SPF Portfolio

On Tuesday evening club members very much enjoyed viewing the Scottish Photographic Federation's Print and Slide Portfolio comprising more than 300 images. The slides and prints had been re-created digitally and were viewed using our digital projector. Out of only eight entries from Lanark, four images did well. In the slide section David Gemmell's "Water Fight" and Bob Arnott's "Festival Girl" scored eleven and twelve points respectively out of a possible fifteen. Amongst the monochrome prints Dave Thomson's "Monmartre Steps" and in the Colour Section Steve Alexander's "Lonely Tree" both received a respectable eleven points. It's important to remember that many entries received less than eleven points and consequently were not included in this prestigious portfolio! In the overall club section Lanark's entry was too small but our local rivals and friends, Carluke Camera Club, did very well.

Fun Night - "Flowers"

Camera Club members thoroughly enjoyed their "fun night" on Tuesday where each member was allowed to enter up to four projected images on the theme "flowers". Images varied from detailed "macro" studies of single flowers, to collages, and to subjects sadly outwith the "flowers" theme such as fern fronds and a sea "anemone"! Judging was carried out by the members themselves and the very striking "Sunflower" by Robert Wilson captured top spot. Steve Alexander was second with "Stamens" while Bob Arnott's clever collage "Reflections" took third place. Thanks to Andrew Wylie for his excellent critique.

Lesmahagow Photographic Society 25th Aniversary

Members of Lanark Camera Club had a great evening last Tuesday when they joined with other local clubs to celebrate Lesmahagow Photographic Society's 25th Anniversary celebration. Before the main event of the evening, the audience was entertained with an excellent audio/visual show depicting the Society's first 25 years. Peter Clark from Cannock, West Midlands, a photographer highly respected worldwide, then presented a excellent lecture centred around a wide selection of his monochrome landscape prints. Peter had been inspired in his early days by the work of Ansel Adams and indeed some of his own photographs, captured both locally and inYosemite National Park, compared favourably with Ansel's own work. To see Peter's work visit www.monolandscapes.talktalk.net/ . Following a vote of thanks by the President of Lesmahagow P.S., Bob Arnott, Lanark's president, on behalf of all the visiting clubs, thanked Lesmahagow for their hospitality. The evening was rounded off with tea, coffee and a delicious buffet.

Next week there will be a viewing of the SPF Print Portolio. Members are also reminded to bring along their entries for the 2nd League Competition. Plase visit us at www.lanarkcameraclub.blogspot.com/ .

GDPU Projected Image Battle Hamilton v Lanark

On Thursday 13th November Lanark travelled to Hamilton for the first of their GDPU Projected Image League competitions.

The judge for the evening was Andy Alexander from Kirkintilloch Camera Club.

Lanark won the competition scoring 322 points to Hamiltons 294 points.

The three top scoring images were all taken by Lanark member Tom Murphy. His image, 'The Island' a lovely Scottish landscape gained top marks of 20 points.

Many thanks to all members at Hamilton for hosting the event and for the excellent hospitality provided.

Lanark's next league battle is against Airdrie and Coatbridge Camera Club on Tuesday 9th December.

Campbell McNair Clydesdale Trophy

This year it was Lanark's turn to host the Campbell McNair Clydesdale Trophy Competition. Biggar, Lanark and Carluke Camera Clubs and Lesmahagow Photographic Society each entered 10 digital images for appraisal by judge Peter Patterson who on Tuesday evening presented a critique and a score for each projected image. The scores were eventually tallied and Carluke won the Campbell McNair Trophy by a considerable margin. Congratulations! Lesmahagow came second and Biggar were third. The evening's host, Lanark, gained a very respectable fourth place with Neil Mackie's "Crucifix" and Tom Murphy's "Signs of Winter" scoring highly. Lanark Club President Bob Arnott gave the vote of thanks to judge Peter Patterson who had clearly spent many long hours preparing his often helpful and sometimes controversial critique.

Sophisticated digital techniques are beginning to blur the division between photography and creative art. In some ways it seems a pity that the days of old fashioned slide photography where "what you get is what you see" are over.

Next week is a fun competition "Flowers". To find out more about the club and see some of our past images please visit www.lanarkcameraclub.blogspot.com/ .