February2023No.16
WELCOMETOOURWINTER NEWSLETTER
HappyNewYear!Ihopetheyearhasstarted wellforallofyouandyouhavemanagedto getoutsideandstartusingsomeofthe photographyequipmentyounodoubt receivedforChristmas.
Iamnotgoingtolistthecontentsofthis newsletterasthereareloadsofVisualArt memberswhohavecontributedtoavery colourfulandvariededition.Ijusthopeyou enjoyreadingit.
PleaserememberthisisYOURshowcase-soif youwouldliketocontributeanarticleor submitapanelfortherestofustoenjoy pleaseletmeknow.
Inthemeantimehappysnapping!
CarolPaesARPS
LOSTANDFOUNDINTHEFOREST OFDEAN
Iwaslookingforwardtotheweekendaway withourVisualArtyfriendsinGloucester. Unusually,wehadbookedaworkshopwith PaulGallagher,butPaulwasunabletoattend andMartinAddisonsteppedintosavetheday withonlyafewday’snotice.
Soasmallgroupofcarssetofftomeetata specificplaceintheforestandwegatheredfor ashorttalkbeforegoingoffindifferent directiontofindourimages.I’mneveratmy mostcomfortableinagroupofpeopletaking photographsandIhavenoideawhy!ButI frozetothespotnotknowingwhattofocuson orwhichdirectiontotake.Hencethe‘Lost’ partofmytitle.MartinsoonnoticedIwasn’t doingmuchandcameovertohelp.He showedmeafewimageshehadtakenonhis mobilephonetotrytoseewhatsortofthing appealedtome.Iwashonestandtoldhim theyweren’tthetypeofimagesIwas interestedintakingandthatwhatIdidlike werethedreamy,outoffocusbluebellsand fernshehadshowninhisaudiovisualsthe previousevening.Heexplainedthattheywere takenwithhisLensBabywhichwashowhe obtainedtheresultsthatIlikedsomuch.Itold himIhadbroughtminewithmetoo,infactI hadbroughttwo,the750andtheComposer.
Wewerequitehappytohearthenewsas MartinhadledaworkshopinBuxtonwhich hadbeenverypopular.
MartinwasonethespeakersontheFriday eveningandhispresentationwasequally entertainingasthefirsttimewehadseenhim speak.Hischoiceofpanelsandaudiovisuals isjustwhatappealstomeandgivesvarietyto hisdelivery.
HethenshowedmethesettingsIshoulduse andwayhefocusedtogetthebeautiful imagesIloved.HealsowarnedmeIwould havetospendmostofthetimelyingonthe ground,whichdidn’tdauntmeasIwaswell preparedwithmycagouletothrowdown.
QuitequicklyIwasstartingtoachievethe resultsthatexcitedmeandspentawhilein eachpositionexperimentingwithmynewly acquiredknowledge,usingthewidestaperture andlookingupwiththebrightskybehindmy subject.NowIwashappy,thosebeautiful imagesIwasseekingwherewithinreach, hencethe‘Found’inmytitle.Iwasso engrossedinsearchingfortheintimate landscapethatMartinhadintroducedusto, thatItotallymissedthegroupphoto.
sendtoMartinafewdayslater,ashehadleft priortothemembersshowingtheirweekend work.
Itwasverysatisfyingtobeabletoshowsome panelworkontheSundayeveningtoshare withtheotherVisualArtmembers,andto
ROLLRIGHTNOVEMBER2022
Thankstoeveryonewhosupportedour meetinginNovember.Itwasthebestturnout sincebeforeCovid,andagreatpleasuretosee somanyofyou.
Weren’tweroyallyentertainedbyourtwo speakers!
StephenLeslie,startingproceedings,was hilarious.Describedas“genrebustingstreet photography”itliveduptoitsbilling.His sharplyobservedstreetphotographyandwitty, pithycommentaryfrequentlyhadusinstitches. Hispicturesof“normality,slightlyaskew”, capturedmomentsintime,some,inretrospect revealinghowsignificantly–andimperceptibly -thingshavechangedovertheyears.Others weremorepersonal–funny,sad,loving,tragic, emotional,intimateandatthesametime detachedandremote.
