We were delighted to welcome Stephen Ball LRPS to our club last week. Stephen is a multi award – winning photographer with a particular interest in Scotland’s landscape, urban areas and people. He knows that light is the key to photography so is always prepared to be at his chosen location before sunrise, or to wait to capture the fading light after sunset. Therefore, in the early hours of the morning he can often be found either just leaving home or travelling home. He also advocates getting the photograph correct in the camera, as opposed to relying on post – processing, so as well as frequently using a tripod he also makes use of a 10 Stop Neutral Density and Graduated filters so exposure times can run into minutes.
Widely published, Stephen’s work has appeared in the Scottish Field ( including their 2024 calendar ) and Outdoor Photography magazines. As an award – winner in their respective competitions he has also featured in various UK Landscape Photographer of the Year and Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year books.
Glencoe, Rannoch Moor, the Trossachs and the Scottish Borders all feature in his work and always when the light is at its most effective. Moving nearer to urban areas, through Stephen’s lens the multi – coloured huts at North Berwick harbour assume a dreamlike and misty appearance while the Bass Rock, photographed from the mainland, exuded personality. The harbours at Leith and Newhaven ( itself a key location in the history of photography ) and the seafront at Portobello took on an etherial quality while photographs of the Forth Bridges at night were stunning. Photographs of the Kelpies at sundown were full of atmosphere too. Bringing people into focus, the precision of performers at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo was photographed with technical and compositional excellence.
Among the most original of Stephen’s photographs were some of central Edinburgh. Not too unusual, you might think, but when did you last see photographs of Castlehill or the High Street taken around 2am !
Stephen’s understated descriptions of his technical processes belied his expertise. In addition, he made the whole evening an informative and learning experience by accompanying each photograph with an information panel giving details of ISO speed, exposure, plus camera and lens information.
It’s not surprising that Stephen attracted the largest turnout of this season !
Next week we welcome Ken Lindsay MPAGB, from Eastwood Photographic Society, to deliver his adjudication on Monthly Competition No. 5. This is the last Monthly Competition of this 2023 – 2024 season.