RPS Visual Art Group Newsletter 18

WELCOMETOOURSUMMER NEWSLETTER

Thesummerhasstartedwellwithsome fabulousweather(whathappenedtothat?) andhopefullysomewonderfulphotography opportunities.Weareluckythatwithour interestinvisualartwecanachievesome greatimagesinanyweathersituation.

WearealsodelightedhowwelltheSouthWest VisualArtinaugrualmeetingwasattendedand itseemslikeagreatdaywashadbyall.Please readthearticlefromMairijaLeesonthisday andalsotogetthedatesforthenextmeeting ifyouareabletoattend.

Thenextresidential,whichisinPlymouthin October,wassoldoutinamatterofdaysafter thebroadcastwentout.Wearesorrythatthis weekendislimitedinnumberandtherefore someofyoumaybedisappointedatmissing it.Hopefullyyouwillbeabletoattendafuture weekend.

Inthemeantimeenjoythesummerandenjoy yourphotogtraphy.

Happysnapping!

CarolPaesARPS

RPSSOUTHWESTREGIONVISUAL ARTGROUPRE-LAUNCHMEETING

Aftersomeyearsofinactivity,theRPSSouth WestVisualArtGrouphasnowbeenrelaunchedwithitsfirstmeetingtakingplaceon Saturday,1st July2023atBroadclyst,near Exeter.Thankyouallforcomingandmaking thisaverysuccessfulday.

TheeventstartedwithAndrewMarker’s “JourneytoFRPS”presentation.Atthe beginning,AndrewshowedhisARPSPanel whichwasbasedontheBuranoandMurano, islandsintheVenetianLagoon.Heexplained howhehasalwaysbeenfascinatedby reflectionsandhowtheycanbedistortedby movementinthesurfaceofthewater.During hismanyvisitstoVenice,hetriedtocapture interestingshapesandabstractcolourful patternshefoundreflectedinthenarrow waterwaysbetweenthesetwoislands.He describedhowthe“Venice”panelcameinto beingandhowhehasexperimentedwiththe orientationoftheimagesandfoundthatthey couldoftenbemoreeffectiveturnedupside down.HavingbeenawardedanARPS distinctionin2013,hethentriedvariousideas andprojectsinhisattempttocreateanFRPS panelbuttheydidn’tquitework.Itwasduring astayontheGreekislandofSantorinithatan ideaclickedintoplace,whichthenledtohis successfulFRPSpanelin2016.

Theparticipantswereabletoviewandadmire hisFRPSpanelwhichcapturedtheserene beautyofthisisland-itswhite-washed buildings,bluedomesandexquisitelight. Again,asinhisBuranoARPSpanel,Andrew focusedonsmalldetailswithalltheimages formingabeautifullybalancedandcohesive pieceofwork.Thereisasublimefeelingof lightnessandAndrewexplainedthatthelook ofthepanelisalsoduetothesofttextured paperheselected.Seeingthispaneldisplayed wasarealvisualtreat.Manythanksheregoto DavidBarrettwhoworkedsohardputtingthe twolargeprintsstandstogethertoenableus toseethispanelasitshouldbeseen–as prints.Itlookedquitesplendid.

ThesecondpresentationwasbySueBrown, whichwasentitled“VarietyistheSpiceofLife”. Sue’spresentationstartedwithimagestaken inherneighbourhood,alittleseasidevillage whichprovidesendlessphotographic opportunities–whetherwatchingthesea-mist engulfingthehousesortheheavyfloods whichsometimeshappen.Suehasbeen takingphotographsfor40yearsandhaving beenawardedanFRPSdistinctionin1991for herVisualArtpanel“ShapeandForm,Light andShade”,shelaterwantedtodemonstrate thatherphotographywasstillofthat standard.In2019,shesubmittedanother panel,thistimeintheContemporaryand ConceptualPhotographygenre.Thepanelwas entitled“TheFence”.Suetalkedabouthowto goonafterhavingachievedaFRPSdistinction, howtomotivateoneselfbysettingnew challenges.F2witha50mmlensfor6months

wasthechallengeshesetherself,withthe Fencepanelbeingtheresultofit.Havingbeen ontheRPSDistinctionsCommittee adjudicatingpanelsatalllevels,shehas steppeddownfromthatroleandiscurrently curatingamajorphotographicexhibition entitled“RespondingtoLight”takingplaceat MAKESouthWest(BoveyTracey)inSept/Oct 2023.

Theafternoonsessionwasdedicatedto“Show &Tell”with14photographersshowingtheir work.Theycoveredavarietyofsubjectswith differentapproaches–presentingthemboth inmonochromeandcolour.

BridgetDaviesopenedthesessionwithher black&whiteimagesoftreesinspiredbya poem“WithPeople,sowithTrees”byMervyn Peake.LindsaySouthgatesharedherproject “FragmentsofVenice”–showingVenicein black&whitewhichaccentuatesthe timelessnessofthiscityseendifferentlythan withtheeyesofacasualtourist.DiPell delighteduswithavarietyofimages–some abstractandsomewithmoreofimpressionist style.

