Making his first visit to the club the competition judge Johnnie Rogers ARPS AWPF DPAGB AFIAP was welcomed by Chairman Richard Watson.
Experienced at judging at club level and soon to judge a salon and also a presenter, Johnnie gave an insight into how he goes about judging a selection of images - first looking through all the images to get a feel for the standard and then getting in really close to each image to see all the finer details. While checking for sharpness Johnnie commented many times on sensor dust spots and chromatic aberration and other flaws that even the most experienced of our photographers had not noticed! Members please note - get your sensor cleaned professionally, learn how to do it safely yourself or check your images very carefully and remove unwanted dust spots in post-production.
Johnnie made very fair comments on how an image could have been improved by cropping, dodging or burning or removing 'transient' elements of human origin from the scene . Opinions differ on how milky or sharp moving water appears according to the shutter speed used - but often it is a matter of personal taste.

There was a rather small entry for the landscape prints this year but nevertheless Johnnie commented on the generally high standard. Each print was expertly commented on in great detail - any flaws noted and relevent advice given on how the image might have been improved.

Many congratulations to Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP who had an extremely good evening with his print 'Kynance Cove' left gaining first place and 'Kilchurn Castle' (green tents and all!) in second place and also his 'Salt Cellar' was awarded an HC.
Dave Gray came third with a stunning Peak District image titled 'Stanage Millstones' in the evening light.

Robert was presented with the Landscape Print Trophy and later was awarded the Landscape Projected Image Trophy to complete his triumphant evening!

Johnnie had 47 projected images to comment on after the break and so had to reduce the time spent on each one but he still succeeded in giving each image a full appraisal and gave the photographers a lot of helpful advice on how their images could be improved.
Again Robert was awarded first and second places with the judge actually managing to find no faults at all with the winning image 'Buachaille Etive Mor' and congratulated him on such an excellent image.
Special mention should also be made of Steve Hardman who is a fairly new club member but who was awarded 3rd place and also an HC. Club chairman Richard Watson LRPS did well and was awarded an HC for each of his 3 entries. Dave Gray and David Fraser were awarded 2 HC's each so well done to everyone. 
All in all a very interesting evening with a wide range of landscape images for members to enjoy.

Many thanks to Johnnie for travelling from South Wales and for giving such close scrutiny to all the landscape images, we very much look forward to further visits from him in the future.
Members should have learnt a lot from the judges comments - not least to look much more closely at their images before printing or entering projected images and eliminate all those blemishes! PM
Full results                                       All the awarded images can be seen in the Galleries

As ever, a good attendance at the WCPF Digital Projected Image Competition (DPIC) held on Sunday 5 th February in the Corn Exchange, Exeter.

57 clubs from the Western Counties Area entered 18 images each giving the judges 1026 images to view and make judgement on in about 3 hours. Images were projected at the rate of about 10 seconds each so immediate impact on the judges was vital.
Each of the 3 judges scored out of 5 but only one image in the whole competition scored the maximum 15 points, only one scored 14 with only a handful scoring 13 so 12 points was was therefore a pretty decent score.  There were several instances of 11s which included a 5!. Four of the Devizes CC images did well by scoring 12 points and with 4 more scoring 11 and others not far behind.
Nature and Landscape images had a particularly tough time of it but in this tough field therefore David Wilkinson can feel very proud of scoring 11 for his White Tailed Sea Eagle. right
The key for Devizes though was consistency so when all was done, Devizes scored 191 points and that put us 8th= out of the 57 clubs – a highly commendable placing.
We were ahead of almost all of the other local clubs entering, Bristol were 3rd with 204, while F8 and Dorchester tied for the lead with 208 each. Dorchester were awarded the winners trophy on the basis that their entry picked up more judges individual awards that F8s.
DPIC 2017 results

The results of the GB Cup Nature and Open National Competitions have been announced.
Many congratulations to Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP who was awarded 14 points and a Judges Silver Medal for his image 'Elephant Seal Embrace' left
'Black Grouse at Lek' by Gill Cardy did well and was awarded 12 points with several other Nature entries awarded 11 points.
The final total score for Devizes in the Nature GB Cup was 109 points placing us in 37th place out of 110 clubs.
In the GB Open - Devizes scored 140 points and were placed 74th in this tough competition.
GB Cup results

As usual the judges opinions varied considerably giving very differnt results for the same images - Robert's 'Elephant Seal Embrace' scoring 14 and a silver medal in one competition but 11 in another and Gill's 'Black Grouse at Lek' scored very highly at Swindon but a rather dissappointing 10 in DPIC but that judging!
Thanks to Frank Collins for the DPIC report and for organising all the Battle entries.

There was a good attendance to welcome Tony Worobiec BA FRPS to the club this week to hear his talk on the “Art of Composition”.

After a brief explanation of how to pronounce his name, he told us of his introduction to photography at the Newbury Camera Club, where he was told about the “Rules” of composition that photographers should follow. On enquiry, he was informed that these rules had come from Art and had been followed by artists for centuries. This came as a surprise to him as he had completed a Fine Arts Degree before teaching Art for several years and had not heard of these “rules”. His subsequent experience has led him to regard these “rules” as Design Principles which can be used (or not) to convey the message that the photographer wants to communicate.
His talk then progressed through a range of composition principles he has used, accompanied by his brilliant photographs to demonstrate his points.

Tony started with the ubiquitous Rule of Thirds, explaining that this had originated in the Golden Ratio, or Section, devised by ancient Greek mathematicians. He explained that the Golden Ratio is actually 61.8% rather than 66% (two thirds), so subjects on the Third will not necessarily be in the right place anyway! He covered variations, such as the Golden Triangle and the Golden Spiral (formulated by Fibonacci). He also showed how the balance of colours by thirds will work well illustrated with an image of 2 red tulips on thin yellow/green stems with a strong blue background.
He talked about using shapes, tones and lines in composition and showed several examples of leading lines, converging lines and strong diagonals to provide great images without having subjects on the Thirds.
Tony moved further away from the Thirds “rule” showing strong images where the subject was on the edge of the composition to emphasis space or threat, especially with large skies. He encouraged the use of intuitive instincts, rather than “rules” to convey the message in your images. Balancing the subject of an image with elements in other parts of composition, matching elements in the foreground with those in the background, as in an image of a road sign with chevrons that mirrored the pattern of the rocks in the hillside in the background.

Also against conventional wisdom, Tony showed that a subject can be placed in the middle of the frame, as long the surrounding elements are not symmetrical. He also suggested that the choice of crop, and the orientation, landscape or portrait, can also be important for a composition. Square format also can work very well, especially when presenting abstract images with little structure or pattern.

There were other Design Principles that Tony talked about, such minimalistic compositions, silhouettes and using hi-key and lo-key depending on the mood one wants to convey.
There was so much information that Tony wanted to cover that he ran out of time to complete all his material. Even so, I think all those who attended went away with some new thoughts and ideas and a fresh perspective on photography composition.
I think we would all like to thank Tony for a very informative evening, extremely well presented by someone who obviously has a passion for his subject. I, for one, am looking forward to hearing him speak again in the future. DF
Tony Worobiec website            Images © Tony Worobiec

Members were very pleased to welcome back Ralph Snook ARPS DPAGB EFIAP to judge the Annual Nature competitions. Ralph is a renowned wildlife photographer himself and so was highly qualified to judge and pass comments on the club's nature entries.

With over 80 Print and Projected images to look over Ralph commented that the standard was generally very high. With his comprehensive knowledge of wildlife from both Britain and abroad Ralph knew how the subjects could be best portrayed - he was looking for the subjects to be sharp and the colours harmonised and with the uncluttered backgrounds. Subjects should show their particular behaviour against a suitable habitat. There were some stunning insect studies, interesting mammals and birds and also some wild flowers.
The rules are quite strict with images taken in the wild and with modification limited to minor retouching of blemishes, cropping and contrast adjustment. Encouraging wild creatures to pose against an uncluttered background proved to be rather difficult in a lot of cases and Ralph remarked that other images would have been better presented with a tighter crop or in other images the subject needed more space around it.

Many congratulations to Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP who was awarded both the Nature Print and the Nature Projected Image trophies for his stunning images.

The print 'Springbok Browsing Acacia' (left) by Robert featuring a rather unusual close up caught the judges eye - the colours and the position in the frame made a striking image and it was awarded first place. In second place was an excellent shot of a Steller's Eagle in flight by Gill Cardy FRPS AFIAP DPAGB and in third place was a close up of a rather sad faced Proboscis Monkey taken in Borneo by Dave Gray.

