South West
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N E W S L E T T E R |
SOUTH WESTERN REGION
SPRING 2008
Editor: Jenny Leathes MA ARPS, 19 Trefusis Terrace, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 2HA
Telephone no. 01209 211156 Email: jenny@leathes.freeserve.co.uk
Regional Organiser: Rod Fry ARPS, 6 Tavistock Place, Broadsands Park, Paignton, Devon TQ4 7NZ
Telephone no. 01803 844721 (after 7pm) Email: rod@rodfry.eclipse.co.uk
___________________________________________________________________________Introduction
The committee has been working very hard on your behalf, to produce a full programme of events this year. I look forward to seeing you at some, if not all of these, and remember you are more than welcome to bring along your friends.
Members Exhibition
It has been agreed that this year's exhibition theme will be " The South West, the place and people".
Those of you who have not submitted work previously, why not give it a try? Details will be posted on the rps website.
Frames
This year we have bought our own frames (40cm x 50cm and a few 50cm x 50cm) in satin aluminium, for the exclusive use of the region. These will be made available for members to hire. If you want to loan these frames, please contact you're nearest committee member, for availability and hire charges.
Succession Planning
We are extremely fortunate to have a willing team of committee members, and volunteers to help run the region. However it is vitally important to have a talent pool of new members, willing to help support the region and in time be willing to take on a more active role. If you have some spare time, and would like to get involved, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me, or your nearest committee member.
Website
It was agreed at the last AGM, that we would transfer our local website to the RPS main website. Mick Medley has done a sterling job in doing the conversion. We would like to have members pictures on our front page, so could you please e-mail some jpeg images to Mick, (michael.medley @btinternet.com),so he can have a bank of work to choose from.
South West Contemporary Group
The Contemporary Group welcomes contemporary photographers who wish to discuss their work with like-minded people. Currently, the group is exploring the theme of "Change" in the South West. The end product will be an exhibition and hopefully a publication.
Any one interested in joining should contact Gabi Krunkenberg-Tayler on 01363 774213 or e-mail gabikruk@aol.com
All events arranged by the Region are listed on the Regional events page of this site.
The Region is based around Devon and Cornwall. We arrange field trips workshops and lectures which are open to all members and non members. A small charge is made for lectures and workshops to cover costs, but all field trips are free unless an admission fee is charged by the centre we are visiting.
Devon has the wild rugged area s of Dartmoor and Exmoor as well as some beautiful coastline, especially on the North Coast. Cornwall is renowned for the beautiful beaches and spectacular coastline, again more especially the North Coast, as well as harbours and fishing villages.
Well known places to visit include The Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan,Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor and Exmmor, all with their own variety of interest and photographich attraction. A wealth of National Trust properties are within the area along with English Heritage sites and areas of Special Scientific Interest.
Regional Organiser report
27th April 2008Introduction: -
Welcome to the annual general meeting of the South West Region of the Royal Photographic Society. You are all welcome to attend this formal part of the day but please do remember that you may only observe unless, you are a current member of the Society.
We hope to keep the business section to a minimum, so that we can enjoy the rest of the day looking at images.
The photographer Robert Adams once said, in his book, Why people photograph, “your own photography is never enough. Every photographer who has lasted has depended on other peoples pictures too – photographs may be public or private, serious or funny, but they carry with them a reminder of community”.
The Royal embodies this precept, in as much as it is an all-inclusive organisation and welcomes all photographers, what ever their age, ability or style of photography. Also as well as making images, we enjoy looking at other peoples work.
At times we are all guilty of trying to categorise photographers and put labels on them, or their work. We also tend to be critical of other peoples work especially if we do not understand it, but please remember the Royal was founded as a learned Society for the development of the art and science of photography and must by definition, be pushing at the boundaries as well as supporting the accepted canon of work.
I would urge all of you to have an open mind when approaching all works of art, including photographs, and to have the same sprit as Minor White, who said “ Postpone judgement. When starting to read, experience or take part in a photograph (or picture of any kind), first put aside both like and dislike. Leave criticism to the last, or better still forget to criticize.”
This is my third report to you as your Regional Organiser and I will pick out the highlights of our activities over the last 12 months.
Speakers
We had a full programme of speakers planned for the Winter /Spring period however, due to circumstances beyond our control it was not possible to run the programme with Plymouth University, as was our intention and three speakers had to be cancelled.
