Inspirational photos on display at Ribblesdale Camera Club

ONE of Ribblesdale Camera Club’s most interesting, unusual and, at times, touching meetings comprised presentations by members Steve Proctor and Gary Williamson. Both presentations were notable for their professional standard use of Photoshop.

Steve started with an update on his recent talk on conservation and photo ethics, talking about the sharp decline in the African Rhino population due to poaching. Although not an endangered species, current trends will see rhino deaths exceed births by 2016. The main reason is the use in Chinese medicine of powdered Rhino horn. As he said, horn is only keratin and you may as well eat hair or chew your finger nails. Turning to the UK, he said the bird population had declined by nearly a quarter since 1970 and some species by 75%. It was vitally important not to disturb nests, whether by photography or otherwise.

Gary Williamson then talked good humouredly about his part-sightedness which, through an inherited problem, left him from the age of 18 with colour blindness and only blurred peripheral vision. As a navy marksman, this changed his life dramatically. He then set a quiz for members, showing a series of pictures which he had modified to show what he sees. It was a problem to guess many things until he showed an unmodified image. As Garry has difficulties in seeing what is happening, he does not use Photoshop. Even when he has a shot right and the camera on fully automatic, he cannot see if someone walks into his shot. He takes the picture a few times until he thinks everything is correct and identifies the best one by taking a picture of his hand as the next picture. He uses black-and-white frequently as he cannot see colours. His final picture was of his wife as he sees her, an emotional moment for those who had no idea how anyone with Garry’s disability can both take good photographs and stay so cheerful and smiling.

A joint presentation rounded off the evening. This was showing how the club members could set up and show their best work as a joint gallery on Flickr. A lot of interest was shown as a possible supplement to Secretary Dean Weaver’s competition winning photo galleries on the club’s website (www.ribblesdalecameraclub.org.uk).

Article from Clitheroe Advertiser & Times – 14th May 2012.

Clitheroe Castle & Pendle Hill

This was the shot that I have wanted for a couple of years now, Clitheroe Castle but with a slight difference. There are many views of this ancient Norman Keep but from just one position on the outskirts of Clitheroe the backdrop is Pendle Hill, normally it’s the sky that forms the canvas. The weather is the making of this image once the viewpoint is known – the low, late sunlight raking across the Castle but not falling the hill. Because of the distance from the castle and also to visually To compress the image this was shot with a 400mm lens, not quite the norm for landscape photography!
A quick drive round to the castle gates revelaed another pleasing aspect, albeit better known, view, the spring colours helping to brighten up a normally obverly green view.
Opposite the gates here the local council have planted some raised beds of tulips so another opportunity arose, again not particularly what I’m known for but still a riot of colour from the right angle.

  

Power in Motion

Power in Motion, a photo by StProc. on Flickr.

Nazareth guitarist Jimmy Murrison playing live at the Grand in Clitheroe.
Not my usual style but what the heck. It was a poor photograph technically and I was about to throw it away but a little voice said “there’s something in there” so I had to try to find it !!!
I boosted colour a little then simply added a ‘poster edges’ filter in Photoshop and here is the result – a bit different.

35,000 and Counting !

Well, I’ve just passed 35000 views of my photostream photos and sets on Flickr. Whilst it might not sound too impressive, that’s 35000 more than if I had not posted them & we take ‘em to share ‘em don’t we?

Taking the Plunge !

After many years of threatening to, I have fianlly joined my local camera club – www.ribblesdalecameraclub.org.uk – a really friendly group with a good mix of skills and styles.
Initially I was not going to enter any competitions in my first year, I thought I would get to know a few people and weigh up the opposition too ! However, I seem to have the bug and have enetered 4 images in my first – the third monthly open competition. This was judged last night by Paul Williamson and I came out with a commended’ and 2 ‘highly commended’which was really pleasing as he was a fairly tough judge who put a lot of effort into his task.
The images entered are shown below.

   

Dunham Massey Deer Walk

Dunham Massey was the setting on a beautiful autumn morning, clear blue skies, rising sun and just an edge to the temperature, perfect for Fallow Deer ruts we were told.
We were part of a group of around 30 people who had signed up with the National Trust wardens for a ‘talk and walk’ around the deer park. It was to be a frustrating day and it was nearly an hour before we were seeing the first deer but we knew lots about the house, gardens and trees!!!
There were lots of facts and you could sense deep knowledge from the wardens, however, we wanted to see deer not listen to facts about them. What we did see was lots of Does and the odd Buck wandering through the woods before having a bacon buttie and coffee in the field. From here we saw a couple of larger older Bucks resting in the sunshine but not making for exciting photos. We left the walk and scouted for Deer ourselves spotting a couple more Bucks, again resting up in the sun.
I would imagine that good shots could be had here and I plan to return soon to catch up. It was really frustrating to watch other photographers getting some action whilst we were urged to stay with the main group some 100 yards away.