LoisWakemanshowedushowcorrugated iron,concrete,drainpipescanbefascinating subjectmatter.Shealsoshowedusherphoto books–someofwhichwerehandmade–so artandcraftcombined.

MichaelLonghursttookustotheTateModern withcaptivatingimagesofvisitorsadmiringart andsomeofclearlyboredvisitors(well observed).

KayPiercywasinParis–insomedarkjazz clubs–fullofatmosphere–sowellpresented inblack&white–agreatexampleofcitynight life.NigelDuttpresentedhissuccessfulARPS panelbasedonhisnew-buildhousewherehe focusedonshadowsandshapescreatedby light.

LindaPearsonsharedwithusherItalian impressionswithimagesrepresenting differentaspectsofthecountry:-music, glamour,wine,poplars,icecreametc.Shealso showedussomeexcellentnatureimages.

TurningaBlindEyebyMichaelLonghurstFRPS

LightNightJazzinParisbyKayPiercy

BarnatSpywaybyLoisWakemanLRPS

SeaHollybyLindaPearsonARPS

SueHendrickfoundinspirationforsomeof herworkontheseabedandseaweedusing differenttechniquesfocusingontexturesand patterns.Itwasalsogreattoseethesame displayedasprints.

Photoshop.Asheoftensays,pressingthe shutterisjustthebeginning.

StephanieThomaspresentedherimagesof old,abandoned,woodenboatsusingahighcontrastblackandwhiteapproachtocreate boldimagesconveyingthedesolationofthese boatgraveyards.

WavebySusanHendrickFRPS

PhilHawkinsshowedushisimagesofariver takenwithhisphoneandanunderwater camera.Hisfocuswasonreflectionsandclose upsofthenaturalworld.KarenSanders showedastrikingimageofaflowertakenby herphone-wehopethatwewillseemoreof herflowerphotography.

JohnPerriamdemonstratedhowimagescan beenhancedifgivendifferenttreatmentin

MarijaLeestalkedabouthowshestartedto experimentwithVisualArtphotographyduring lockdownbytakingpicturesofshadows aroundherhome–shealsoshowedseveral examplesofhermorerecentwork.

SheilaHaycoxshowedussomeofherimages takenonamistydayatBlackberryCampand someabstractsandhoweffectiveitcanbeto showthemaspanels.Sheilaalso demonstratedtheuseofthelatestPhotoshop AIBetatoolsincludingNeuralFilters–oneof thembeing“theLandscapeMixer”whichcan completelytransformlandscapeimages–and withjustafewclicks,anautumnlandscapecan beturnedintoawinter,snowcoveredscene. This,ofcourse,raisesthequestionofthe futureofphotographyandartingeneralbut thereisnodoubtthatPhotoshopAIelements providesverypowerfulandcreativetools.

Manythankstoallthoseparticipatinginthe “ShowandTell”session.Itwaswonderfulto seesuchavarietyofsubjectmatteraswellas interpretationandapproaches.

Itwasalsogreattoseesomanypeople together,happilychatting–manyofthem meetingeachotherforthefirsttimesince Covid-andalsohavinganopportunityof meetingnewpeopletosharetheirworkwith andbeinspiredby.

Thedateforthenextmeetingissetfor18 November2023.Ifyouwouldliketoattend please,contactme(MarijaLees)visualartsouthwest@rps.org.

MarijaLeesLRPS RPSSouthWestVisualArtOrganiser

ROLLRIGHTMEETINGINMAY

Disasteraverted–LCVHleftuslockedout havingforgottenthatwehadbookedthehall, despiteconfirmingitearlierintheweekby email.Aquickphonecallandsomeone hotfooteddowntoopenup.Thankgoodness formobilephones.Fortunately,alltheteam werethereforaquicksetupandwewereall readyontime.

interpretationofanArtDecohouseinMiami,a giraffeinachurch-cum-museum,and computergeneratedpseudodroneshotsof lightaircraft“parked”overBlackpoolTower andtheMillenniumBridge.Steve’screativity knowsnoboundsandhegenerouslyshared howhecreatedhisimages,histechniques, toolsandprocesses,givingusmuchtoadmire andbeinspiredby.