After the break Ralph gave his detailed comments on the large entry of projected images. Amongst the many close ups of insects Roberts 'Southern Hawker Dragonfly' (right) impressed the most and gained him first place.
Gills image of Black Grouse displaying at a lek in the snow was awarded second place. A beautifully coloured close up of a damselfly by Caroline Wright was placed third.

There were 15 Highly Commended awards given with a special mention going to Kyra Wilson, Heather Collins, Peter Eley, Steve Hardman and Sue Wadman who are fairly new members of the club who all were awarded HC's with their very highly regarded nature images so it bodes very well for the club to have many high quality competition images in the future.

Thanks to Ralph for taking the time and trouble to look so carefully at all the entries and to give such expert comments and judgement. Thanks to all the members who entered and made it such an interesting evening. Also do not forget all the work undertaken by Competition Secretary Caroline who has the difficult job of checking that all the entries were correct and complied with the rules.

Full results                                  All the awarded images can be seen in the Galleries

The annual Battle between Swindon, Stratton and Devizes took place in a packed hall at Great Western Community Centre in Swindon.  
Each club had submitted 25 images to be judged by Peter Weaver LRPS CPAGB APAGB.

Devizes made a solid performance in the first half and at the interval were leading Swindon by two points, with Stratton third.  We then had a very good run in the early part of the second half, to put us in a lead of 5 points and an apparently winning position. We had some more excellent images to conclude our entry, but our lead slipped away for a final result of Swindon 445, Devizes 444 and Stratton 416.  Our two beautiful Lake District autumn landscapes and a brilliant creative image (about which the judge commented “full marks” but did not award them) surely deserved more.  

Full results

It was with great pleasure that Club Chairman Richard Watson welcomed Oliver Smart who had travelled from Weston Super Mare. With a passion for wildlife Oliver explained that he had studied ornithology and was a BTO bird ringer so he had a lot of experience identifying and handling birds not only from Britain but all over the world.

First the science - Oliver explained how birds are adapted to their various lifestyles. Wing shapes differ from the huge wings of a vulture built for soaring to the tiny hummingbird with wings that allow it to hover as it seeks nectar.
Beaks have adapted according to the food requirements of each species from the long thin beaks for delving in mud, strong beaks for cracking seeds, pointed beaks for snatching insects from the air to large hooked beaks capable of tearing meat from a carcass. Examples of bird camouflage and different types of feathers were shown.
Photographed in places around the world a wide variety of bird images showed the interesting courtship, breeding and nesting behaviour of vast colonies of penguins and gannets down to birds found more locally in estuaries, woods, ponds and gardens.

After the break Oliver showed us the beauty of the birds photographed on his travels.
Oliver plans his trips carefully before he goes so that he knows how to get the best possible photographs. A tip was to make sure you were comfortable as you may be several hours in a confined hide waiting for the right moment to press the shutter.
To catch fast action Oliver pre focusses and then with the camera set to manual waits for the bird to be in just the right position. The direction of the light is important as shown in the excellent image of a Black Grouse (above left) with the light catching the feathers and its breath on a cold day.  Also important is to position yourself so as to have an uncluttered background and to think about the composition.
Oliver likes to experiment with different styles to make his bird images have impact and stand out from all the others. The image right was taken with the Albatross silhouetted against the stunning sky just a the sun went down over the dark sea. 

The images are often used as the covers of wildlife and bird magazines as well as illustrating Olivers own articles. Space is often left around the image so that the publisher can add text.
Prints and other items can be brought through his website.

Most of the photographs are taken of birds in the wild but excellent images can also be taken of captive birds such as the Tawny Owl (left) at places like the Hawk Conservancy where you can also go on a course with Oliver who will help you to improve your bird photography.
Thanks Oliver for sharing your vast knowledge of birds and their behaviour and your wide range of bird images. PM
Images © Oliver Smart                                 See Oliver's website

We can now announce the final places for the Ryder Rathband Trophy competition which is awarded annually to the club member who gains the most points from entering their images into various photographic salons throughout the world.

This years competition was keenly fought with the final places uncertain right to the very end. There was strong competition between Robert and Gill for first place, and even stronger competition for third place between Richard (Atkinson) and Kevin Ferris. There was also intriguing battle for fifth place between Michael and Stuart which ended in an honourable draw, both achieving 5 acceptance and bettering their previous achievements.

At the final count Robert needed a late surge to beat Gill. Robert gained 84 points from 73 acceptances compared to Gills 62 points gained from 72 acceptances (not all salon acceptances qualify for inclusion in the Ryder Rathband trophy).

On the way Robert also gained eleven awards by Judges including a First in the Western Counties Audio Visual Awards.

In third place Richard narrowly beat Kevin. Richard gained 35 points from 34 acceptances compared with Kevin’s 32 points from 41 acceptances. Kevin however achieved five awards compared to Richard’s three. We congratulate Robert his success and all those who took part.

Whilst this years tally is not our best the eventual 239 acceptances from 58 different national and international salons beat last years total (130) by more than one hundred.

The club is very keen to encourage more members to enter salons so why not put together a small portfolio of your very best images, bring to the club and see what more experienced members think of them.

For further details and advice please contact a committee member or someone who has been involved in entering salons. If any of those who have entered salons this year want a record of past entries during the previous three years please contact Michael (Barnes). 
See the final acceptances for 2016

On Tuesday 10th January, we were entertained by John Chamberlin FRPS MFIAP with a presentation that he called “Near and Far”. John is a member of Bristol Photographic Society, Arena, The London Salon and the Zoological Photo Club. He introduced himself, saying that he first presented to Devizes Camera Club some 24 years ago.
He explained that he does a lot of travelling, usually leaving his wife behind to concentrate on her writing. 
John organises his trips himself and goes alone or with 3-4 other photographers. This presentation, he said, was made up of images that he had taken between 2013 and 2015 in no particular order.
John started with some stunning images of Japans Macaques, or Snow Monkeys. He managed to capture the atmosphere, expressions and the emotions of the monkeys as they enjoyed their hot tub.
Continuing with his “Far” theme, there were other wildlife images from his travels. Snow Geese, Cranes and other wintering birds in Bosque del Apache, New Mexico; lions in Etosha, Namibia showing adults feeding on various kills and family interactions with the cubs; fabulous images of birds in Bulgaria, Florida and the Danube Delta as well as a wonderful series of shots of sea eagles in Hokkaido.
From Namibia, we also saw images from the Quiver Tree forest and the Deadvlie trees juxtaposed against the massive dunes. And he went to Kolmanskop, an abandoned mining town where the desert is reclaiming the buildings. He showed a number of excellent shots taken inside the buildings showing the mounds of sand in the slowly decaying rooms.
Also on his travels he went to Oregon and showed fabulous coastline scenery that he said stretches for some 500 miles. Further inland, he visited the Painted Hills and got up close to show us wonderful rock patterns and colours.
He also took us to Arizona and Utah for more stunning rock structures and colours, including the South Coyote Buttes, for which a permit is required before you can visit. And we went to The Palouse in Washington state. A vast farming area, with enormous fields and a countryside akin to that of Tuscany.
Interspersed with all these travels he also showed a range of images taken closer to home. These included close ups of a rusting bridge with pealing paint and graffiti.(right)
On a trip to the north Devon and Cornwall coast, he demonstrated how it is worth looking more closely at a scene to obtain a more powerful image. He illustrated this with a range of photos of a waterfall. And he had some excellent images of the Bude Sea Pool. 
John also showed us 2 or 3 sets of British birds and a few squirrels.
He rounded his talk off with images of “colourful birds”. These included European Bee Eaters, Kingfishers, Hoopoes, European Rollers and some Red-Footed Falcons.
So, a wide variety of images taken from “Near”, often his own garden, and as “Far” afield as Japan,  Namibia, Mexico and Oregon. The one thing they had in common was their excellence. John’s ability to see compositions in the landscape, in the middle distance and in macro was brilliant. And the wildlife images always had some interest. From the Snow Monkeys chilling out in their hot pools to cormorants trying to swallow outsized fish, they were all doing something worth capturing. A very enjoyable evening for which we thank John and look forward to seeing him again in the future. DF                                                                         
Images © John Chamberlin FRPS MFIAP
                                                                                                                            

On a chilly evening Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP welcomed members back after the Christmas break and wished everyone a Happy New Year.

