ppf :: Photographers Club News

Jenny and Sasha…a winning combination

What a selection to choose from this week?! You lot certainly have been busy with many quality postings spanning almost very genre. I’m now going to try and pick winner…

Misty Fells by Catherine Hall () was a great example of that great combination of dark and light. With a storm on the way looking fit to threaten a pleasant day out, with Catherine safe in the relative calm.

Rock and ....... by Norman Crabtree () is a great image pairing with both shots being cleverly sourced and having more than just the title linking them together.

Mar Lodge Hotel by Charlotte () is certainly picturesque but it was the fact that the whole building was captured against a magnificent back drop, giving a real sense of scale.

Vendor by Matthew Brown () is a very gritty, ‘holster’ shot which I liked very much. It reminded me of my own iPhonography outings.

eyes in the sky by Paul Mongan () is a familiar offering from a recently unfamiliar Paul. Superb urban shot with a clear style and a retro feel (with almost no justification other than the apparent age of the building).

Grizedale Forest by Alan Brown () was an interesting and unfamiliar offering from a familiar Alan. I think it once again asks us to discuss the getting –finer line between ‘art’ and ‘photography’.

Southend Van by Amy Cole () was a pleasure to view, and I felt that it transported one straight to the scene. One could argue that the ‘art’-‘photography’ line is once again being explored here.

Barriers by David D ( a less glamorous than normal offering that works just as well. For me the layers in this shot make it, along with the token graffiti and the feeling you maybe being watched.

Despite all these excellent offerings and more there were 2 shots that, for me, stood out from the Bank Holiday crowds.

The Odd Note by Horst Puschmann () is such a simple and attractive image. Only someone with this exact picture in mind would have ever noticed this composition in really life. Fantastic.

But for me the winner of this week’s POTW is sasha and ds by Jenny Bailie () The shot evokes many different emotions and is extremely pleasing to the eye. Everything works perfectly, with just a hint (other than the title) of what is going on to keep you involved.

Well done Jenny and everyone else and thanks for letting me pick – much fun.

Scott

Timely POTW

Selected this week by Edgar Beveridge, who is Past President of Sunderland Photographic Association, this weeks POTW is a 'timely' one, given its producers recent comments in the Forum!

Sunset on Skiddaw: by Catherine Hall A well composed Lakeland shot. The use of the low glancing light across the mountains and lake provide muted colours and impart a tranquillity to the scene.

Snapshot: by Norman Crabtree: A connection has been made between two unrelated objects to good effect. Unless one is a complete purist, might it have been improved by removal of the strings of light?

I am selecting the next picture as my picture of the week:

Rolex: by Dino Wilson: This creative picture has been well thought out and well produced, resulting in something which compels one to look at it again and again.

Edgar Beveridge

The X Thingies score a note at the opera

Hi All, I'll keep this short and sweet. Hopefully you enjoyed the last two weeks,

now its my turn to judge :-)

Wonky Door by Twiz

"Nothing" has its place in the theme of things, even though its an old door, it still needs to be kept shut.

Rain.... by Abby.

Like the title, you still had an idea as to where you are going with this picture, as its the background that makes it for me. Tracks leading off into the distance to who knows where.

Straight 'n Narrow by Alan Brown

Yes, another superb picture, as to one who knows where they are going.

My Photo Of The Week is.....

DenmarX by Steve Pratt

The "X" Thingies are alive and well. As we travel around, its the little things that catch our eye, that to me make the biggest impact.

Angus Thompson.

Shining at the top spot this week is Two Candles

Hello all you PPFers...it's great to be given the task of choosing the picture of the week again. I love doing this.......Here goes

The photographic machine that is Alan Brown, again offered lots of quality, what an eye this fella has...I thought eye raiser was particularly lovely given the shooting conditions. http://www.ppfuk.com/gallery_image_1281097570.html Well done Alan.

Quite a few others caught my (now requiring glasses) eye. Bokeh by James Miller.. http://www.ppfuk.com/gallery_image_1280794581.html

Not unique but so packed with colour and life it must get a mention here.

