After two weeks of technical talks we returned to the aesthetic side of photography this week. Our guest was Tom Clarke, Vice President at Paisley Colour Photographic Club, one of the most respected photographic groups in the country.
Landscape photography is one of the most challenging areas of the medium so it was no exaggeration when last week’s Weekly Roundup closed by introducing Tom as a “ master of light and composition who captures the character of land and sea “. Not content with that however, Tom also points his lens to cityscapes, producing dramatic and colourful images of our major cities at night.
The countryside around Loch Lomond is one of Tom’s favourite locations. He watches the weather conditions closely, looking for the times when characterful skies and directional lighting highlight the textures, shapes and forms of the land. An informed choice of aperture and shutter speed are always employed. Tom’s judgement tells him when to increase, or decrease the depth of field and when to lengthen the shutter speed creating that misty and etherial look in moving water. Except, Tom does not overemphasise the effect. The character of the conditions at the time are not lost to the viewer.
Fog lingering in the forests throughout the Trossachs enable the production of atmospheric images with the photographer anticipating and following the light. Moving closure to conurbations, we saw how the coastal villages of the East Neuk of Fife are a favoured location. Tom’s portfolio then took us to reflections on Loch Leven and on to purple and orange skies over Rannoch Moor and Glencoe.
The island land and seascapes of Lewis and Harris are a photographer’s dream and Tom’s interpretations of the effects of the late evening sun on these locations are stunning.
Manchester is a much changed city so views of the Media City area at night were both dramatic and colourful. Many of our visiting lecturers have already brought their cameras to Falkirk and Tom is no exception. The Falkirk Wheel is a destination for photographers drawn by its distinctive architecture and the photographs we saw last Thursday night had a character of their own. Tom had visited the Kelpies too with original compositions of these floodlit sculptures.
Tom’s understated delivery was full of facts and descriptions of how he produced his images, a truly inspiring evening.
Club members have a few photo-walks planned. On Saturday 15th October a group will set out to photograph autumn colours at The Hermitage in Perthshire. 5th November brings an opportunity to photograph the fireworks display from Bridge of Allan and in December the Christmas activities in Edinburgh will provide some photo-opportunities.
Also last week Club members were invited to submit images for our annual event with Falkirk Writers Circle. The collaboration between the two groups began over 30 years ago when we held joint exhibitions. We give photographs to the writers who make a selection then produce prose or poetry inspired by the images. The event is now called Talking Pictures and is held when our two groups meet. The photographer introduces their photograph before the writer reads their composition. The work of the writers can be humorous or profound, moving or thought provoking. F.C.C. members are invited to submit their images through PhotoEntry by 3rd November.
3 From 6 topics were also announced this week. We all have our favourite styles of photography or preferred subjects. This event presents 6 subjects, with Club members invited to submit photographs of up to 3 which will hopefully be different from our own individual usual styles. On 3 From 6 night Club members talk about the motivation for their images, followed by a short positive discussion on their work. Images should be submitted through PhotoEntry by 19th January 2023. This season’s topics are: 10 second ( or longer ) exposure; Humour; Textures; Shadows; City Life; Shallow Depth of Field.
Thanks for looking in, take care.