutters.

If you have the time to come along you will gain a valuable insight into the skill that is mount cutting.

The 2-hour event will combine demonstrations and a workshop for all who are interested in learning how to properly mount their images.

The demonstration/workshop will begin straight after the AGM at approximately 1100.

It is not necessary to attend the AGM to take part in the workshop, and it is free of charge.

As the founders of Longridge Mount Cutting, Chris and Eden are very popular and we are 7

VOLUNTEERING AND VOLUNTEERS Request from Paul Cox, Regional Organiser Have you ever considered volunteering with the RPS?

So, if you are at all interested in helping the region (and the RPS) through giving up a little (or more) of your time to assist in the management and/or organisation of events and activities then please do get in touch.

The Southern Region volunteers are a skilful and committed set of individuals without whom we wouldn?t be able to achieve what have. And I am very grateful to each and every one for their help and dedication to the region.

My contact details are: Email: southern@rps.org

However, to continue to improve our reach and engagement levels we need more volunteers.

Phone: 07748 115057

EVENT SURVEY We've had a fantastic response to out event survey so far. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply.

It will take about 2 minutes of your time.

If you haven't completed our survey yet it's not too late.

Your feedback is invaluable and will help us tailor our programme, so we include events of most interest to you and in the most convenient locations.

Simply click on the following link:

Thank you.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QJFBCHH

REQUEST FOR PHOTOS The RPS website is currently being updated along with the Southern Region site.

Our Newsletter Editor, Jana, would also like to request photos for the welcome page of the newsletter.

We are seeking photos from members to feature on the new site.

She needs a photo with a Winter theme for the next newsletter but photos for all seasons would be great for future editions.

If you'd like to see your photos published online, please send your favourite images as jegs to our web editor, Chris Tank, at southernweb@rps.org

All photographers will of course be credited.

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MEMBER Q & A Sandy Chest nut Interview by Jana Murray In our latest Q & A we meet professional photographer, Sandy Chestnut, who shares his passion for underwater photography and his profound love and respect for animals.

I suppose this comes from years of focusing on distilling the essential elements into an image to allow others to ?be there?.

Aside from professional documentary photography where it?s the message that is important, the subjects I choose for personal pleasure can be as varied as dramatic landscapes, events or interactions with wildlife.

There is no single genre and I?ll shoot anything as long as result has an emotional impact with the person viewing the image.

Q. Wh en did you f ir st becom e in t er est ed in ph ot ogr aph y an d h ow ?

A. Capturing images has been a lifelong personal passion and very much part of my professional life.

It started when I was quite young and went to sea. I had a compact film camera and took it with me wherever I went to show my friends what the world was like. I bought a ZENIT E SLR, and a prime 50mmm lens second hand because I wanted more manual control and to be more creative with the images.

My aim is to try to help others know what I was feeling when I took the shot, in the purest way I can.

This especially true when I photograph wild animals underwater. I can show people who will never dive the unbelievable fragile beauty and richness of life, and why the animals in their natural environment have captured our hearts so much. The challenge of doing this well is more deeply satisfying than I can describe.

I started taking photographs professionally as part of my (then) job as a warranty surveyor documenting oil and gas projects worldwide. This was for inclusion in formal reports. That experience honed my skill in looking for the essential elements that needed to be captured to make the image ?work? for someone who could not be there, and in a way that could be presented as evidence in legal disputes.

Q. Wh at ar e t h e m ain ch allen ges in volved in ph ot ogr aph in g u n der w at er ?

A. There are many. From the photography perspective there are challenges associated with a low or no light environment, spectrum absorption with depth, the balance of strobe power with distance, capturing balanced and creative images of fast moving wild animals clearly in a thick opaque liquid full of backscatter in a way that is interesting and conveys emotion and creates engagement.

It was a chance meeting with a friend that owned a NIKONOS system that hooked me on underwater photography. It was on the cusp of the introduction of digital photography and I took that route instead of film.

This developed into professional photography assignments and photographing for libraries, a passion that continues to this day.

Add to this the very significant risks associated with diving, the limited time available underwater, the physical exertion and physiological impact, and the quite extreme environmental conditions that apply in the open sea.

Q. Wh at do you m ost lik e t o sh oot ?

A. A difficult question since it?s not so much a ?what? but more a general concept. I love capturing moments in time to share with others who are not able to be there themselves.

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But probably the greatest challenge is getting the animals to trust me to get close enough, since I?m seldom farther than 2 metres from the subject but most often within a metre Balancing all of this of this makes taking images underwater the most challenging but satisfying form of photography I know.

