Summer Event Reminder

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Hitchin Lavender

Just to remind you we have an outing planned to Hitchin Lavender,  Cadwell Farm, Arlesey Rd, Ickleford, Hitchin SG5 3UA this coming Tuesday, 24th July.

Meet there at 6.30pm to photograph the lavender field followed by refreshments in the cafe.

If you haven’t been before, look on the Hitchin Lavender website to see how stunning the field looks, especially as the sun is going down.

The cost is £6, including picking a bag of lavender should you wish.

The weather seems to be set fair.  Looking forward to seeing you there.

Any queries, please get in touch with Linda at summer@bedfordcameraclub.co.uk

Special Opportunity

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Please read the email below which I received from Luke Brown who runs a free running group –
 
We’d like to invite you over to take some photographs of us again (I took some in 2016) at the Bedford river festival this weekend (Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th July). We are performing on the grass arena in the sports village at 4:30pm and it would be great to use your expertise. We probably would not be able to pay you for your time, however would be willing to pay for your lunch or meal at our celebratory dinner afterwards.
 
We would intend to publish the photographs on our website and would put your name and a link to your social media/ photography page if you have one underneath also.
 
Let me know your thoughts 
 
Kind Regards,
Luke Brown
Spiral Freerun,
Parkour & Freerunning Co.
 
This is a good opportunity to get involved in some community photo taking as well as it being a subject we don’t often get the chance to photograph lots of amazing, fast action.
Please let me know as soon as possible (and no later than the end of Thursday) if you would like to help out on linda.swain@sky.com and I will make the arrangements.
Thanks,
Linda

2400 Steps

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A summer event with a difference, held over two evenings. It is both light-hearted and challenging.

The first half is on Tuesday August 21st.  We meet in Bedford town centre at 6.30pm

The task is easy. Walk 100 steps in any direction your choose, take one photo from that point, walk another 100 steps, take one photo, repeat until you have walked 2400 steps and taken 24 photos.

This should take 60 to 90 minutes. 2400 steps is less than the distance from Bedford Town Bridge to the Suspension Bridge and back again.

N.B. Photos are taken in JPG, only ONE photo is permitted at each stop, no post processing.

At the end we copy your 24 photos to a laptop. We will have these printed for you (24 prints at 6″ x 4″) ready for the second evening.

The second half is on Tuesday, September 4th. This is the review evening. It will be a social evening, possibly at a local pub. You get back your 24 prints. Over a drink (or two) we compare prints, ridicule discuss the shots taken, justify your choices, problems overcome and lessons learned. Leave your ego at the door, it could be embarrassing.

Cost to take part: expected £3.50 to cover the printing

Objective

The walk is an extension of one used on photographic degree courses. It forces the photographer out of their comfort zone. You will find yourself in a position, or facing a subject, that you would not normally consider viable. You will have to think carefully about the shot. You only get the one chance at each stop. Choose your composition and exposure with care.

After a while you may start forsaking the norm and begin experimenting, looking for weird patterns, reflections, shapes and obscure lines.  At least that was my excuse, you think of your own.

You will, almost certainly, take some dud shots and more unusual and interesting compositions.

You will learn by thinking through your composition, solving your problems and how other members tackled theirs.

You can walk this on your own or as a pair. Pairs are good; you’ll discuss potential shots, try to take different shots to each other and encourage your other half not to cheat!

This is NOT a competition. There is no prize or glory for the best shot. You are expected to return with some shots that didn’t work and some unusual pictures, perhaps the more weird the better. If your pictures are good club competition shots you may well have missed the whole point.

Are You Up For It?

If you wish to take part let us know. Send an email to ian@colink.co.uk with the message “I may seriously regret this decision but please include me in on the 2400 Steps event”

We will send you more details on how this all works, locations, hints and tips and, to prove we are not quite as evil as you may think, tell you where you can, ever-so slightly, bend the rules.

Ian

Reminder!

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Box End Wakeboarding

The weather is set fair for a great evening at Box End Park tomorrow night to photograph the wakeboarders on the lake.

An excellent opportunity to practise your fast action photography.

Meet by the lake from 6.30pm onwards for a couple of hours of image making followed by socialisation in the bar.

Tuesday Evening Outings

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Summer Events – Dates for Your Diary

We have two popular visits scheduled for Tuesday evenings in July.

The first is to Box End Park, MK43 8RQ on 10th July

Meet at the waterside from 6.30pm onwards to watch and photograph the expertise of wakeboarders following the cable circuit around the lake. There may also be some waterskiing taking place.

As the sun lowers and the open water swimmers take to the lake, move into the bar for a social end to the evening.

 

Secondly, we are going to Hitchin Lavender,  Cadwell Farm, Arlesey Rd, Ickleford, Hitchin SG5 3UA on 24th July

Meet there at 6.30pm to photograph the lavender field followed by refreshments in the cafe.

If you haven’t been before, look on the Hitchin Lavender website to see how stunning the field looks, especially as the sun is going down.

The cost is £6, including picking a bag of lavender should you wish.

Hoping to see many of you at one or both  of these events.  Let’s hope the sun keeps shining.

Points of View 2018

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Points of View 2018

Sunday 14 October 2018

 

This is an early warning of the date for this year’s competition.  Keep your diary free.

 

The location is Bromham and Biddenham.  Starting with coffee at Bromham Mill and ending with lunch at The Three Tuns in Biddenham.

