Chairman's Corner - August 2006

So, what shall I talk about this time? How about equipment - to start with at least?

I went digital initially about 4 years ago with a so-called bridge camera which I still own but never use. Nothing wrong with it, just don't like it (and, if I'm honest, have probably grown out of it). I then got a small digital compact, only 3 megapixels, which I use quite regularly despite being a step down from the bridge camera. I like it because it's small, tough, has a good lens and taking piccies on your little digital compact and downloading onto your PC is the ideal way to record trivial stuff like days out, family snaps etc. A far throw from the days when you had to fill your compact with film. In fact I believe there's no greater menace to society than to have to buy film for your compact (except, possibly, malaria, nuclear war, Dilbert cartoons…). Anyway, I finally took the plunge about 18 months ago and got myself a DSLR which I think is brilliant and is used every time I go out on an expedition.

However……and here's the rub. When I was thinking of buying the DSLR, club members (or one of them at least!) told me I'd never take another slide … ever again … this despite the fact that I'd bought a nice film SLR at the same time as the DSLR (no I'm not rich just got a nice bonus from work which I just had to spend).

Now, I would be the first to admit that the number of slides I take has reduced drastically but I do still take them largely because the quality you can get from a slide is far superior to that achievable from a digital file.

I know I'm entering into a minefield when I argue this case because the quality from digital cameras has improved dramatically since their inception but a good quality, well-composed, well-exposed slide blown up onto even your average-sized screen will always give you a better image than a large number of pixels. And I know I will always be criticised for having to store boxes of slides but digital storage becomes a problem too when files start coming out at 100Mb plus.

But beware….I'm not a Luddite because I recognise that you have to move with the times and in photography that's just as important as in any other field of activity, hobby or otherwise. To prove the point I've just become the proud owner of a camera-phone!! Yes, I can take photos with my mobile. Isn't that wonderful? But I haven't got a clue how to get them off the phone and onto the PC! Mind you, I've also recently acquired a Bronica ETRSi which is a bit of a dinosaur in comparison. What I am advocating is that both types of photography must live side by side but woe betide the day when traditional methods are ousted by digital.

Anyway, on to more important stuff: the new season is approaching fast and there is much to look forward to, none more so than the 2nd Jack Farley Memorial Lecture, where this time the guest speaker is Michael Leach. As with the 1st JFML, the venue is again The King's School , Gloucester, the lecture taking place on 29th March 2007 at 7.30pm.

Michael has made his name over a period of many years as one of the leading wildlife photographers around. He took up photography as a full-time profession 30 years ago and has worked with the BBC, National Geographic and national newspapers such as the Times, Telegraph, Guardian and Observer. Michael's photographs have appeared in over 600 books and in more than 50 countries as well as in every major wildlife and environmental magazine in Britain and the U.S.A. He specialises in high-speed photography and over the last 20 years has chosen to specialise further in photographing some of the world's more elusive species. He has also worked extensively for television including programmes such as the World About Us, The Really Wild Show and Wildtrack. He has staged over 50 one-man exhibitions in the UK at venues as far apart as Kendal in Cumbria to Centrepoint in London.

Michael always devotes part of his working year to delivering lectures and we are fortunate to have been fitted into his busy schedule. Michael is well known for his witty and thought-provoking style so there is more to look forward to than just (did I say just?) his photography. And…. we know we will be able to enjoy an evening of high-quality photography in the form of his superb slides.

This follows last year's highly successful inaugural JFML when Heather Angel was the guest, also, of course, an expert in the field of natural history. Why go for another wildlife lecture? Simple, because wildlife always makes for an interesting talk and we know that Michael's style will be vastly different from Heather's and that, in itself, will make for a fascinating contrast between the two. Michael's anecdotal style is worth the ticket price alone! Watch our website for further updates.

To any visitors to this website who might be looking for a camera club to join, I sincerely believe that you will be given a warm welcome if you choose to come along to try us out. Select an evening that appeals to you and pay us a visit. You never know, you might like us enough to join!

Martin Cooper
Chairman
Gloucester Camera Club