Man I wish I hadn’t procrastinated for so long and got that ark finished last week, alas I just didn’t get it done in time, so there will be no chance of Rangiora’s finest photographers to board the safety of the ark two by two. Unfortunately you will all have to drag on your gummies and wet weather gear and try to stay dry, if the rain doesn’t stop soon you will need a boat to get to club night. It feels like just yesterday that we were all talking about droughts. 

I would like to thank the organisers of last weekend field trip to the Ferrymead Tram Barns, Martin Shaw, Linda Watson and Richard Loader. You guys did a great job. It was a truly fascinating day with so many interesting things to photograph. I have seen quite a few of the images taken on the day and I have been blown away with to quality and creativity of them, this is one of my favourites so far, love the texture and mood in the shot, you almost feel you could cut yourself on the old iron.

By Catherine Boyd.

I am working on an AV together for Tuesday night, so if any you who were on the field trip, haven’t sent me a couple of your images (up to 5) can you please do so ASAP so I can get your images in the AV. You can send the images to steven@insitu.co.nz

Coming up…….

Hi to all fellow RPS members,

I hope you have all had a safe and productive Queens Birthday weekend and had those cameras out, it has been a good weekend for photography with lots of diffused light. I have spent a good chunk of the weekend trying to get a “great” shot of the bird life down at Waikuku beach and today I have been outside chasing fantails around the orchard in the rain (man those little suckers are quick).

After looking through the 1000 odd photos I have taken over the weekend I think I might have one or two shots worth taking to post production. I look on the internet and see these incredible shots that other people have taken of wildlife and wonder what I am doing wrong. I am sure it is not me and my unsteady hand, but more likely a fault of the camera or that my lens is just too small.

Greetings and Salutations

Hi to all fellow RPS members,

T’was a most splendid medieval feast had by all the Lords and Ladies and all other riff raff in One Acre Forest this weekend past!

As you will all be aware around 50 of the club members converged on Wanaka for the first major field trip of the year. It was an action packed weekend which included archery, clay pigeon shooting, a beautiful meal at the historic Cardrona Hotel and a genuine medieval feast

Greetings and Saluations

As you will know, Rangiora Photographic Society is running a field trip to Wanaka to coincide with ANZAC day. The trip will be for 4 days from the 24th of April through to the 28th of April. The days are a little flexible if you cannot be there the entire time - though it would be preferable if you could make the entire 4 days.

There is an opportunity for a single person or a couple to join this trip which will include many opportunities to photograph those stunning autumnal colours of Wanaka as well as participate in many interesting, exciting and fun activities including a mystery bus trip, a visit to two galleries, a dinner at a wonderful restaurant, experience the famous RPS pancake and streaky bacon breakfast and the much awaited Medieval Evening.

The trip promises many opportunities to learn photographic skills by joining with the group on formal and informal shoots, networking with likeminded people and sharing experiences and knowledge. You will also make and renew wonderful friendships with a group of people who place fun at the centre of their world.

Hi to all fellow RPS members,

Hope you have all had a great weekend, I have spent the day laid up on the sofa (which I have quite enjoyed). I jumped over a fence yesterday and twisted my ankle, I guess I’m not a graceful as I thought. Poor old Michele has been harshly reminded that when I have an injury it is much worse than anybody else’s injury recorded in history and I need things brought to me NOW!

 

I wish I had been able to take a photo of me landing, it would have been a great shot for the online, it was truly awkward.

I have had heaps of great feedback on the exhibition, so a huge thank you to all those involved especially Catherine Boyd who co-ordinated the exhibition, the sub-committee and everyone else who helped, you all did a fantastic job!

Now on with the important stuff…………………………

 

Greetings and Salutations

On behalf of Catherine Boyd and the rest of the organising team I would like to take this very last minute opportunity to encourage you all to call at the Brick Mill Gallery in Waikuku to view our Exhibition which closes at 4.00pm today - along with the drawing of the 'People's Choice Image' and the raffle - which of course is a stunning image that has been presented by Lynn Barr.

 

This years Exhibition is notning short of fantastically stunning - and truly representatve of the Magic of Light.

I think that we can all be very proud of our club and our very talented fellow members who have made this Exhibition not just possible but incredibly successful by submitting works of such a high standard.

Creative Arts Exhibition 2013 – Sponsored by Prosser Quirke

 

The closing date for entries looms upon us very quickly folks, so time to think about your images. A few dates first.

 

RPS entries close: Tues 2^nd April

Opening night: Thurs 2^nd May

Exhibition: 3^rd to 5^th May, 10am to 4pm

Note we have a new venue at the Rangiora Borough School, King Street. (If you picked an entry form up at the last meeting, they still referred to the Chervier Centre – sorry.)