ForStephen,thecontextofthepicturewas equallyimportant,whetheritwastruetothe circumstancesoftheimage,orhisspeculation onhowthingscametogether.Hisstories, unlikelyprojects(Trafficcones!,Elbows!,the JewishfestivalofPurim,peoplewithdogs–or shouldthatbe“dogswiththeirpeople”?),and slicesoflifesetthetoneforthesecondhalf. There,Stephendeployedhistalentasascript writerandraconteur,regalinguswithsomeof themoreelaboratestoriesbehindhispictures –allofthembelievable,someofthemtrue(well abit),mostofthemnot,allofthemhugely entertaining.Mypersonalfavourites–The balloonselleratawake,andThewreckedcarin
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aCorsicanforest.Bothtalesareinhisbook “Sparks”,(sadlynowoutofprintsoifyouseea copyanywhere,beg,borroworbuyit).See moreofhiswork,hiszines,hisworkshops,and hopefullyfuturepublicationsat https:// www.stephenleslie.co.uk/
TheafternoonslotwasfilledbyVerityMilligan, aBirminghambasedprofessional photographer,showingherpersonalworkand journeyinphotography.Hertalkwastitled“The ArtofSeeing”illustratedbythechangeinher styleassherevisitedfavouriteplacesovertime. Forher,fallinginlovewithaplacewasan invitationtogobackinsearchofdetailsmissed, toexplore,tolearnanddiscoverasaplace changed.Herrepeatedimagesofafavourite tree,alocalpark,Birminghambuildingsand city-scapes,landscapesinCumbriaandthe ScottishIslands,gaveevengreaterinsightand pleasure-Gestalttheoryproven.Verityhasa wonderfulappreciationoflightandaneyefor colour,beitgentleandsubtleorstrongand vibrant.Itwasadelightthatshesharedwithus herloveandenthusiasmforphotographyand hersubjects.Herwebsite https:// www.veritymilliganphotography.com/ displays herextensiveportfolios,commercialworkand detailsofherworkshops.Youwillfindmuchto enjoythere.
Thanksasalwaystothefinesupportteam, Mike,Sally,Colinandeveryonewhohelpedout.
ThenextmeetingofRollrightVAGwillbeon 4th March2023intheLongComptonVillage HallinNorthOxfordshire,postcodeCV36 5JS,andwillbeamembers’“showandtell”.
Wewelcomepresentationsinprintandpdi formatsatalllevels-aprojectyouwantto shareorseekadviceonorarecentdistinction orexhibitionsuccess.Ourmeetingsareopento all,includingnon-VisualArtandnon-RPS members.Ifyouknowofanyonewhomightbe interestedinwhatwehavetooffer,pleasepass thisinformationontothemandencourage themtocomealong.
Furtherdatesfor2023are:
27thMay2023guestspeakerstobearranged
26thAugust2023membersdayagain
25thNovember2023guestspeakerstobe arranged.
BarryBarkerFRPS
IMMERSEYOURSELFINTHE WONDERFULDIVERSITYOF PHOTOGRAPHY
LandmarkArtsCentre7-16April2023 Daily10am–4pm,admission£3 (childrenfree)
Hundredsofimageswillbeondisplayatthe LandmarkArtsCentreinTeddington,Surrey, from7to16AprilastheVisualArtGroupand Richmond&TwickenhamPhotographicSociety (RTPS)oncemorecometogetherfortheir annualexhibitions.
JocelynHorsfall
TheeventwillbeopenedbySimonStreetwho isoneofRTPS’smoredecoratedmembers,this yeargaininghis7th FellowshipwiththeRoyal PhotographicSociety,theirhighestdistinction. Ofthe11,000RPSmembersworldwide,less than600haveachievedaFellowshipanditis thoughtthatonlyoneotherhasseven.No meanfeatwhenyouconsiderthatSimon pickeduphisfirstdigitalcamerajustsixyears ago.Simon’sstrikingblackandwhiteimages willbeamust-seedisplayattheexhibition (www.simon-street-photos.com/home).
AnotherRTPSmember,JocelynHorsfall,whois anaward-winningfineartphotographer (www.jocelynhorsfall.com),willbegivinga demonstrationshowinghowyoucancreate startlingdesignsandpatternsusingthe cyanotypeprintingprocess(orsunprintingasit isoftenknown). Jocelynwillshowhowthe
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additionofwaterybubbles,saltcrystalsand spicescanoftenenhancetheimage,givinga moretexturedandabstractimpression.The demowilltakeplaceattheLandmarkon8 Aprilfrom11to12noon. Thechargeis£5per sessionbutthisthengivesyoufreeentrytothe exhibition. Spacesarelimitedto20people. Bookheretosecureyourspot: https:// www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/487995727357
Visitorshavetheopportunitytobuyexhibits andarealsoencouragedtovotefortheir favouriteimage.Teaandcoffeewillbeavailable intheLandmarkcaféwherevisitorscanwatch anadditionaldisplayofdigitalimages.A selectionofgreetingscardsandsecond-hand photographicbooksandequipmentwillalsobe availabletobuy.
JocelynHorsfall
Alsonewthisyearwillbefourworkshopswith streetfashionphotographer JohnPhillipson13 and15Aprilgivingpracticaladviceontheuseof onandoffcameraflash.Chargesareagain£5 persessionwhichthengivesyoufreeentryto theexhibition.
