Elixir Gallery QE Hospital Exhibition

7 Aug - 30 Sept 2013

Showcasing a wide selection of the groups work
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Stadium Road, Woolwich, London SE18 4QH For more information visit: woolwichphotographic.com
Affiliates: FSLPS - Federation of South London Photographic Societies. KCPA - Kent County Photographic Society

Elixier Gallery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Exhibition 7 Aug - 30 Sept 2013

This exhibition showcases a variety of images by members of AWPS. Here the photographers talk about how they made their pictures and what being a part of the club means to them.
Jean Bright Sailing Barge on the Medway This was taken a few years ago while I was out sailing on the Medway. I like being a member of Aperture Woolwich camera club and it is nice to meet up with other people with the same interests. Theres a good programme of events, including guest speakers, workshops, competitions and photo outings.

Dean Byford Giant panda feeding time This was taken in Thailand where we visited a zoo. We arrived just before feeding time, the giant pandas had to go inside so that the keepers could put food down for them, and my photograph captures the panda enjoying a meal of bamboo sticks. I believe I have captured the detail of the moment, although at the time I didnt realise that my camera was set for JPEG only, which limited some post-production options.

I have been a member of AWPS for almost a year now and my understanding of photography has greatly improved along with my post-production skills and my knowledge of how to prepare and submit images for club competitions. I knew very little about photography competitions, but entering several and listening t has been a great learning experience. The club is so very friendly and the members are always willing to help and give advice to improve your photography skills.
Ray Charter The Meadow I walk through this meadow in Thamesmead a few times a day with my dog, it is constantly changing with the seasons, and I am always looking for unusual angles to photograph. I took about 30 photographs of this view with a number of different settings on my camera, until I was happy with this one.

I joined AWPS last September and found it to be the best club I have belonged to in the last 30 years. It has everything to offer, speakers, competitions and friendly members socially as well as club nights.
Elaine Cranmer Night Light on South Bank Having been introduced to light painting at one of many AWPS practical evenings (always a chance to learn new skills and have fun!) I couldnt resist capturing this light ball set amongst the iconic graffiti of Londons South Bank.

Tech: Tripod, 45 second exposure, Nikon D7000..

Sue Green Lioness early morning patrol

My early photography was mainly self-taught. Following a trip to the Ngoro crater in Tanzania my interest in natural history photography grew and I realised I wanted to make good photographs rather than take snaps . This was taken on the Massai Mara close to the Mara river. Having left her cubs hidden in the grass the lion strode out on her early morning patrol. I have visited Africa many times and Im going back again this year. I hope to capture some of the wildebeest and zebra during their migratory crossings over the Mara river. Joining AWPS has enabled me to raise my photography to another level. Like all forms of expression it can generate valuable opinions and a consequential value scale that can be shared by all. I have found this experience to be challenging and extremely helpful.
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Lesley Hall Big Sky

This was taken from the pier at Southwold in Suffolk last August. I had been taking pictures of beach huts most of the morning, trying to get one that was a bit different. My partner was beginning to get that not another one look on his face and decided it was time for us to visit the pier. I noticed that there was a dramatic sky forming and also the row of beach huts that sat just by the shoreline. I quickly took a couple of shots and this is the result. I was a member of a camera club for about 3 years, but I recently moved to AWPS because of the hands-on approach to photography there. I wanted a club that was practical and different, to really help me to look at the subject in different ways and generally help me think out-of-the-box when making my photographs.
Jonathan Hood Dawn on the Irrawaddy & Amarapura

A very early morning start to travel up river on the Irawaddy revealed, as we rounded a bend, a group of hot air balloons lifting off at the start of their drift across the Plains of Began (Burma). Try as I might I couldnt get the shot I really wanted - a single balloon masking the sun. Amarapura, is a large placid lake south of Mandalay which all but dries out in the summer. It was dotted with solitary fisherman. Standing completely motionless, these human herons wait for the tell tale sign of bubbles to tell them where the fish are feeding. Fishing for food is no fun in the blazing sun. Since joining AWPS, I am awed by the beauty, humour and quirkiness my fellow club members record on their own doorsteps.
Andy Linden LRPS Margate Boating Pool & Poppy Fields

