Photoday Reviews

Hi Folks

I visited Trent Lock on Saturday 13th October as part of the Autumn Photoday and Memorial Lecture, it was a very interesting and picturesque area with good walking paths if the weather had been kinder I'm sure we would have taken some smashing pictures (the lighting was very flat) but I enjoyed the walk immensly.

Afterwards we went to Long Eaton camera club for tea and refreshments, and later watched the Memorial Lecture by ColinGibson FRPS, which was excellent, really nice monochrome prints, many thanks to Long Eaton CC for their hospitality and choice of outings and organisation.

Regards

Chris Hardy
Newark PS

Donnington Collection Visit

Now if only I could be so lucky in all my choices. On a day that had light flatter than a flat thing run over by a steam roller I chose to make my visit to the only indoor venue.

The publication of the details for the Photoday was the first I had heard of the Donnington Collection, even though I do drive past the circuit when visiting friends in Melbourneand to add to the suprise was that it was the home for such a large collection of Formula one cars.

The museum has five halls housing everything from early motor cycles to some of the latest formula one cars and all the memorabilia that is associated with the any variety of motor sport. And you can take pictures (non commercial use only).

It has to be said that you would indeed have to be a very dedicated follower of the sport to tell the differance between some of the cars raced in consequetive years, when even the paint job didn't change but the option is there to test your skill. The lighting isn't the best for photographic purposes and you can't climb all over the cars to get the best angle. That said with so few museum and galleries forbidding any photography it was a great oppertunity to get up close and personal with these iconic machines.

Of special interest to me was the engines and the older cars and there was good displays of everything from crank shafts to steering wheels and a fully running replica of a Bugatti to a very olf fire engine.

To top the day was the lecture by Colin Gibson. His superb monochrome images really inspire me to try and move my photography up a notch. It's just a shame as with all print lectures that there isn't enough time to really take in the details of each image.

Thanks to all the girls and boys who did the organisation and especially those that slaved over the hot kettle it was very much appreciated, especially since the museum didn't have the cafe up and running,- take a flask if you plan to visit.

Derek Hart

AUTUMN DAY OUT OCTOBER 2007

This year the Autumn Day was organised by Long Eaton Camera Club. As always a number of afternoon locations were available: Trent Lock, The Donington Motor Museum and Attenborough Nature Reserve. Lynda and I went to Attenborough along with 6 other N&EMPF club members.

We had been to Attenborough a number of times but this was the first with a guide. Bill will excellent, very knowledgeable and pointed out a number of locations within the Reserve to visit at different times of the year for different birds. The weather could have been kinder, the light was very flat and skies heavily overcast, however this enabled me to concentrate more on the wildlife and look through my binoculars rather than through a camera lens. There were a number of autumn visitors to the ponds, most notably Gadwell and Teal but the two highlights were undoubtedly the Kingfisher on the Trent and a rare Jacksnipe. For many of us, including Bill, this was the first time we had seen a Jacksnipe.

After the afternoon we went to Long Eaton CC premises for refreshments prior to the evening lecture. It was a pleasant interlude to the proceedings and provided opportunity to exchange experiences for the outings, or just catch up on news from friends. The guest speak in the evening was Colin Gibson. Colin is an exceptional monochrome print worker whose work I have admired for many years.

Colin’s incredible interpretation of such subjects matters as rocks, fences, privies in America, vanishing point, trees etc. made this a highly enjoyable evening and one very much fitting for the Memorial Lecture. His title of the lecture was “To be continued…” I hope we get the chance to see more of Colin’s work and also hope that more people will attend the Autumn Day (only 40 people out of a Federation membership of 1532).

David E Gibbins ARPS AFIAP APAGB

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