See https://www.rtps.org.uk/rtpsphotographic-exhibition-2023/ formore details.
Theexhibitionwillbeopendailyfrom10amto 4pm7-16AprilincludingduringtheEaster BankHolidays,witha£3.00admissioncharge (childrenfree).
Richmond&TwickenhamPSisafriendlygroup ofphotographyenthusiastsmeetingevery ThursdayeveninginKewwithadditional SpecialInterestGroupswherememberscome togethertoexchangeideas,andsupportand learnfromoneanotherinarangeofdifferent genres.Theclubisopentobeginnersand experiencedphotographers;newmembersare alwayswelcome.
February2023,No.16
VISUALARTGROUP-CIRCLES
ForyearsI’vebeentellingyouhowtheEmail andPrintCirclesarerunandinvitingyouto sendformoreinformation.ThistimeIthought I’dgiveyouaflavourofwhatitisliketobea memberofaCircle.TherearenineofusinE Circle1,somewhohavebeenmemberfor years,andtwowhohaverecentlyjoinedus. Everymonthweemailanimagetoalltheother memberswithatitleandsometimesalittle information.Atthemiddleofthemonth,we writeourcommentsoneachimageandsend themtoalltheothermembers.Itcanbe challengingtoappraiseanimageyouwould neverhavethoughtoftaking,andsometimesit isbreath-takingwhenyouopenupthenext newimage.
Idecideditwouldbegoodtohaveafew “secondopinions”fromfellowenthusiasts, ratherthanmembersofthefamilysimply saying“Verynice,dear”.Sometimesyoujust needtosaytoyourself.“Thisimageissonearly whatIintended,butitneedsatweak somehow.”TheVisualArtGroup’sPrintand EmailCirclesaretherepreciselytogiveyouthis help.
WhenImentionedwritingthisarticletomy Circle,afellowmemberresponded:“Itwillbe goodtoletpeopleknowabouttheconstructive andencouragingcritiquesweget.”That,Ithink, isthegolddustofbelongingtoCircles.SoI haveselectedafewimagesfromtheCirclein 2022,andcollectedjustafewofthecomments. HereareacoupleIreceivedonmyownimage, “CarlisleJail”
Thisview,coupledwiththeheightofthe building,givesasenseofimprisonment, comparedwiththebrightnessandfreedomof theoutsidesky.”
-“Animagethattellsastory,andhintsatthelife within,yearsago.Thenetssuggestthe restrainingfunctionofthebuildingandyes,the blueskysuggeststhefreedomtheinmateshad lost.Asuggestiveimageofaplace.”
But,tobehonest,sometimessomeonewillsay “Ijustdon’tunderstandthisimage”,or“Iamnot relatingtoyourimagethistime.”Ittakesall sorts!
BlueandGold
CarlisleJail
Haveyoueverthoughtyou’dliketohaveyour picturesconsideredbyfellowphotographers willingtospendafewminutesoftheirtime eachmonthgivingconsiderationtoyourown image?WhenIfirstthoughtaboutityearsago,
Kathryn’simageBlueandGoldattractedthis comment“AbstractLandscape,compositionis fantastic,abstractionisfirstclasswithacertain aestheticbeauty.ArealVisualArtshot.” Someoneadded“Assubmitted,theimageis verylowresolution,butIamsurethatalarge printwoulddoitfulljustice.Iwouldjustcropan extremelyfinesliveroffthetopoftheframeto excludethreeslightlyjarringblackareas.” Somepeoplejustseemtohavetheabilityto
February2023,No.16
examineashotandimproveitmassively,witha minorormajorcropping,andyoucanlearn fromthem.Personally,Inagatpeoplewhen theyleaveoddcoloursontheedgesoftheir images,andIpassontheadvicefromafriend longago,“Thinkwhattheskyiscontributing;do youneedthatmuch?”
RomneysWorkspace
Romney’sWorkspacedrewthiscomment“I thinkyouhavecaughttheideaofan environmentthatfewofusarefamiliarwithor comfortableinandthesenseofconfusionthat wefeelinresponse.Thisimagemakesthe viewerthinkabouttheirresponseandthe differentwaysthatpeoplespendtheirworking lives.”
GlassCircles
Robin’s“GlassCircles”attractedthiscomment. “Theoveralldesignispleasing,andthe placementofthecoloursworkwell.Ithas enoughforminthecirclestoprovidea structureandasoothingimageandisabstract enoughtomaintainvisualinterest.Ireallylike this,Icouldlivewithitonakitchenwall.“
GlitteringPrize
James’sGlitteringPrizewasaparticularly strikingimageandattractedthiscomment “Whilethisispartofaseries,itiscertainly worthytostandalone.Itisa strikingimageinitscolours,itscontrastsandits starklinearity,conveyingthesoaringverticals ofamoderncity.Iverymuchliketheconcept andtheimplementation.”