 

Your Exhibition Entry

Print, Open classification, it must be mounted or framed and be no bigger than stated in the RPS competition rules. All works are for sale, so now is your time to make a quick buck – normally we do quite well in sales.

We would like your entry to be different to the one you put in for the RPS Exhibition, as the two exhibitions are so close this year. However, the CAE rules do allow you to have exhibited your image once in the Waimakariri area in the past year, so if you really, really have nothing else, then of course you can you can put them in. But…..

Entry form attached. As you need to hand over the dosh for the huge entry fees, easiest to deliver the form in person rather than emailing. You cannot do an online entry. Also note that only your form needs to be in by the closing date, your prints closer to the event.

What is a Triptych?

Definition:

The background should complement the presentation of the three images but must not become a significant “fourth image” in the message of the triptych’s three images.

Additional Guidelines:

■ The only restriction on the arrangement of the triptych’s three images is that they must not meet or overlap.

■ There is no requirement that the three images must be either the same size or the same shape.

■ Added borders, drop shadows etc. are allowed.

■ Below are some examples of allowable and non-allowable triptychs:

 

Hi to all fellow RPS members,

Hope you have all had a great weekend, I have been taking advantage of the fact the lawn was too wet to mow and have spent the day watching photography tutorials on YouTube. Is there anything you can’t learn on YouTube?

There are so many talented people sharing their knowledge for free, it is a great way to up skill and get inspiration to try new techniques that you have never even heard of before.

The rest of my afternoon has been spent flicking though the new F11 magazine, it has got a great article on Olivier Du Tre in which he talks about his photography and show some of his images which are stunning. These are Black and White and with our B&W competition closing shortly I thought it was well worth a read. The link for the online magazine is http://www.f11magazine.com

Now on with the important stuff…………………………

 

Hello Everyone

The fantastic RPS Exhibition "The Magic of Light" is fast approaching and is sure to be a very magical occasion.

The Opening Night will be on Thursday 28th March - an evening exclusively for club members and invited guests - be prepared for a wonderful launch for the Exhibition.

Guest photographers Kevin Bowie and Sandra Fleet - their fabulous images will set the stage for an exceptional show.

 

The Exhibition will be open every day over the four days of Easter to all the community and visitors.

The Exhibition is held at the ID Gallery at the Brick Mill in Waikuku - a wonderfully rustic building with loads of atmosphere.

The theme of light continues from the first Exhibition, "Embracing the Light", held in 2012.

30 January 2013

Hi to all fellow RPS members,

Well here we are at the end of January already, I’m sure that January gets shorter every year! I have had a great summer so far, it feels like the summers I remember as a kid, long summer days and hot summer nights, the best time of the year.

I have spent a fair bit of the summer behind my new camera, no Santa did not bring me the 1DX  I was hoping for (you have to shoot for the sky), but he did bring me a new 5D mark 3 and yes it is a steep learning curve when you get a new camera, all those extra features and buttons. But I am getting the hang of it now.

We have a big year planned for you guys this year, lots of great field trips, entertaining guest speakers and heaps of great camera craft, rounded out with good old fashion RPS FUN.

So here we go…………………………

Greetings and Salutations

I’m ‘guest blogging’ tonight to allow Steve to get on with a number of other important club activities. At this time of year there are always so many ‘balls in the air’ and it really can be a challenge to maintain the juggle.

Still as a wise man once said to me, when you bite off more than you can chew….you just keep on chewing….not that we have bitten off more than we can chew – but the size of the bite is pretty substantial all the same.

I was talking to Rob Lile, the Managing Director of the photo stock library Photo New Zealand, the other day and he mentioned to me that professional photographers were becoming increasingly concerned that amateur photographers were under selling their work. The impact of this is that photographers who rely upon photography for their living have to compete with the lower prices.

I have various views on this and I think that there are some arguments that can be shared on both side of the fence. I do think though that it is important to know the value of your own creativity and the time, effort and cost that it took you to develop the necessary skills and ability to produce that creativity.

Greetings RPS Members

I’m thrilled to announce that the RPS Exhibition for 2013 will be held at Easter Weekend – once again at the Brick Mill in Waikuku.

The theme of the Exhibition is “The Magic of Light” and your images can be of any subject.

This year the images are to be printed up to A3 size and will be MATTED ONLY. Mat dimensions will be advised shortly.

Greetings and Salutations

As you know, the first field trip for 2013 will held in the gorgeously autumnal Wanaka. Already there have been about 26 registrations which is fantastic.

We had previously booked into the Lake Hawea Motor Camp for accommodation. However, after viewing this accommodation it is clear that this facility would not meet our needs and so an alternative venue has been found which I know you will find infinitely more suitable at about the same pricing as we would have been paying for the motor camp.