From the Chair
March was a bustling month for Fish Hoek Photographic Society. Both in club activities and in members’ personal projects. Informal light-painting and moon-photography outings brought great energy, and our WhatsApp group was buzzing with images, tips and stories throughout the month. The vibe has been wonderfully positive, with lots of photographic curiosity and camaraderie sparking fresh ideas and creative shoots.
A special congratulations to Peter Brandt for having a panel of 20 images accepted to the Chennai Photo Biennale – an open call that drew submissions from around the world. Well done, Peter!
We’d like to thank long‑time judge Keith Lyle, who has decided to step back from judging to concentrate on his bowling. Keith, your contribution over the years has been invaluable – enjoy the lanes, and we look forward to seeing more of your bowling sport photography!
Looking ahead: April’s theme is Abstract Photography. With a few public holidays coming up, there should be plenty of “snapping time” – so get out, experiment and send in your best work.
Wishing everyone a lovely month ahead. Take care and see you at the next meeting.
Warm regards,
Betzi
Be a Judge
The PSSA Judges Accreditation Programme (JAP) course will open for admissions in July 2026. If you have ever wondered what happens on the other side of the scoring table, this is your opportunity to develop your judging skills and contribute even more meaningfully to our photographic community.
Read more here https://pssa.co.za/judging-accreditation-programme/
April Theme – Abstract – Submit by 20th April
Abstract photography focuses on line, shape, form, texture, pattern, tone and colour rather than on identifying a subject: even recognisable sources (rust, oil on water, a building façade) can be abstract when their formal qualities dominate the image. Techniques that remove detail or stylise—blur, silhouette, tight crop, long exposure or heavy processing—may create abstraction-like effects, but an image counts as abstract only when the design and visual elements are the primary concern, not the object itself. Photography is always “of something,” so hinting at the source is acceptable and often adds a productive tension; abstract work is not the same as altered-reality composites, nor is every “artistic” photo necessarily abstract.
Three things to understand
1. Recognisable elements can be abstract
• Even when you can tell the source (rust, oil on water, a torn poster), the image is abstract if those elements are shown so their formal qualities (shape, colour, texture, pattern, tone) are what you notice first. The subject’s identity becomes secondary.
2. Abstraction by removal is not automatically abstract
• Shooting or processing that removes detail (silhouettes, low texture, limited tone) can make a subject less recognizable, but that alone doesn’t make it abstract. If the image is still read primarily as “a person” or “a car,” it remains representational.
3. Stylisation creates abstraction-like qualities
• Changing an element with motion blur, long exposure, shallow depth of field or heavy processing can remove key qualities of the subject. That often gives abstraction-like effects, but it’s only truly abstract if the formal elements take precedence over identifying the subject (point 1).
What abstract is not
• Altered Reality (e.g., obvious composites or surreal scenes) is usually still representational — it shows things that refer to real objects.
• “Artistic” is a broader label; abstract work can be artistic, but not all artistic photos are abstract.
Quick checklist to decide if an image is abstract
• Do line, shape, texture, tone or colour dominate over subject identification? → likely abstract.
• Is the subject immediately recognised and that recognition is the main point? → representational.
Few practical examples:
1. Macro of rust flakes
• Tight frame, shallow depth of field; you see texture, colour and pattern rather than “rust.” The formal qualities dominate.
2. Oil on water swirls
• Close crop and saturated colour; patterns and colour become the subject, not the oil itself.
3. Intentional camera movement (ICM) of trees
• Vertical blur turns branches into lines and rhythm; you see form and motion, not a forest.
4. Tight crop of a building façade
• Focus on repeating windows, shadows, geometry so the façade reads as shapes and rhythm, not “this building.”
5. Long exposure of moving lights at night
• Light trails and colour bands create abstract shapes. If the scene is stripped of context, it reads as design.
6. Reflections in water (cropped and rotated)
• Ripples, colours and distorted shapes become the image’s elements; the source is only a hint.
Shooting tips to make an image more abstract
• Crop tightly to remove context.
• Emphasize one or two formal elements (line, colour, texture).
• Use macro, shallow DOF, long exposure, ICM or unusual angles.
• Process to enhance tone, contrast or colour if it helps the design.
• Ask: “What do I want people to see first — the subject or the design?”
Thanks Betzi for this comprehensive guide.
Grow our Club
Please ask interested friends, family and work buddies to follow our club on Facebook, Instagram and Flicker as a way of getting interested photographers who may join us and add to the clubs skill set (we need educationalists and organisers as well as talented photographers).
You can even invite them to attend any of our club meetings for the tiny fee of R30 – which gives them the right to vote, Plus coffee and treats!
Understanding PSSA membership and Salons – Talk by Nicol Du Toit
FHPS is affiliated to the Photographic Society of South Africa (PSSA), which is the official body representing photographers in Southern Africa. PSSA is an autonomous Society and through its affiliations affords members contact with the international affairs of photography. To explain the role of PSSA, and Salons, we are looking forward to having Nicol Du Toit join us prior to our usual club meeting on the 27th April.
Salon Success
Congratulations to Keith for his acceptance in the Ermelo Photo Club.
The full list of PSSA Salons, entry criteria and the winning images can be found at https://pssa.co.za/category/salons/calendar-results-for-year-ending-june-2026/
March Results
Many thanks to this months Judging Panel.
You can view all the submissions by going to Flickr – just click here
Evaluation of Digital Images – Mar 2026
Winning Images
Please click on images to enlarge.
Evaluation of Theme Images – Mar 2026
(Theme: Transport)
Winning Image
Please click on images to enlarge.