From balloons to waterfalls and from boats to wild hares members managed to think up a very wide range of subjects for the PI League. To enter the competition members had to choose 3 subjects and find 5 images that displayed well together for each title. This year there were 51 sets of projected images for the members present to score each one out of 10. Members were asked to assess the quality and composition of the images and also how well they displayed as a set and fitted the chosen title.

The results of the competition will be announced after all the calculations as all the scores for each set are averaged and then each entrants scores for their 3 sets added together.
The Hewitt Cup trophy will be presented to the winner next Tuesday
.
Battle Secretary Frank Collins updated members about the forthcoming Battles.
The prints have been selected for the Warminster Multi Club Print Battle which takes place on Saturday 11 February (see Competitions - Battles for the various venue details)

Frank presented the 25 digital images selected for the 3 way battle with Swindon PS and Stratton CC which members are invited to attend on Thursday 19 January in Swindon.
Members were also shown the 18 images selected for DPIC which takes place on Sunday 5 February in Exeter - tickets must be bought in advance (see Exeter Corn Exchange website)
Altogether over 50 images from 22 members are representing the club for the various competitions so it is hoped members will go along to the Battles to hear the judge's comments, see the entries from other clubs and support Devizes CC.
Also selected were the 15 images for the GB Open Cup - a National competition and the GB Nature entries will be selected shortly.PM

At the start of 2016 Club Chairman Richard Watson LRPS set members a Challenge - the idea was for members to take a photo on a set subject every week for a year. Richard set out a list for members to follow with the idea that members would get out their cameras and find something to photograph that fitted the subject and post it on the Club facebook. The images have then been transferred to this website for all to see on the Challenge 2016 page.

Not all went to plan - working as a group should have encouraged everyone to keep going but only a couple actually completed the whole year. 
Hopefully those few that took part even for a short time felt that at least they got their camera out from time to time or at least gave the subjects some thought. Looking through files to find something that fitted  wasn't really the point. If the challenge was taken up as suggested then it should have made you sometimes get out of your comfort zone and try out some new ideas. 

Some subjects were easier than others - but then it was not meant to be all easy or it would not be a challenge! A couple of the images shown here would probably not be ceated if it wasn't for the Challenge!

All the images members submitted can be seen on the 2016 Challenge page for a few more weeks.

Members who wish to challenge themselves for 2017 can find many lists if they search for 'Photographic Challenges'
Some are for 52 weeks or there are monthly or even daily lists which might be a challenge to keep up! Anyway its entirely up to any of you if you want to set yourself a personal challenge in the new year. Good luck and  try to keep it up if you do.
Thanks Richard for setting the 2016 Challenge! PM

For our last meeting before the Christmas break we had the pleasure of Santa (alias Frank Collins) with his ho ho ho and in his usual jovial manner acting as Master of Ceremonies for this light hearted competition.
Members sent in digital images for this fun knock -out competition for which Dave Gray devised an excellent way of projecting the images.  Images were randomly paired and at first each shown singly and then side by side so then members voted with a show of hands which of the 2 images shown they preferred - the left or the right.
After each round the chosen images were then shuffled and again paired randomly for the next round.
The competition can be extremely unfair as often 2 potential winning images or two by the same photographer come up together and only one can go through but it all caused a laugh.
Frank was called in a final adjudicator on several occasions when the member's votes were tied and his was the final decision.
Eventually 5 rounds later there are only 4 images left in the running and from these the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th places are decided.
Everyone loves penguins and so 'Take a Bow' by Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP above left
was a very popular winner. 
The very interesting composition and lighting made a night scene 'Spanish Streets' above  by Tim Pier a well deserved second.
A portrait artist in 'Street Life' left by Hilary Eagles was voted third and a monochrome 'Lone Tree' right by Richard Watson LRPS was in forth place.

Frank presented each of the winners with small christmas gift.

Thanks to all the many members who entered images, those that exercised their arms by voting and special thanks to Frank and Dave for the organisation and for making it such a good fun evening.

To round of the meeting members brought in a large array of delicious seasonal treats which were very much relished before members departed.

The next meeting is on Tuesday 3rd January 2017 so anyone interested in photography and not yet a member would like to come along they will be made very welcome.

Two very contrasting competitions were judged during the evening by Andy Beel FRPS who was welcomed back to the club by Chairman Richard Watson LRPS.
The prints were shown first and Andy who is a renowned monochrome print worker himself commented on the 32 entries and remarked that many images were to him almost an all over grey and that an effort should be made to add 'punch' to the prints by enhancing the contrast in the editing.
The important factor is the direction of the light - side or back lighting gives much more interesting effects than straight on lighting and Andy commented that the lightest part of the image is where the viewers' attention is drawn and should be the main subject of the image. Some images had overblown skies and Andy recommended setting the exposure on the camera for the sky or lightest part of the image so as not to lose detail as then the darker areas can be lightened in post processing.

An entry by Tim Pier titled 'On the Case' (right) was awarded first place, Andy said it was an interesting subject with very good lighting and composition and was well printed. 'Pathway to the square was another print by Tim that was judged to have  a good leading line that drew the eye to the light through the archway and it was placed third.
It was the eyes and soulful expression of a young Gambian girl (left) portrayed by Dave Gray that the judge admired and that gained second place. Only four Highly Commended's were awarded although the rules allowed more but Andy felt that other prints although he had praised them did not deserve an award.
Richard Atkinson AFIAP and Stuart Barnes were each awarded an HC and Kyra Wilson did well with 2 HC's.

After the break the Creative entries were projected and Andy said he was right out of his comfort zone with this type of competition and it was not the type of image he was used to judging.
There was a great variety of interesting techniques among the 44 entries - some in camera and some in the post processing. Andy confessed that some images he did not understand and others were not to his taste.
Members seemed to really enjoy seeing the interesting and sometimes extraordinary efforts from fellow members who had experimented with various filters that resulted in some very different images to those that they are usually associated with.
Andy gave his comments on the images and held back 6 images on which he then commented and expressed his reasons why he gave them the awards.
A montage by Pam Mullings was awarded first place - titled 'Choir Practice' (left) portraying owls instead of choir boys, Andy said he liked the composition and the expressions of some of the owls depicted.
Another image by Pam was placed third this time featuring a man 'Haunted' by an eerie ghost from the past.
Smoke images from Kev Ferris LRPS - one titled 'Dragon Lord' (right) was in second place and 'The Ballerina' gained an HC.
Janet Rutter LRPS and Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP were the only other entrants to gain awards in the Creative competition.
Thanks to all those who entered and had fun creating their images.

Members present had the pleasure of seeing both traditional monochrome prints and more experimental digital images during the same evening so hopefully something for everyone.
Thanks to Andy for judging and giving his comments on both sets of entries and for those members who entered such a variety of images. PM
Full results                    All the awarded images can be seen in the Galleries

Former psychotherapist Diana Neale ARPS gave a presentation of her very unique and imaginative photographic images. The digital images have been greatly influenced by her work and aim to convey an interpretation of the multi-layered nature of memories and dreams, an insight into the unconscious, with which the observer can interact.

Enjoying the creativity of digital photography Diana set out in 2013 to gain her LRPS and fairly shortly afterwards gained her ARPS with a panel of visual art images. Each image was projected and Diana explained where the image was taken and in some cases what appealed to her about the location and described some of the techniques used.

Diana invites viewers to engage with the images and create their own thoughts about what the untitled image represents to them rather than her own interpretation. Diana taught herself the technical Photoshop skills to be able manipulate her original photographs in order to transform them into individual works of art. Spooky graveyards, derelict buildings, woodlands and landscapes are often used as the base image.Texture, colour, watercolour wash photographs and other images are added as layers then all are blended skilfully together until a pleasing image is created. The results of blending layers are unpredictable so no two of the often very complex images are ever the same - the fun is playing and around seeing what happens!

Many of Diana's images have an air of mystery, What's going on? What does it mean? 

Viewers are encouraged to use their own imagination to interpret the images.
Still lifes are set up using the large selection of 'bits and pieces' found around the home, fruit and flowers - particularly when decaying are often featured. Each photographic image then has additional layers and even when appropriate the addition of people images found in a collection of very old photos. The use of other photographers images is not allowed in club competitions so members must not try the same idea.
A mobile phone is often used as it can take a good image and nowadays has excellent built in software allowing a wide range of visual effects. Recent images feature trees with interesting colour effects applied.
Members may have been inspired to try out some of the layering techniques for themselves so we may see more creative images in the future.
Thanks Diana fo giving us an insight into your photographic world and for displaying a selection of prints.. PM
See more of Diana's images

The second Open Print competition of the season was very ably judged by Keith Cooper LBPPA from Gloucester. There were over 80 entries for members to enjoy seeing with Keith giving very helpful and concise comments on each one and finally giving the awards for each section.

