PAN & TILT
April 2011
Print Heat 3
In the absence of the judge, this heat was judged by members using the scoring system now established in these circumstances. However, some members expressed reservations about the comparability of this process with that of external judging for these competitions.
The entry for this heat was lower than of late, with 25 colour prints and 16 mono prints entered. The total number of entries so far this year is down a little on this time last year (which was down a bit on the year before). More noticeable is the decline in the overall number of members entering. Can this trend be put down to the relative ease with which DPI images can be produced and without the effort and cost of producing a print? What can be done to encourage members to produce more prints?
Colour Prints
| Place | Title | Author |
| 1st | The Watchful Leopard | Mike Spurway |
| 2nd | McLaren MP4-23 | Mike Spurway |
| 3rd | Past Times | Joyce Bernard |
| 4th | Emma | John Hill |
| HM | Fruit Pies | Garey Lennox |
| HM | Splash | Garey Lennox |
Monochrome Prints
| Place | Title | Author |
| 1st | Loch Ainort, Isle of Skye | Norman Bernard |
| =2nd | Roots | Garey Lennox |
| =2nd | Gas Man | Joyce Bernard |
| 4th | Statue at Trieste Castle | Bob Zwolinsky |
| HM | Concentration | Clive Rivers |
Report by Andrew Herbert
8th March
Starting out in Natural History by Mick White LRPS
A past member of WWPS, Mick White talked about the dos and don'ts of natural history photography. He started by describing the cameras and lenses he uses, but stressed that excellent results can be achieved with a point and shoot camera and, to begin with, that expensive lenses are not necessary. He showed us some of his early prints taken with a Point and Shoot camera and he hoped that we would see the improvement in his later prints as he gained experience and his equipment progressed.
With living wildlife subjects Mick explained the need to always respect the animal and its environment. As a photographer, you risk invading the animal's territory and nothing should be done that would cause alarm or distress simply for the sake of getting a photograph. This was admirably illustrated with some shots of seals and their pups, and their reaction to another photographer who ventured a bit too close.
Finally, Mick showed us the panel of ten prints that he submitted to the RPS and which gained him his Licentiateship.
Bob Zwolinsky thanked Mick, and the members showed their appreciation in the usual way.
Report by Martin Ridout
15th March
Audio Visual Training Evening
As the Club has an evening of Members' Audio Visual presentations in the near future, this evening was dedicated to some training presentations to help in the production of AVs. Firstly, two videos were shown explaining the features of the prime software used for creating AVs, Pictures-to-Exe. Basic features were explained in the first video, and more complex ones in the second. After a break for tea and recovery from the detail of the videos, Martin demonstrated the methods used to get a sound track into a computer and then to edit the track using a freeware programme called Audacity. Finally, Bob demonstrated the use of Photoshop Elements to create an AV. The features in Photoshop are less sophisticated than in Pictures-to-Exe, but are still adequate for a no-frills AV presentation; after all, simple is often better! We look forward to seeing the offerings of members in our AV competition in June.
Report by Martin Ridout
Saturday 19th March
Outing to Kew Bridge Museum
Seven hardy souls braved the lovely weather for our outing to the Kew Bridge Steam Museum on Saturday.
Several of the steam engines were working in steam, giving members plenty of photographic opportunities. However, some engines came with challenging lighting conditions. For those who have not been to the Museum it is well worth the trip to see Victorian Engineering at its best.
Afterwards we strolled along the Thames towpath known as “The Strand on the Green” in search of a pub for a meal.
We went into the first pub and ordered our drinks and food only to be told that there was a 2 hour wait. With immediate affect we cancelled and found another pub where we enjoyed a good meal and rest, after which we all made our way back to Kew Bridge station for our journey home.
Report and pictures by Norman and Joyce Bernard.
22nd March
Set Subject Competition “Create an Advertisement”
The Set Subject for this season was 'Create an Advertisement'. This was a difficult subject, with the product or service to be advertised left open to the photographer; but it was not meant to be too easy. Being slightly outside the normal realm of photographic subjects, it would require text to be added to an image which itself could be a montage. It elicited a relatively small number of entries, and our Judge, Anne Smith ARPS, fielded her comments well, both on the photographic content and the overall concept and effectiveness of the advert. Clarity of text and its size and placing were commented upon as was the effectiveness of the colour of the mount.
There were several specially posed and shot images, and some landscape and nature images with added detail and text. Topics ranged from adverts for local societies to travel companies and fictitious items, and included several with a humorous angle.
The winner was 'Aphrodite' by Mike Spurway, using an image of a classical statue to advertise under-arm deodorant. Honourable Mentions went to Joyce Bernard for an advert for Talisker whisky showing the product against an image of the Isle of Skye, and Mike Spurway for an image promoting Fiat Punto cars showing a car draped in fur with the caption "You wanted something hairier".
Anne presented Mike with the Wickham Cup, and Bob rounded off the evening with a vote of thanks to our judge.
Report by Martin Ridout
29th March
DPI Competition Heat 4.
The last of the DPI Heats had a large entry and a good turnout of members. Our Judge, Andy Smith, is no stranger to WWPS, started by seeing a quick run through of the 44 images entered. He then went through them again this time making his comments on each image. He talked about the merits of each image be it the composition with lead ins or diagonal lines. He commented on the technical quality and, where appropriate, the correct use of differential focus. Members could recognise that some of the images had been taken on Society Outings. The subjects ranged from wildlife (including some excellent close ups of insects), buildings, landscape, portraits, glamour etc. One image was presented as a monochrome which made a change. Andy’s comments occasionally became humorous, often to match a title and image that was presented. Andy then went through the images a third time but this time quite quickly as he awarded the scores. He obviously thought our work good because the lowest score awarded was 7.5 points. Seven images were held back and these were given the places and hon men as follows.
| Place | Title | Author |
| 1st | Dali at the London Eye | Martin Ridout |
| 2nd | Radiator Cap | Bob Zwolinsky |
| 3rd | Snarling Snow Leopard | Mike Spurway |
| 4th | Tawny Eagle | Mike Spurway |
| HM | Des. Res. | Brenda Campkin |
| HM | Zinnia | Brenda Campkin |