SteveandoneofhisMiamipictures

SteveBrabnerwasourfirstspeaker,givingus hisenigmaticallytitledtalk“TheStories behind…”.Behindwhat?Behind12ofthe picturesonhispersonalWallofFame,each withahighlyentertainingandamusingtaleof howitevolved,oftenfromanunpromising start,tobringoutitshiddenpotential.A picture“stolen”fromanother’sphotoshoot becomingaBrooklynAngel,astuffedlionon touratTheHermitageinStPetersburg,flying towelsandcarpets,awonderfulgraphic

Incontrast,intheafternoon,LeighPreston findshispicturesinobservingandabsorbing ‘situations’.Asaphotographer,Leighis sensitiveandastute,asaspeakerheisfullof dryhumour,anecdotesandwit.Hisimages, manymadefromhisimmaculate monochromeandtonedprints,tookuson touroftheUK’sgrittynortherntownsand industrialdecay,winterlandscapes,Eastern Europe,IndiaandtheUSA.Everywherehe foundbeautyinthecharactershemetandin thelightandsoulofaplace.Somanyjokes andstoriesitishardtoremember,butmy favouritewas“StarlinginWashington”whichto onejudgebecamethemondigreen“Stalinin Washington”–WhendidStalingotoAmerica? (Answer–hedidn’t).

Bothphotographersdisplayaversatilityand originalityintheirworkandgaveusabrilliant day.

…whichwastoppedoffbyaprojectionofthe awardwinningpicturesfromtheVAG Members2023Exhibition.Itwasourpleasure atRollrighttohosttheawards,andafineend toamostsuccessfuldayofphotography.

LeighshowingasnowyWastwater

BarryBarkerFRPS WIREICMABSTRACT

Resultingimagesarevariedandtrialanderror isoftenrequiredtoachieveanacceptable photograph.Subjectsareoftenlandscapesor urbansceneswithvaryingamountsof movementtogiveaghostlyorephemerallook. Thefollowingpicturesareimagescreated usingpiecesofcolouredelectricalwire illuminatedwithanLEDtorch.I’dlovetotake creditforthis…….ButIstumbleduponthis methodonFacebookandmustcredita photographer‘DavidDay’whohassomevery helpfulYouTubevideos.

Thecameraismovedaroundthesubjectto formtheshapes.

Tocreateanimageyouwillneedtwoorthree piecesofcolouredwire.(Istrippedanold computercablewhichhadvariouscoloursand werequitethin).Thesearethenhungina darkenedroomtoallowilluminationofa sectionofthewire.Ihaveanoldblackpaper tablecloththatIuseasthebackgroundto reducereflections.

Lefttoright-JohnFosterARPS, JohnCavanaARPS,VivecaKohFRPS, JoMonroARPSandPaulO'FlanaganLRPS.All photosbyTomLee

ThanksespeciallytoMartynandColin,Mike andSally,TomLee,andeveryonewhohelped tomakethedaygosmoothly.

ICMisanacronymforIntentionalCamera Movement.Usuallycamerashutterspeedsare selectedtoenabledeliberatemovementofthe cameraduringexposure.

IuseanLEDtorchsecuredonatripodwith someblacktape.Youcanconcentratethe beamusingmoreblacktapearoundthehead ofthetorchtoreducethespreadoflight.This isaimedatthedanglingwire.Tocreatesome interestItieasmallloopinoneofthetrailing wiresandconcentratethebeamatthe intersection.Butexperimentationiseverything andallcamerasettingsarevariableandif tryingthis,youshouldexperimenttofindwhat worksbestforyou.

ThisisthemethodIhaveusedformostofthe imagesinthisfeatureandagoodstarting point.

Setupyour‘studio’andsubject.Thenchoosea standardorwidishanglelensandsetthe aperturetof8orsmaller(onfullframe)and theshutterspeedto1second.Manuallyset thefocusdistancesothattheimagehasplenty ofspacearoundit.Makeanoteofhowfarthe cameraisfromthesubject.Youwillbemoving thecameraindifferentdirectionsandresults arebetterifyoucancontaintheimagewithin theframe.Adjusttheisotogiveyouthe exposurethatisbest.YoucanuseNDfiltersor

justmovethetorchcloseroffurtherfromthe subjecttoadjustlightlevels.

Nowtheexcitingbit.Holdthecameraatthe correctdistanceandmoveitduringexposure. Firsttryasimpleverticalsothatthemovement completeswithinthe1secondexposure. Checktheimageforexposureandmake adjustmentsandrepeatuntilexposureis acceptable(it’seasytoblowhighlightsifwire coloursareverydifferent–yellowandbluefor instanceseemtoreflectmorelight).Now introducevariousmovementstothecamera. Twistingontheaxisofthelenscombinedwith horizontaland/orverticalmovementswill createinterestingeffects,aswillsurrounding thefocalpointwithacurvedmovement.The movescanbesloworquickwhichcanaffect thebrightnessofpartsoftheimage.

Sometimesthecolours‘bleed’intoeachother whichaddsanotherdimensiontotheresult.

Icantakeupwardsofahundredphotostoget onereallygoodshot.Ifoundthatitcan becomeaddictiveanddifficulttostopandI endupwiththetaskofwhittlingdownthose imagesthataresuitableforedit.Thegreat

August2023No.18

thingisthateachpictureisoriginalandalmost impossibletoreplicate.