Margate Boating Pool was taken on an Aperture camera club outing to the seaside. I used a 30 second exposure with the camera fixed on a tripod. A 10 stop Neutral Density filter was used on the lens to prevent the picture being overexposed. Poppy Fields was taken a few hours later on the drive back from Margate. Id spotted the field on the way down, so I stopped to take this shot. Im a member of the Royal Photographic Society and hold the Licentiateship Distinction (LRPS), but I enjoy being a member of the Aperture Woolwich Photographic Society more, as its a great place to meet people with the same interest, to learn tips and techniques from them and to improve your photography by getting ideas and inspiration.
Trudy Mackie Little Sally Speedster & Cable Car View

Little Sally Speedster was taken a few years ago in Hastings, the location initially caught my eye due to being full of angles and repetitive patterns and I immediately jumped to the idea of mono images. While musing on how best to set up the image, I spotted the child scooting towards me and I hoped shed line-up with the gap in the shelter. When I reviewed my images later, the fact that she had turned away and never reached the spot Id hoped for, was actually better in terms of the composition I think, and helped to create an amusing, imagined story line. This one also confirms for me how important the title of an image can be. Cable Car View was taken on my compact from another cable car, this image harks back to my previous incarnation as a watercolour artist. The light often leads me down this sort of editing route. I found myself learning quickly and developing my photography very easily at the club, thanks to its friendly and enthusiastic members many of whom I now consider to be good friends.
Dave Mason Winter tree on Blackheath

This photograph was taken on Blackheath during a heavy snow storm last winter. I converted it to mono to increase the minimal nature of the image.

Bob Lawrie Emmetts Garden

Originally an Edwardian estate near Ide Hill in Kent owned by Frederic Lubbock, Emmetts Garden is now a National Trust property. The estate contains a wide range of exotic and rare plants and trees, formal gardens and steep hillside woodlands. The woodland is, in my view, at its best and not to be missed in Spring. I have taken photos of bluebells in various locations and it is always a challenge to capture them effectively showing them as a carpet. Emmetts is a favourite of mine though, because the steep hillside provides views with real depth that show the vibrant bluebells contrasted against the fresh green of new leaves. On this occasion I was there when the bluebells were at their very best. I have been interested in photography and used SLRs for many years through film and now well into the digital era. Having retired from work four years ago, it was a good opportunity to bring some focus to my efforts by joining a local, photographic society. Having looked around, AWPS stood out from the crowd so I went along to a meeting and found friendly people with real enthusiasm and a wealth of knowledge and talent. That was three years ago and although Im not the most regular of attendees, I have learnt a great deal from fellow members whose enthusiasm and skill rarely fails to inspire me!
Stu Mayhew Sunrise over Tower Bridge & Somewhere in a dream

Sunrise over Tower Bridge was taken and edited on an iPhone 5 using an app called Snapseed, It was taken on a misty morning and this adds to the impressionistic nature of the image. Somewhere in a Dream was created using a surprisingly easy, but very effective, image-editing technique to create the illusion of the floating figure. This remains one of my favourite images. Being a member of AWPS for nearly six years has not only helped develop my camera skills but, more importantly, has helped me make strong friendships with local people who share my passion for photography.
Paul Parkinson LRPS Unconditional Love & Pride Unconditional Love was photographed at London Zoo - the female monkey was looking at her child with the exact same expression that every mother everywhere has when looking at their baby. The look that says, No matter what you do, I will always be there for you. Pride, this gentleman, along with six of his friends, were spotted astride one of the Lions at Trafalgar Square during the Olympics last year. They seemed eminently comfortable in their pink clothing, pink and white Hawaiian Lei, headdress and make-up. We live in encouraging times - wear what you want, be happy! I have been a member of AWPS for two years, having joined from another club which wasnt working out for me. Since then my photography has improved in leaps and bounds through the help and assistance of many of the members; the highlight being the award by the Royal Photographic Society, of their Licentiateship Distinction, the LRPS, last year. Marshall Pinsent Fallow Deer Stag in the Morning Dew & Romney Marsh Wind Farm from Camber Sands The stag and I encountered each other on a very foggy early morning at Knole Park in Kent. Natural history is not subject Im especially interested in, but hopefully I managed to capture something of the ethereal quality of a quiet, special moment in time. The wind-farm landscape is probably more representative of what I do. It was taken during a rare moment of fleeting sunshine on an otherwise overcast leaden-sky afternoon in early March. I joined AWPS back when it was a small, cuddly club and now its quite a big club but thankfully its still just as friendly and full of talented people happy to share their time, ideas, technical expertise and love of photography.

