RPS Southern Region Newsletter: February 2019

Volume 1 | 2019

New slet ter WELCOME

Photo by Chris Tank Welcome to the first Southern Region Newsletter of 2019. Spring is most definitely here and we have a full programme of events and photowalks planned for you to make the most of it.

There are five Distinction Advisory Days planned for this year, held conveniently across the Region, as well as our own Regional LRPS Assessment Day organised by Head Office.

Read on to see a full list of our exciting and varied 2019 event programme.

This newsletter also includes a report on Dave Peckham's ever popular "Camera to Print" Workshop and an interview with photographer and film director, Mark Sheldon FRPS. Last but not least, I'd like to welcome Chris Tank as our new Web Editor. We are really happy to have him join the team in the Southern Region. You can read Chris' profile, and those of our other committee members, here.

Best wishes, Paul Cox ARPS, Regional Organiser

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EVENT REPORTS Camera to Print Workshop, 23rd January 2019 Report by Martin Silman printer is set up specifically for the paper and software that you are using.

In January we repeated our ever popular, ?Camera to Print Workshop' in Chandlers Ford with our very own, Dave Peckham.

It sounds easy when listed like this, but Dave spent the best part of 4 hours building up a picture of what elements are important. This included why they are important, why it is inevitably a compromise, what options need to be considered and what, in his experience, are the most common mistakes made by photographers.

Calling on his 30 years professional printing experience, Dave guided 20 members through the science and practice of getting what you capture in camera through the process of editing and printing, the aim being to achieve the best possible rendition of your masterpiece at the end of the process.

The techniques are relevant whether printing your own photographs or sending them off to a lab to be printed professionally.

The key, apparently, is to start with a RAW image, to keep as consistent a colour gamut as possible from start to finish (easier said than done, especially as you switch between light and print), to ensure your monitor is sufficiently sophisticated for the task in hand and properly calibrated for the ambient light that you are working in and finally, of course, that your

If you would like to attend one of these popular sessions, do let us know. If there is sufficient interest we will schedule another date later this year.

Welford Park Photow alk, 8t h February 2019

A hardy group of five Southern Region and non Southern Region photographers (Hilary, David, Marc, Patricia and John) joined Paul Cox and David Ashcroft to photograph the snowdrops at Welford Park near Newbury. Unfortunately the weather on the day was appalling with heavy rain making life very difficult. This was rather unfortunate as the snowdrops and their location was very photogenic.

Hopefully we can repeat the event next year and the weather will be better.

Report and photos by David Ashcroft LRPS

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UPCOMING EVENTS We have an exciting set of events planned for 2019 including Distinction Advisory Days, monthly photowalks and workshops. Have a look at the latest event program below or check out the regularly updated even t pr ogr am m e on the website where details will be added once available.

2019 Event Programme Dat e

Even t

Ven u e / Locat ion

M ar ch 9t h

Photowalk

Old Basing Canal & House

M ar ch 31st

Distinction Advisory Day (LRPS Only)

Littleton Village Hall, Winchester

Apr il 5t h

Photowalk

Silchester Roman Wall

Apr il 8t h

New Members Meeting

Fryern Pavilion, Chandlers Ford

M ay 3r d

Photowalk

Bluebells in Micheldever Woods

M ay 19t h

LRPS Assessment Day (prints)

Littleton Village Hall, Winchester

Ju n e 1st

Workshop - Underwater Photography

Fryern Pavilion, Chandlers Ford

Ju n e 5t h

Photowalk

Avebury Stone Circle

Ju n e 14t h

Photowalk

Netley Abbey

Ju n e 16t h

Longridge Workshop

Littleton Village Hall, Winchester

Ju ly 12t h

Photowalk

Newbury Canal

Ju ly 14t h

Distinction Advisory Day (ARPS and LRPS)

Otterbourne Village Hall, nr Eastleigh

Au gu st 5t h

New Members Meeting

Fryern Pavilion, Chandlers Ford

Sept em ber 5t h

llustrated talk by Tony Worobiec FRPS ?