Keith remarked on the high quality of some of the prints in the Beginners section. Some really amazing wildlife entries caught the judge's eye including a little owl and a kingfisher by Kyra Wilson but a Gannet in flight by David Wilkinson (shown right) was awarded first place with 'Red Stag' also by David in second place.
Steve Hardmans landscape 'Pondfield Bay was placed third with Steve and David and Kyra also gaining a HC's.

An atmospheric monochrome titled 'Early Mist, Caen Hill' Locks by Caroline Wright was placed first in the Intermediate section and Caroline was also awarded an HC for 'Beckford's Spiral' A colourful flying shot 'Sacred Ibis' by Jean Ingram was in second place and Stuart Barnes gained 3rd for 'Three Irish Lads' and also was awarded two HC's.

There were 35 prints entered in the Advanced section including many stunning landscapes, smoke images and wildlife prints of all sorts. The judge remarked how difficult he had found it to put the top images in order Keith finally announced his decision for the awards with an image of Amur leopard cubs 'First Venture Out' by Pam Mullings placed first (shown left).
A flower study 'Lady's Slipper Orchid' and a landscape 'Blackrock Cottage' both by Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP were placed second and third. Eight HC's were also awarded.

Thanks to Keith for travelling on such a cold and frosty night and for taking the time and trouble to look so carefully at the large selection of print entries. PM

Full Results      Awarded images can be seen in the Galleries.

Landscape photographer Stephen Spraggon likes to get away from his indoor day job into what he feels is his outdoor office where he can travel around the countryside seeking scenic places to photograph. What started as a hobby has developed into serious photography and each image is very carefully planned in advance. After holding some successful exhibitions of his work, Stephen's reputation grew and he now takes on commissions and also continues with his personal projects. Outdoor Photography magazine often features landscapes by Stephen and many images appear in other publications and advertisements.

Members enjoyed a slideshow of some early images featuring misty landscapes, dawn and sunset coastal scenes, rugged rock formations and tranquil woodland. An image of the Holy Thorn in silhouette against Glastonbury Tor is a particular favourite of Stephen's as sadly the tree is no longer standing.

Stephen brought along some of his kit and members were particularly interested in the tripod with extra-long legs - very useful on sloping ground and on rocks over water and the use of an L frame making the camera very stable on the tripod even in portrait mode. A spirit level on the hot shoe together with one on the tripod and the electronic inbuilt level in the camera combine to make sure the camera is perfectly level. Stephen also explained the uses of a tilt/shift lens which can give front to back sharpness in difficult situations.

To get such high quality landscape images takes planning, timing and persistence. Using maps and a photographers Ephemeris to find the exact position of the sun at the location, a tide table for coastal shots and the local weather forecast together with his experience Stephen hopes all this comes together for the ideal shot. Despite all the planning the conditions may still not be ideal on arrival and the weather not as predicted so sometimes waiting for the cloud to break might give a chance of an image for a few seconds but on other occasions it means hoping for better luck next time.
On the point of giving up after many visits over 4 years, finally the colour of the sky, position of the sun, tide height and light all came together for the superb image of the Cobb, Lyme Regis shown above was just the shot Stephen always had in his mind to acheive. The reflection of the Glastonbury Tor in a dyke right meant finding exactly the right position to set up the tripod and then to return to the spot several times until the bankside vegetation hid the unwanted line of electric fence posts and just the right amount of mist in order to get the ideal image.

Stephen prefers to keep post production work to the minimum. Adjustment layers are used in Photoshop to balance levels, white balance adjusted, annoying dust spots removed and cropping if needed. Sometimes several images are blended together to give just the result needed.

Finally Stephen showed a selection of his recent work with some images of Snowdonia and his experiments with star trails and full moon shots on Glastonbury Tor.

Thanks Stephen for giving useful advice and tips for landscape photographers and for showing a selection of your superb images. PM
Images © Stephen Spraggon       Website

The 2016 version of this long-established event took place on Monday 14th November at the Beversbrook Sports Centre on the outskirts of Calne. A record 10 clubs were entered this year; joining the traditional ‘core’ clubs of hosts Calne, Devizes, Frome Wessex, Trowbridge, Warminster and Royal Wootton Bassett were new clubs Lacock and Stratton, as well as the invitation-only group Nonpareil. Each Club entered 9 images for consideration by judge Matt Revell.

It is to be expected in a competition like this that each club will try to put forward its best images and accordingly the standard will be high and the competition a fierce one. The contest becomes even more intense when the judge utilises only a narrow band of the marking spectrum available; on this occasion no image scored less than 15 while 11 achieved the maximum of 20 – with 6 of the 10 clubs having at least one image achieving the maximum marks. A further 24 images each scored 19 points, meaning that almost 40% of the 90 images involved were awarded one of the top two marks. In these circumstances small variations can make a big difference to the final outcome – and it is therefore especially important to remember that while a judge’s opinion may differ from your own views, on the night the only rule that matters is that the Judge must always be right!

The contest therefore inevitably went ‘down to the wire’ – and in the end only 4 points separated the top 4 teams. No Devizes image scored less than 17, yet we finished 4th on 166 points, behind Frome Wessex in 3rd with 167, Calne in 2nd on 168, and winners Nonpareil with an impressive 170 points scored out of 180 available – with their first 6 images they dropped only 3 points to the maximum possible score.

Devizes however had two images scoring the full 20 – Lynda Rugg’s sublime ‘Golden Light’ left , and Mike Valentine’s dramatic nature action shot ‘Coming – ready or not’ above.
Mike went on to be honoured as runner up in the Judge’s pick of best image of the evening.

It is always good to be able to see the work of other photographers from our local clubs, and there were a lot of excellent images to enjoy. My thanks therefore go to all who made work available for selection by the Club, without which entry to the Battle would not be possible; to the selection panel, and to those members of the Club who turned out to support us on the night.     Frank Collins - Battle Secretary
Devizes CC images and results

Sue Winkworth LRPS and her husband Richard gave us a presentation on Tuesday entitled “Himalayan Kingdoms”. They are members of Kingswood Photographic Society and introduced themselves as keen amateur photographers who like to travel, take photographs and produce Audio Visual (AV) presentations. In this five-part presentation, they provided us with a mix of images and AVs covering their 2007 tour of Kathmandu, the Annapurna foothills, Chitwan National Park and parts of Bhutan.
They started with an AV of Kathmandu street life, covering images of temples, markets and crowds. Sue commented that it was difficult to tell which buildings were old and which new as they were all built to the same basic design.
Following this AV, Sue showed us images of their flight, by Yeti Airways, to Pokhara and their 6-day trek through the foothills of the Annapurna range. We shared in their steep climbs on rugged paths, through paddy fields, hills and gorges. Over suspect suspension bridges, swinging above rushing rivers, and dodging mule trains, with the majesty of Machapuchara (the Fish Tail Mountain) always somewhere in view, until they reached the Ghandruk Luxury Lodge. Here they visited a tiny temple next to the old Gurung Museum, proudly presented by resident Gurkhas. On their way back to Pokhara, they had an interesting encounter with very polite Maoist Militants who demanded a “voluntary” contribution to their cause and provided a neatly written receipt. While they thoroughly enjoyed the trek, Sue expressed some relief on returning to Kathmandu and respite from the many leeches they collected on each day of their trek.
The next part of the talk was entitled “Searching for Unicorns”, a reference to the Indian Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis). This was an AV showing their trip into the Chitwan National Park. Here, they travelled everywhere by elephant - through the swamp to their hotel, as well as on safari through grasses that were taller than the elephants. They also showed the tiny airfield which had to be cleared of dogs and other animals when the plane approached.
In the second half, we were whisked away to the Land of the Thundergragon - Bhutan. We were told that the airport at Paro is built on the only piece of flat land in Bhutan and that only a handful of pilots are qualified to fly in and out. They showed us images taken in Thimpu (the capital) and Punakha (the administrative centre) showing examples of the grotesque and colourful decorations and artwork, before heading on into the Haa Valley.
They completed of their presentation with an AV entitled “On the Roof of the World”. This showed images taken from a small aeroplane on a flight from Kathmandu over the Himalayas, round Mount Everest and back to Kathmandu.
This rounded off a very enjoyable evening which, I am sure, will have inspired a number of people to consider a trip to this enigmatic part of the world. Our thanks to the Winkworths. DF
Images © Sue & Richard Brinkworth

November’s full moon was the closest to earth and therefore the biggest full moon in 68 years so the Landscape Group decided to try and capture moonrise on our cameras.  No fewer than 15 group members and guests turned out for the occasion.