Q. Wh at advice w ou ld you give som eon e con sider in g becom in g an u n der w at er ph ot ogr aph er ?

A. Firstly, for safety sake don?t consider taking a camera underwater until managing the diving aspect becomes second nature - almost automatic.

Taking nice photographs underwater requires such concentration it can so easily distract you from the far more important requirement of staying alive and getting back to the surface safely. It?s just not worth the additional risk. Also diving experience rather than qualification is key.

Secondly, it needs a high skill level using an SLR with full manual control. The process of diving, and the specialist equipment, is expensive and requires real commitment to get high quality shots rather than snapshots. To make sure the very limited time underwater is best used practice above water first.

Finally, find good mentor (as I did). This can short cut the learning process by years.

Q. I u n der st an d you h ave over 3000 ph ot os in st ock libr ar ies lik e Sh u t t er st ock an d Get t y?

Wh at advice w ou ld you give som eon e w ish in g t o m ak e m on ey t h r ou gh st ock libr ar ies?

A. Be realistic about what they will earn. There are huge amounts of images in libraries and limited buyers, especially when economic times are hard.

Images that sell best do so not because of art or because that photographer likes them - they sell because the buyer needs or wants them and is willing to part with his/her cash.

That said, there is no more honest affirmation that the photographer is doing it right than 10

when someone is willing to part with his/her hard earned cash for their images. This is a deeply satisfying part of it.

Curiously, we often have no idea why people buy a particular shot.

Library criteria is quite strict. It has to be to maintain quality levels. The upside is that it encourages skill development.

Q. Please can you sh ar e t h r ee f avou r it e ph ot os an d t ell u s t h e st or y beh in d t h em .

A. Because of the broad spectrum of my photographic interests and my passion for underwater photography, this is quite a difficult ask - but here goes.

This first one reminds me of a very important lesson I learned when photographing wildlife patience and empathy. It took me over a year to gain the trust of a herd of truly wild desert oryx enough for them to allow me to take photographs like this. I was eventually accepted into the herd enough that they would let me touch them and let their young lie down next to me. This continues to remind me not to rush anything as far as photography is concerned.

The second one is from my very first professional photography shoot for Seraph Production. I like it not because it?s particularly good, but because it captures a moment in time and reminds me that clients often have unrealistic expectations. I was asked to produce 400 images in 3 hours, or 2 shots a minute in low light conditions. It was the start of a journey for me.

I know it?s a bit tongue in cheek but the final one is more of a personal snapshot but it reminds me that while photography is a serious matter it should also always be fun. I was roped into an aerial shoot of a factory but there was no budget for a helicopter. We could only hire a tiny aircraft with just enough room for a pilot and a camera bag inside. I had to strap myself to a wing spar outside for the flight. Not only was the client happy with the shots but I was enriched by the experience of trying to take professional shots in rather unusual circumstances. It?s a memory that still makes me smile to this day.

Q. Wh at ?s n ext on you r ph ot ogr aph ic jou r n ey?

A. Continue to travel, developing my skills and technique, above and underwater, so that I can better share my experiences with others in a way that enriches their lives too.

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CONTACTS Sout hern Region TITLE

NAM E

EM AIL

Regional Organiser

Paul Cox ARPS

southern@rps.org

Southern Secretary

David Ashcroft LRPS

southernsecretary@rps.org

Southern Treasurer

Bhupinder Ghatahora ARPS

southerntreasurer@rps.org

Basingstoke

David Ashcroft Bhupinder Ghatahora

Emails as above

Bournemouth & Dorset

David Peckham

davepeckham@mac.com

Channel Islands

Eric Ferbrache ARPS

rpsciorganiser@gmx.com

Portsmouth & East Hants

Martin Silman

southernevents@rps.org

Salisbury & South Wilts

Paul Rigg ARPS

paulrigg@outlook.com

Southampton & South Hants

Paul Cox ARPS

southern@rps.org

Web Editor

Chris Tank

southernweb@rps.org

Publishing Editor

Jana Murray

southerneditor@rps.org

Social Media Editor

Position vacant

Ar ea Coor din at or s

Specialist Volu n t eer s

Volu n t eer s Salisbury & South Wilts

Anthony Topham

atopham9@gmail.com

Documentary Group (main)

Mark Philips

doc@rps.org

Documentary Sub Group (Chichester)

Janey Devine FRPS

docse@rps.org

Digital Imaging Group

Barry Senior (Hon FRPS)

digsouthern@rps.org

Landscape Group

Jim Souper

landscapenews@rps.org

Region al Special In t er est Gr ou ps

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