Forest of Galtres Camera Club

Monday 16th March 2015

Ken Proudley LRPS and Peter Rushton LRPS, two long standing members of the club, provided a show of great images to conclude this season’s photographic experiences. All images were taken in the UK and Ireland covering an interesting range of subjects. There were ten sequences each lasting between three and seven minutes each and set to music. Some of the sequences were made up from images when the two of them had been together with a specific photographic opportunity in mind.

A demonstration of how effectively a series of fascinating images can be acquired over a period of time from an unlikely source came from Ken. An old abandoned trailer, wood rotting, paint peeling and rusting components, proved a great subject and showed how looking for close up detail can produce striking images of colour, pattern and simple structures. Colour came from the corrosive effects of the weather: rust, peeling paint, colonising lichens and mosses and strong shapes and shadows created by close ups of rivets!

Ken and Pete visited Appleby Horse Fair on a perfect summer’s day. Some of the mainly piebald horses and ponies were seen having a soapy spruce up in the river. There were so many dramatic images of these animals and their animated riders, often bareback. Some were up to their chests in water, their efforts creating huge cascades of spray. Significantly, the people involved with them were smiling broadly, having a wonderful time.

Ken spent some time in Ireland in 2012 enjoying good weather and the photographic opportunities of the south west coast and the Ring of Kerry. He photographed the countryside and the contrasts between rugged coastline and sandy bays, the colourful houses and the some of the many shrines.

Kilnsey Show was another joint venture where the obvious evidence of heavy rain had given way to clearer skies; there was everything from close ups of highland cattle to birds of prey, from sheep dog trials to rock climbing and fly fishing to fell runners and stunt riders defying gravity with their motorbikes.

The Lakes in Autumn provided a wealth of colour through flame coloured beech leaves, golden bracken, Ashness Bridge and Catbells rising above Derwentwater. A dramatic conclusion to this section was the dark outlines of the hills against the fading light.

Pickering Steam Fair was another joint outing. The machines needed oil, the drivers needed beer. There was a gasp at the view of a shorts clad, shirtless individual who did not seem to possess an iota of skin that wasn’t tattoo covered and an image of a Rod Stewart look alike on stage. The sequence exchanged the smoke churning powerful engines for evening light punctuated by the colour of the growing glow of fairground lights.

The North Yorkshire coast photographed from Saltburn to Saltwick Bay to Whitby provided sweeping views of the coast and stunning images of Saltburn Cliff Lift and the pier especially when beautifully lit at the end of the day. Familiar as Whitby is to everyone, Peter and Ken provided great images capturing the essence of Whitby but as true photographers would capture it and not the casual snapping of the holiday maker.

Amazing: this was the title for Ken’s sequence focused on the plight of a rain sodden area of maize that was going to be impossible to rescue and harvest. But, this provided Ken with great opportunities to capture atmospheric shots throughout the winter as the sodden ground froze, was covered in snow forcing the once upright remnants of maize to collapse.

The Highlands and Islands of Scotland provided further great landscapes contrasting with close up details of crumbling crofts and the distinctive Commandoes Monument silhouetted against the evening sky and the sweeping expanses of sandy shores and the reflected colour of the skies.

York Illuminations was the concluding sequence capturing the wonderful range of images and colours projected onto the Yorkshire Museum and St Mary’s Abbey.

Many thanks to Ken and Peter for providing such a good conclusion to this season’s programme.

Next week will be the AGM and Saturday sees the annual dinner and prize giving at The Golden Fleece, Thirsk.