Forthosewhousemirrorlesscamerasor phonecamerasorthosewithelectronic shutters,thewearandtearwillbelessthan thattoaDSLRwherethemirrorisflapping hundredsoftimesinasession.Soitmightbe worththinkingaboutyourshuttercount.I haveusedbothDSLRandmirrorless.

Post-processingiswheretheimagecomesto life.Itmightlookokonthecameradisplaybut arawfiledisplayedonthePCcanbeflat.You cannowgonutsandpushtheslidersinall directionstoseewhateffectsyoucanget.I normallysetthebackgroundtoblackandthen carefullyadjustcontrastandhighlights.Ican thentinkerwithhueandsaturationuntilIget coloursoreffectsthatIlike.

Youcanalsouseanytranslucentcoloured mediumasthesubject.Iamnow experimentingwithcrepepaper,plasticand bubblewrap,backlit

So;isthis‘visualart’?Iliketotryandinterpret theresultantimagesorperhapscategorisethe imagesintofantasyobjects.Pareidoliaisa phenomenonwheresomepeopleseefacesin everydayobjects,iewallpaperpatterns,cloud formations,toastandformeperhapsit’sabit likethat.Well,I’mnotsureit’s‘art’butIdo knowthatIenjoytheprocessesofeachstage.

Fig1wasproducedonaFujiX-T30witha Samyang12mmlens(18mmequivalentonfull frame)at1second,f22andiso250.Icannot rememberthemovementbutitlookslikea 180degreetwistplusverticalshake.TheRAW filewasopenedinAdobeRAWwiththe followingadjustments.Colourtemp6400 warmedupto7550,Exposure+0.75,Contrast +26,Highlights-10,Shadows+16,Whites0

Fig1

Fig2

Black-16.Theclarityslider+20,Vibrance+18 andSaturation+35.Finally,asquarecrop.

Thisparticularimagewasoneofabout80 imagesusingthesetupshowninFig2.

DavidScrivenerLRPS

VAPEERSUPPORTGROUP

TheVAPeerSupportGroupseemstobe thrivingwell,withanaverageof15members presentateachZoommeeting.Wehavehade severalnewprospectiveAandFdistinctions panelsdiscussedandafewreviewsofothers whoarewellontheirwaytoassessments.

It’sunfortunatethatacoupleofmembershave droppedoutforvariousreasons.Somehave discoveredothergenresthatappealtothem moreandonememberwhowasdisillusioned withtheassessorswhofailedtheirpanel.This isalwaysapossibilitywhenyouhavediffering opinionsbeingexpressedandthereseemsto benoconsistencybetween1-2-1reviewsand theactualassessment.

TheattendeesonthePeerSupportGroup however,donotofferadvice,butactasa soundingboardtoenableinformeddecisions priortogoingfora1-2-1review.Photography hasneverbeenacheappursuit,soitcanbe vitalwhensupportisofferedforfreewithno stringsattached.I’mgladthatwecanofferthis servicetoanyonewithintheVAG,nomatter whattheireventualgenresubmissionor eventualoutcome.

ThePeerGroupmeetsoveraZoomcallusually thefirstSundayineachmonth,solookoutfor notificationsinthenewsletterandontheVAG Facebookpage.Ifyouwishtobeaddedtothe groupscirculationlistorjustwanttofindout more,sendmeanemailat tomleephoto@me.com

TomLeeFRPS PeerGroupHost EXHIBITIONS

AfterasuccessfulshowingattheLandmark ArtsCentreinApril(detailedinthelast newsletter),thecurrent2023exhibitionhas nowmovedontoEdinburgh(5th-27thAugust) andwillbemovingimmediatelyontoGallery PhotiqatLeamingtonSpa(2nd-30th

September).DetailsareontheVAGwebpages sopleasesupportusbyattendingifyoucan.

TheEdinburghExhibitionisat68GreatKing Street,Edinburgh,EH36QU

GalleryPhotiqisat40ParkStreet,Leamington Spa,CV324QN

Thingsareacceleratingfastonthe2024 Exhibitionfrontalso….

Wewillbeshortlyannouncingtheinvitationto submitforthe2024selectionslateinAugust, sowatchoutfornewsontheFacebookPages, VAGWebandemails.Discussionsarealsowell underwayforExhibitionVenuesfornextyear andarealreadybeingfinalisedforthediaries, sowearelookingforanotherstrong submissionentryfrommembersfornextyear.

ExhibitionsLeadOrganiser NEXTROLLRIGHTMEETING

ThenextmeetingofRollrightVisualArt Groupwillbeon26th August2023andwillbe aMembers’Day.

Wewelcomepresentationsinprintandpdi formats.Therearenorestrictions, prescriptionsorproscriptions,-someofyour recentwork,aprojectyouwanttoshareor seekadviceonorarecentdistinctionor exhibitionsuccess,whateveryouwantto share.Mostpresentationsarebrief10to15 minutes,butifyouwishtogivealongertalk, sayuptoanhour,pleasecontactmeandIwill trytofityouin.

