Q. What sort of equipment you use and what you would like to own in an ideal world?

My first SLR was a Praktica, a good affordable camera made in the (former) East Germany. I got a Nikon F601 when I joined the club, then moved on to a Nikon D80. I use the 18-135mm kit lens, which does not have good reviews, but gets reasonable images with the help of Photoshop. I don’t really crave any fancy equipment, but would have liked the VR Nikon 18-200mm lens, but it was not available at the time.

Q. What sort of photography you like and where do you like to take pictures?

I like “found” images, not so keen on set-up shots. A camera is often with me when out and about, and most of my shots are taken quickly when I see something interesting. They tend to be of buildings, flowers, birds, etc, not many of people.

Heart of a Harley Eucalyptus

Q. How has the WCC changed since you joined?

The format of meetings is much the same as it always was, but the members are now a lot younger and there are more activities outside of the two main monthly meetings. Skills have also changed, mainly due to digital cameras and computers. We used to have members who specialised in B&W processing, cibachrome, slides, hand colouring etc, but now we rely on the computer. Digital photography is great, giving easy access to creativity, much better than spending hours in the darkroom!

Q. Who is your favourite photographer, why, and what is your favourite image?

I am a regular at the MGA, so get to see the works of Australian photographers and really like the B&W images of people like Olive Cotton, Max Dupain and David Moore.

Teacup Ballet – Olive Cotton


Meat Queue – Max Dupain


St Paul’s Cathedral – David Moore

One of my own favourite photos is this one of St Kilda Pier, taken not long before the building was burnt down and replaced by a similar one,

St Kilda Pier – before the fire

Waverley Camera Club’s monthly photography competition for September was held on Tuesday the 1st September 2009 and was judged by Pele Leung. The competition topic was ‘Open’ and there were a total of 86 images submitted to the competition, 51 EDI and 35 Prints.

Pele was excellent in his judging of the images, giving essential feedback where needed and he also dealt out the odd compliment as well. Pele’s awards of Merit and Highly Commended are listed below along with the Winners of the four categories. Pele treated us to three of his AV’s after the competition was concluded which were just stunning, especially the Melbourne at Night presentation.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Pele for judging our competition and for sharing his AV’s; with us, I know I speak for everyone when I say that we all had a great night. Also, thank you to all of you who took time to enter the competition and congratulations to the prize getters.

The results were as follows:
(Please click each link to view the images on the SmugMug site)

A Grade Prints

Image of the Month:
Leif Anderson – Boyds Forest Dragon

Highly Commended:
Fred Bullock – Burnt Snowgums
Albert Hutchison – Big Wheel
John Mallett – Moth Orchid

Merit:
Roger Howell – All Aboard
Ron Weatherhead – Strangle Hold
Roger Howell – For Journeys Past
Teddy Tan – Bride_and_Father

A Grade EDI

Image of the Month:
Teddy Tan – Catch Me if You Can

Highly Commended:
Roger Howell – Riding the Thermals
Alan McLean – Stillness

Merit:
Leif Anderson – Melbourne Redical Centre
Vicki Moritz – Taggerty River
Ross Garner – Wool Classing

B Grade Prints

Image of the Month:
Rachel Kazantzis – St Mary’s Cathedral

Highly Commended:
Peter Myers – Winter Drought
John Hadfield – Venetian Jewel

Merit:
Perry Kazantzis – Alley Bar Girl
Peter Myers – Montsalvat
David Burton – Pinball Fun
Stephen Edmonds – The House on the Point
Lisa Mason – Let Me Off

B Grade EDI

Image of the Month:
Dijana Risteska – Good Days Bad Days

Highly Commended:
Andy Armitage – Red Lantern
Justo Lei – Top of the World
Peter Myers – Downham Village

Merit:
Dave Sumner – Three Heads are Better than One
Ake Severinson – Leading by Example
Peter Myers – Lake Burwain
Sue Gabriel – Balloons Over Mount Merit

Jells Park
Botanic Gardens
Williamstown (foreshore from Williamstown Beach around past Time Tower to Gem Pier)
Ricketts Point
Grants Picnic Ground, Sherbrooke (the easy walks starting from there)
Station Pier to St Kilda pier
Merri Creek, north of Rushall Station
Bundoora Park
Maribyrnong River
Kororoit Creek

Each walk will have a map, walk notes and one or two photos to tempt walkers to try it out. Final format of booklet will be A5.

Please email Catherine Guli ( catherineguli@yahoo.com.au ) including a highly compressed image (small file please, say < 250 kb) for selection. Please also include the location and that you are a member of WCC.