Although the moon would not be visible from Wiltshire at the actual moment of full moon and closest approach, from a photographic point of view we wanted to make our images at moonrise to include some terrestrial landscape in the image.  On Sunday afternoon the (almost) full moon rose at 4.16pm and the sun set at 4.20pm.  This provided a period of about 10 minutes when the moon and the terrestrial landscape were of similar brightness, enabling them to be included in the same image using a single exposure. 
Our chosen location was Charlton Beech Clumps on the northern edge of Salisbury Plain, providing a clear view to the north-east.  It was a fine day and we were hoping that encroaching cloud would hold off just long enough. 
Picking our way across electric fences and trenches, we lined ourselves up with telephoto lenses at the ready in the calculated location.  Right on cue, the huge, pink-tinged moon began to show above the horizon.   This revealed that we were standing about 25m too far east for the moon to align with the tree clump, so a rapid relocation of photographers, cameras and tripods ensued.  We had about 10 minutes of photography before hazy cloud obscured the detail of the moon’s disk.

All in all a fun afternoon, a chance to try some different photographic techniques and a bit of a carnival atmosphere. RH

Thanks to Robert Harvey for researching suitable foreground subjects and getting us all in the right place (nearly) at the right time for the moonrise.
Image above by Dave Gray  right: group photo by Leila Searight

On Friday 28th October 2016 a group of 22 members and partners headed to the Peak District for the 2016 Landscape Group Weekend.
The aim was, to see and photograph the autumn colour in one of Britains most visited National Parks. 
On Friday afternoon after checking in to the Little John Hotel on Hathersage,  members of the group took a short drive to Padley Gorge where there was lots to photograph. Plenty of autumn colour, moss covered trees in the ancient woodland and   the brook running through the gorge.

On Saturday Morning the weather was overcast so we headed up to a misty Bole Hill Quarry where there was a selection of discarded millstones,many overgrown with moss, discarded many years ago .  After breakfast most of the group went to Wyming Brook where the stream rushes through the rocky brook presenting lots of photographic opportunities to capture images of moving water, mossy rocks and autumnal foliage in the trees.
After the group split up some going to Castelton and Cave Dale and some going to other locations such as Bamford Weir and Ladybower Reservoir.

Saturday night we took part in the quiz to test our knowledge of Britain's National parks. led by team captains Dave Gray, Sue Wadman,  Steve Hardman and Richard Watson. Dave Gray’s team were the victors in the very entertaining and fun evening.
On Sunday Morning again the weather was overcast so the group split some going again to Bole Hill Quarry and the rest heading up the hill to Millstone Edge, Over Owler Tor and Mother Cap. After breakfast we headed to Lathkill  Dale, where parts of the stream was very dry but a short walk along the dale was rewarded with some images of a small waterfall. After lunch and a stop for a genuine Bakewell pudding for  some members of the group we then head to the Monsal Head and a view of the viaduct. Only one member of the group walked into the valley to photograph the weir and some of us walked from Millers Dale to the magnificent limestone gorge of Chee Dale.

Those that stayed through until Monday morning were rewarded with the first sunshine of the weekend and a few photographs of a sunrise with mist in the valley provided a great finish to the trip.

Many thanks to Robert Harvey and Dave Gray for organising the weekend and also Sarah Harvey for her assistance with the quiz. CW    

Images right by Hilary Eagles and Caroline Wright

The subject for this competition led to some prior discussion by members about what exactly was meant by 'Street Photography' but judge Peter Crane LRPS who is an experienced street photographer himself had no doubts about how it should be interpreted. The image needed to tell a story and 'catch a moment in time'
Attention should be on the subject, it should not appear posed and should have an uncluttered background or any distracting areas should be cropped or desaturated.

In total 75 images were entered on which Peter gave his interesting comments and in some cases pointed out how a better viewpoint could have improved the image. Although very well taken, images depicting mainly architecture or a portrait did not really qualify as street photography but might have done well in other competitions.

Starting with the Beginners section Peter particularly enjoyed the expressions on the faces of two boys in
'But Mum do I have to? (left) by Kyra Wilson and awarded it first place.
Again the facial expressions in 'The Game' by Heather Collins earned it 2nd place.
Ian Preedy who entered a competition for the first time was placed 3rd with an interesting image of a policewoman and a street protester titled 'What do you think?'
Very well done also to two other first time entrants Andy Baugh with 'The Piper' and Craig Purvis with 'Rubbish Irony' both gaining HC's. Great to see new members taking the plunge and entering club competitions - that's how to learn and improve.

In the Intermediate section 'Quality Time' (right) by Hilary Eagles was placed 1st - the image showing an lady and a child enjoying playing together. Peter commented on the excellent composition and focus in the image and the same qualities applied to 'Jumping Jack' a skate boarding image by Caroline Wright in 2nd place. 'Pale Rider' by Jean Ingram was placed 3rd and images by Caroline and Hilary also gained HC's and Stuart Barnes was awarded 2 HC's.

The subject was interpreted in a variety of ways in the Advanced section but Peter felt that many  images missed out on the Street Photography theme as he was really looking for images that showed the interaction between people.

Dave Gray had just the right image with 'Third World Wiring'  (left) depicting a typical crazy street scene, men working overhead and an expressive face in the foreground and awarded it 1st place.
Dave was also awarded 3rd place with another expressive face in 'Only Bananas for Sale' and also an HC for 'Fish for Tea'
Second place went to 'Stalking' by Pam Mullings, an image caught just by chance that appeared to tell a story and another chance encounter in a street titled 'Exchanging Smiles' caught the judges eye and was awarded an HC.

This made up a very interesting evening with many entrants taken out of their comfort zone and trying something different.

Thanks very much to Peter Crane for judging and commenting on the images and for giving helpful tips on how to go about taking candid photographs of people in public places and to those members who entered such an interesting selection of images.​ PM

Full results          All the awarded images can be seen in the GALLERIES

Club member Michael Barnes has been awarded an AWPF by the Wales Photographic Federation (Undeb Ffotograffig Cymru). To achieve this distinction Michael had to submit a panel of 12 themed images for consideration by five distinguished judges. His chosen theme was titled 'Water Embraces Land' and entirely consisted of landscapes some of which were taken on club field field trips. Living in Wales Michael will be especially pleased to have received this honour and hopes in due course to bring his panel to a future club night for members to see.

Thursday 1 November was billed as "The Nature Group Presents"; an opportunity for the Club's specialist Nature Group to share some images and some experiences with the rest of the Club members.

For the first half, Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP took us on a journey of discovery of the butterflies of England.  Having set himself the task in 2016 of attempting to take an image of every one of the 57 native butterfly species, he shared with us his experiences of achieving the goal, along with hints and tips for photographing butterflies and of course some stunning images.

Starting in May and proceeding right through to September when he finally photographed the elusive clouded yellow, Robert took us through the catalogue of our native butterflies one by one, along with a fascinating explanation of how and where he had achieved each image.  This varied from the simple - walking out into his garden - to the downright difficult - driving to a specific hill in the North of England to look for one individual species.  Some butterflies are apparently very elusive, living for most of the time in the tops of trees.  It helps to know when they come down out of the trees and be there at the right time to catch them on camera.  Alternatively it helps to know that there are very short oak trees on Browndown Ranges!

Certain butterfly species have a very small geographical range and here the correct research and planning to know exactly when and where to go to find them was a crucial part of achieving photos of all 57 species.  As Robert pointed out, since Wiltshire is generally such a good county for butterflies, he did manage to see over a third of the species in and around his own garden.  Others required a much greater tenacity and dedication to the cause, with locations such as the Norfolk Broads, Exmoor, Cumbria and the South Coast of the Isle of Wight being specific locations for individual species.  A number of Nature Group trips were made to known butterfly locations, allowing others from the Group to have the chance to photograph some more unusual butterflies such as the Glanville Fritillary and the Green Hairstreak.