Ourmeetingsareopentoall,includingnonVisualArtandnon-RPSmembers.Ifyouknow

TomLeeFRPS

August2023No.18

ofanyonewhomightbeinterestedinwhatwe havetooffer,pleasepassthisinformation ontothemandencouragethemtocome along.

Wemeetinthe LongComptonVillageHallin NorthOxfordshire,postcodeCV365JS

Ourfinalmeetingin2023willbeon25th November,guestspeakerstobearranged.

Formoreinformationorifyouwishtobe addedtoourmailinglistpleasecontact BarryBarker–visualartrollright@rps.org

BarryBarkerFRPS

VISUALARTNORTH

Havingstarted2022withanoptimisticvibe fromeveryoneforthenewlyformedVisualArt Northgroup,wehavehadsomepositive energyandatthesametimesome disappointingresults.Itcontinuesbeingavery difficultfirsthalfof2023,withreplanning someoflastyearspostponedeventsalsoonce againbeingontherecruitmenttrailfornew volunteers,whichisprovingtobemoreand moredifficultacrossallvolunteersectors.

AlltheFunoftheFairbyBradCheek

OurpostponedeventsofMorecambetook placeearlierthisyearandindeeddidnot disappoint.Wedostillhavetoshowthe imagesononeoftheplannedZOOMevenings, wearehopingtohaveeitheraguestartistor atleasttwoeventdisplayssothiswillbe comingupshortly.

ManchesterNorthernQuarterwilltakeplacein Septemberthelightingatthistimeofyearis usuallyagreatadvantageandhopefullythe weatherwillbekindtoo.Youcanfinddetails andbookthiseventthroughthewebsite.

Wewouldliketoaddinanothergardenvisit andthistimetoRHSBridgewaterin

Manchester,Ivisitedearlierthisyear,alittle tooearlyreallyforallthecolourfuldisplaysbut duringAugusttoearlySeptemberwouldbea goodtimetogo.Ifanyonewouldbeinterested inleadingthis,pleasecontactme.Ifthisisnot toyourlikingthereisgoingtobeavisittothe YorkshireSculptureParkorganisedbyRoy Henstockdetailscanbefoundonthewebsite.

Weexplorewith-ArtistTalks

MaryPCrowtherARPS

ManchesterNorthernQuarter byBrianLawARPS

Wedohavetwophotographers’talksinmind, wearejustwaitingforthevenuestoconfirm dates,asweusuallyprefertouseeducational sitesthisprovestobeasourceoffree establishmentsbutthenitisawaitfortheir schedulestobeconfirmedbeforeany committeddatesaresecured.

ButonthematteroftheZOOM–explorewith artistswedonothaveanythingspecificasyet inmindsoifyouwouldliketoshareandtalk aboutyourworkanditisnotalwaysallabout photography,weengagewithalltypesofart medias.

Asagroup,likemanywehavehadourdips andhighsandneedtobemoreconsistent,so wouldliketostartregulargroupsessions,beit onZOOMorface-to-facemeetings.Todothis wewouldneedregularcontributionsofwork maybe5or6peopleshowingworkandwilling todiscusscurrentprojects.Ifanyonehasany thoughtsonthisorwouldbewillingtoshare work,pleasegetintouch.

Asinpreviousnotifications,thorughvarious reasonswehavelostacoupleofvalued membersoftheorganisinggroupandare lookingformorevolunteerstocomeonboard.

Itmaybeyoujustwanttoorganiseonesingle eventforthegrouporfillamorepermanent role,justdropmeanemailandwecandiscuss indetail.

PhotoNorthmanyofourmembershave visitedeventsoverthepastfewyears,these areorganisedbyPeterDenchandSharon Pricewiththemainfocusonstudents includingcollaborativephotographers,guest speakers,mentorprogramsandexhibitionsof professionalandstudentwork.TheRPShave beeninvitedtoalloftheseandhaveagood workingrelationshipwiththisforum.Wehave beeninvitedtotwofurthercollaborative eventsof2023–PostcardsfromtheEdge hostedatHiveArtsinBlackpoolandSheffield studentcompetition.

Wehopetoseemanyofyouatthefuture events.

AJOINTPHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION–ExeterCameraClub& LaSociétéPhotographiquede Rennes.

ThisexhibitionthattookplaceinRennes (France)inMay2023isaresultof collaborationbetweentwophotographic societies–ExeterCameraCluband LaSociété PhotographiquedeRennes.Thetwo photographiccommunitieshavestrong connectionsduetothetwocities,Exeterand Rennes,beingtwinnedandhavingco-operated inthepastwithjointprojects.During lockdown,theystayedconnectedviazoomand sharedtheirpassionvirtually.Incidentally, bothclubswereestablishedinthesameyear–in1890,duringthegoldenageofphotography butonoppositesidesoftheChannel.Theircooperationisagreatexampleofhow photographycanbringpeopletogetherand howdifferences(language/culture)canbe,not justovercomebutcelebrated,whilstenjoying thepassionandthecommoninterestthat photographybrings.

