An warm welcome to members and friends of
H2 Photographic Society
Please note H2 now operates on a hybrid model with meetings alternating between Zoom & in the hall. Please check the calendar below for where the meeting is and the zoom invite/location details.
Classic Elgol (Isle of Skye) by Stan Chippett (taken on a recent members' trip to Scotland - see article below)
This Week: An Evening with a Difference
"They say that a photographer is either a picture taker, or a picture maker…"
Our speaker this week is still-life photographer, Polina Plotnikova, and she states she is definitely in the picture makers' club. She fully appreciates the "what you see is what you get" approach, but is more interested in chasing an ever-elusive image that appears in her mind's eye, an image that conveys her feelings and emotions, rather than remains a mere statement of fact. Her favourite photography subjects are: flowers, still life, and also capturing her impressions when travelling.
Polina has been awarded both FRPS and EFIAP distinctions and a number of photographic awards, including eight Gold and Silver Gilt medals at the RHS photography competitions, category winner of Food Photographer of The Year competition, various distinctions at each of the International Garden Photographer of The Year competitions, and multiple medals and distinctions awarded by various Photography Salons. She is proud to be a member of the Arena Photographers group.
While appreciating the natural beauty of plants and trying to stay true to their original look, she does not limit her point of view to purely botanical. Instead, endeavouring to lift a flower off its typical setting and put it into indeterminate space, where its beauty can be seen in all its purity.
Polina is an Ambassador for Lensbaby, a company that produces a range of amazingly creative lenses and optics. As she says, "For me, Lensbaby definitely was “love at first sight”, and I have tried to spread the joy of using their lenses and optics for ages now, talking about it to anyone who would listen."
Coming up we have two competitions; one DPI and one PRINT.
The first is our Second League competition of this season. The entries are up to three DPI images on any subject and the hand-in is on or before 29 November. It will be judged by independent judge, Kirsty Ralfs, over Zoom on Thursday 9 December.
And the second is our Still Life competition is being judged by David Steele at MH Village Hall on 16 December. It is a PRINT competition; now we should all have some still life images from the many practical sessions we have had over the past few weeks.
Restarting print competitions is a positive sign that the pandemic is receding. We encourage all members to print their best images - either with home-printers or specialist commercial printers - and mount them to 50 x 40 cm. Up to four entries are allowed and should be entered on or before 2 Dec.
Any questions, just ask a member of the committee.
Epping Coral Fungus by Dave Hobbs
ZB073360-Edit by Warren Martin
Last Week...A Photo-manipulation Software Learning Fest
Thanks go to several of our members for an excellent workshop last week at MH Village Hall.
We had the opportunity to learn how to manipulate our images in four photo-manipulation packages: Photoshop, Affinity, Lightroom and a bit of newbie software called Capture One.
Fascinating stuff and thank you Warren (Martin), Jeff (Sinclair), Jonathan (Saull), Malcolm (Tinn), Graham (Woolmer) and Paul (Major).
Fungi With Insect by Heather Clarke
Fungi-fest in Epping Forest
H2 Members met in Epping Forest recently and it would seem we'd chosen just the correct time of year for fungus.
We feature several of our images in this newsletter.
Sligachan Waterfalls (Isle of Skye) by Jo Cleall
Over The Hills To Skye
I know only too well the contradictory feeling when out with family or friends and spotting an image that I’d like to capture. The question I ask myself is, "Do I disrupt the day to take the image, or do I let the image pass untaken".
So to be able to spend uninterrupted time on my hobby, every now and then, with like-minded people, does mitigate that conflict somewhat. And that is one of the many advantages being a member of H2 Photographic Society gives.
I am lucky enough that once a year I, along with several other H2 members, have a week away for what can best be described as a photo-fest; a week of taking images, creating images, manipulating images; basically living, eating and sleeping photography.
Over the years we have been to most parts of mainland Britain, from the rocky shores of Cornwall to the West coast of Wales. We’ve visited Northumberland, the Lake District and Scotland of course. We go in early November to catch nature’s colours, sunrises, sunsets, indeed the overall lighting can be gorgeous at that time of year.
This year we travelled again to Scotland, to the Isle of Skye; a spectacularly photogenic place. This trip had originally been planned for 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic. Once arrived and unpacked, a typical day begins at 5.30am, to be on-way to a pre-agreed venue to catch the sunrise. Now, seeing a sunrise is never assured in this country; thick cloud is often our enemy. For us though, hope springs eternal, and every now and then it pays off. After sunrise we will travel to locations that best suit whatever lighting or weather we have, always with a plan to be at a location for any potential sunset - again never guaranteed.
After dark we make our way back to our accommodation for dinner - perhaps a beer or two - and then to download our images onto our laptops and take pleasure in our successful images of the day. Eyelids do start to droop quite early in the evening so it is off to bed for much-needed sleep. But with our alarms set for 5.30am, of course.
This year, Skye did not disappoint. We had one or two glorious sunrises and sunsets as the images shown in this newsletter evidence.
We came home very happy photographers
Paul Major
Old Man of Storr - Mono (Isle of Skye) by Jeff Sinclair
Somewhere by John Thompson
The Zoom invitation for all our meetings is below, all are welcome to come along; members & non-members alike.
Zoom Invite
Topic: H2 Club Evening
Time: "Doors" open at 07:30 PM for 7:45 Start
Every week on a Thursday
Thinking of joining? Feel free to pop along for a warm welcome
Meetings are 7.45p.m. to 9.45p.m.
At
Much Hadham Village Hall
Oudle Ln
Much Hadham
SG10 6DQ
United Kingdom
There is a carpark and entrance at the back of the hall. (Note: do check our programme - we now run a hybrid model with meetings at the hall alternating with virtual Zoom meetings)
"Starting from a blank canvas" (Still life)
Speaker: Polina Plotnikova FRPS EFIAP
02 December 2021
In Hall
Christmas, Sparks & Smoke Practical
29-Nov-2021-Hand In For League Competition Round 2 (DPI)
02-Dec-2021-Hand In For Still life comp (print)
09 December 2021
Zoom
League Competition Round 2
Judge: Kirsty Ralfs ARPS QGP
16 December 2021
In Hall
Still life comp (print)
Judge: David Steele
23 December 2021
Zoom
Christmas Quiz & photo hunt setup
Shaggy Scalycap by Jo Cleall
Rainbow in Skye by Paul Major
Rules for Competition entries
Prints need to be handed in a week before the competition (but as we meet every other week it is actually 2 weeks in advance), a digital copy of the image must also be submitted via email.
Digital Images need to be submitted 10 days before via email
Our packed programme has already started with a mixture of fun activities, talks, practices and competitions. Whether you enjoy photography as a hobby and wish to improve, or you are more advanced, we would love you to join us. Take a look at our programme by clicking here.