Robert's top tips for photographing butterflies are:

• The butterflies are less active in the early morning or the evening and thus more likely to sit still for you. This may also work on a sunny day if it becomes overcast and they sit with wings spread trying to warm up
• Use a tripod (if they sit still for long enough) and a monopod if they don't
• Do your research first.  Knowing when and where to find a particular species is key.  Knowing the food plant they like is also very helpful.
• If you want to get all 57, be prepared to spend a lot of time driving!

Our thanks to Robert for sharing his journey with us.
Images: Orange Tip & Clouded Yellow - the first and last butterflies that Robert photographed in 2016 - see all 57 species on Roberts website

The second half of the evening was a chance for a number of other Nature Group members to share some of their photos.  Several members had selected their favourite wildlife shots of the year and so we were taken on a trip around the UK and then to the other side of the world. 
Selections included: Deer in Richmond Park,  Birds of prey and owls photographed from a hide, Butterflies, birds and insects taken locally in Wiltshire.
A series all taken within a mile of Cardiff, including a regularly visiting kingfisher.
Early morning shots of snakeshead fritillary at Clattinger Farm.
A series of Scottish Highland wildlife including grouse, mountain hare and red squirrel. 
Finally we moved a long way from home to series taken in Borneo, which included shots taken on a night drive.

A fascinating glimpse into some of the shots that Nature Group members have taken through the year and our thanks to them for sharing with us. 

Battle Secretary Frank Collins showed members the images chosen to represent the club in the Calne Multi-club Battle to be held on Monday November 14.
Frank explained that choosing just 9 images from the large selection of excellent images was very difficult. Members are encouraged to go to the battle to support the club and to also see the images from the 8 other clubs represented.HC
Above: Me and My Reflection by Richard Watson LRPS

On Tuesday 25th October members welcomed well-known local wildlife photographer David Kjaer to the club to see his wonderful presentation of images of English Wildlife to be found during a typical English autumn & winter. David took us on a tour of the Southern half of the Country to show us the sites and the Wildlife he has photographed 
He started in Richmond Park for the Red Deer rut which is in late September to October, although the time can vary slightly from year to year.  We learnt that this is a good location as deer are so used to people that they are easy to see, although the stags can be dangerous during the Rut. There is also the opportunity to see Fallow deer slightly later in the season, the park is also home to many other species that make good photographic subjects including Egyptian Ducks, Kestrel and Rose Ringed Parakeet - a non-indigenous species which has become established in the UK after captive birds escaped or were released.
David then moved on to show us some marvelous images of Fungi including Honey Fungus, Magpie Inkcap, Porcelain Fungus and Yellow Staghorn. Some of these were taken last year in Savernake Forest while he was on an arranged trip with the club Nature group. He pointed out that images of Fungi can be taken during any landscape or nature walk in the late autumn.
We then moved on the RSPB Arne on the edge of Poole Harbour and were shown images of Sika Deer and Dartford Warblers . Then we were on a short boat ride across the harbour to Brownsea Island where David often goes to photograph waders including Avocets, Black Tailed Godwits, Redshanks and the slightly rarer Greenshanks in the lagoons which can be observed from the Dorset Wildlife Trust hides on the island. David identified that it is always worth checking tide times as high tide is the best time to see the wildlife. Little Egrets, Spoonbills and kingfishers are also common visitors.
Next David took us to the Norfolk coast to show us his images of Atlantic Grey Seals; these are present in large numbers in this area in November and December. As this is mating season, it is possible to see large adult males, females and some pups.  David will often get up shortly after midnight to travel to Norfolk to be there in time for sunrise.
We also saw images of Barn Owls, which are not necessarily nocturnal; they are easier to spot and photograph after a wet and windy night. The Barn Owl relies on its hearing to hunt and during stormy weather it will have struggled to hunt so will continue to try to feed well into daylight.
 We also visited Cley Marshes on the edge of The Wash in north Norfolk to see images of Snipe, Water Rail, Snow Bunting and Rock Pippets and it was near to here that David heard of a Bittern that was living at an isolated pond, again he made a very early start from Wiltshire to arrive at the pond close to sunrise to find another photographer already there. While they were talking as they set up the camera equipment he spotted the Bittern no more than a few feet away unfazed by their presence. He was able to stay for several hours taking lots of beautiful images of the bird while he feasted on frogs and voles hunted in the pond.
We then moved on to WWT at Slimbridge a favourite place for David and he showed us images of Bewick swans, Barnacle Geese, Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks, Greylag Geese  and even Mallard Ducks. David explained that it is always worth staying for sunset and showed us some gloriously colourful reflection images of the birds taken at this time of day.  The White Fronted Geese who overwinter in UK were the inspiration for Peter Scott to open the first WWT centre at Slimbridge. Close by to the centre David has also photographed a long eared owl at Oldbury power station
The journey to photograph English Wildlife then moved closer to home and the Somerset levels and stunning pictures of Cranes both on the ground and in flight. These have been introduced to the area by the Great Crane Project, which has to date released 93 young birds to the area which has hatched from imported eggs.
The next images were taken even closer to home in Victoria Park, Bath. This is a very good site to see Jays. David collects acorns when they are in season, and use these to attract the Jays helping him to get some great images however the local squirrels will eat most of the acorns. Salisbury Plain has in the last few years been one of the best sites to see large murmurations of Starlings, in which tens of thousands of birds gather together to avoid predation. This results in the most fantastic display of flying by the birds. David showed us a short video clip of the spectacle.
In the final section David showed images of Birds and other Wildlife taken in his garden. They included Goldfinch, Redpoll, Blackbirds, Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Nuthatch and some Bank Voles.
Thank you David for an interesting and informative presentation which has given us inspiration to get out and about in the autumn and photograph some of the subjects. CW   Images © David Kjaer

An autumn visit to the Brecon Beacons waterfall country around the village of Ystradfellte is becoming a club tradition. 
This year, a dedicated group of waterfall enthusiasts travelled west from Devizes on a lovely autumn day, hoping for vibrant colours.  The walk of around 6 miles is fairly rugged and takes in four principal waterfalls. 

Autumn so far has been fairly dry with the result that water flows were moderate, exposing plenty of interesting rock architecture for our compositions.  We were able to get close to several of the falls, taking advantage of rocky ledges for our tripods to make unusual and dramatic compositions.  Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn is a curtain of water with a foreground of swirling rapids, within which fallen leaves sometimes gyrate. 
With practice, a long exposure can capture the patterns made by swirling leaves.  Further down the same gorge, Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn looked particularly attractive with golden light reflecting down the valley sides, illuminating wet rocks and leaves.  Sgwd y Pannwr offered a range of viewpoints to take in different aspects of its multiple tiers and cascades, with gentle autumn colours of trees as a backdrop.

Finally, at Sgwd yr Eira we were able to walk behind the waterfall for a spectacular experience of the falling water.  We then set ourselves up with suitable foregrounds of luxuriantly green mossy boulders but had to wait for the falls to clear of other visitors.  Eventually we were rewarded for our patience and made our compositions in time to get back to the car park as dusk fell. 
All enjoyed what is surely one of the most spectacular day trips from Wiltshire; people would travel long distances to photograph many lesser sights.
 
Thanks to Dave for expert knowledge and guiding. RH 
Photo top left - Club members behind the falls by Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP

Entries in the first Print competition of the season were ably judged by John Randall from Andover Camera Club.  Welcomed by Dave Gray, John prefers to judge 'cold' and so only had a quick look through the entries prior to giving his comments.
In each of the 3 sections John then looked closely at each print, pointing out in his opinion any flaws such as lack of sharpness, composition that perhaps could have been helped by some cropping, contrast that could have improved the image or distractions that could have been cloned out. John remarked that there was generally a very high standard and that many prints deserved an award but that there was only a set number allowed in each section (1/3 of the entries)
John then had the difficult job of making his final selection so some were disappointed to be in the 'nearly there' group.  All those whose prints were picked out as possibles should feel pleased as there was no real criticism of their images but the final placings as always come down to the judges preferences on the night.

In the Beginners Group John awarded first place to David Wikinson for 'White-tailed Sea Eagle'. (right)
The image was sharp and well placed in the frame and a difficult subject for anyone to photograph.
A close up 'Early Morning Poppy' by Kyra Wilson was second with another flower image 'Love in a Mist' placed third. As a first time entrant Steve Hardman did well with an HC for a landscape titled 'Frosty Sunrise'

Many images were picked out of the Intermediate section as possible winners but finally a very worthy winner was Caroline Wright with a monochrome 'First Ascent of the Day' (left) and also '@ Bristol' in third place - two stunning images so very well done!
Andy Vick's 'Keepers Catch' was second, a sporting action which is notoriously difficult to catch at just the right moment so well caught Andy.