20fromRenneswiththeexhibitonbeingheld attheOrangerie,ThaborGarden(LeJardindu Thabor)closetothecentreofRennes.Some photographerschosetopresenttypical countrysidescenes,celebratingitsbeauty, whilesomesoughttoportrayfamiliarscenes thoughdifferentartisticinterpretations.Both monochromeandcolourphotographswere exhibited,addingtothevarietyoftechniques andapproaches.

Herearejustsomeofthephotograhstogive usaflavouroftheexhibition.

CatherineLegouche’simageentitled“Plus Loin”(FurtherAway)takennearthevillage whereshelives,onableak,foggymorning portrayssowellasombermoodofemptiness andisolationbutalsothetranquilityofthe countryside.Aboldapproachchosenbya photographerwhodoesnotshyawayfrom usinghighcontrastandstrongblacks.

PlusLoin-FurtherAway,CatherineLegouche

Thethemeselectedforthisexhibitionwas “OurCountryside”(“NosCampagnes”),theaim beingtoportraydifferentinterpretationsof ruralscenesinandaroundDevonandBrittany. Thephotographersofbothclubswereinvited tocapturethecountrysidearoundthem throughdifferentgenresbutwithoutpeopleor buildingsbeingprominent.Therewere40 photographersexhibiting–20fromExeterand

OurCountryside-NosCampagnes,MaxJuillot Withhisimageentitled“OurCountryside”,Max Juillotcapturesaverydifferentmood.Hisisan imagefullofenergywhich,withitsrichstrong colourpaletteandtextures,isalmost impressionistinitsdistinctlypainterlyfeel.His redpoppiesarevibrantandstriking,whilethe skyisintenselydramaticwiththeblackbirds completingthescene.Thisisanimagewitha strongemphasisonanartisticinterpretion, goingbeyondthelimitsofphoto-realistic, representativework.

LaRigoled'HilvernbyGillesLeCerten

LaRigoled’HilvernbyGillesLe Certen isan imageofawaterchannelincentralBritanny, thecourseofwhichisnowusedasacycling andwalkingroute.Thisisanimagewitha dynamiccompositioncreatedbystrong diagonallinesanddarkshadowscastbythe trees.Itisanimagethattakestheviewerona journeyfurherintothecountrysidewith distantwindmillsaddingamodernaspectto anancientlandscape.Presentingtheimagein black&whiteaccentuatesthedepthand graphicnatureoftheimage.

DaveDummett’sphotographoftheiconicSt MichaeldeRupeChurchonBrentToron Dartmoorconveyssowellthedramaandthe beautyoftheMoor.This12th centurychurch whichsitshighonavolcanicoutcropwith sweepingviewsofthesurrounding countrysidehasmanylegendsandmyths surroundingit.Withanexcellentcompositon andgreatuseofnaturallight,Davidhas succeededincapturingtheessenseofwhat makesthissuchaspecialplace.

AnneWhitelyhaschosenanimageoftrees engulfedinheavymist,takenatBlackberry Camp,ahillfortinDevon.Itisbeautifully composedwithatreebranchandlushgreen leavesintheforegroundsoeffectivelyframing thesceneandenhancingthesenseofdepth. Theimageisveryatmposheric,dreamlike–thereissomethingquitemagicalaboutit.

SheilaHaycox’simageofafieldatDartsFarm showsadifferentaspectofthecountryside, thatofagriculture,withfieldsfilledwithcrops readytobeharvested.Asuperbimagewith powerful,converginglinesleadingtotherow oftreesstandingagainstamoodysky.Ascene sowellknowntoExeterresidentsbut beautifullycapturedwithaphotographer’seye andpresentedwithastrongartisticelement.

Finally,theimagechosenfortheexhibition posterisofadeadtreeinafloodedfield,taken byMarijaLees,justoutsideExeter,earlyone Wintermorning.

AmongtheSummerTrees-BlackberryCampby AnneWhiteley

StMichaeldeRupe(BrentTorChurch) DartmoorbyDaveDummett

DartsFarmbySheilaHaycoxARPS

Theopeningoftheexhibition,attendedby sevenphotographersfromExeterCamera Club,wasamostenjoyableevent-thesunwas shiningandvisitors,whocameinlarge numbers,spilledoutintothegarden,enoying thelateafternoonsun.Havingmetbefore, duringzoomsessions,theynowmetforreal andafewglasseswereraised.Theexhibition wasexpertlycuratedby LaSociété PhotographiquedeRennes,withthelayout beingperfectlyarranged,enablingthevisitors, oncethroughthedooroftheorangeries,togo onajourney,enjoyingeachandeveryoneof thephotographsexhibited–atruevisual treat.