So too, Yellow by Twiz http://www.ppfuk.com/gallery_image_1280824921.html

Super clarity, texture and a deep rich yellow on show here. I found the the background on show to be a little distracting or this could have ranked even higher. Good work Twizster.

Alan Hawkins Domination d'horizon. http://www.ppfuk.com/gallery_image_1281095748.html

Left us wondering what was underneath and the scale of what we are viewing relative to its surroundings. My sort of picture. My sort of title too.

Steelworks 1 AM http://www.ppfuk.com/gallery_image_1280934988.html by David D, impressed also with its moody graininess and in quite the opposite way the early morning purity of Catherine Halls inspiring Morning Buoy was well worth her early alarm call. http://www.ppfuk.com/gallery_image_1280955606.html

Top two for me were-:

The girl in the grass by Emma lamb. http://www.ppfuk.com/gallery_image_1281022235.html I've been doing a lot of portrait pictures this year and its so hard to get a different take on photographing just a person. Emma has done that here.The simplicity of the plain top and backdrop and the splayed out hair are great but the expression on the young ladies face is fantastic and I bet you sums up her personality in one. Great portrait.

I'm not 100% sure why but picture of the week for me is Two Candles by Angus Thompson.

http://www.ppfuk.com/gallery_image_1281030794.html Should something so simple be considered the best picture? Again I don't know. I've seen many candle shots but none where they feature so small in the frame yet dominate it. Why are they in use. Who is sitting around using the light. I wonder. Thats why its my POTW.

Thanks everyone for submitting great pictures.

Mark Bradshaw

In a Class of its Own

The five pictures I’ve chosen from last week’s postings are:
Equus Caballus by James Miller. By leaving out the horses eyes, the viewer (I suggest) is more likely to appreciate the form of this image. Though clearly two dimensional it demonstrates three dimensional qualities.
Looking by longtallsally has tapped into an ongoing issue about restrictions placed on photographer. Complementing a strand in the Forum this brings to life some of the arguments.
With ‘Light on his feet’ Emma Lamb has found an interesting backdrop against which to take her portrait . . and the model has played his part by adopting a considered (if unusual) pose. (it has Sunday newspaper magazine feel to it)
Vertigo by Scott Robertson works at two levels. Apart from giving us view of New York we don’t often see it also produces an attractive design, regardless of objects it shows.
But, in a class of its own is ‘In a class of its own’ by Angus Thompson. Angus has had a particularly strong week of postings. Determined to see things differently he has demonstrated that the ordinary can be made extraordinary . . . just by looking more closely at it. ‘In a class of its own’ is cleverly frames (to show the isolation of this one flower) but also to capitalise on the simple, yet very strong, design. A metaphoric self portrait?

Alan Brown

Baltic Obsession

David executes a familiar view and Amanda is happy to indulge her obsession:

I have had the privilege of choosing photo of the week for a second time, and it doesn't get any easier! At least this time I have managed to narrow it down to just four! I had a tough time trying to choose a shortlist, but I just went with what jumped out at me as I was scrolling through all the week's photos - the tough bit then was trying to articulate in words why I liked them so much!

The first one I wanted to mention was "Shop til you drop" by Longtallsally () - I like this one because at first the scale is tricky to fathom - it could almost be some sort of wooden box, but then once you start to take in the detail of the people on the ground (and the fact the big 'Debenhams' sign must mean it is a shop!) then it dawned on me that it is actually a building - and a style I very much like!

I loved the colours and glossiness of this one - "Strawberry" by Abby (), really rich and vibrant, and I was especially drawn to the detail of the strawberry seeds and the granules of sugar, which I think pop out even more as some of strawberry round the edges is a little blurry. I like the way it just seems to appear out the darkness behind it. Making something very summery and sweet seem slightly eerie (or more eerie than you would expect a sugar coated strawberry to be!).