Coastal Landscapes

Castel Douzaine Room, Les Beaucamps, Guernsey

Sept em ber 6t h

Landscape Workshop, Tony Worobiec FRPS

Castel Douzaine Room, Les Beaucamps, Guernsey

Sept em ber 6t h

Photowalk

Winchester City

Sept em ber 7t h

Landscape Workshop ? Tony Worobiec FRPS

Castel Douzaine Room, Les Beaucamps, Guernsey

Sept em ber 8t h

Distinctions Advisory Day (ARPS and LRPS) Guernsey, venue TBA

Sept em ber 8t h

Photowalk

Portland Bill 3 3

Sept em ber 15t h

Celebration of Photography (LRPS, ARPS and FRPS)

Littleton Village Hall, Winchester

Oct ober (dat e TBC)

Photowalk

Autumn Colours at Hilliers Gardens, Ampfield

Oct ober 6t h

Southern Region & Sony Imaging Festival

Ashburton Hall, Hants CC, Winchester

Novem ber 1st

Photowalk

Winter Woodland, The Vyne, Basingstoke

Novem ber 24t h

Distinction Advisory Day (ARPS and LRPS)

Old Basing Village Hall, Basingstoke

LRPS Assessment Day in t he Sout hern Region 19t h M ay 2019, Lit t let on Village Hall, Lit t let on , SO22 6QL If you have always wondered what happens when an LRPS panel is assessed for distinction then this is your big opportunity.

The LRPS Distinction Panel are coming to the Southern Region for the first time, to Littleton Hall just outside Winchester.

Rules at the event are strict for both spectators and panel entries ? no questions, no feedback, silence during an assessment - but what you will get to see is the process of distinction assessments first hand.

It?ll be a great day, and probably won?t happen again for a couple of years, so be quick and book your place as spaces are limited.

If you have worked toward your LRPS and want to enter your panel for this assessment day then please go to our website to read the guide and book either by post or online.

To book as a spectator or panel entrant please go to the website h er e.

Avebury and Port land Photow alks Paul Rigg has two photowalks planned for the Summer, in the Western part of the region.

The first one will be at Avebury Stone Circles on the 5th June and will include a walk around the evocative World Heritage Site capturing the fading light.

On the 8th Sept Paul will be at Portland Bill Lighthouse offering endless photo opportunities - seascapes, industrial archeology, wildlife and people watching.

To book, please visit the even t page on the 4 Photo by Paul Rigg LRPS website.

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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 in September 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 website h er e.

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

Int roduct ion to Underw ater Photography 16t h Ju n e 2019, Fr yer n Pavilion , Ch an dler s For d, SO53 2LE

inevitable that, at some point the two would meet.

If you?ve ever wondered what it?s like to dive with sharks and photograph marine life, join underwater photographer Sandy Chestnut for an introduction to the extremely challenging activity of professional underwater photography.

Maybe you?ve considered doing underwater photography but don?t quite know what?s involved, or maybe you?re simply curious about how they manage to get "that shot". Either way, this session will give you a fascinating insight into underwater photography, with a few entertaining stories thrown in by Sandy.

Sandy started taking photographs professionally over twenty years ago, mainly to document projects in more remote and inhospitable parts of the world. He learned to dive in the early seventies in Scotland so it was pretty nigh

Photos by Sandy Chestnut

To book a place at the event click h er e to go to the website.

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Sout hern Region and Sony Imaging Fest ival 6t h Oct ober 2019, Ash bu r t on Hall, Win ch est er We are pleased to announce an exciting event for October in partnership with Sony.

It's still in the planning stages but we can share that there will be live demonstrations by Sony, Rotolight and Longridge, and the opportunity to chat to suppliers.

Photographer Rober t Pu gh is confirmed and 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.

Photo by Robert Pugh

More details about the event will be provided as they become available.

Workshops and Advisory Day in Guernsey Online bookings are now open for a series of weekend events in Guernsey in the Channel Islands, presented by Fine Art Photographer Ton y Wor obiec FRPS. On Thursday 5th September at 8pm, Tony will present an illustrated talk on 'Coastal Landscapes' followed by two workshops on Friday and Saturday, "Photographing Landscapes Whatever the Weather " and 'The Intimate Landscape'.

The weekend will conclude with an Advisory Day on Sunday 8th, which will be announced in more detail when arrangements are finalised.

The workshops and Advisory Day are open to all Channel Islands residents as well as those from further afield who may wish to travel and join us.

Photo by Tony Worobiec FRPS

Places are limited and early booking through the even t s page on the website is advisable.

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RPS Sout hern Region Photographic Exhibit ion Entries are invited for our 2019 exhibition.

venues around the region through the rest of the year.

You can submit up to 4 images, size of your choice but the mount will be 50 x 40 and there is a charge of ÂŁ5 per image submitted.

With your permission, your images will also be used on our section of the RPS website and possibly in our newsletters. If you have an event or venue where you would like to show the images, do please let us know.

If we receive more than 40 entries, we will judge the entries and select the best 40 images.

