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Macro Workshop

 

Saturday Aug 30th. saw our Club host a sponsored   “Macro Nature Workshop”,  aided by the Isle of Man Arts Council.

Initially 30 members or so from our Club and the other Photographic Societies of the Island met to see an illustrated talk given by Brian McKenna from Northern Ireland, our invited speaker for the day.

 

 

 

He gave an insight into nature macro photography illustrated with some fine examples of his own work, some taken especially for this occasion. He then conducted an indoor workshop with practical advice on equipment and technique, using specimens provided by the Club members for the occasion. Moths, flowers, cones, and ferns being some of the subject matter. Throughout all of this one could not be impressed both by his knowledge and his easy manner in dealing with our question and queries.

 

 

 

Having enjoyed the coffee and tea provided, and our packed lunches, we set of on two outside site visits. One being the wildflower nursery at St.Johns run by Andre Dubbledam, and the other, another wildflower garden at Tynwald Mills. Both of these saw the members trying to put into practise the information and advice we had previously been given. Various insects were pursued, flowers selected, and grasses and Hazel Nuts captured for posterity, and to be worked upon no doubt later in Photoshop. Rain later in the day didn’t dampen the spirits, coffee and cake in the Mill Cafe saw more discussion, before most of the members headed home for a change of clothing.

 

Later that evening we all met again at The Highwayman for an evening meal. The proceedings were started when Brian was asked to present two awards to our junior members. Ella Webster had become Runner Up, and Reuben Allan had won Young Photographer of the Year in the Annual LCPU Competition. This was not only a first for our Society, but had not been achieved by any other Photographic Society on the Island before. Ella received a silver medal for her achievements, which also included second best entry overall in the competition. Reuben received a gold medal and the Arthur Downes Cup, having had both the best, and third best overall entries in the competition.

 

 

The rest of the evening was spent enjoying the good meal provided, and of course the conversation and discussions that ensued with our fellow photographers.

At the end of the evening our President asked the members present to show their appreciation of the work that had been put into organising the day by Doreen Kelly and her fellow Committee Members, and in particular to Brian for the attention to detail, his easy manner, and his expertise which had shone through the whole day and made it such a success.

 

 

Photographs by Dorothy Flint, Doug Allen and Eddie Fryer.

 

At the end of the day our President, Doug Allan, decided to run a competition for the best image of the day.  The prize being the price of the days entrance fee of £10.

Our of the entries he could not decide between 3, so gave a prize to eac of £5, thereby raising the total prize to £15.

The winning entries were by  Gordon Corrin,  Ruth Nicholls  and John Keelan (order only by my arrangement of pics,!)

Finally, for some reminders, and helpful tips from 

Brian McKenna

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