Cogs
Stephen’s“Cogs”attractedverypositive commentsonthedeeplysaturatedcoloursof thecogs,andasuggestionabouttrimmingoff thetop.Especiallyobservantwasthecomment “Thedepthoffieldiswellchosenandassistsin drawingtheeyetothecentrewherethegears mesh.”
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SomeofPete’sbestpicturesweretoosubtleto bereproducedverysmallforthisarticle,so herewehavehis“LostSupper”,showingthat evenasimpleimageproducedneatlyandwith attentiontothelinesandspacescanhavean impact,especiallywithasmarttitle.
IfyouaskmeforinformationaboutthePrintor EmailCircles,I’llbehappytosendyouapageof informationabouthowtheCirclesare structured,howmanymemberstheyhave,how oftenyouseeimagesfromfellowmembers, andhowtopresentyourimagestoyourCircle. I’lltellyouthatmembersareencouragedtobe politeandpositive,butIwon’ttellyouexactly whathappensintheindividualcircles,because wearehumanandtheCirclesarealldifferent.
GillDishartARPS
SPRINGRESIDENTIALWEEKEND 2023
TheResidentialweekendinNewcastleiswellin hand,infactwe’vehadaphenomenaluptake. Withinthefirstweekwewerebombardedwith applicationsandwearenowfullybooked.Also theworkshopswithBillWardandTony Worobiecsoldoutalmostimmediately.
Ourspeakersfortheweekendare:
BillWard who ispresentinghistalk “InSearch Of……” onFridayevening.
Multiawardwinningphotographerandactor BillWardgivesaverypersonalinsightintohis uniquephotographicjourney.He'lldiscusshis background,andhisactingcareer,beforegoing
He'llcoverthefullrangeofhiswork,fromhis contemporaryseascapes,landscapesand cityscapestohisdistinctive"Creative Photography"projects(ICM,In-cameraMultiple Exposures,andAbstract)-agenreinwhichhe's beenaleadingpractitionerforoveradecade. Expectplentyofunexpectedtwistsandturns, andanawfullotofpictures
LostSupper
ontodiscussthephotographsthathetakes andwhyhetakesthem.
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AndrewMarland
rewardsandtheopportunitytocapture stunninglybeautifulimages.
AndywillbeourfirstspeakeronSaturday evening,hehasformanyyearsbeen documentingthechangingindustriallandscape oftheNorthofEngland.Working predominantlyinMonochromehewillbe presentingaretrospectiveofhisworkupuntil thepresenttimewith,hopefully,aselectionof hisurbandecayshots.Andyhasself-published anumberofzinesandbooks,hashad6 exhibitionsandwascommissionedonbehalfof O2 tophotographabandonedplacesaspartof thelaunchoftheSamsungS7phone.His websiteiswellworthalookandcanbefoundat (www.mechanicallandscapes.com
TonyWorobiec
TonywillfollowonfromAndyandwillbegiving histalk
‘NightAndLowLightPhotography’
Low-lightphotographycanmeanearly mornings,latenightsandbadweather,but withtherighttechniqueitdoesofferwonderful
Thiswillinspireusforour‘NightShoot’after dinneronSaturdaynight
MartineHamiltonKnightDLITT(hon)FHEA.
WillbejoiningusonSaturdaytogettoknow youallandwillbepresentingforusonSunday. Herpresentationwillbe: ArchitectureThrough theViewfinder –Threedecadesofcommercial architecturalphotography.
Withover30yearsincommercialarchitectural photography,NottinghambasedMartine speaksaboutherlifeintheindustry.Herwork wasthesubjectofalargeexhibitionin Nottinghamlastsummerinconjunctionwith thepublicationbyYaleUniversityPressofthe PevsnerArchitecturalGuidetothecounty. FromFebruaryonwardsthisyear,sheisagain backontheroadforYale,shootingforthelast intheseriesofPevsner’sBuildingsofEngland: Staffordshire.
Sheiswritingamajortitleforpublicationby Routledgeinsummer2023.
Titled:PhotographyforArchitects,this400 pagebookwillbeonthe‘mustread’listfor anyoneinterestedinthephotographyof architectureandthebuiltenvironment.
Martine'seveningisamixtureof‘howto’for thoseinterestedinshootingarchitecture,plusa chronologicalsectiononhertimeinthe industrytogetherwiththetechnologicaland economicfactorsaffectingbusinessandoutput throughoutthatperiod.