As this is a first for us, we simply ask that you send images which allow us to show the range of styles, topics and techniques of our membership. We will showcase the ?winning 40? at many of our events this year and will also be looking to show them to the public at various

If you are interested in participating, our deadline for entries is Sunday April 14th.

Please contact Martin Silman at southernevents@rps.org for full details on how to apply.

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES Have you ever considered volunteering with the RPS?

time, or effort, just help out with events and maybe idea generation and become a little more involved with the RPS organisation in the region.

We are currently looking to boost our volunteer group with members who would like to play an active role in the organisation of Southern Region events, Advisory Days and workshops. If you think you would like to give some time to the RPS as a volunteer, then please get in touch.

We are actively seeking a volunteer to take up the specialist role of Social Media Editor. If you think you may be suitable for this role and would like to find out more, or you would like to be a general volunteer, please contact the Regional Organiser, Paul Cox, either by email or via his mobile 07748 115057.

We don?t expect volunteers to give up lots of

BLOGS We regularly update the website with new blogs.

We have just published the first in a new series of blogs from Helen Longridge about mount cutting.

Click h er e to view the first one.

You can also read our Member Q & As and event reports in the Blog.

If you'd like to contribute a blog of your own please contact our Web Editor, Chris Tank on southernweb@rps.org 7 7

MEMBER Q & A Mark Sheldon FRPS Interview by Jana Murray

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

second. Making every frame count became a lifelong obsession. Stories could be revealed in a different way. My images could convey narrative from a different perspective. I also enjoyed being part of a production team, not just relying on my own input to convey narrative.

A. It was at school in the darkroom ? 1976 or thereabouts. My oldest friend was in the photographic society and I went to see him in the darkroom one day. It?s a classic ? I watched a print come up in the developer and that sealed the deal for the next 47 years!

In 1991 I moved back to the UK and worked full time as a Film and Commercials Director/DOP.

Q: You ?ve h ad a f ascin at in g car eer in bot h ph ot ogr aph y an d f ilm t h at ?s t ak en all over t h e w or ld. Tell m e abou t you r jou r n ey.

Q: Bu t you cou ldn?t st ay aw ay f r om ph ot ogr aph y, cou ld you ? You r et u r n ed t o ph ot ogr aph y year s lat er an d did an M A.

A. Straight from school I did an apprenticeship as a trainee medical photographer ? at the time there was only one degree course available in photography and I failed to get a place on it!

A. I went through the transition from film to digital as a cinematographer and missed the whole experience in stills photography. I needed a new challenge, so in 2013 I decided to undertake an MA in Photography at the Arts University Bournemouth. My lecturers and tutors proved that you can teach an old dog new tricks.

My eyes were opened wide to possibilities I had never imagined possible as a photographer and my addiction to photography was instantly re-fueled. The arts campus, the tutors and the other students all provided a cocktail of experiences that became life changing.

I remember my mother saying photography wasn?t a proper job! Well she was right there ? since then I have never been to ?work?, but I have travelled the world and made a living as a result of my passion for image making.

In 1979, I moved from the UK to Hong Kong and set up my own photo studio where I worked as a commercial photographer for many years.

Then in 1987 I was asked to light a commercial and the experience and results hooked me into the possibilities of the moving image.

I am now a Senior Lecturer in BA Hons Film Production at the University. I found my art again, became inspired again and most importantly re-discovered photography again.

I see film as being made up of 25 still frames a 8 8

Q. You ?ve been a m em ber of t h e RPS f or 20 year s an d h ave ach ieved t h e h igh est dist in ct ion . Tell u s abou t you r jou r n ey t o FRPS.

and managed all three Arri III cameras with custom made advance and expose controls over 48 hrs. There was no on set preview, playback or image check and I remember the delight of getting the rushes back to view. Today you could just do this on standard DSLR kit!

A: My distinction was for cinematography. It was always my aspiration to achieve an RPS distinction. This went on hold when I moved into film work though. I was delighted when I knew that a Distinction was achievable for moving image. Originally, I had planned to submit for Associate, but when I presented my work I was encouraged to expand on the descriptive and submit for Fellowship.

Q. How r elevan t is t h e RPS in t h e m oder n w or ld an d w h at w ou ld you do t o m ak e it m or e r elevan t ?

A. It is useful to know where you have come from in order to know where you are going. The RPS has the history to be explored yet is part of history to come. Photography is a universal language and is the perfect medium for communication and artistic expression, especially today when everyone?s lives are so screen based.