MarijaLeesLRPS NEWSFROMTHECIRCLES

PrintCircles:DavidFiddes, whohasruna PrintCircleforovertwentyyears,hasfinally decidedtocallitaday.Ishouldliketosay thankyoupubliclytoDavidforallhisworkfor VisualArtPrintCircleF/Bformorethan20 years.BeingaPrintSecretaryisanongoing commitment,andDavidhasdonethis

devotedlyforsolong,wewillmisshim.Iam surethatmembersofhisCirclepastand presentwillbegratefultohimforallhiswork overthattime.Imustalsomentionthat duringtheearlierpartofthattime,Davidalso ranaSlide/EmailCircle.

Asaresult,wearedowntoonePrintCirclein theVisualArtGroup.Thisisrunby Robert Hughes,whohasagreedtowelcomemembers fromDavid'sCircleintohisPrintCircleC.For thetimebeingtherefore,PrintCircleCwillbe full.Ifyouareinterestinginjoining,pleaselet meknowandIwillputyouontoawaitinglist. Ofcourse,iftheideaappealstoyou,youcould offertorunanewPrintCircle,perhapsstarting withafewVisualArtGroupmemberswhoare interestedinjoining.Seriously,thinkaboutit. We'llbegladtohelpyou.

EmailCircles: Wecontinuetohave5Email Circles.Thereareafewvacancies,soifyou'd liketoshareyourimagesandseeothers' imageseverymonth,justdropmealineand I'llfindyouaplace.

Cost: TheCirclesarefreetoVAGroup members.Thereisnocostinvolvedinthe EmailCircles,andthereisjustregularpostal chargesformembersofthePrintCircle. Ifyou'reinterested,justdropmealine to Gill@dishart.plus.com.you'llbemadevery welcome.

GillDishartARPS

EXHIBITION

AfterasuccessfulshowingattheLandmark ArtsCentreinApril(detailedinthelast newsletter),thecurrent2023exhibitionhas nowmovedontoEdinburgh(5th-27thAugust) andwillbemovingimmediatelyontoGallery PhotiqatLeamingtonSpa(2nd-30th September).DetailsareontheVAGwebpages sopleasesupportusbyattendingifyoucan.

TheEdinburghExhibitionisat68GreatKing Street,Edinburgh,EH36QU

GalleryPhotiqisat40ParkStreet,Leamington Spa,CV324QN

Thingsareacceleratingfastonthe2024 Exhibitionfrontalso….

Wewillbeshortlyannouncingtheinvitationto submitforthe2024selectionslateinAugust, sowatchoutfornewsontheFacebookPages, VAGWebandemails.Discussionsarealsowell underwayforExhibitionVenuesfornextyear

andarealreadybeingfinalisedforthediaries, sowearelookingforanotherstrong submissionentryfrommembersfornextyear.

TomLeeFRPS

ExhibitionsLeadOrganiser

DISTINCTIONSUCCESSES

WecongratulatethefollowingVisualArtGroup membersontheirrecentlygainedRPS Distinctions

ARPSVisualArt MalcolmCross,Wiltshire

ARPSContemporary GraemeWales,Surrey

LRPS(May)

MichaelVanGordon,Heswall

MarkDeutchLRPS

RESIDENTIAL-PLYMOUTHUPDATE

OurPlymouthweekendon6th-9thOctoberis nowfullybooked,infact,withintwodaysof thebroadcastgoingoutwewere90%there, mostlikelybecauseofthequalityofthe workshopleaderswhohaveagreedtojoinus andsharetheirknowledge.

WehaveCharlieWaite….whohastakentime outfromhisbusyscheduleofinternational photographytoursandtutorialswithLightand Landtobewithusandhewillbetakinghis groupintothewildandwonderfulterrainof Dartmoor.It’sanareathathassomuchto offerandI’msureCharliewillpointthoselucky enoughtobepartofhisgroupintheright direction

Also,AndyFarrer,anotherinternationaltour leaderwhoseextensiveknowledgeofthe SouthCoasttogetherwithhiseyeforan image,hisuseoflightandhisexpertisewitha cameraissecondtonone.But,beprepared, youmaybeinforanearlymorningshoutto catchthatsunrise.

AndlastlybutcertainlynotleastStewartWall MAFRSAARPS,aprofessionalstreet photographerandphotobookmakerand currentR.O.fortheRPSEastMidlandRegion whowillbetakinghisgrouparoundPlymouth anddemonstratinghisskillinfindingthe imagethatpassesmostofusby.

Eachofthesewillbesupplementingtheirstay withapresentationpepperedwithexamples oftheirwork.

Wehavealsotakentheunusualstep(in responsetofeedbackfrommanyofthose attendingpreviousweekends)ofallowing muchmoretimeforshowandtellsessions andwe’reexpectingsomegreatworkbeing broughtalongandshownbyourmembers.