ShealsorunsLineandLightPhotography School (www.lineandlight.co.uk), andlectures
February2023,No.16
inProfessionalPracticefortheMAandBA (Hons)PhotographyatNottinghamTrent University,sothere’sarichheritageofteaching photographersoverthelastdecadeorso.
Thispresentationwillincludeabreakforcoffee andwillallowtimefordiscussionandQ&A’s
Workshops
ForbothTonysworkshopshewillbetakinghis teamaroundNewcastleexploringlight, abstract,andmanyotherfacetsofphotography thatheiswellknownfor.Hehasvisited Newcastleonanumberofoccasionssoiswell equippedtoleadafullyimmersivesessionand thoseluckyenoughtobe‘onboard’willhavea greattimeI’msure.
Also,anupdateonBill’sworkshops.Inalike mannertoBen’sGloucesterworkshopsBillis planningtwodifferentbutveryexcitingones.
Saturdaysworkshopiscoastalandan interestingjourneyitshouldbe,I’veattacheda fewofBill’swordsbelow.
“ItwillbearoundTynemouthandyou’llbe travellingonthemetro(20minsfromthe centreofNewcastle,regulartrainsevery10 mins),then5minswalktothecoastfromthe metrostationatTynemouth...lotsofvaried interestaroundthecastle/keep,pier,greatview overthemouthoftheTyne,thenthere'sthe beachitself...loadsofopportunityforabstract, ICMandmultipleexposuresthroughout...it’ll beareallygoodfunday...”
Bill’sSundayworkshopwillrunfromthehotel itself...
“Headingoutalongthequaysideand incorporatingtheSageBuilding,BalticArts Centre,TyneBridge,MillenniumBridgein particular,andpossiblyGreyStreetaswellwith itsarchitectureandcurves...loadsofgood stuff...lotsofjuxtapositionofoldvsnew...again ICM,multiples,abstractanotherfullonday”.
ForourAutumnresidentialweareplanninga venuefurtherSouth.Nothingsetinstoneyet butpossiblytowardtheSouthWest.Moreon thatlater.
Datewisewearelookingatweekends commencingSeptember29thorOctober6th
MikekitchingmanLRPS
ADISTINCTIVEPANEL
ManymembersoftheRPSaspiretowardsa distinctionofonesortoranother,withthe ultimategoalofobtainingaFellowship.Iwas fortunateenoughtobeawardedmineinthe latestroundofVisualArtsAssessments undertakenon1stDecember2022.
Ithastakennearly4yearstoarriveatmy destination,partlyduetocovidyearsandalso becauseIdidn’twanttoleaveanyroomfor errorinmysubmission.AFellowshiprequires the‘highestleveloftechnicalability’and‘abody ofworkthatcommunicatesanindividual’s visionandunderstanding’.Thisisthestoryof myjourney……
AfterqualifyingwithmyApanelIwasquite euphoricandwantedtoenjoythemoment withoutconstipatingmybrainwithnew projects,soIwaitedseveralmonthsbefore applyingsomethoughttowhereIwouldgoto fromhere.Thenextstepwastodownloadall informationavailablefromthewebsiterelating toFsubmissions.Whilstoutwardlythereseems
February2023,No.16
toonlybesmalldifferencesinthe requirements,thereisahugeleapinthe applicationofthembyassessors.Iwent througheachoftherequirementsandticked theboxesasIprogressed.Themostimportant (forme)wastoproduce‘adistinctivebodyof work’.
Iseeacorrelationbetweenthetwohistoricart formsbothofwhicharecraftedbyhandand haveminorimperfectionsascreatedbythe individualtechniques.Theglassplates,echo theblemishesintheoriginalcompositionand ensuresthateachimageisasuniqueasthe sculpturesthemselves.Theplatesarefurther augmentedbythenuancedtonalchanges causedbyviewingfromdifferentangles.
Ihavelongbeenanadvocateofhistoric processesanddecidedtogoabitleftfieldand produceworkthatcrossedoverfromdigital andanalogueworlds.
SOI-SCULPTURALINTIMACY
Ourmuseumscontainmanymagnificent classicalGreekandRomansculptures,each fashionedbyartisanswithchiselledreliefsand smoothtexturedsurfaces.Ihavechosento isolateandcaptureintimateselectionsfroma groupofsculptures,harmonisingaseriesof imagesusingthephotographicprocessknown asDryPlateOrotone.
Eachimageremainstruetotheshapeandform ofthesculptors’ originalvision whilstreinterpretingthesectionfromwhichitcame, presentingittotheviewerinanewabstract perspective.
Thepresentationlayout(above)doesnot adequatelyreflectthequalityofthefinished platesasthisisonlyadigitalrepresentation.