I also liked the way these lily pads seem to be creeping out of the top left of this picture by Emma Cole () and slowly taking over the incredibly still and almost syrupy looking water. The waxiness of the leaves is really highlighted by the light shining off them, and the single white flower gives a dramatic punch right in the centre of an otherwise very gentle picture.

So finally when it came down to it I couldn't resist choosing a photo of buildings as Photo of the Week (I am only slightly obsessed with architecture!). I have chosen "Baltic at night" by David Taylor (). I love the eerie luminescence of this one - the colours of the buildings contrast so well with the blue-grey night sky (and I think better than if it had been pitch black) - it reminds of an Edward Hopper painting. The colours seem very 'flat' (in a good way!) - a bit like a painting in that sense. The intense black of bridge and the curvature of the railings leads your eye to the details of the windows in the buildings behind - both dark and lit up, adding to the background texture of the photo. As I look at this more I find I am drawn to the red and yellow in the centre of the photo in the same way I sometimes get transfixed by flames - maybe it's because the colours echo those of a fire - but they seem to have the same effect on me!

Amanda

2 Debuts

Emma Cole debuts as selector whilst Amanda Darekar debuts as a POTW winner:

This is my first time choosing POTW and I have enjoyed the difficult task of selecting my favourites out of this excellent selection of photos!
Here are my contenders:

‘Let there be light’ by Sue Rutherford ()
The exposure in this shot is just right, revealing most of the details, however, leaving something to the imagination.

‘Welcome’ by Stuart Reid ()
There is more detail in this photo than initially meets the eye , that may have been missed if this picture was in colour (For example: The chin whiskers). I also like the way the eye is drawn straight away to the sharp teeth, this portrays viciousness, when in fact the dog is yawning.

‘Miss Lissy’ by Longtallsally ()
The vibrant blue in this picture is extremely eye- catching, I also like the fact that a small amount of the surroundings have been shown in the frame, it makes the picture all the more interesting.

‘Modern Symm’ by Scott Robertson ()
The symmetry of this picture drew me to it; it is perfectly balanced and composed. The constant use of lines throughout the building makes this shot flow.

‘Hatched’ by Norman Crabtree ()
The simplicity of this bold capture really makes the picture for me. The curve helps to lead the eye across the picture, whilst the double line in the top right hand corner gives this picture something extra.

My choice for POTW this week is ‘Hung out to dry’ by Amanda Darekar ()
This colourful picture really caught my eye, the bright colours are complimented well by those of the Italian flag, and stand out well against such a pale sky. I also like the symmetry created by the two jumpers.

Emma Cole

Next Week Amanda Darekar will be selecting POTW

Pick'n Mix.

Alan Hawkins has done the picking, whilst Emma Cole has done the mixing to produce this weeks Photo of the Week.

"This is my second time choosing POTW and I have to say the standard of photography is so high it's a really difficult task.

Beach Hut Concertina by Amanda Darekar caught my eye. I like the colours of the beach huts and sea and the fact that the image is quite literally cut in two by the railings.

I have enjoyed viewing Scott Robinson's reflections series this week and particularly liked DifferentReflection, the converging verticals creates interesting geometry and the contrast between old and new buildings gives this image a unique quality.

James Miller has been posting some unusual but interesting and enjoyable work. I do like the texturing that James gives to some of his portraits.
However this week I particularly liked Untitled. Whilst it is a bold move placing the subject so close to the centre of the frame, the emotions expressed within the image overcome any reservations I might have about composition.

Paul Mono by Norman Crabtree deserves a mention. ; The monochrome version works much better than the colour creating a rather moody and interesting portrait.

My POTW was nearly pipped to the post by Catherine Hall’s Gone for a Dip, posted on Sunday night. It might be inspired by one of Alan Brown's excellent images but Catherine has included the sandals in her image to create a story that for me evokes good memories.

My choice for POTW is Paint Mix by Emma Cole. I like the fact that Emma has seen and captured such an interesting and colourful image from the artist materials. I like the strong colours and swirls in the paint that despite appearing random provide this image with a strong composition leading the eye to the peak of paint."