BeinginDevonwealsohavethepleasureof welcomingmembersfromtheVAGSouthwest groupwhowillbeattending,someasday visitors,othersfortheweekend.They’relucky enoughtohavethejoyofthisbeautifulareaall yearroundbutareneverthelesseagertobe meetingupwithusallandexchangingideas. Someofthemwillbebringingexamplesof theirworkandwe’realsoexpectingallyou guyswhowillbejoiningusfortheweekendto bebringingalongyourpanelsandimagesboth printorPDI.Iknowseveralofyouhave recentlyachieveddistinctionsandwe’reall lookingforwardtoseeingtheminthefleshas itwereanddon’tbeafraidofbringingalong panelsthatyouareputtingtogetherorare awaitingassessment,there’snosuchthingas badpublicity.

Wehaven’tsettledonasubjectyet,butwe’ll alsobegivingyouanopportunitytostretch yourimaginationwiththecustomaryweekend challenge.Somethingforyoutograpplewith (andweexpectextensivegrappling).

August2023No.18

Also,asanadditionalattractionyoumaywish topopintoovertheweekend,SueBrown FRPS,whowillbejoiningusfordinneron Saturdayeveningiscuratinganexhibition “RespondingtoLight”inconjunctionwith “MakeSouthwest”andseveraleminent photographerswhowillbeshowingtheirwork.

It’sbasedinBoveyTracey,onthesoutheastern edgeofDartmoorandI’veincludedaflyer shouldyouwishtodropin,I’msureit’llbetime wellspent.

MikekitchingmanLRPS

2024MEMBERSANNUALPRINT EXHIBITION CALLFORENTRIES

It’sthattimeofyearagainwhenweareasking foryourentriesintoourannualprint competition.Thisisthecompetitionthat travelsaroundthecountryshowingthebest selectedimagesinwonderfulsettings.Please searchoutyourbestimagesanmakesureyou enterbeforethe30th September.Theforms willalsobeavailableonourwebsite.

VISUAL ART GROUP 2024 MEMBERS’ PRINT EXHIBITION ENTRY FORM

COMMITTEEMEMBERS

ThefollowingmembersmakeupyourVAG committeefor2023/24:

Chair

JohnCavanaARPS

Secretary&Newsletter

CarolPaesARPS

Treasurer

BarryBarkerFRPS

Membership

MarkDeutschLRPS

PublicationsCoordinator

WendyMeagherLRPS

ExhibitionsCoordinator

TomLeeFRPS

Exhibitionsmember

MartynPearse

August2023No.18

WebEditor

MichaelButterworthLRPS

CirclesCoordinator

GillDishartARPS

Residentialweekends

MikeKitchingmanLRPS

CommitteeMember

ValGlennyLRPS

CommitteeMember

BobBracherARPS

Therearealsotwosub-grouporganisers andoneVisualArtGrouprepresentative fortheTyngCollection,heldcurrentlyat theV&AMuseum.Theyare:

VisualArtNorth

MaryCrowtherARPS

VisualArtSouthwest

MarijaLeesLRPS

TyngCo-ordinator

RobertHerringshawARPS

FAREWELLFROMME

Ihopeyouhaveenjoyedthisbumperedition oftheNewsletter,Ihaveenjoyedreadingit andamespeciallypleasedthatwehavebeen abletoincludenewsitemsfromallthree functioningVisualArtsub-groups.

Carolworkshardtofindcontentandthen assemblethenewsletter4timesayearand willalwaysbegratefulforyourcontributions. Ifyouwouldliketosharedistinctionsuccesses, photographic‘journeys’oranythingelsethat couldbeinterestingtoawideraudiencejust contactCarolat visualartsec@rps.org

ItookoverthechairfromAndreasKlattARPS inOctober2021,withavagueintentionof stayingforafewmonthsorperhapsayear. Theoneyearhasnowbecomealmosttwoand Ihavedecidedtoleavethecommitteethis October.Ireallywouldliketoconcentrate moreonmyownphotography.

MarkDeutschLRPShasagreedtotakethejob on.Markhasbeenanenergeticand knowledgeablecommitteememberforseveral years,handlingthetaskofMembership Secretarywithaneyefordetailandwith endlesspatienceandtactwhenwaitingfor newmemberinformationtobepassedtothe group.

Ileavethecommitteeingoodshape.Infactit isaverypositiveandcommittedcommittee.

TheVisualArtGrouptriesveryhardtogive membersvalueformoneywithexhibitions, publications,regionalmeetingsandresidential weekends.Markwillcontinuewiththis traditionsopleasegivehimallyoursupport.

Ithasbeenapleasureandaprivilegetobein thechairforthelasttwoyears.Thankyoufor yoursupportandfriendshipandbestwishes toyouall.

JohnCavanaARPS