Neal Puttock Cutty Sark This was taken on a photo-walk with AWPS in Greenwich Town Centre. It was shot from outside, to achieve this, I had to push my lens flat to the glass and use a rubber lens-hood to cut back any reflections. Although Im not a fan of what theyve done to the Cutty Sark, I do like the lines in the roof, and the strong colours on the hull of the ship.

Kam Sanghera Stormy Canary Wharf I took this during one of the clubs organised walks in June 2013 along the Riverfront from the O2 to the Royal Navel College in Greenwich. The weather was quite changeable that morning producing some wonderful cloud formations. On this particular part of the river there is a lot of regeneration work going on. What I like about this photograph are the textures of the sand and gravel along with the dramatic cloud formations. Also the thought that Canary Wharf was once barren, just like the Riverfront is at the moment. Having joined AWPS 3 years ago, it has been a pleasure to be a member of such a wonderful club. There is always a member at hand who will assist you with your camera equipment and photographic techniques in order for you to get the best results from your photography. My photographs have seen a vast improvement since joining AWPS. Richard Taussik Images Feeling undressed, as I do without a camera, I was well equipped to capture the National Theater outdoor photo exhibition. The silhouetted figures, in various poses, looking at the illuminated photos at night, was just one of those unusual shots I could not resist. Although originally shot in colour, the impact is greatly enhanced in monochrome. I would like to thank Waterloo Bridge for the assistance it provided during this hand-held bridge-supported shot! Being a member of AWPS for the last three years (they think it is much longer!) has broadened my photographic horizons, both in terms of subject matter and technical understanding, amongst a great atmosphere of friendship and supportive exchange of ideas. I never leave a meeting without having learnt something new. One of my better decisions in recent years. Tim Walton Red Admiral I photographed this butterfly (Vanessa Atalanta) in my garden. They are widely found within gardens and enriched fruit and flowered areas. Youll find them around from May to October growing to a size of 30 mm. Butterflies need the warmth of the sun in order to fly. During the 3 years Ive been a member of AWPS I have found that my skills have improved from novice to skilled-amateur. I have always been keen on wildlife photography within the UK and I get a lot of enjoyment from this particular subject, but thanks to the wide range of categories and subjects covered in the club, and with the help of the good friends Ive made there, I now enjoy many other areas of photography. Alan Wiltcher Form a Queue This picture came about through regularly feeding birds in the garden. At one stage 18 baby starlings and their respective parents were all sitting on the fence. The babies of course all had beaks wide open waiting to be fed and my wife jokingly said, They should form a queue!. I joined AWPS early this year and was amazed at the high standard of work that was being produced and delighted at the advice and help that was offered by the enthusiastic and experienced members. I know that my pictures have improved as a result. A very well-run club that has a lot to offer. Olesya Zatsepina Little Sammy Sammy was born in August 2011 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The Downs syndrome has opened up a whole new world to us, which I never knew existed. Sammy doesnt let it slow him down and he is crawling, cruising and climbing and into everything! Sometimes he has to work that bit harder to reach his milestones but he does it with a smile. I took this picture because I feel the same way about this little boy as my friend (his mum) and we decided to do a mini-project to show people how wonderful these kids are! When I see Sammy with other kids with Downs syndrome I just see very beautiful children who are lightening up this world!
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