Club Meeting, Prints and Printing - Tuesday 2nd April 2019.

    

On Tuesday 2nd April 2019, guest speaker, John Thompson a long time, and much respected member of Morpeth
Camera Club, gave a presentation entitled ‘Prints and Printing.’ This was a great opportunity for club members to
learn about how we might improve our own prints. John, who has been printing his own photographs since 1998
said that it had been difficult initially to gain an understanding of how to achieve the results he desired. Firstly
with ones camera, there was the issue of colour space, the range of colours that a camera can see, a printer can
print or a monitor can display. The choice of colour space depended on whether the image would be printed or
projected. He explained that one has to set the colour space with that of the printer or problems may occur. He
went on to explain colour settings which allow you to edit images in a controlled, consistant manner. It had been
a learning curve with printing and colour handling, software options and choice of paper, especially when printing
in monochrome.

John went on to illustrate the variation and effect of using different papers by showing the audience three prints
from the same file, one had a blue cast, another had a warm glow effect which didn’t have the effect he wanted
to achieve at all. Experimentation is key and John suggested buying a pack of multi type paper to find the paper
which suits your work. Two more examples were displayed of Holy Island, using aluminium gloss paper, which
were disappointing, he said, because they did not have the feel he was looking for. A project followed, using six
images of a Boxing Day Dip on Blyth beach. This type of event is good for close up images of people; fun shots in
monochrome, and he explained the type of paper he used and his method of printing in black and white without
colour bleeding.

Stunning examples of infra red followed with images taken when walking in the Cheviots, of dramatic skies and
rolling hills lit by sun beams through the clouds. With an idea in mind, he wonders around for a while until he
decides on a theme. Using lines of fences and dry stone walls meandering through the scene under dark skies
and billowing clouds, and especially with the use of infra red photography he is able to bring out the essence of
the scenery. He enjoys revisiting locations, and this evening we saw alternative views of Bamburgh Castle, low
level shots taken through wind blown marram grass, in dramatic infra red. He stated that this was an ongoing
project to find something different, away from the standard views often seen. He is looking for a new angle all
the time. Amazing beach scenes of Spurn Head under sweeping clouds and early morning shots in Filey followed.
A discussion developed with the audience on the difference between Photoshop Elements simulated infra red as
opposed to using an infra red camera.

A night project came next where John took photographs using only available light on traffic, street scenes, dark
moody shots of railway stations, level crossings with light reflected onto the lines disappearing into the dark. He
explained that with no tripod, using aperture priority, a low ISO and generating a pose so that he is as still as
possible he can maintain an honesty in responding to the light which is there. It is interesting to be out in the
dark, there is beauty, he said, even in the blackness in the distance. He loves printing, to achieve an effect that
he hasn’t had before and most of all wants to get the same effect that he saw on the night. It is a personal thing,
born out of the desire to print and think about what he wants on the screen and then choose the right paper to
achieve the desired result.

His advice was that you should print the photograph that you want to produce and not let the camera do it all.
One must be able to recognise the difference between a smart and lesser smart picture; if you send your file to
a printing house, it is their picture not yours; personalise and be creative. John’s passion for printing shone through,
even bringing along and recommending books on the subject and concluded by saying ‘Black and White Landscape
is beautiful.’

Club treasurer, Gordon Hine thanked John for presenting his beautiful images, for sharing his great knowledge on
the subject of printing, adding that he was certainly and inspiration to us all, after which coffee was enjoyed.

Steph.