Club Meeting, '12 Inches Behind the Lens' - Tuesday 4th September 2018.
After the summer break Morpeth Camera Club members started their new season by welcoming Eric Robertson with a
talk entitled '12 Inches behind the Lens’. Not generally a speaker on the circuit, he was originally challenged at Ryton &
District Camera Club to give a talk and his success has continued through word of mouth.
Eric opened his presentation with an Ansel Adams quotation ‘The Single Most Important component of a camera is the
12 inches behind it,’ explaining Roger Sperry’s split brain theory; that the left side of the brain is analytical and recognises
detail whereas the right side is intuitive and creative, soaks up spatial awareness and “sees" the composition not just the
detail within. To illustrate the point Eric asked the audience to look at a painting by Turner; a small detailed ship among
swirling waves, and by half closing the eyes one found that the detail faded and the form of the painting emerged.
Using projected images Eric went on to highlight how artists such as Turner and Caravaggio used guidelines in art such
as aerial perspective, rule of thirds, and diagonals with one main subject in the composition. Most photographers at
some stage are advised to follow these ‘rules’, and he continued with examples of work from the old masters and well
renowned photographers, pointing out the guidelines which had been implemented; maintaining a relationship between
the subject and background, using sharp contrast to differentiate between the two, using diagonals to create drama and
tension, picking up on lead in lines to take the eye to the subject, and making use of good light. Photography is all about
how you feel, he continued, some people are intuitive and get good results but most of us have to work at it adding that
most of the successful, famous photographers through time have been trained artists who knew about composition.
‘Trekking in the Khumbu’ followed with tales of his travels to Nepal. With minimal gear, a small camera, no tripod, flash
equipment or filters, he prefers to travel solo without porters or guides, taking advantage of the quieter winter months.
We followed his route through Nepal and to Everest Base Camp, enjoying shots of the red tipped Mount Everest at dawn, Kanchenchunga & Khumjung mountain scenes, the Cho la Glacier with its dangerous crevasses with dramatic ice patterns,
texture and shadow, colourful prayer flags, dung collectors, rat catchers, wood collectors and local children. Not always
shooting in colour Eric also likes to revert to monochrome as it focuses the brain on form and shape. Facts relating to
Hilary, who was instrumental in sponsoring and building Lukla airport, schools, hospitals and bridges were followed by
stark graphic images and facts relating to the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath; images of hardworking people trying
to rebuild their lives. Being a point and shoot person, Eric said that taking successful candid shots of people at work and
play would not have been possible with a tripod, as the moment would be lost on set up. The evening concluded with a
selection of colourful images taken in India, Pakistan and Iceland; female labourers in bright saris, the Taj Mahal through
a misty golden dawn, skeletal trees silhouetted against orange deserts, Arctic polar bears and Indian tigers. In summary
Eric’s final words of advice was to use the right side of the brain and see the whole picture, and to travel light. This
concluded a very informative, humorous and insightful talk, his obvious passion for art and photography shone throughout
the evening. Eric is a volunteer with the charity "Daft as a Brush" and asked that in lieu of a fee we make a donation to
this very worthy cause.
Steph.
talk entitled '12 Inches behind the Lens’. Not generally a speaker on the circuit, he was originally challenged at Ryton &
District Camera Club to give a talk and his success has continued through word of mouth.
Eric opened his presentation with an Ansel Adams quotation ‘The Single Most Important component of a camera is the
12 inches behind it,’ explaining Roger Sperry’s split brain theory; that the left side of the brain is analytical and recognises
detail whereas the right side is intuitive and creative, soaks up spatial awareness and “sees" the composition not just the
detail within. To illustrate the point Eric asked the audience to look at a painting by Turner; a small detailed ship among
swirling waves, and by half closing the eyes one found that the detail faded and the form of the painting emerged.
Using projected images Eric went on to highlight how artists such as Turner and Caravaggio used guidelines in art such
as aerial perspective, rule of thirds, and diagonals with one main subject in the composition. Most photographers at
some stage are advised to follow these ‘rules’, and he continued with examples of work from the old masters and well
renowned photographers, pointing out the guidelines which had been implemented; maintaining a relationship between
the subject and background, using sharp contrast to differentiate between the two, using diagonals to create drama and
tension, picking up on lead in lines to take the eye to the subject, and making use of good light. Photography is all about
how you feel, he continued, some people are intuitive and get good results but most of us have to work at it adding that
most of the successful, famous photographers through time have been trained artists who knew about composition.
‘Trekking in the Khumbu’ followed with tales of his travels to Nepal. With minimal gear, a small camera, no tripod, flash
equipment or filters, he prefers to travel solo without porters or guides, taking advantage of the quieter winter months.
We followed his route through Nepal and to Everest Base Camp, enjoying shots of the red tipped Mount Everest at dawn, Kanchenchunga & Khumjung mountain scenes, the Cho la Glacier with its dangerous crevasses with dramatic ice patterns,
texture and shadow, colourful prayer flags, dung collectors, rat catchers, wood collectors and local children. Not always
shooting in colour Eric also likes to revert to monochrome as it focuses the brain on form and shape. Facts relating to
Hilary, who was instrumental in sponsoring and building Lukla airport, schools, hospitals and bridges were followed by
stark graphic images and facts relating to the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath; images of hardworking people trying
to rebuild their lives. Being a point and shoot person, Eric said that taking successful candid shots of people at work and
play would not have been possible with a tripod, as the moment would be lost on set up. The evening concluded with a
selection of colourful images taken in India, Pakistan and Iceland; female labourers in bright saris, the Taj Mahal through
a misty golden dawn, skeletal trees silhouetted against orange deserts, Arctic polar bears and Indian tigers. In summary
Eric’s final words of advice was to use the right side of the brain and see the whole picture, and to travel light. This
concluded a very informative, humorous and insightful talk, his obvious passion for art and photography shone throughout
the evening. Eric is a volunteer with the charity "Daft as a Brush" and asked that in lieu of a fee we make a donation to
this very worthy cause.
Steph.