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HOWITWASDONE
AfullvideocanbefoundonmyYouTube channelhttps://youtu.be/hDh8vV-Ln1Q
Theimageswerecaptureddigitallyandthen digitalnegativescreatedforcontactprinting. Anadjustmentcurvewasappliedtotheimage astheprocessofprintingrequiresa‘thin’and somewhat‘flat’negative.Asensitisedglass plateisplacedinanexposingjigwiththe negativeplacedontheemulsionside,then exposedusingsmallhandheldtorch!Theglass plateisdevelopedin‘normal’blackandwhite chemistryandallowedtodryforatleasttwo hours.
presentation.Itseemsthatmychoiceswere justifiedaseachassessorscrutinisedthe platesthoroughlyandtheonlynegativewas thatviewersonZoomwouldnotbeableto fullyappreciatethepanelastheyhavedone!
TomLeeFRPSVISUALARTNORTHERNGROUP
Thankyoutoeveryonewhohascontributed during2022invariouswaystotheVisualArt Northgroup,beitinhelpingtoestablishthe group,organisingevents,orcontributionsand supportinmanyotherways.Ithasbeenagood yearevenwiththeunforeseenpostponed eventswhichwillnowcarryinto2023.
Theyear2022wasthebeginningofsome specialtimesfortheVisualArtNorthgroupand herearejustafewsnapshotsofwhathasbeen achievedbythemembers.
Whendry,theplatesarebackedwithmetallic ‘mica’particlessuspendedinaresincompound tosealtheimageandgiveitits‘colour’.Drying takesanothertwohoursbeforeitcanbe handledandsetintothetriplelayeredmounts.
Aswithallhistoricallybasedprocesses,thereis adegreeofvariabilitywhichhastobebuilt intothetechnique,aseachplateishandmade andnotwowilleverbethesame.Itwasthis ‘uniqueness’thatIhopedwouldsetmyimages apart.Experimentationandcontrolwasvery muchapartofensuringacohesive
Throughouttheyearwehavealsoheldonline ‘showandtell’ofeveryone’scontributions,with theirphotographicappreciationofthespecific eventstheyattended.
LyndaGolightlyLRPS
February2023,No.16
InApril2022,avisittotheNationalGlass MuseumSunderland
Aprivatestudiosessionallowedphotographers towanderfreelytocapturetheamazingwork ofthestudioartiststhere.
WeexploredwithArtistTalks–InOctoberwithHelenThomas&JimSouper. HelenisavisualartistbasedhereinYorkshire, herworkismainlywithdrawingandpaintingin responsetothemesofplantsandplace.
InMayavisittoRHSHarlowCarr,beingdifficult
JimSouperARPSitcanbesaidispredominantly aLandscapephotographerandhastravelled extensivelyincludingHokkaidoJapan, developinghisownstyle.Duetothepandemic likemanyhehastakenupmorelocalurban projectswhicharenaturebased,themost recentseriescalledEncounterswithinthe CalderanongoingprojectexploringtheRiver CalderinWestYorkshire.
Lastbutnotleast,intoNovemberandan eveningwithJoseCloss.
atmosphericconditions.
Joseakeenphotographerforthelast20years, sheisinterestedinproducingimagesthat highlighttheextraordinaryelementsfromour ordinarysurroundings.Increasinglyproducing imageswhichdrawonabstractionandmagical realism.Oftenusingnewtechniquesto
CarmelMorrisARPS CarolHudsonARPS ChrisGoodacreLRPS Withveryunpredictableweatherbutthebrave werethereandmadethemostofsome StephenCollinsonLRPS HelenThomasFebruary2023,No.16
producesomethingdifferent.Someofthe projectsderivedfromwhatevercouldbefound athomeoronthedoorstep.
Postponedeventsof2022
MorecambeOctober2022waspostponedand hopefullygoaheadinApril2023withthesame programofvisitsfortheday.
NorthernQuarterManchesterwasalso postponedandwilltakeplaceinSeptember 2023.
ThereisalsoconsiderationforanotherGarden visit,andnewspeakersfor2023,soifyouhave anythoughtsorsuggestionsthesewouldbe mostwelcome.
Throughvariousreasonswehavelostacouple ofvaluedmembersoftheorganisinggroupand arelookingforacouplemorevolunteersto comeonboard.Itmaybeyoujustwantto organiseonesingleeventforthegrouporfilla morepermanentrole,justdropmeanemail andwecandiscussyourthoughts.
VISUALARTPEERGROUPSUPPORT
AreyouthinkingofapplyingforanAssociateor FellowshipDistinctioninVisualArts,but hesitantduetothevagariesofpickingyourway throughtherequirementsoreventhecostof applying?Weareheretohelp…..
