Clive Minnitt, Jon Cruttenden, Tony Broom, Richard Tucker, David Southard (Wild Arena), Duncan McEwan, Wayne Brittle, Will Cheung, Bob Underhill.

Sept 10th 2009 - Clive Minnitt - In Search of the Perfect Light

After working in the IT industry for many years Clive moved into full-time photography in 1997.Since that time Clive has established a reputation as one of the leading photographers in the UK, specialising in the use of light and composition.

Clive's work has been widely exhibited including Christies and the Mall Galleries in London, in addition to Cardiff's St. David's Hall. He has also completed commissions for a diverse range of clients including Sun Life Assurance, and the Bristol Cancer Help Centre.

Many magazines and books have featured Clive's work and he currently has a regular ‘column’ in Outdoor Photography magazine.

Clive regularly presents his images and photographic techniques to many organisations and societies, including the National Trust.

He regularly leads photographic holidays to different locations for ‘Light & Land’, the foremost photographic holiday organisation in the UK.

Clive pursues his photography with a passion. For him it has become a way of life!

www.minnitt.co.uk

Visitor entry for Opening Night will be £2.50 on the door (refundable from your membership fee if you join the club).

For existing members entry will be free, but if you don't join again - "we know where you live"!

17th September 2009 - Jon Cruttenden - Landscape & the Peaks

www.joncruttendenphotography.co.uk

24th September 2009 - Tony Broom CPAGB - Further Travels of a Monosaurus

Tony has visited Leek several times in the past and has judged our internal competitons in the last two seasons. This year he returns to speak to us and show us his B&W wet darkroom prints.

Tony is one of a dying breed and as a "monosaurus" is still one of the few photographers to shoot exclusively on film and develop his own prints in the darkroom.

This evening will present many a moody mono landscape and miscellany of photography.

8th October 2009 - Richard Tucker FRPS - Adventures with AV

Richard Tucker will be returning to Leek this season after an appearance at the Digital Group last year which was very well received.

Richard will be replaying his presentation to the main club and showing us his wonderful work in Audio Visual.

5th November 2009 - David Southard - Wild Arena

David Southard from tour guides and photographic workshop company "Wild Arena" will be coming to talk to us about their work and show the sort of pictures taken by the team and by "normal" photographers on their photographic workshops.

Part of the evening will also be given over to an informal print competition, judged by David and with a prize donated by Wild Arena.

www.wildarena.com

12th November 2009 - Duncan McEwan - Scotland; Around the Edges

Duncan McEwan has been photographing the Scottish landscape for nearly 40 years and remains as enthusiastic as ever about the opportunities it offers. Having started travelling abroad in 2005, he is more convinced than ever that Scotland is second to none when it comes to landscape photography.

Interests, apart from landscape, include natural history and sport, as well as most other aspects of outdoor photography. While landscape and natural history photography are often regarded as distinct disciplines, pursued by different photographers, Duncan perceives them as being very much interlinked, almost at opposite ends of a spectrum, with the landscape being as much a part of the natural world as the organisms that colonise it. One of his main fascinations is making images that link the two and he believes that the landscape photographer who does not carry a macro lens can be missing a great many opportunities. He promotes the beauty of the natural world through landscape and natural history photography, believing that to a wider appreciation of the natural world can highlight the importance of conservation issues.

The search for new locations, or finding new angles on familiar ones, provides constant motivation. Strong compositions, mood and interesting lighting are always uppermost in his mind - aspects which are equally applicable to both digital and film capture. In landscape photography, there is only so much that can be planned - so often it is the unexpected that provides the most exciting moments and having an open-minded approach can be highly rewarding and avoids disappointments. His favourite area is Lochaber, closely followed by locations in the West and North-west Highlands , as well as the Inner and Outer Hebrides . He is, however, equally happy photographing in Lowland Scotland where he sees the photographic challenges as being much greater.

www.dmcewanphotography.co.uk

 

25th February 2010 - Will Cheung FRPS - An Evening with Will Cheung

For most of us "amature" photographers, Will needs no introduction as in his time he has been editor of nearly every UK photographic magazine there is (at least it feels like it!!).

Will has recently packed in the editorial work and has taken up photography as a full time free-lancer.

This evening promises to give an insight into the world of magazine publishing as well as seeing Will's work (as both amature and professional) and to see how Will has got on after 18 months as a "pro".

In his own words:-

"I am a self-taught photographer and learnt most techniques by doing them, getting it wrong and trying again until I got it right. I also learnt a great deal from photographic magazines so I know how important they are to enthusiast photographers. The same applies to camera clubs and photographic societies. I know they don’t have the best of reputations, particularly among younger photographers, but that’s not fair because they do a great job.

I am a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a distinction I got back in 1983 and of which I am very proud. In the past few years, it has been a delight to meet some of the members of the panel that awarded me that distinction."

www.williamcheung.co.uk

25th March 2010 - Wayne Brittle - Landscape Photography

Wayne has been to Leek about 18 months ago and showed us his stunning Landscape Photography. He has just returned from Tuscany and so 18 months on it will be a joy to see his latest work.

In his own words:-

"I am based near Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire and have around 30 years experience behind a camera.

My big passion for Landscape Photography comes from my love of the great outdoors.

I often rise before the sun and travel miles to capture the sheer beauty of the British Landscape. I have been working almost totaly Digital, using DSLR's since 2006. I am also a competent user of Photoshop in which I have run workshops for budding photographers as well as giving Landscape Slideshows & Talks to Photographic Clubs.

I consider it really important to get it right at the picture-taking stage, and not to rely on digital editing too heavily. I enjoy working on a PC using Photoshop, but this comes second to just being out there with my camera and that feeling you get when you capture something special.

I have written for, and had pictures published in some of the UK's top photographic magazines including: PHOTOGRAPHY MONTHLY, PRACTICAL PHOTOGRAPHY, DIGITAL PHOTO, AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER, WHAT DIGITAL CAMERA, PHOTO PLUS, F.P.M.E (Freelance Photography Made Easy), DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES, STAFFORDSHIRE LIFE & THE DERBYSHIRE MAGAZINE. Also appearing in the book - DEVELOPING VISION & STYLE - A Landscape Photographers Masterclass).

Further to this I have also had work published in National and Local Newspapers and for Catalogues, Brochures and Leaflets."

www.waynebrittlephotography.com

 

8th April 2010 - Bob Underhill ARPS - Faces & Places

Bob Underhill will be visiting us to give us his new lecture entitled "Faces & Places", which is a print presentation sponsored by Perma-jet.

About Bob:-

"Bob Underhill ARPS is a Black Country boy who lives in Kingswinford, West Midlands.  He is a retired professional photographer.  After a life time of working in all mediums Bob was reluctant to move from film but he is now all digital.  Bob continues to be a very successful exhibitor at all levels.  He is one of the longest serving members of Smethwick P.S. having been President twice.  He presently runs the digital imaging group and is responsible for looking after all Smethwick's competition entries."