Club Challenge Three – SUBJECT “Reflections” – January 17th 2012

Given the task of presenting this “open forum” critique, I felt that we had best start by explaining to our many newer members its format and objectives. How did a “Club Challenge” with a set subject of “Reflections” differ from the previous week’s Competition, with set subject “Low Light”? The answer not being immediately obvious to me, who as Chairman is supposed to know these things, I decided to open with a very short Powerpoint presentation. Creating it would give me the chance to gather my thoughts and offer a considered opinion. They say “ if you want to learn, teach ”!

So how does a Club Challenge differ from a competition? Simply, that with no Judge, no Winner and no Points marking, interest and focus is not upon the quality and presentation of the finished image but upon the originality of the original concept at the pre-planning stage and its successful capture. Thinking outside the box and making it work photographically.

Members are invited, cajoled, or plain bullied, into offering their critiques of the prints or projected images submitted and a number of areas of common agreement were identified. In the originality stakes, there seems to be a pecking order of merit as to what the reflection was bounced off en route to the camera. Most obvious and, in consequence, lowest was a mirror, followed upwards by still lake water, glass encased modern buildings, wet sand and puddles, highly polished car bonnets etc. Not featured that night but often also used to effect, could be added car wing mirrors and reflective sun glasses. Urban night scenes in the rain with reflections of neon signs and light trails provided colourful alternatives.

One of the Club’s oldest and most respected members, Harry Bird, came back from Bermuda with a most interesting and unusual print to show the Members before the meeting closed. This was of Sting Rays in the beach shallows presented on heavy aluminium sheet. Taken in landscape format, this had been pressed, after printing, into a series of gentle vertical corrugations to give the effect of looking down through rippling water. An interesting new concept that found favour with many of the members.

And so ended a relaxed, enjoyable and thought-provoking evening. There were many excellent and imaginative images and much to be learned from them.

Dick Loaring LRPS Chairman