Alan Hawkins

Alans eye for colour is making a front page splash!

Well its been quite a week, busy as usual but rounded off nicely with a trip to the Lake District (girls only!) However I should have known better than to post a picture of a fly earlier in the week as another got its revenge on Saturday. A rather large horse fly stuck its chops into my right calf during our 6 mile walk around Elterwater. It has given me an infection and I now have anti-biotics! So forgive me if my write up is a bit brief.

The first image I must mention is Alnmouth Art Festival by Angus Thompson

Angus did well to spot the piece of cardboard in the skip which I assume was written by a builder with a sense of humour. Most of us wouldn't even entertain taking a photo of a skip but Angus did and it gave me a laugh, so its worth a mention.

The Girl in a Blue Hat by David D is a beautiful candid portrait but yet tells a story at the same time.

Those piercing brown eyes are very engaging, she grabs my attention and I find myself thinking about the life I imagine her to have, very soul searching.

X 2 by Scott Robertson is another that I must mention.

I always seem to like Scott's glass reflection images and this one holds my attention for quite a while. I love the contrast between the two sides with the door handles dividing the space up very well, I must try it myself sometime and a trip to New York would be even better.

Finally my picture of the week goes to Alan Hawkins for his shot ' Splash of Colour'.

I have never been to Liverpool so haven't a clue as to what or where it has been taken but I do know that I love the colours, the symmetry, so simple and so effective, a very well thought out abstract image. Well done Alan and we have something vibrant on the home page for the next week.

Catherine Hall

From dawn to dusk.

We’re all familiar with Dave Henderson’s excellent coastal landscapes . . . mostly taken at dawn. But it was a shot taken at dusk which especially caught the eye of this week’s selector, James Miller.

“So, it has befallen me to select this weeks PPFUK.com Photo Of The Week. A task which, to be perfectly honest, I have never envied when seeing some of the images posted here. All the same, I shall do my best to narrow down and single out! So, without any further ado (nor any particular order) let's get straight into the mix...

Firstly, the contenders;

Visible Wind by Alan Brown

When Alan approached me to select this week's image, he requested that I disregard his postings. I though, however, that it would be a shame not to mention this image. It's one of those that grabs me straight away. It has the lines, the light, the dark, the texture. It truly would look superb hanging on a wall in canvas.

Jump In The pool by Keilidh Ewan

I love the tones in this one. The rippled water and toe just touching really brings a feel of ice cool freshness, especially after the blistering days of hot weather we have been having recently. A lovely composition with tenderness in mind.

Drawing by Abby

This one jumped at me straight away. I think mainly because the framing is exactly what I would try myself when taking a portrait. The fact this combines the talent of the drawing in the first instance, and the thought of giving it another angle of life through photography shows a real eye for creativity.

Industrial Strength by Alan Hawkins

I've never seen a building look so angry and menacing! The crisp lines and cold riveted metal against the soft blue sky work so well, especially with the green tint in the glass thrown in. A great composition in the angle. I looks to me like some kind of metal giant looking away to the right of the frame. Excellent!

Colour by Stuart Reid

An absolutely delightful portrait. The treatment is superb and really works well. Lovely contrast level and the colour in the flowers really sets it all off, as the title would imply.

My Photo Of The Week...

Cresswell Sunset by Dave Henderson
Dave never fails to impress me with his photographs, but this one is simply superb. The treatment given for the HDR is spot on. It's the type of image you'd normally find from somewhere like Iceland (check Flickr if you're not sure what I mean). This one really needs to be viewed large to appreciate the details and colours involved.

So well done to Dave, and of course, to everyone else. It's easy to see there are some very creative and fresh photographers coming of their shells here now, which is really nice to see. Keep it up! And remember to keep a very close eye on those who have been here a while as you will find there is a lot you can learn. A wise man will always ask the questions - only a fool remains in silence.”

James Miller

PPF UK, Putting Photography First. A Practising Photographers´ Forum.

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