If you can help then please do so now as the deadline is just a week away! Thanks, Ron ( secretary@waverleycameraclub.org )

To fill in the rest of the time I thought we should do some more still life photography. Not the sound triggered flash stuff we did upstairs but the cameras that were posed in the back room downstairs. Those of you who were there at the last still life workshop will know what sort of things to bring.

BRING YOUR CAMERA AND TRIPOD.
BRING SOMETHING TO SHOOT – BE IT A BUNCH OF FLOWERS OR A PAIR OF SOCKS,
WHATEVER TAKES YOUR FANCY.
BRING SOME LIGHTS IN THE FORM OF DESK LAMPS, TORCHES ETC…
IF YOU CAN BRING SOMETHING TO USE AS A BACKDROP.

Last time we did this only two people turned up with any of the above items (apart from cameras).

If the same two people are the only ones to do so again we will have to take it as a sign that you are not interested in this sort of activity and will not be programming these kinds of shoots again.
See you there,
Pete

Pete.

Click on images to view larger versions

Our entries are in and the judging night will be on Wednesday the 22nd of July.

It will be an excellent opportunity to go and see some monochrome photography and I really do hope that Waverley can muster as many representatives as possible.

The venue is the Boronia West Primary School, Tormore Road, Boronia at 8pm.

Next port of call was supposed to be the Forest Glade gardens but it was closed so Nat and I went to a waterfall in Mt Macedon where we caught up with Stephen. This was the first time shooting a waterfall for all of us and while it wasn’t the most spectacular fall it was a good learning experience.

The Memorial Cross was the next stop and as is usual for a camera club trip the view was obscured by clouds. There were large patches of sunlight travelling across the landscape teasing us but nothing came of it except for some frosty noses. It was at the Cross that we caught up with Perry and Rachael and the touring party was complete.

After a hot chocolate in the cafe it was off to Woodend for lunch but along the way we stopped to look at some funky cows (which have a proper name – Belted Galloways) but they were off in the far paddock and the light was pretty dull so we continued on our merry way.
The Victoria Hotel is an extremely popular place for lunch and we hadn’t booked so it was off down the road to Keatings Hotel for lunch. Having warmed up with some good food we ventured out once again and headed off to Hanging Rock. We got there about three and headed on up the hill stopping at several places to take some photos. Naturally the sun hid behind some clouds when we got out of the cars and didn’t come out again until we had descended but we were rewarded with a very nice rainbow at the end of the day.

Driving back back to Mt Macedon we had to pull over to try and take advantage of some of the most intense late afternoon light I’ve ever seen. We had about three minutes before it was gone but it was good to see. We drove back past the paddocks where the funky cows were and they were all up on the fence close enough to touch but by this time it was practically dark so they will have to wait for another time. I doubt I’ll be able to retire on the strength of the images I took on this trip but that was hardly the point. Yet again I thoroughly enjoyed myself due to the people I was with and I’m already looking forward to the next outing.

Pete

The outing this month is to Mt Macedon and surrounds. There is a wealth of fantastic locations in the area and we will struggle to get through even a few of them. There will be a number of meeting points throughout the day so you can turn up whenever suits you best.

The first is in Macedon (not Mt Macedon) at a lake that doesn’t have a name. We’ll meet there at 8:30am. To get there take the Calder Highway towards Bendigo. Get off at the Macedon exit and turn left onto Black Forest Drive and head towards Woodend. Turn right into Nursery which isn’t all that far past the Black Forest Motel. Head towards Macedon on Nursery until you see the Nursery on the left. Just past the nursery you will see a railway bridge going over the road, the lake is on the left before you go under the bridge. It’s not sign posted but it’s hard not to miss.

Next stop will be the Forest Glade Gardens in Mt. Macedon. We will meet there at 10:00am and it’s a $6 donation to get in. It is on the road from Mt Macedon over the top to Woodend. It’s on the right hand side of the road roughly three kilometres from the antique store with the red petrol pump out the front. The antique store is on the left as you travel to Woodend. Parking for the gardens is on the side of the road.

Next stop as we make our way to Woodend is the Memorial Cross. We will be at the Cross at MIDDAY. Parking is free at the Cross which is easy to find as it is well sign posted.

Woodend is the next port of call where lunch will be had at the Victoria Hotel at 1:15pm. The Victoria Hotel is the white pub on the left hand side of the road as you head north.

From the pub we will head off to Hanging Rock for the rest of the afternoon. As it’s $10 per car to leave Hanging Rock (entry is free) it might be a good idea to carpool from Woodend if indeed you aren’t already carpooling.

We will leave for Hanging Rock from Woodend at 2:45pm. The picnic area at Hanging Rock closes at 5pm (I think) at which time everybody heads home having had a splendid day out.
As usual you can call me if you want to know where to find us.
See you there,