This evening’s talk is by a fantastic macro photographer, René Krekels. The talk is described here in his own words:

Hidden Secrets of Small Animals, a performance by René Krekels.

René Krekels from the Netherlands graduated in biology and also studied photography. A fruitful combination, especially when we are talking about small animals. With macro photography he brought his favourite subjects in front of the lens. Of course, biodiversity in all its beauty was already a challenge. Later René saw and read about the behaviour of small animals. That made photography more interesting and intensive. For example, to take pictures of flying creatures, which many insects do, he used high-speed photography, like your Stephen Dalton who had technically achieved it much earlier. In this way René Krekels was also able to show why blue-winged grasshoppers had been given that name.

René writes and publishes images in magazines. Last year he won the 1st prize in the CUPOTY photo competition ‘Close-up Photographer of the Year – category insects’ with an image of acid-spraying wood ants.
 In addition to publications, René likes to give performances at nature organizations and photo clubs.

The evening is then filled with a lot of images but also with music. Everything is then focused on the experience that the viewers take home with them. That is why he will also delight the audience with parts of his performance “Bedroom secrets of Small animals”. Beauty but also functionality are depicted. Since the performance takes place at FRODSHAM & DISTRICT PS, René Krekels will regularly discuss ‘the making of’ during the lecture.

We continue our Mix and Match battle with Ellesmere Port this evening.

The judge for the evening will be James Hardy CPAGB, LRPS, AFIAP, Hon LCPU

If there’s a night to be partisan, then tonight’s the night! Don’t miss it!

The first talk tonight will be given by Nicky Higgins on “Scapes”.

This will be followed in the second half of the evening by a talk given by Maggie Bullock entitled “Wildlife of the Chobe National Park, Botswana”. The Chobe National Park in northern Botswana is one of Africa’s top wildlife destinations, especially renowned for its dense elephant population and the stunning Chobe River ecosystem. The park spans about 11,700 km² (4,500 sq mi) and includes diverse habitats — from dry savannas and mopane woodlands to lush floodplains along the river.

This evening’s presentation is by Hendrik Lohmann.

He will cover street photography very generally before showing us his TTPP project.

Hendrik started with an analogue camera and switched to a digital one in 2009. For some years now, however, he has been using both types. In the beginning landscapes and architecture were the focus of his photographs. Nevertheless at some point, he discovered street photography and developed a great love for it.

One of his greatest influences in the beginning was Marius Vieth. It was the moment when he saw one of his photographs that depicted a guy with an umbrella running through the rain, that he decided to become a street photographer himself. A candid moment shown in a very fine and sensitive way.

“I am fascinated by humans” – a sentence summing up my thrill. Their uniqueness and versatility at the same time, impresses him. It drives him towards trying to catch these moments and immortalise them on pieces of paper.

Besides street photography, where he tries to seize not only the special moments, but also the casual everyday-life situations, there is also the street portraits.

Hendrik addresses an unknown person on the street, that catches his attention, and asks to portray him/her. It happens on the spot and usually never takes more than a few minutes. Since it all happens fairly quickly, he still achieve unselfconscious facial expressions. That is how many of the portraits for the “What the hell…?” and the “beard-series”, as well as others, developed.

During the past three years Hendrik has been photographing the “What the hell…?” series. The project combines the portrait with the question of what the hell are they doing on this planet…

His personal motivation is the fact that he has a lot of fun doing it, nevertheless he also love bringing joy to the people that he portrays, with the photographs that he takes.

It’s our 60th Season so watch out for details of  a special party!

The Catalyst Exhibition – a talk through the work involved in putting this exhibition on given by Vince Scriven, Bill Griffiths & Peter Edwards

Trevor is an international travel photographer and photo tour leader, based in Donegal, Ireland. Born in Derry, he went on to teach geography at international schools in Singapore, Togo, Italy, Ethiopia and Brazil – always travelling extensively with his camera.

This naturally brought two of his life’s passions together as a geographer-photographer. His photography focuses predominantly on culture and landscapes; images which reflect a spatial and temporal journey through life, while striving to reflect the need to live in a more sustainable world. By seeking the moment and light in various contexts, we can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

My approach is based on an alternative vision of tomorrow – capturing unforgettable moments through photography that empower us to reflect upon the world around us, and truly be the change that we want to see in that world.

As Henry David Thoreau said, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see”.

[caption id="attachment_18085" align="alignnone" width="300"] Trevor Cole[/caption]

The first part of the evening will be a talk given by our member Leo Kidds and the second half of the evening will be a presentation on Photobooks by Liz Kenny.

The third competition of the season. This is a PDI-only competition (i.e. no print section).

The theme is “Motion” and we have decided this season to give a steer on what is intended so that you can more easily judge whether your entries are acceptable or within scope for this theme.

For “Motion”, images should capture movement within the frame, either by freezing action at a precise moment or by using techniques like motion blur or intentional camera movement to convey a sense of speed, energy, or flow.

Judge to be confirmed.

Good luck!

Enter Competition Here