Tony Cooper ARPS

Regional Organiser and Distinctions Advisory Coordinator

Tony is a keen Monochrome photographer and founder of the "Monoists" group and member of Crown Monochrome, he gained his LRPS in 2000 and his ARPS in 2003.

He is the Organiser for the Distinctions Advisory days in the Western Region.

Rod Wainwright ARPS

Newsletter Editor

As is the case of so many keen photographers, Rod became interested in the subject at an early age. His first memorable inspiration came from the black and white imagery of Carol Reed's film "The Third Man". His involvement with monochrome work has lasted throughout his life.

On another level, living in London as a youngster, was able to enjoy the capital's museums and galleries, with a particular interest in painting, especially the watercolours of Turner. 

He gained his ARPS in June 2009 with a set of pinhole images reflecting the influence of Turner gained in his youth, using pastel tones and indistinct impressionistic shapes to build up the the images.

Rod is active as Competition and Exhibition Secretary with the Kingswood Photographic Society and is also an experienced Wedding Photographer.

John Long ARPS, DPAGB, Hon.PAGB

Committee Member

John became interested in photography in the early 1950's and became a member of the  Kingswood Photographic Society. He was Secretary for 43 years, and In 2002, he was elected as the President and Honorary Life Member.

Over the years he has been very active within the Western Counties Photographic Federation, being their President from 1991-1992

Since 1960, he has lectured and judged within the Western Counties, and also in the Midlands and Southern counties. He became a Licentiate of the RPS in 1980 and an Associate in 1990.

In 2001 the Royal Photographic Society was presented him with the Fenton Medal, and in 2002 the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain presented him with the J.S.Lancaster Medal for services to Amateur Photography in the UK.

He has served on this committee since 2000.

David Bathard FRPS

Camera Club Liaison

David became fascinated with Photography almost thirty years ago so he joined his local camera club.

As a club Photographer, David has embraced all that the photographic clubs have to offer and for most of that time has either been Program Secretary of club or Chairman of Frome Selwood PS.

David has sort further inspiration by becoming a member of the Royal Photographic Society and by progressing through the Distinctions program, until he gained his Fellowship in Applied Photography.

With such a history he feels well placed as committee member for Club Liaison working to further common interests.

Peter Phillips LRPS

Exhibitions Organiser

Peters retirement in 2006 has given him the opportunity to devote more time to his photography, image processing and photographic societies.  He is a member of RPS Digital Imaging and Visual Art special interest groups and the Kingswood Photographic Society. He attained his RPS Licentiateship in January, 2010.

Born and bred in Yorkshire, and living next door to the high street photographer, his interest in photography began during the 50’s and 60’s. He ventured south to do a degree in Photographic Science and Engineering at the School of Photography, London Polytechnic, now the University of Westminster.

With a "systems thinking" approach to all things photographic and imaging, he embarked on a 40 year career in advanced technology research with BAE Systems in Bristol. He has had invaluable experience working on advances in optics, human factoring, display technologies, colour perception, colour management systems, IT and computing, culminated by heading up the Systems Engineering Innovation Centre (SEIC) at Loughborough University.

Elizabeth Restall LRPS

Committee Member

Elizabeth(reprsenting the Gloucestershire area) is also Treasurer of the RPS Digital Imaging Group, Competition Secretary of Cam & Dursley Camera Club, and a member of Kingswood Photographic Society.

David Norfolk ARPS

Committee Member

David has been an amateur photographer for many years, was taught wet-darkroom colour processing in Australia and now works digitally. The abstract photography David enjoys is much less clumsy when processed on computer. He is an experienced journalist, takes photographs for his articles and has pictures for sale on Getty Images. David has achieved the ARPS Distinction with the Royal Photographic Society.and had an Exhibition at Fenton House in April 2012.

David is influenced by William Eggleston and finding beauty in the mundane; also by Lee Miller and Sir George Pollock. He has probably achieved a recognisable style these days - in so far as people are disturbed by his images even before being told who they're by... He strongly believes that the viewer, as well as the artist, has to work to understand a picture; and that the camera is most fun when it is telling lies. Unfortunately, paradoxically, creating an unreality is much harder now (because of Photoshop, no-one believes what they see), than it was when he only had to re-photograph his darkroom creations onto Kodachrome in order for people to see them as "real".

David brings his journalistic and commentary skills to the region.

Nick Kenyon

Web Organiser

Nick is a recent return to serious photography, having spent the last 20 years in engineering design within industry and computer aided design software development, he now works on menial tasks in the TV and Film Industry.

His love of photography was rekindled by his sons' studies and some invasive eye surgery.

A keen digital campaigner, Nick's style is perhaps nouveau romantic and combines film with computer developed negative and pure digital. Aperture and Lightroom meets HP5.