The Advanced section had an entry of 20 prints and John picked out 10 as worthy winners but after a lot of consideration had to announce his final placings. A soft delicate image of an orchid 'Fragile Beauty' (right) by Pam Mullings caught the judges eye as being something a bit different and was given first place. A stunning image of a night sky in Namibia 'Three Galaxies' by Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP was a very close second and Dave Gray's 'Silver Leaf Monkeys, Borneo' was third.

It is daunting to enter your first competition but even after entering many previously you always wait nervously to hear what an experienced judge has to say about your efforts. Hopefully you learn from any criticism and don't make the same mistake again and your photography improves. Please continue to enter and take note of the comments on your own and also other member's entries as that is how you improve.
Thanks to all those who entered and made it such a close and interesting competition and to John Randall for taking the time and to travel over to judge the members prints. PM

Full results       All the awarded images can be seen in the GALLERIES

Following the 'Practical Evening' on 20 September - Dave Gray has put together a very informative tutorial on the use of Adobe 'Lightroom'. 
There is a lot of information about how to import, save, tag, index and find your images on your computer.
Members can find the pdf together with lots of other helpful photographic information by going to the Members Login and entering their user name and password.

There was a large turnout to welcome back Leo Rich ARPS, EFIAP/gold, DPAGB, BPE3 to Devizes Camera Club. Responding to a late call because of the unavailability of the scheduled speaker, his presentation was advertised as “an eclectic mix of images with no apparent theme to keep everyone guessing and even amused”. However he admitted that there was evidence of a “lavatorial theme”, especially during the first half.
He started by expressing his frustration at the way that, while he was concentrating on getting a particular shot right, his wife would have taken several images of life going on around him. He talked about how this intensity on one subject, like the nightjars he and a group were trying to photograph in India, can lead to you missing a better shot, like a leopard in a tree behind you! He also described how a photographer he knew would set himself up at a place where wildlife often visit and wait for the animals to come to him. I couldn’t help thinking that these were things worth thinking about when out and about with your camera.

During the first half of his presentation he showed us some quirky images taken in France. These included some fascinating wall art in Vaux-en-Beaujolais depicting characters from the book Clochemerle, a satirical novel dealing with the ramifications of the town mayor’s desire to install a new urinal in the main square.

We also saw a series of images from a camping trip to the Okavango delta in Botswana. As well as some great wildlife shots, we saw some interesting images of tents on the roof of a 4x4 and the facilities available at camp sites, including toilets surround by reed fences on the edge of the crocodile pool! And he showed images of (allegedly) the first Hippo and Croc cage diving site!!

The second half of the evening was dedicated to Leo’s love of India. He regularly goes to India with a group of other photographers and they like to get off the beaten track and head for some remoter villages.
We saw images of ceremonial processions and water carriers taking holy water from the Ganges to villages and towns up to 250 miles from the great river. We saw some of the people that Leo encountered as he tried, with no little success, to capture the expressions in their eyes. There were images of people at work in brick factories and river laundries. He showed us images of birds and animals from safaris into National Parks. And he showed us images of the main reason he keeps going back to India - tigers.
Tigers padding along the sandy roads; tigers looking forlorn as their prey runs away. And a great sequence of a tiger hunting through the depths of a lake.

Leo’s somewhat scattergun approach to presenting his images certainly kept us guessing. And his amusing anecdotes and wonderful sequences of images made for a very enjoyable and entertaining evening for which our thanks go to Leo.  DF

The audience were entertained from start to end by this excellent evening by Leigh Preston FRPS EFIAP MPAGB portraying the contrasting sides of America.
Presenting a large selection of mainly monochrome prints Leigh explained thet he had an interest in taking photographs, processing and printing since his school days.
 
The evening began with a selection of expertly printed images taken over the years depicting many unusual views of US cities with their amazing monumental architecture and then moved on to some striking images taken in some of the US the National parks such as Bryce Canyon and Monument Valley with Leigh prefering to avoid the usual views with their 'ready made tripod holes' 
Members thoroughly enjoyed the interesting images of of 'forgotten America' that few photographers visit as well as
Leigh's expertly delivered, hilarious stories relayed in a variety of regional accents, recalling many of his encounters while travelling alone into very remote almost uninhabited areas.
Often inspired by poems, books, films, music and lyrics Leigh is unconventional in the way he goes about finding his subjects.

Leigh states 'it is why you took the image rather than how that is important' 
Leigh explained the importance of spending time getting exactly the composition and lighting to create the atmosphere needed for each image and is meticulous in presenting his image in a way that regains the emotion he felt when taking the image.
 Using film and techniques such as long exposure and infra-red to take the photograph and then experimenting later with the processing and printing Leigh often using lithograph and a variety of toning effects in the darkroom to get just the effect he needs to show each image as he feels best fits the subject.
Nowadays Leigh still enjoys the darkroom process but also uses the digital equivalents, always taking care to create a unique effect that particularly suits each individual image.

The second half of the presentation was an inspiring collection of prints taken during his many visits to the now mostly deserted 'Badlands' of the southern states of central USA. Leigh explored these now dilapidated buildings finding inspiration in the barren, hostile terrain abandoned long ago - derelict homesteads, schools, churches, vehicles and even poignant belongings left behind as the inhabitants departed for a better life further West.
Travelling alone Leigh wanted to experience the atmosphere left in the forgotten buildings and the details that portrayed the hard lives of the former residents.

Never afraid to explore unknown territory Leigh quoted 'if you don't know where you are going you can never get lost!'
Thanks  so much Leigh for such an amusing and entertaining evening. Members later said how much they enjoyed all the hilarious and inspiring stories and seeing the range of very well-presented and interesting prints. PM                                       Images © Leigh Preston   Website   

The judge for the first Projected Image competition of the season was Jim Marsden FRPS APAGB AFIAP who was welcomed back to the club by Chairman Richard Watson LRPS.There was a large number of entries and Jim  who has judged for us on previous occasions remarked on the high standard particularly in the Beginners section. Just to explain to those new to the club - most new members start off in the Beginners group and after gaining enough points they move to Intermediate and then to Advanced. Many in the Beginners are not new to photography but have probably not experienced club competitions before.

First to be judged were the 22 images in the Beginners section with some outstanding landscapes and wildlife images. With so many superb images it was difficult for Jim to pick out the award winners but finally a stunning landscape 'First Light at Bamburgh' (shown left) by Sue Wadman was given first place.
In second place was an excellent close up by Heather Collins titled 'Common Carder Bee' and in third place was another wildlife image titled 'Kingfisher' by Kyra Wilson. Two HC's were awarded to David Wilkinson and Sue and Kyra were also awarded HC's.
With such a very high standard in the Beginners section we can look forward to many more outstanding images in the future.

There were 33 entries in the Intermediate section - the unusual treatment of the image 'Trooping of the Colour' (right) by Tim Pier caught the judges eye and was awarded first place with a speeding whale watching boat titled 'In Hot Persuit' by Hilary Eagles in second place. With lovely lighting an eagle owl about to take off by Michael Valentine was placed third. Eight HC's were awarded in this group including 2 for Tim Pier.

In the Advanced section Jim said he took a long time making his final decision on the 30 entries - some came very close but there is a limit to the number of awards allowed so they sadly just missed out. Depicting a wide range of subjects and using some unusual techniques this section had some very interesting images including outstanding landscapes and wildlife subjects.

A cleverly executed 'smoke' image by Kevin Ferris LRPS titled 'Mask' (left) was the judges favourite with a close up of a rare Damselfly from Borneo by Dave Gray taking second place.
In third place was a study of 'White Tulips' by Pam Mullings who also was awarded 2 HC's.
Two HC's were awarded to Robert Harvey ARPS EFIAP and Kevin Ferris also gained an HC for a butterfly close up.

Very well done to everyone for giving members such an interesting evening and thanks to judge Jim Marsden for taking the time to look so carefully through the images and give such helpful comments.