 

More details to follow.

 

Jim Boud

Summer Events: Peterborough Cathedral Workshop

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“A Summer Events Workshop” has been planned for Monday 23rd July 18 at Peterborough Cathedral, lead by the curator and photographer of the cathedral Adrian Stone. There will be a maximum of 12 participants for this workshop, so it will be on a first come basis.
 
The course would be reserved for Bedford Camera Club only.
 
Here are some key points.  I must stress that the planning is still at the outline stage, but this information will give you a general overview of the possibilities.
 
We would get together at the Education Centre at 10 AM for an introduction and a briefing.  Refreshments will be served.  We will have sole access to a locked meeting room so personal possessions and photographic kit can be stored there safely.
 
We could then complete a tour of the Cathedral precincts including the West Front, the medieval gravestones, external views, and the cloisters.
 
Moving inside, our group will be able to photograph throughout the ground floor.  We can change the lighting to highlight specific photographic subjects.  There is stunning stained glass to shoot, the ornate ceilings, the choir stalls, medieval statues, the altar area and the beautiful east end.  You will also be able to shoot in the medieval library.
 
We’ll then have a shortish lunch break at the Education Centre where tea and coffee will be available.  Each member would need to bring a packed lunch.
 
Afterwards we would move up to the first floor called the Triforium, where there are beautiful shots to take, it’s a great vantage point.  All being well we will then go up further to see the roof timbers, the bell ringing area, the wooden winch used in the original construction, and out onto the rooftop for views around the town and beyond.
 
We will have cathedral guides with us throughout the day.  We may also have an archaeologist joining us, who will share with us the history of the cathedral and its construction.  Adrian  will be available to suggest good vantage points with us, areas of photographic interest and  to help less experienced members with their camera settings.
 
The day will draw to a close at 4PM.
 
The day long workshop will cost £40.00 each.
 
Before the event Adrian will  also send us some basic tutorials on architectural photography and suggested camera settings for preparation.
 
As the workshop is limited to a maximum of 12, it will be on a first come first served basis.  If you are interested, please confirm to Bruce Deacon at brucedeacon88@gmail.comas soon as possible to reserve your place. If the course is oversubscribed, then there will be a waiting list in case anyone drops out later ! 

Summer Events Evening Walk

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Felmersham Gravel Pits Nature Reserve

Join us for our next summer event evening walk on Tuesday 26th June.

The nature reserve is an area of various habitats including lakes and the river Great Ouse. It is known for its range of birds and flowers. 

It is recognised as one of the best places in Bedfordshire to see dragonflies and damselflies.

We will meet outside the reserve at 6.30pm.

To find it, take the road from Felmersham towards Sharnbrook.  The nearest postcode is MK44 1JW.                                                                 Cross the bridge over the river onto the Causeway.  Continue past the raised walkway and ahead on the left you will see a lane just before open fields.  Opposite is the entrance gate into the reserve.

We will park and meet up on the lane.

Please contact Linda on summer@bedfordcameraclub.co.uk if you are coming so we make sure we all meet up before setting off.

We look forward to another walk in good company and, hopefully, again with perfect evening weather.

Oakley to Stevington Walk

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For our next summer event join us next Tuesday, 19th June at 6.30pm for a riverside walk.

Beginning at the Twin Bridges in Oakley (Church Lane MK43 7RU – past the church on the road towards Bromham and Stevington) we will walk alongside the River Great Ouse towards Stevington.

Our route will take us past Stevington windmill.

Moira and Clive will be our guides for the evening.

There is some parking by the bridges, otherwise park by the church or in the village.  We will meet up by the bridges.

Please contact Linda on summer@bedfordcameraclub.co.uk if you are coming so we know to expect you.

Pole to Pole Wildlife Photography

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Pole to Pole

Wildlife photographer, Ursula Clare Franklin brings her stunning photographs to St Paul’s, Bedford for 3 days only, 22-24 June 2018.

Ursula loves focusing  on the  detail that the naked eye often misses, for example the hairs on the legs of insects and the stamens of flowers. 
Since early childhood Ursula has spent time in the countryside, developing a real love of nature.
Ursula lives in the Quantcocks from where she often heads for the Exmoor National Park, a photographer’s paradise with its red deer, ponies and birdlife.
She also loves taking photographs further afield and has travelled from the Arctic to Antarctica with many places in between hence the exhibition title ‘Pole to Pole’.

Come along and see Ursula’s wonderful nature photography for yourself.

Open Daily Friday 22-Saturday 23, 10-4, Sunday 24 June, 2-4
Admission £1 (children under 16 FREE) 
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Sq,  MK40 1SQ 

Supper with Music Friday 22nd June 7 for 7.30 pm
Come and hear Ursula talk about her work at St Paul’s church, listen to Cantamus Chamber (3) choir sing, eat a delicious supper AND see the exhibition all for only £25.00 (pre booked).
A few tickets still available, Tel 01234 340163
In aid of St Paul’s church and Bedford Hospitals Charity.

Ursula was a chorister at St Paul’s Bedford whilst her late husband Ralph Franklin was its organist. 
All images are for sale and commissions taken for different sizes and canvases. 
There is also an extensive range of greetings cards for sale and a 2019 ‘Pole to Pole’ calendar of some of Ursula’s favourite images from her recent travels.