World Rhino Day – 22 September 2011

All five of the world’s rhino species are on the brink of extinction because of their distinctive horns.  Though rhino horns are used to fashion dagger handles and are prized possessions in Yemen, the problem today is not with their ornamental use, but in the demand fuelled by the belief that shaved or powered horn can cure anything from fever to cancer. (It is not, as commonly believed, prescribed as an aphrodisiac.)
The majority of African rhino horns are now headed for southeast and east Asia, especially Vietnam and China for use in traditional medicine. In China rhino horn has been used for traditional Chinese medicine since 2000 BC thus belief in its traditional medicinal properties is firmly entrenched.  Though the Chinese government banned the use of rhino horn or any other parts from endangered species in traditional Chinese medicine in 1993 current rhino poaching levels suggest that the use of rhino horn continues unabated in traditional medicine markets.
Several scientific studies have been commissioned and each confirmed that rhino horn does not contain medical properties. Using computerized tomography (CT scans) researchers at the University of Ohio have revealed that horns are comprised of calcium, melanin and keratin and are similar in structure to horse hooves, turtle beaks and cockatoo bills. Thus those who use rhino horn may just as well chew their own nails!
In South Africa the slaughter continues. 13 rhino were butchered in 2007, 83 in 2009, 122 in 2009, 333 in 2010 and at present the figure for 2011 is 290.  The focus of syndicates seems to have moved from rhino in national parks to privately owned populations on reserves and farms – a softer target since the South African National Defence Force was deployed in the Kruger National Park to try to curb poaching. Unfortunately I do not have figures for Kenya, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania, but it’s unlikely these countries are faring better.
Criminal syndicates which deploy helicopters, GPS devices, night vision equipment and foot soldiers who track rhinos are operating with impunity. Armed with specialised veterinary drugs, darting guns, chainsaws and automatic weapons they butcher rhino. In some instances the horns are sawed off while the animal is still alive and it dies a slow and painful death. Rhino calves too are killed because they hinder the butchers in their operations and the tiniest stub of a horn is also deemed useable. Where a calf is rescued at the carcass of its mother it is usually severely traumatised and unlikely to survive despite dedicated efforts by vets and caretakers.
At $60 000 per kilogram, the horns – weighing on average 7 kilograms each – are now worth more than their weight in gold, and there is no shortage of foot soldiers willing to work for a share of the profits.  And that’s only part of the story. Unscrupulous professional hunters and their clients use legal trophy hunting as way of accessing horns for trading, exploiting loopholes in legislation.  Since the beginning of 2010 for every two rhino lost to poachers another has been shot by trophy hunters. In addition there are unconfirmed reports of live rhino sales to China to breed them so that horns can be harvested for use in traditional medicine.

Elephant Jam

At last, the sun is back and the animals are stirring again. Headed north out of Mopani towards Shingwedzi but not intending to go that far north. We passed several water holes and pans but there was little movement around them. We saw a Saddle Billed Stork plus an unidentified Stork – doesn’t look like any of the photos or diagrams in the books! A Common Duiker was spotted in the undergrowth and a Black Backed Jackal ran past with an unfortunate bird in its mouth. On the return south we stopped off at Bowerskop pan to check out the action; at first three Giraffes came to drink followed by a small group of Impala. Next up was a herd of about twelve Tsessebe who sprang down to the pan, taking their time to quench their thirst. When they left another herd of a similar size arrived – and they are supposed to be rare in Kruger! The sun was behind the pan so not great for photography, we will return at 4pm when the late sun will be more advantageous.

Early afternoon we nipped around to Shipandami and Pioneer Dam Hides where there was plenty going on. Initially Shipandami was fairly quiet with the exception of a group of Hippos making their way down stream towards the small bridge. A croc rested on the far bank and some Warblers darted about in the reeds and grasses. We quickly moved on to the Pioneer hide where we spotted a Slender Mongoose scurrying around. A Terrapin warmed itself on a small rock but generally the birds and animals were on the far banks of the Lake. We called in again at Shipandami on the return journey to witness two Elephants watering themselves near the bridge. They continued to cause a nuisance by blocking the road and bridge for over an hour causing quite a traffic jam. A Brown Hooded Kingfisher patrolled the banks picking up small insects from the grasses and Pied Kingfisher continually dived into the waters in search of prey. Once the Ellies finally moved on we left the hide and returned home.

  

All Quiet

Another cool day with quite a cold wind greeted us today and we had a couple of hours to spare before breakfast so we headed south towards Satara. Due to the cold weather the animals seemed to be sitting deep to keep warm so there was little to see. One notable exception was a small Sharpe’s Grysbok feeding by the side of the road, this is normally a nocturnal animal so was a rare sighting for us.
The afternoon took us north to Mopani camp, where we would stay two nights before returning to Olifants. Again the game was sparse with over forty minutes passing with no sightings, not even Impala! Just before reaching camp a Tsessebe was seen on the roadside, a very rare sighting in Kruger. It bolted into the dense Mopane bushveld and was briefly seen again galloping into the distance, no wonder they are rarely seen. With the overcast, cool conditions prevailing we stayed put for the rest of the day and caught up on some much needed rest. Better weather is predicted from tomorrow. A reflection on what we had seen so far suggested over one hundred species had been identified. Time for a sundowner at the bar overlooking the dramatic Pioneer dam, cheers!

Letaba Wildlife

Very quiet overnight, just the one Lion roar and no Hyena calls but the river running below keeps up a permanent backdrop of cascading water. The day started off windy and overcast but fairly warm so we took a short drive north towards Letaba camp but saw nothing of any great interest other than two very large tuskers busily tucking into the bush. We veered east onto the dirt roads and meandered back to camp, skirting along the edge of the Letaba river, still no sightings, other than the ever present Impala of course.
The afternoon was spent travelling north to Letaba camp where we stopped off to gaze over the river below the lookout point. There are several habituated Bushbucks on the camp and one was sitting serenely between two trees waiting to be photographed! Another Bushbuck was being de-bugged by two Red-Billed Oxpeckers although it did show its displeasure more than a couple of times. I also managed to capture a Black Headed Oriole as it fed on the Aloe Vera flower spikes.