Newsletter
Spring 2014
When I was dusting in the lounge after Christmas;; now there’s an opening sentence you might not have expected from me, I came across a
little china plaque bearing the image of a camera on it. It reads ‘ Robin Bryant, Guest Speaker Photo Training Overseas Madeira 1999’ OK show off! You want us to think you are a good speaker and clever as
well! Well no not really, for I wasn’t teaching photography, but speaking
about the wonderful and unique job I had within The Salvation Army as
their Director of Photography and Exhibitions. Actually, that one invitation
to Madeira (and subsequent PTO invitations) were to help me in my work
‘till retirement, and most certainly help me now;; for it was there that I met the great pioneer teacher of digital photography Barrie Thomas.
I could tell you so much more about my encounters with Barrie and the
help he was to The Salvation Army, but one of the things he taught me
was the great value of using ‘Layers’ when using most digital photography
manipulative programmes. This one facility helped me enormously when
preparing exhibitions, when designing posters, greetings cards etc.
Layers is available in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Elements. It allows one
to add changes, additions, and type, in fact the choices available to you
are infinite, and only restricted by ones imagination.
This column is too short to describe it in detail, but a helpful website
explaining it in depth and much better than I can do is:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshop/cs/using/
WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-78e3a.html
May I encourage you to take time to learn to use Layers. You’ll love me
forever!
Robin Bryant
Spotlight on
Peter
Mainly for those who do not know me, I was born in Leigh and have lived
in the area all my life. I am married to Gill and we have 2 sons and 5
grandchildren. Our eldest son, Adam, has spent his working life in the
NHS and is now deputy chief executive at Basildon Hospital. Our younger
son, Grant, is in the Band of the Blues and Royals. He was, until recently,
Trumpet Major of the State Trumpeters but promotion has now taken him
out of the trumpet team.
Gill and I attend The Salvation Army at Leigh. I am retired and Gill works
as a laboratory technician in the science department at Eastwood
Academy. After leaving secondary school I attended the Municipal
Technical College in Southend from where I went to Ekco Plastics to serve
a 5 year engineering apprenticeship as a design draughtsman. Following a
few years in the drawing office I and a colleague started our own
business importing engineering plastics and ancillary equipment. When
survival of smaller businesses became difficult I spent a few years
working with the Royal London Society for the Blind and the Royal School
for the Blind as deputy manager of their engineering workshops which
employed those with visual impairments. I completed my working life as
Director for Public Relations for some 8 years with The Salvation Army at
their divisional headquarters. My first interest in photography was as a
youngster with a Brownie Reflex. My first 35mm camera was a Finetta 88,
a nice little camera noticeable by a grey leather body. I have recently
found an old photograph with the camera details written on the reverse.
It states, ‘Finetta 88, f2.8/45mm lens, purchased in 1955 for £15.5 shillings’. I then graduated to better quality cameras and spent many years owning
2 Leica’s. These were a 3 and a 3g. I used one for monochrome and the
other for colour transparencies. During this time I converted the family
bathroom for darkroom use. I did all my own black and white film
processing making up my own developer solution using the Willi Beutler
formula. (Anyone remember that?) Printing and enlarging was all part of
the enjoyment and satisfaction of the hobby.
I am not sure why, but in 1980 I part exchanged all of what was then
elderly Leica equipment for new Canon, starting with a film AE. In 2006
I ventured into digital cameras with a Canon 350D. I use an 18 – 55
zoom lens together with a 45 – 90 zoom and a 75 – 300 zoom.
Currently I am considering an upgrade. Processing relies on Photoshop
Elements and a HP Photosmart 7520 printer.
I must admit that much of my photography over recent years has been
very much ‘record’ photography. For instance I have hundreds of
pictures relating to my work connected to The Salvation Army’s public
relations activities. However, now retired and in theory with more time
available, I can concentrate on more creative photography aided by my
membership of Hadleigh Camera Club. My thanks go to those involved
in the running of this welcoming and interesting club.
I should add that photography is not my only interest. I have always
had a serious interest in vintage and classic cars of which I have had a
number over the years. I currently run a 1972 MGB roadster. Gill and I
also really enjoy caravanning.
Peter Jones
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When a judge complains that there no people in your photograph your
response should be “There are two people in this photograph, the
photographer and the viewer”. Ansel Adams
“A photographer is like a cod, which produces a million eggs in order that one may reach maturity”. George Bernard Shaw
———————————
Talking to Harry in the tea break at our last meeting, he told me that
after years of travelling many miles to various camera clubs to judge
print competitions he was going to retire from that era of his life—BUT
he would continue to judge our competitions. Harry is a very good
supporter and friend of Hadleigh Camera Club, it would be so nice to
have him as permanent member.
Ed
'Share your most favourite photo with us', they said.
To be perfectly honest, I don't have a favourite
photo, except perhaps for my latest entry in the
digital photo competition, but which once again,
I suppose the judge will fail to recognise as
being absolutely brilliant. So instead, I'm going to
go back 60 years to a photo of me as a young
lad at school in Bristol which I frequently look at.
I look deep into his/my eyes and ponder, 'what
was I thinking about back then?' (please don't
think I don't know that's weird!).
Was I thinking, 'how do you solve the equation
x+3=15?' Or more likely was I thinking, 'How can
I get Brenda Britton notice me?'
I would have given anything to know the person staring back at me
some 60 years later and to know what decisions I'd made, what roads I
had travelled, and what sort of person I turned out to be.
I would love to have been able to tell that young lad, that everything
was going to turn out okay, and to remember to 'seize the day' (Dead
Poets Society), and you won't go far wrong!
Now, with the advantage of hindsight, I know for sure that X = 12, and
Brenda Britton never would notice me, but I hear that she joined
The Salvation Army, so it's nice to know she didn't lose out completely!
Mo Coles
————————
Outing to Canterbury
Our Chairman has arranged an outing to
the historic city of Canterbury on Saturday
14th June. Punting on the river, visit
Canterbury Cathedral, your cameras at the
ready, because remember that there will be
a competition of photographs taken that
will count towards the Print Photographer
of the year
Newsletter compiled by Pamela Dalton. 01702 557953 Email [email protected]
The Salvation Army is a registered charity No. 214779