ThisserviceisfreetoallmembersoftheRPS andthegroupmeetsoverZoomonceamonth (usuallythefirstSundayat15:00).Themeetings areadvertisedontheVisualArtsFacebook pageapproximately1weekbeforehandand personalinvitationsaresentouttoallthatwish toattend.Thepurposeofthegroupistohelp membersmakesomeinformeddecisions beforeapplyingfortheimportant1-2-1 process.Anyinformationdiscussedisstrictly unofficialandshouldnotbetreatedinthe sameregardasthatfroma1-2-1assessor.That said,manywithinthePeergrouphavebeen throughthisinformalprocessandwere successfulinachievingtheirrelative distinctions.Theyoffertheirtimefreelytoaid youinyourownRPSjourney.
Attendeesareencouragedtoshowprospective panelsand/orstatementsaswellascontribute tothediscussion.Youmayonlybestartingout onyourAorFjourney,butthisisoftenthebest timetogetassistance.Wecanonlyhelpifwe knowwhatyouneedfromthegroup.
Ihaveonlyrecentlybecomeawarethat althoughIhavebeeninthegroupfornearly twoyears,theexistenceofthePeerGroupis notwidelyknown!Iseeitaspartofmy mandatetoimproveactivemembership numbersandcontinuethisvaluableservice withthesupportoftheVAGcommittee.We currentlyhaveapproximately58memberson thecirculationlisthowever,numbersare declining.
Itmustbepointedoutthatwecanonlyprovide thisservicewiththesupportoftheVAG membership.Despitearecentattempttoreach outtomembersonthecirculationlist,the feedbackwassomewhatlacking,withonlya 25%acknowledgment(positiveornegative)!I
JoseClossARPSFebruary2023,No.16
willthereforebecullingnamesfromthelistin thecomingmonthsasIremovemembersthat havenotrespondedorattendedforover12 months!
ThePeerGroupneedsabitofarebootwhich willstartinthenewyear,solookoutfor notificationsinthenewsletterandontheVAG Facebookpage.Ifyouwishtobeaddedtothe groupscirculationlistorjustwanttofindout more,sendmeanemailat tomleephoto@me.com
ROLLRIGHT
ThenextmeetingofRollrightVisualArt Groupwillbeon4th March2023andwillbea members’“showandtell”.
Wewelcomepresentationsinprintandpdi formatsatalllevels-aprojectyouwantto shareorseekadviceonorarecentdistinction orexhibitionsuccess.
Ourmeetingsareopentoall,includingnonVisualArtandnon-RPSmembers.Ifyouknow ofanyonewhomightbeinterestedinwhatwe havetooffer,pleasepassthisinformation ontothemandencouragethemtocome along.
Wemeetinthe LongComptonVillageHallin NorthOxfordshire,postcodeCV365JS
Furtherdatesfor2023are:
27thMay2023guestspeakerstobearranged 26thAugust2023membersdayagain 25thNovember2023guestspeakerstobe arranged.
Formoreinformationorifyouwishtobe addedtoourmailinglistpleasecontact BarryBarker–visualartrollright@rps.org
BarrybarkerFRPS
EXHIBITIONS,MAGAZINES& MONOGRAPHNEWS
Let’shope2023willbeevenbetterthanlast year,whenwehadagoodexhibitionrunof ourSquareImagestocelebrateour2021 Centenary,postponedduetothePandemic.
SELECTIONDAY,SUNDAY27THNOVEMBER
AsuccessfulSelectionDaywasheldatthe DeddingtonArmsHotel.Ourthanksand appreciationgotoourSelectors,VivecaKoh FRPS,PhilipJoyceFRPSandMartinAddison FRPSformakingaselectionof88imagesfor our2023VisualArtGroupMembers’Print exhibitions.ThankstogotoourExhibitions Workingteam:JohnCavanaARPS,Martyn Pearse,BobBracherARPS,ColinLambLRPS andmeformakingitallhappensmoothly.
EXHIBITIONS
Pleasenotethatexhibitiondetailscanalsobe foundontherps.orgwebsite,aswellasonour VAGFBpage.Wherethereisapartexhibition, thephotographers’namesandprinttitleswill bepublishedonthesamesites.
EndingThursday,16 February(havingstarted on6December)
TheSoldiersofOxfordshireMuseum,Park Street,WoodstockOX201SN (entrance throughtheWoodstockMuseum,14Park Street)
Open:Tues-Sat,11.00-5.00;Sun,2.00-5.00pm; closedMondays.
NB: Pleaseproduceyourmembershipcardsto gainFREEENTRY.
TomLeeFRPS PeerGroupHostFebruary2023,No.16
6-16April
TheLandmarkArtsCentre,FerryRoad, TeddingtonTW119NN Open:10.00-5.00daily Entryfee:£3.00
Wehaveoncemorebeeninvitedbythe Richmond&TwickenhamPStoexhibitwith themandothergroups.
