Club Meeting, Vice Chairs Challenge "Portraits" - Tuesday 4th February 2020.
On Tuesday 4th February, joint Vice-Chair Roseanne Robinson and Sue Dawson presented the response to their
second challenge where members had been asked to submit four images on the theme of Portraits. Each image
was then projected onto the screen and the authors were invited to explain what they had taken, why they had
taken it and how they had achieved the result.
In the initial brief it was requested that members try to use at least two different ways of demonstrating portraits
and among the sixty entries we saw many different categories and styles. Several traditional portraits featuring
family and friends were shown, whilst others favoured a more documentary or candid approach with images taken
of people in the street on the spur of the moment or whilst they were busy in their usual working environment and
unaware of the photographer.
Another popular theme was animal portraits with the subject interacting with the photographer and included cats,
dogs, horses, highland cattle and an Alpaca. Community events, the local gym, themed days at Tanfield Railway
and Beamish museum had also been used as a source for some excellent head and shoulder shots that captured
facial expressions and emotions.
A number of images in the challenge were taken at a recently arranged a visit to a local photographic studio for
a practical portrait evening with live models. For many of those that attended it was the first time that they had
tried this kind of photography and they had learned the basic rules of portraiture, used high and low key studio
lighting, and how to direct and pose a model, all to good effect.
Everyone sees things in a different way and some authors had taken straight images and then taken things a step
further using post production manipulation. Using their computer skills to double expose, merge multiple layers, to
add text or create optical illusions. Filters, sepia toning, high key and low key effects all resulted in several surreal
or abstract self portraits and showed a different approach to the challenge.
Throughout the evening there was good interaction with the audience with interesting points raised and questions
asked. Likes and dislikes were shared with good humour and gentle banter between all parties. With no competition
element or fear of "loosing", those that had entered work were able to express themselves and show some images
that we may not have usually seen and gain confidence from the experience.
Sue and Roseanne thanked everyone for their efforts and the evening ended with the results of the Camera Club
Websites Holiday Photo Quiz, followed by coffee.
Davy Bolam.
second challenge where members had been asked to submit four images on the theme of Portraits. Each image
was then projected onto the screen and the authors were invited to explain what they had taken, why they had
taken it and how they had achieved the result.
In the initial brief it was requested that members try to use at least two different ways of demonstrating portraits
and among the sixty entries we saw many different categories and styles. Several traditional portraits featuring
family and friends were shown, whilst others favoured a more documentary or candid approach with images taken
of people in the street on the spur of the moment or whilst they were busy in their usual working environment and
unaware of the photographer.
Another popular theme was animal portraits with the subject interacting with the photographer and included cats,
dogs, horses, highland cattle and an Alpaca. Community events, the local gym, themed days at Tanfield Railway
and Beamish museum had also been used as a source for some excellent head and shoulder shots that captured
facial expressions and emotions.
A number of images in the challenge were taken at a recently arranged a visit to a local photographic studio for
a practical portrait evening with live models. For many of those that attended it was the first time that they had
tried this kind of photography and they had learned the basic rules of portraiture, used high and low key studio
lighting, and how to direct and pose a model, all to good effect.
Everyone sees things in a different way and some authors had taken straight images and then taken things a step
further using post production manipulation. Using their computer skills to double expose, merge multiple layers, to
add text or create optical illusions. Filters, sepia toning, high key and low key effects all resulted in several surreal
or abstract self portraits and showed a different approach to the challenge.
Throughout the evening there was good interaction with the audience with interesting points raised and questions
asked. Likes and dislikes were shared with good humour and gentle banter between all parties. With no competition
element or fear of "loosing", those that had entered work were able to express themselves and show some images
that we may not have usually seen and gain confidence from the experience.
Sue and Roseanne thanked everyone for their efforts and the evening ended with the results of the Camera Club
Websites Holiday Photo Quiz, followed by coffee.
Davy Bolam.