Members can gain a lot by listening to the judges comments as experienced judges can pick out flaws and distractions in an image which the photographer may not have even noticed .By looking very carefully at their images before entering them in future might get  them an award. PM
Full results              All the award winning images can be seen in the GALLERIES

'What do you do after you click the shutter?' Club Secretary Dave Gray gave a presentation to members regarding the importance of cataloguing and organising images on your computer so that they can easily be located when required.
Nowadays photographers often store many 1,000's of images on their computers and trying to find an image taken some time ago can be frustrating if you do not have a filing system in place.
Dave demonstrated how Adobe 'Lightroom' has many tools to help you keep track of your images. After importing from your camera the images can be saved in named folders which you can then divide by subject into sub folders or any other way you wish to organise your collection. After editing, your original file is still unaltered and always available if you want to re-edit at a later date - the Lightroom editing information is saved separately.
Using a combination of Lightroom and Photoshop  you have everything you need to bring out the best in your photos, from organising your files, adding keywords, editing, preparing and saving images for competitions. Collections can be made of your best images ready for making presentations or entering into competitions.
See the Adobe website for many tutorials to help you do just about anything to bring out the best from your images.
There are several other methods of organising your files on your computer so use whichever you prefer.
During the break several members demonstrated print mounting and showed the various materials and mount cutters available. Entries for the first print competition of the season are needed in just a weeks' time.
In the second part of his presentation Dave demonstrated some more of the many features included in Lightroom such as stitching panoramas, focus stacking and merging HRD images. Members were shown how the many tools can be used to enhance the images ready for printing or for presentations.
Finally members were reminded how important it is to frequently back up your files onto a separate hard drive or send them to the 'cloud' in case of a computer break down - otherwise your images could be lost forever!

Members looked forward to a very interesting presentation as Colin Harrison FRPS MFIAP EFIAP/p MPAGB EPSA FBPE FIPF was welcomed to the club by Dave Gray.
Colin started the evening with a selection of images mainly taken on a recent fly drive visit with his wife to the southern US.  Stunning landscapes, interesting rock formations, stormy skies, panoramas, old cars and odd looking vehicles, steam trains and of course the people were favourite subjects. Fish eye and wide angle lenses were often used to give unusual views. Almost always taken as Jpeg's - Colin waits for just the right light to capture his subjects and has an eye for finding quirky ideas that he can use to later build up his creative images.  During processing, colours are often enhanced and HDR, infrared, mono and other techniques used to make stunning, award winning images.
Colin explained that the advantage of digital photography was that once you had suitable equipment you could 'boldly go where no photographer had gone before'.
You can take as many images as you like, experiment as much as you want, develop new techniques and create unique images.
After the break Colin continued to chat in his informal, humorous way and showed the wide variety of his images that gained him the award of EFIAP 'Platinum'
Categories entered included - Photojournalism, Travel, Creative and even a few Nature images to make up the 100 different images needed. Included among the award winning images were several moving images of the repatriations held at Brize Norton.
Colin has a whole string of distinctions to his name and explained that achieving them makes you really work hard at your photography and were a challenge. After being awarded EFIAP 'Platinum' his next goal is the newly introduced 'Diamond' award so there is always another goal to strive for.
Many images are cleverly put together montages - often using a close up of an interesting face, an old car or bus, a strange building and a suitable background. Textures, reflections and even snow are sometimes added in layers and moved around until a pleasing result is achieved - all the photographs merging together to make unique images.
Always mindful of what judges might like he often finds a touch of humour and a good title often help to gain a few extra points.
Thanks Colin for giving members an insight into your very creative world, sharing some of your secrets and encouraging them not to be afraid to experiment with their photography. PM         Images © Colin Harrison            Website

DCC Chairman Richard Watson LRPS warmly welcomed members and those that were interested in joining the Club to the first meeting of the 2017-2017 season.
Richard and committee members outlined the plans for the coming months with an interesting selection of speakers, competitions and outings for members to look forward to.
Richard started the evening by showing a selection of his images taken using one of the latest Smartphones.
With the quote 'The best camera is the one you have with you!'
Richard said that many photographic opportunities can be missed because you don't have your DSLR or other camera with you. Nowadays many have a phone in their pocket and can capture that moment - anytime - anywhere.
It's amazing what you can do now with the latest i phone - as well as taking straight photographs you can experiment with close-up's, panoramas, multiple exposures and use multiple shots to capture the moment.
Richard happened to notice the interesting shadows on a trough while out working and quickly produced the image shown right.
The latest phones takes excellent quality 18 megapixel images with the touch screen making it quick and easy to chose the format, select filters use HDR and much, much more. For most subjects the results are good but as Richard has found as there is no lense hood light spilage can be a problem, depth of field is not adjustable and night shots may not come out so well but for all other purposes the phone gives good results (although most club members will probably still use their camera when available.)
After taking the image you can do a lot of processing in the phone using an app such as Snapspeed which has tools to sharpen, crop, adjust contrast etc. etc.
If you feel like being creative there are many tools to chose from and then finally when you are pleased with your photo you can send it straight off to a website, social media, friends or even send an image to a printer and get a large size good quality A2 print!
Richard uses Twitter and Instagram to share and discuss images with fellow photographers.

After the break members enjoyed looking through a selection of photobooks by club members (above left) 
A selection of images can be printed as a very professional looking hardback book to enable you to share your special memories with others.
Thanks Richard and committee members for an interesting evening and an introduction to the forthcoming season. PM

Members - please note that next week entries for the first competition of the season will be collected

Further details and competition rules can be found in COMPETITIONS

Any queries please contact Caroline.

Six hardy Landscape Group members gathered at Avebury after dark to try photographing the stones by moonlight. 

The gibbous moon illuminated the whole landscape, whilst not being too bright to swamp all the stars. 

We tried exposures of 20 to 30 seconds at apertures from F/2 to F/4 and ISO settings of 800 to 1600, which gave correct exposures by moonlight. 

The constellation of Ursa Major (the Plough) was well-positioned low in the northern sky, enabling some pleasing compositions of ancient stones under the stars. RH

More photos of Avebury

Our summer field trip this year was to Porlock on Somerset’s Exmoor coast.  
We drove there under leaden skies and rain but as we arrived, the sun came out and stayed with us the rest of the day.
 First stop was Porlock Marsh.  Owned by the National Trust, this was formerly a meadow which was flooded by the tides when the sea breached the shingle beach in 1996.  A healthy salt marsh has now developed, studded by dead trees that perished due to salinity, tumbledown farm walls and other remnants of its former existence as agricultural land.  There was plenty to interest us photographically for a couple of hours, such as compositions of skeletal trees framing other trees.

 Next we drove up Porlock Hill, reputedly the steepest “A” road in England.  Our trip was timed to coincide with flowering heather, providing a rare opportunity to capture a purple landscape. 
The foreground was further enhanced by contrasting yellow flowers of gorse. 
Looking north-east we enjoyed views over Porlock Bay to Bossington Hill and across the Bristol Channel to Wales. 

To the south-east, the heather gave way to wooded combes and beyond that to Dunkery Hill, enveloped in another purple haze.

 A drive towards Exford and then through Luccombe took us over the moors, enabling us to view a large herd of red deer, and through some precipitously steep coombes to a 13th century church.  Then it was down to Porlock Weir for a pub meal. 
The shingle beach at Porlock Weir is well-known amongst photographers for its groynes, some of which are dilapidated and photographically more appealing as a result.  Using neutral density filters, we were able to capture images of the old timbers and cobbles surrounded by smooth, misty water.

Sunset was spectacular, as pink hues spread across the sky from north to west, ending in a finale of fiery orange.

Thanks to Mike Valentine for driving. RH       See more photos from Porlock

During the last few months the club website has been re-built using new updated free software. The previous website was built 6 years ago and in that time many things have changed. Smart phones and tablets are in common use and many people view websites on them so websites now need to scale down and display well on anything from a large widescreen monitor to small phone screen.

You will find the club information that you are used to is still there, the 2016-2017 Programme, and Competition, Battle and Salon information and results. Last seasons award winning competition images are in the new look Galleries. Landscape and Nature Group Albums are under Groups.
The images from the 2016 Challenge will be continued from the old website as we are over halfway through the year.
Members can log in to see the Members Information and the points tables - if you do not have a password yet then let me know.

The website is by members for members so maybe you would like to play a part in some way!

A few members have started Albums showing their favourite images - if you would like to start one just let me know.
Links can be made to members personal websites so visitors can see more of your work or if you take any photos at Club events and would like them included in the Club News then just send them to me.

It would be great if members did some of the write -ups in the Club News or if you would like to be an administrator on the site and help keep it updated then please let me know.        Pam Mullings - DCC web support