4-28August
DuringtheEdinburghFestival EdinburghPhotographicSociety,68Great KingStreet,EdinburghEH36QU Open:10.00am-5.00pm
Entryfee:tba
Forseveralyearsnow,wehavebeeninvitedby theEdinburghPStoexhibit50images,this yearatthe159th EdinburghInternational ExhibitionofPhotography2023.
Theremainingimageswillbeexhibitedat GalleryPhotiq,detailsbelow.
1August-2September
GalleryPhotiq,40ParkStreet,Leamington
SpaCV324QN
Open:10.00am-5.00pm
Exhibitedwillbetheimagesnotshownatthe EdinburghPS,includingthe10awardwinners.
WINNERS’AWARDEVENT
Thishasyettobearranged.
MONOGRAPH&VISUALART MAGAZINENEWS
BotharedesignedbyPaulMitchellFRPS.The GuestEditorsfortheVAMagazineareLinda WevillFRPS,NickiGwynn-JonesFRPSandRay HigginbottomARPS.
The2023Monograph,featuringphotographer anddesignerPaulMitchellFRPS,isexpectedto bepublishedinFebruary.
VAMagazineNo.161,guesteditedbyRay HigginbottomARPShasnowbeencirculated.
VAMagazineNo.162,guesteditedbyNicki Gwynn-JonesFRPS,isdueoutintheSpring.
The2023exhibitionprintswillbefeaturedin anupcomingVAMagazineintheSpring.
STOPPRESS
Inordertowidenouraudience,theMagazine andMonographwillappearontheRPSVisual ArtGroupwebpage,alwaysoneissuebehind theprintedcopy.Wewillkeepyouinformedas towhenthiswillhappenandhowyoucanview them. WendyMeagherLRPS
February2023,No.16
DISTINCTIONSUCCESSES
CongratulationstoourVisualArtGroup memberswhohaverecentlygainedRPS distinctions.
LicentiateOct22
ColinGleeson,Limerick
RobertHockney,HighPeak
ChrisPepler,MarketHarborough
AssociateContemporaryOct22
MichaelParrott,Wallingford
GrahamZimmermann,BurgessHill
AssociateNaturalHistoryOct22
BruceKendrick,Macclesfield
FellowshipContemporaryOct22
ChristineAdams,Oxford
FellowshipPhotobooksOct22
SimonCiappara,Norwich
RichardTickner,Rye
FellowshipVisualArtDec22
TomLee,Neston
MarilynTaylor,Woking
IT’SALMOSTAGMTIMEAGAIN
In2021and2022,becauseofcovidrestrictions onphysicalmeetings,weconductedtheAGM onlineoveranapproximateonemonth period.Itwasfoundthatthismethodresulted insignificantlygreatermemberparticipation, sowedecidedthatweshouldcontinuethis practicein2023.
22ndFebruary2023
VAGmemberswillreceiveAGMpapers, includingchairman’sreport,treasurer’sreport andbudget,togetherwithalistofcommittee candidatesfor2023/24.
22ndFebruary-16thMarch
Thistimeperiodwillbeusedbythecommittee toreplytomembers’questions,addressany members’commentsandgiveclarification whererequired.
By23rdMarch
VotingFormswillbeemailedtoallVAG members,witharequesttoreturnthemwithin 7days.
30thMarch
AllreturnedVotingFormswillbecollatedand voteswillbecounted.Assoonaspossible afterthisdatetheVAGmembershipwillbe notifiedoftheresultsandthenamesand positionsofthe2023/24committee.
Asthiswillbethethirdyearrunningthatwe havedoneitthisway,wehopetherewon’tbe toomuchconfusiononthemethodused.Any doubtsandquestionsthatdoarisecanbe dealtwithduringthe22ndFebruaryto16th Marchperiodmentionedabove.
2022/23COMMITTEE
Chair
JohnCavanaARPS
Secretary CarolPaesARPS
Treasurer
BarryBarkerFRPS
Membership MarkDeutschLRPS
ExhibitionsLead/MagazineCo-ordinator WendyMeagherLRPS
Exhibitionsmember
MartynPearse
WebEditor
MichaelButterworthLRPS
CirclesCo-ordinator
GillDishartARPS
Residentialweekends
MikeKitchingmanLRPS
CommitteeMember
BobBracherARPS
ANDFINALLY……….LEARNANEW WORDORTECHNIQUE
HowmanyofyouareconsideredGUMPS?
AGumpisaphotogtrapherwhoisgreatin manydifferentphotographyfields.Originating fromthefilmForrestGump,thetermrefersto aphotographyall-rounder.
Sogetoutthereandrejoiceinbeinga GUMP!