On a brighter note we were able to host the John Blakemore lecture on the 19th May, and those of you who attended the Carbis Bay weekend were treated to two exceptional speakers Dr Derek Hunter with his presentation of superb black and white documentary photographs, of the people in and around Chagford. And Nigel Cheffers Herd showed us his personal collection of work from the States, France and literally within ½ a mile of his home.
He also gave us a rare insight into his professional work concerning the trials and tribulations of working with picture editors on Art books, to photographing the Fleet Air Arm collection at Yeovilton.
We are putting plans in place for next year, which include inviting Simon Roberts, an internationally published photojournalist and a natural history photographer TBC to speak to us. Watch out for details on the website and in the next newsletter.
Exhibitions
Last year we held the South West Members Exhibition “travels with my camera” at the Sherwell Gallery from the 9th July to 10th August. This year we have been able to successfully apply for our member’s exhibition to be hung from the 1st December to the 13th December at the Sherwell Gallery. This year the theme is the South West, the place and people. We will want the work in no later that the 1st October. You can arrange to bring the work to various delivery points around the region, which will be on our webpage and in the next Newsletter.
Plymouth University played host to the 150th RPS International Print Exhibition a very successful event, which ran from the 26th November to the 11th of January 2008. This year the University has accepted the RPS Contemporary Group Exhibition entitled “Still Life Revisited” and that will run in July 2009.
There has been a major change in the exhibition hanging policy at the University, since the opening of the Rowland Lavensky building in Plymouth and they are now looking for nationally and internationally known work to be displayed in future.
The University are getting far more requests for exhibition space than ever before, so realistically I think we will have to seek an alternative venue for the 2009 Members Exhibition. I urge all of you to come up with some ideas of suitable venues we could approach. It is your region, it is your member’s exhibition, and so if you want it to continue we need your help.
Back In February the region played host to the RPS International projected image exhibition, which included transparencies and projected digital images for the first time, as always this proved to be a popular event and plans are in place to host the event in 2009.
Own Frames
As many of you will know we have our own frames which subject to prior agreement can be hired out by RPS members, the rate is .10 per frame per week that the exhibition is hung, subject to a minimum charge of £5.00. The hirer is responsible for the collection and return of the frames. Any glass breakages or damage to frames will be the responsibility of the hirer. If you are interested in hiring the frames please contact you’re nearest committee member for availability.
Terms and conditions will be posted on the website.
Field Trips
The cancellation of the speakers at the last minute has given us the chance to lay on extra field trips and I am extremely grateful to my committee who rallied round to suggest venues, lead the trips and publicise them. Again we have a full programme planned for this year details of which have been circulated in the Spring Newsletter and are posted on the Website.
Distinction Workshops
Due to the heavy demand for Licentiate workshops we said we would hold a Licentiate only workshop here on the 16th November, we have had requests for A panel submissions so have agreed to open the day up to Associates as well. Places are limited and we already have five places booked. If you want to attend and or bring work along could you please let me know as soon as possible to avoid disappointment?
Distinctions Assessment Day L
We are in discussions with Bath to try and hold an instant Licentiate Assessment Day here in the South West. We are aiming for early in the New Year as soon as arrangements are in place we will advise you.
Membership Communication
We have moved the local website to the RPS main website and Mick has made great strides in making it our own packed full of information and images. But I will let Mick tell you about this. We have moved the dates of the twice-yearly newsletter to a spring and autumn editions. Also membership matters has an update of our events every month in the Journal.
Postal Folio
Gabi has asked me to say a few words on the postal folio, I originally started the postal folio in the mid 1990’s when as I was RO the first time round, it was formed so photographers living in a large region could see other photographers work, and give some constructive comments and views on other peoples work. You are able to put in any image you like and the subject matter and style is completely open. If you want to join the folio and get the chance to see interesting and varied work would you please contact Gabi.
Carbis Bay
It was decided at the last committee meeting that we should find a new venue for the weekend away; plans are in place to find a suitable Hotel in the Dorset area. It was felt that after 10 years in Cornwall it was time for a change. Again when plans are in place we will advise you.
My last term of office as your RO
I have informed my committee that this will be my last year in office as your Regional Organiser and I will be standing down at the next AGM in April 2009. Work commitments mean that I can no longer give the same level of attention to the post as I would like.
Succession Planning
In the Spring Newsletter I did elude to succession planning so the committee and the region have 12 months to find a replacement and I would be more than willing to help my successor into the role.
In conclusion I would like to thank my committee and volunteers who work so hard quietly behind the scenes to run the region and lay on an interesting and varied programme for us to enjoy.
Rod Fry ARPS
Regional Organiser
April 2008
