Nature competition, Abstracts, and more !
This week's meeting was a treat !
Firstly we had 72 Nature images to look at, wonder at, and then somehow vote on - this competition is one we vote upon as members. The winner receives the Fiona Govan Trophy - and congratulations to the worthy winner, Muriel, with 'Kingfisher with catch' (featured image). Muriel also won second place with 'Gannet and streamers'. Third place went to Valerie for her 'Lichen Covered Pine Trees'. Congratulations to Muriel and Valerie, and ''nicely done!' to those entering images.
Thanks of course to the compsecs, Elaine and Mike, for organising this and the other competitions - a difficult job that helps the club be what it is, and is much appreciated by the members.
Here is a gallery of some of the entries. As usual click on an image to enter 'gallery mode'. Below that is an update on other activities at the meeting this week.
A Sparkle of Golden Plovers – Grace Hynd
Alert and Ready – Jon Moore
Baby_seagulls – Justyna McKinlay
Badger dug Wasps nest – Paul Laycock
Comorant – Harry Paton
Common Reed Bunting – Bird on a wire – Grace Hynd
Carved by nature – Jane Lowe
Canada Goose, Lochend Park – Matt Pringle
Canada Goose, Lochend Park – Matt Pringle
Briefly sunlit – Fran Goodman
Bluebells at Smeaton, East Lothian – Matt Pringle
Bluebells at Smeaton, East Lothian. Zero Image Back to Nature 6×6 / Kodak Ektar
Big Ears – Anne Scott
Bark – Anne Scott
Cornflower – Sally Heaphy
Dolphins Bow Riding a Minke Whale – Rudolf Hummel
Eag Dubh – The Black Cleft of Beinn Alligin – Damien Berest
Egret with catch – Harry Paton
Elephant Seals Facing Off – Maria Djumic
Ewe need a rest mum – David Youles
Follow my leaders – Mike Harvey
Fragipani – Ian Smith
Hummingbird Hawk-moth – Paul Laycock
Heron chasing a fish – Harry Paton
Hermitage – Justyna McKinlay
Heavy Lift – Alastair Macrae
Haring around – Muriel Huggins
Grey owl – Mike Harvey
Gaua – Anne Scott
Gannet and streamers – Muriel Huggins
I’m waiting – where is the fish by Fran Goodman
Inquisitive Quokka – Jon Moore
Jellyfish – Ian Smith
King Penguins at Fortuna Bay South Georgia – Maria Djumic
Kingfisher with catch – Muriel Huggins
Large white – Paul Laycock
Large White having a feast – Karen Stout
Lichen Covered Pine Tress – Valerie Stuart
Nuthatch – Grace Hynd
Newly Hatched – Fran Goodman
Natural harmony – Philip Wark
Morning Bath – Rudolf Hummel
Mellow Fruitfulness – Philip Wark
Melancholy – Damien Berest
Lunch is served – Elaine Dowding
Lion brothers – Karen Stout
One o clock Two o clock – Sally Heaphy
Open wide – Alastair Macrae
Pedunculate oak – Alastair Macrae
Playful Dolphin – Rudolf Hummel
Playtime – Mike Harvey
Preparing for flight – Elaine Dowding
Red Grouse Calling – Valerie Stuart
Redwood at Smeaton Pinhole – Matt Pringle
The Droplet – Elaine Dowding
Taking a dip – Jane Lowe
Study in texture – David Youles
Spooky Woods – David Metzger
Spider Web – Valerie Stuart
Robin on lobster pot – Philip Wark
Robin in Song – Jon Moore
Right Boys-Listen Up – Maria Djumic
They Left The Vault Open – Damien Berest
Thief – Ian Smith
Transcedent Forest – David Metzger
Tree Hallucinations – David Metzger
Tree In Winter – Sally Heaphy
What are you looking at ? – Justyna McKinlay
Whispers of dawn through the mist – David Youles
Zebra in the morning mist – Karen Stout
As if the competition wasn't enough ....
After the competition, we were treated to a presentation by guest Kevin, who showed us his abstract art. Some images were straight out of camera, some edited in some ways, and some were camera double exposures. Very creative, and a reminder that as you view a scene, the image to create may not be the one that immediately presents itself. If you're at a location and stuck for ideas, why not try some abstract, an ICM, or a doubler ? Kevin also reminded us that it can be a delight to print images, and maybe even produce photo books or 'zines (as the cool kids call them, I think). It used to be said that an image wasn't finished until it'd been printed. Thanks Kevin.
And finally for the evening, and after tea and shortbread, Rudolf told us about the ongoing Portrait Gallery (Queen St, Edinburgh) exhibition of 'Alfred Buckham - Daredevil Photographer' - on until April 2026 (go soon, you know how time flies... ahem).
Rudolf quoted Alfred "If one's right leg is tied to the seat with a scarf or a piece of rope, it is possible to work in perfect security" - confidence that saw him through his first seven crashes, and possibly his eighth. Below is an image taken from the gallery website, copyright Richard and John Buckham.
Next week we are back in the hall for an eveing of 'In conversation with ... ' hosted by David. See you there !