Q. Wh y w ou ld you r ecom m en d join in g t h e RPS an d w or k in g t ow ar ds dist in ct ion s?

A. Joining the RPS gives you access to a community of photography that is not just about taking pictures. You?ll find inspiration from every angle, macro, fashion, documentary, editorial, sport ? it is endless. And ?The Journal? alone is worth the subscription!

The RPS consistently explores and reveals the world using photography as a window, and its members capture, interpret and express what they see at the highest level. I am constantly in awe of the work I see through the RPS.

Working towards Distinctions gives you focus and intent. It strengthens your body of work and challenges you at every stage ? it has improved my work considerably.

Q. Th er e is m u ch debat e abou t h ow w e sh ou ld def in e ph ot ogr aph y in m oder n day. Wh ilst m an y ph ot ogr aph er s en joy classic lan dscape an d por t r ait ph ot ogr aph y; ot h er s ar e exper im en t in g w it h m or e cr eat ive, ar t ist ic appr oach es t h at som et im es u se w h at som e con sider excessive im age m an ipu lat ion . Wh at is you r view on t h is?

But I think that the destination of a distinction shouldn?t be the sole objective, it is the journey that is the fulfilling part.

Q. Wh at w as you r ch osen pr oject f or FRPS? Please can you t alk u s t h r ou gh t h e idea beh in d it .

A. When I watch a magician perform, I don?t spend my time working out how he did the trick ?

I savour the illusion. If I watch a film, I don?t drill down into techniques and process - I let the filmmaker tell me the story. And when I look at a photograph, I view it for how the photographer has presented it. If the image communicates what the photographer intended me to see, I hope to appreciate it.

A. After I moved on from Medical photography, I focused on still life work for advertising and editorial assignments. My move into film was largely inspired by wanting to explore lighting and composing shots that moved, specifically in table top work. I have never let go of this, and it continues to drive me today.

As part of my fellowship submission I filmed a blossoming Peony for Chinese New Year using stop frame exposures on a 35mm film camera.

These particular flowers are grown specifically to blossom in time for the Chinese New Year, presenting a very small filming window of 9 opportunity. I arranged three sets in a studio 9

I love the work of Ansel Adams, Sugimoto, Jerry Ulesmann and Maggie Taylor, all for different reasons. Photography shouldn?t stand still or be pigeonholed. It is a means of expression and storytelling. I don?t believe there is such a thing as a bad photograph. Some might be technically more proficient than others, some better composed, but at the time the photographer pressed the button, he or she had a story to tell.

As for image manipulation, what image isn?t ?photoshopped? these days? Everyone uses Photoshop or the iPhone equivalent of it. Even in the darkroom we would manipulate images.

Q. Do you st ill t ak e ph ot os an d w h at do you en joy ph ot ogr aph in g m ost ?

Just now I am using film and a Hasselblad to go back to basics. I am re-visiting a technique from my studio days and exploring it with fresh eyes.

In my early still life work, mostly shot on 5x4 and 10x8 transparency, I used a process of literally painting with light. I would shoot in a blacked-out studio and use multiple flashes to light the set, using black velvet to mask areas of the shot, or moving and placing objects between flashes. I am keen to see if I can take this technique forward in my ?cinegraphs?.

A. Just now I can?t stop taking photographs of my first granddaughter. Whilst the family paparazzi have their iPhones on the go daily, I have been working hard on the ?decisive moment? using a Nikon f3 and my original 80?s lenses. So, you could say my thing at the moment is portraits, reportage and documentary. I am also fast becoming a benefactor of Ilford Film!!

For a while I have been working on a series of ?cinegraphs? (as I have called them); still images that move or have movement in them. These aren?t GIF sequences, they are moving shots of still life subjects, captured in a loop and locked in a time continuum. In this body of work, I am exploring objects and memory. Do we project our memories onto an object or does the object project a memory onto us?

Q: Do you t h in k t h er e is a r esu r gen ce of in t er est in f ilm ?

A: Old school, analogue photography is a niche.

Your will find clubs at Universities - young people love experimenting with it. Digital photography is not for me. I had a digital camera for a year, but it wasn?t for me! I much prefer to shoot on film and then scan the negatives into Photoshop.

Each to their own though. Neither one is better; it?s all about preference and storytelling.

View Mark?s ?cinegraphs?h er e.

View Mark?s commercials h er e.

If you?d like to be featured in the next newsletter contact Jana at southerneditor@rps.org 10 10

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 LRPS

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

Southern

Paul Berkley LRPS

info@sabreswitch.co.uk

Documentary Group (main)

Mo Connelly LRPS

mmm.connelly@gmail.com

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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