The Art of Fun
There are technicalities in most special interest groups. They may be related to music, theatre or writing but when combined they form the art in question. In our case it’s Shutter Speeds, Lens Apertures, Depth of Field, ISO ratings, post processing and more. It’s easy to get too engrossed in these details after all, it’s the emotive power or effect of the finished photograph which is important.
Our visiting lecturer last week, Jacki Gordon, is an expert when it comes to those technicalities. She is an outstanding Natural History photographer with the gift of applying aesthetic values to photographing the behaviours of wild creatures. Photographs of Northern Gannets on the Bass Rock, Arctic Fox in Iceland and Pelicans in the wild were all composed with immense skill and care while still portraying the character of the subject.
During lockdown however everything stopped, as we all know. Jacki discovered an element of her art to which we all probably pay too little attention, it’s called fun ! She sourced tiny model figures then photographed them through a Macro lens participating in the pursuit which the figure represented. One was skiing on an ice-cream, another was skateboarding on a potato crisp. A couple were photographed on a date, literally, standing on a date. The dark brown fruit kind of date. The hole in a halved avocado with the stone removed became the bunker on a golf course. It was brilliant and we had an evening of sheer enjoyment marvelling at her imagination manifested in photographs taken at home with everyday props. Us being us, we were interested in the technicalities too and Jacki generously explained her techniques in detail. You will find photography by Jacki Gordon online so whatever your art, don’t forget the fun part.
Talking Pictures
Just a quick word of thanks to all F.C.C. photographers who have submitted photographs for our annual Talking Pictures event with Falkirk Writers Circle. We give the writers some photographs from which they make a selection to use as inspiration for poetry or short stories. We hold a joint evening in a few months time when the photographer talks about their photograph then the writer reads their work in front of the projected image. The work of the writers can be funny, profound, thought provoking, or have a twist in the tale. The photographs, submitted by club photographers during November, are truly excellent and exactly in the spirit of the event. Many thanks to all.
Thanks for looking in.