There followed a discussion of the exhibition which all agreed was a success and a firm foundation to build upon as it is our intent to hold similar exhibitions at various venues throughout the local area.
Then onto the main event of the evening, our third critique night following on from the previous successful such events when Dave Brennan and later Derek Rootham took the lead.
Tonight it was Tony Stevens’ turn to open discussion on a total of 14 images submitted anonymously by members for scrutiny. Tony had spent a lot of time studying each and every image and considered carefully what he was to say. But was he in the least bit nervous? Well yes, he was actually, however after a quick look at his notes, the critique began, and what a wonderful eclectic mix of images there was to discuss.
From John’s stunning still life study of tulips, Brian’s windmill at dusk, Derek’s beautifully captured Kittiwake and Craig’s atmospheric sea and sky at St Mary’s Island, each photograph was discussed in depth, firstly by Tony, then in open forum by other members of the club.
Matters discussed not only included the composition and processing of each image, but the story that each picture told, how other members of the group would have approached the subject if they had taken the photograph and that sometimes the rules of supposedly good photography are there to be broken.
Although the discussions were structured, comprehensive and in depth, the members never lost sight of the fact that photography is fun. Sport was made of Tony shying away from certain nasal aspects of Dave’s beautiful portrait of a lizard, and we all enjoyed Derek’s story of how the world’s grumpiest Welshman contributed to his stunning black and white image of an engine driver having a tea and smoke break.
All too soon however the clock struck nine. Tony finally relaxed and the members slowly went on their way in the knowledge that each and every one of them had contributed to a successful evening.