Sharp Focus October 2024

FROM THE CHAIR

October 2024

Dear Club Members,

As we approach the end of the year, I’m excited to share some updates from our vibrant community of passionate photographers. Our new committee members are now firmly in place, and we’ve already held our first meeting. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the creativity that has flourished within our club, beautifully showcased in the stunning images submitted over the past year. Looking ahead, we are committed to providing a platform that allows every member to showcase their work, explore new genres, and enhance their skills. We plan to introduce a variety of workshops and themed challenges that will inspire learning and growth. We also hope to leverage the expertise of our seasoned members to assist newcomers, fostering an inclusive environment for all.

A heartfelt thank you to Peter Brandt for his truly informative workshop on “Levitation.” It was a brilliant session that enriched our understanding and left us all eager to experiment with new techniques. Additionally, I want to extend our gratitude to the judges for their dedication and effort. Their thoughtful critiques play a crucial role in supporting our growth as photographers. Thank you to all the members, for your fantastic suggestions for themes—18 topics were submitted, and we are in the process of shortlisting them to 11 engaging themes for 2025.

The upcoming year promises to be filled with fun topics and rich learning experiences. As we wrap up this year, we have some exciting events on the horizon: a planned outing to Kalk Bay, attendance at the Western Cape Photographic Forum meeting, our Year-End gathering, and one final club meeting to conclude our activities. Thank you for your ongoing enthusiasm and support. Here’s to a creative close to the year and an inspiring 2025!

Here’s to a year filled with inspiration, growth, and, of course, fun!

Warm regards,
Betzi

 

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Are photography clubs still relevant?

I started to make a bullet list of all the reasons why we have a camera club in an attempt to analyse what we need to have a happy, vibrant place to share our love of photography? Despite AI producing a long list (google it), I resisted reproducing it here when I could see most clubs have one core common denominator.

Sharing knowledge is the key factor at all clubs. We are lucky enough to have a balanced group of experienced photographers and judges at our club who generously give their time to prepare workshops and critiques to help us grow our technical and interpretive skills. Workshops not only provide information on the topic but also a chance for the group to exchange views and have more discussion in a less formal atmosphere.

Appreciating the critique of your own, and perhaps more importantly, other members work is a huge lesson in observation. Even in a small club like ours the judges are always surprising us with their insights. You are learning all the time. Despite a challenging theme, I’m thinking NASCENT and LEVITATION here, even the Wildlife specialists produced work outside their comfort zone which everyone enjoyed.

I’d like to see more past members getting involved and telling us about their photographic journey but that’s another topic for another time. Meanwhile, as a present member, you should be expressing your view about how our club should evolve. Send your ideas and comments to the club email address.

Margaret

 

Evaluation of Digital Images – October 2024

Evaluation of Digital Photography
Title	Category	Author	Star	Score	Award	Pic of Month
a pier no more	scapes	Geora Zadok	1	12	COM
After a feast	Wildlife	Betzi Pierce	3	10	Gold
Alpine Swift	wildlife	patrick cardwell	2	11	Gold
Autumn bounty	nature	Lynn Toms	3	9	Silver
Autumn in full swing	Landscape	Betzi PIerce	3	10	Gold
Boho bin picker	Street	Marian Shinn	2	8	Silver
closing in	Wildlife	Peter Franklin	4	10	Silver
Cornish sunrise	Nature	Lynn Toms	3	9	Silver
Cut back	Sport	Keith Lyle	4	12	Gold
Defending his kill	wildlife	Didi Franklin	3	10	Gold
Engraved by time	portrait	Peter Brandt	MB	13	COM	Yes
estuary sunset	Landscape	MarianShinn	2	12	COM
Fatal swoop	Wildlife	Didi Franklin	3	13	COM	Yes
Feasting	Macro	Ceridwyn Jamieson	4	12	Gold
Filling up the sky	open	Derek Goldman	4	12	Gold
Focussed glare	Wildlife	Peter Franklin	4	10	Silver
Fun on the beach	Open	Geoff Jamieson	4	11	Gold
Girls All A Flutter	open	marielouise cardw	2	9	Gold
great egret	open	Geora Zadok	1	10	Gold
green eyes	wildlife	Lorne Sulcas	4	12	Gold
Having a drink	Wildlife	Cecil Walker	1	11	COM
I am not amused	wildlife	marielouise cardw	2	11	Gold
Inca beauty	Open	Geoff Jamieson	4	12	Gold
Inner Glow	Open	Ceridwyn Jamieson	4	12	Gold
Looking for breakfast	wildlife	Cecil Walker	1	10	Gold
Low tide forager	travel	Peter Brandt	MB	11	Silver
Martial Eagle Landing	Open	Johan Kloppers	MB	13	COM	Yes
OJ Splash	open	Derek Goldman	4	11	Gold
Powerhouse	Sport	Keith Lyle	4	12	Gold
Rain Due	open	Margaret Silk	2	9	Gold
Sad and Lonely	mono	Margaret Silk	2	10	Gold
Shy Albatross	wildlife	patrick cardwell	2	11	Gold
Tawny Eagle Landing	Wildlife	Johan Kloppers	MB	11	Silver
The shadow	Open	Mike Wesson	2	8	Silver
The tree	Landscape	Mike Wesson	2	7	Silver
tongue out of cheek	wildlife	Lorne Sulcas	4	11	Gold

Winners of Digital Image of the Month – October 2024
Please click on images to enlarge.

Evaluation of Theme Images – October 2024

Title	Author	Star	Score	Award	Points	Pic of Month
A Spirit rising	Lynn Toms	3	10	Gold	3	Yes
Airborne	marielouise cardwell	2	12	COM	4
apple for the beyond	Geora Zadok	2	9	Gold	3
avocet levitation	Lorne Sulcas	4	9	Silver	2
BurstBag	Margaret Silk	2	10	Gold	3
Catch My Camera	Ceridwyn Jamieson	4	10	Silver	2
Ejected	Keith Lyle	4	10	Silver	2
Entry for fun	Mike Wesson	2	9	Gold	3
Fosbury float	Derek Goldman	4	10	Silver	2
Mary Poppin’s Mother	Geoff Jamieson	4	11	Gold	3	Yes
Moondance	Betzi Pierce	3	13	COM	4	Yes
Seeking divinity	Peter Brandt	MB	12	Gold	3
The returning	Peter Franklin	4	9	Silver	2

Winners of Theme Image of the Month – October 2024
Please click on images to enlarge.

Membership fees due 2024/25