Gainsborough Snappers Camera Club organised a very successful trip to Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet near Sheffield at the end of July and members brought their favourite images to share at the August meeting. There were a number of versions of the same scene, with a stack of old pots proving particularly popular.
A bench which bore testimony to the hard work of ages, when the place made steel and fashioned it into scythes (exported worldwide, minus handles) was also a popular subject. What a story that could tell. The blacksmith had been asked to come in for members’ benefit and he was there working at his forge, giving everyone a great chance to try shots of his hammer in motion and the sparks billowing up.
Having enjoyed one trip, members were keen to arrange another. This was to the sculpture exhibition at Doddington Hall in mid-August, giving people time to prepare images to show at the September meeting. Kelham Island Museum is mostly indoors, offering potential for an autumn trip and this will also be on the September agenda.
The Challenge topic, ‘Fun in the Sun’, has run for several months now and September will be the last opportunity to show any pictures from this topic, plus the broader offering for everyone who has shown theirs, which is ‘My Favourite Recent Photograph’.
Paul Lancaster had decided to try something different. He had found instructions on how to go about a particular technique which comes under the heading of ‘Fine Art Photography’. He showed three images, all quite minimalist with a sharp point of focus and interest and out of focus backgrounds, which he had manipulated.
Two members prefer to show prints. Peter Yeo had followed up on a topic raised at the last meeting and taken some infrared images, which he showed and described.
Des Lloyd has been out in the fields recently and he showed a selection of his shots of whitethroats and willow warblers, both species in adult and fledgeling plumage. He also remarked that it is the season to see hares about. The young are independent and the adults are less guarded, making the most of the fields around harvest time. Des has honed his technique for crawling towards them on his stomach and using his long lens handheld to get some stunning shots.
This time he brought two with amusing stories. One showed the hare with the end of a stalk in its mouth, but Des had waited to take the shot until it had chewed it down until it looked like it was puffing on a cigar. The other reminded him of Dobbie, the House Elf from the Harry Potter films.
Snappers are always pleased to welcome guests and visitors, so if you can get to Beckingham Village Hall, you will find a warm welcome. They meet between 1.30pm and 3.30pm on the first Friday of each month unless otherwise advised on the club website. Visit www.snappers.org.uk for more information.