I
was looking forward to our Repton Meeting. Its a lovely spot and the
surroundings of the numerous college buildings and especially the
Undercroft building which we use as our meeting hall is a grand
setting. Another difference this time was that I had arranged with
Secretary Pete Guy to help him out by booking a room at the nearby
Bower Lodge the night before and being able to assist Pete with the
early arrangements for setting up everything for members early
arrival.
Its
a pity that the weather had been so poor. It was not surprising as
the whole of April had been wet and miserable all over the U.K. I
had hoped to take advantage of the extra time to take some some
photography but it wasn`t worth getting the camera out of the
bag, except for the few I took during our meeting, which were all
indoor shots.
While
Pete had driven up from Ilford I travelled by train, going via
Birmingham and Derby on what should have been a 3 hour journey but
which took nearer 5 as I missed one connection due to a late running
train, which is why I ended up going into Derby just to wait for the
local train to take me back along the same line, one stop, to
Willington and the 15 minute walk into Repton. Thankfully it
remained dry at that time.
THE
AGM
Pete
will have given you a fuller report of the AGM but I would like to
give details from my own point of view. While most of the agenda
went by without much problems, it was obvious that the outcome of
the clash between Area 22 and the CRC Executive Committee would take
up some time, and indeed it did. To put the whole thing into the
merest `basics` all that the E.C. had put to Area 22 was the results
of the discussions passed at the previous Committee Meeting. All
that the E.C. was trying to do was find out the true financial worth
of the Club, and to try and centralise how the monies from
subscriptions were collected and distributed. However as Area 22 had
its own local Committee
and a separate Constitution, this came into the equation.
Firstly,
the case of central collection of subs was merely a `suggestion`,
nothing had been passed and we only wished to know the opinions of
ALL the Co-ordinators. The CRC E.C. debated long on how to word the
letter to Area 22 so that it did not mention any names, or suggest
any accusation of wrong doing by anyone in that Area, only that the
E.C. wished them to work within the National C.R.C. Constitution.
Area
22`s mistake on this was to believe that central collection of subs
had been officially passed. Whatever, out of the discussions that
took place Area 22 went into a very defensive stance and through
their own Committee threw out everything the E.C. had proposed, even
refusing to allow anyone from the E.C. to attend their committee
meetings.
To
make matters worse, at least three Area 22 members took it upon
themselves to write to, firstly Pete and Kevin, and then later
myself, in which comments and statements suggested that, especially
Kevin, had taken on as Chairman and newsletter printer with personal
gains, or even `criminal` objectives. This is what upset Kevin so
much and resulted in his resignation.
As
I explained in my editorial in CRCN No. 87 two of these members
wrote to me, in very much the same vein, and insisted that I print
their letters. I refused, not only because of the `personal` nature
of the letters, but also because WE found a few errors in their
statements (one even took it upon himself to re-write the CRC`s
Financial statement and on pointing this out to them said that I
wasn`t refusing to print their letter, but would prefer that they
had a rethink and on reading my comments and if they still wished I
would then publish their updated statements. One didn`t reply and
during a phone call the other threatened to print his own statement
and send them to every CRC member!
I
explained that it was up to him and kept to my word not to publish
his letter without a re-think by him. Again I heard no more.
Since
then the outcome has been that the whole of the Area 22 committee
has resigned and any monies will be returned to CRC Central funds.
For the time being Area 22 is being looked after by Pete Guy until
either a new Co-ordinator is found to keep it an individual area, or
failing that it will merge with Area 20.
While
everyone involved is pleased that the problem has been resolved,
they will all agree, that it is sad that it had to result in any
resignations and loss of members from Area 22. All that we can hope
is that lessons will have been learned from it and that once
everything settles down the CRC can carry on and find improvements
as we face the future.
CHEMICAL
SALES AND CLUB FINANCES
Rita Pearle and her
son John expressed concern at not having the supply of chemicals
while their names had appeared in the Newsletter as having taken
this service on. One member had ordered chemicals and John kindly
sent him some from his own supply and returned his cheque, a very
nice gesture by John. However we are pleased to report that all is
now in hand and Chemical sales are up and running under Rita and
John`s control. See advert in page seven for address and phone
number. It is hoped to have a full chemical list and latest prices,
if not in this issue
certainly next time.
I
expect Pete Guy will bring us up to date in his Secretary`s page on
the club finances. As Sandra was unable to attend the AGM we
couldn`t give a full financial report. This will be published at the
earliest opportunity.
MEMBERS
HANDBOOK
All
these changes proves how out of date much of the information in the
Members Handbook has become. We shall be discussing the possibility
of publishing a reprint in the near future.
PRINT
EXHIBITION
Dave
Morrell (Area 4 Co-ordinator) set up a dozen or so B&W prints
which made an excellent show. Rita Pearle had brought some colour
prints from Slides but didn`t find room to set them out, but one was
a superb picture of a computer `fractal` photographed directly off
the screen then printed on Ilfochrome reversal paper. What`s a
`fractal` I may hear you ask!! These are computer generated graphics
which change shape and colours, from typing in various co-ordinates.
As the graphics build up and change you can stop the picture at any
stage and save it as a graphic file. You may have seen them used in
computer games as distant scenery or even as planets in science
fiction games or graphics. Rita did well to capture them on film
directly from the monitor screen then produce a reversal print.
TALK
& DEMONSTRATION
For
the talk and demonstration we moved across the road to a proper
lecture theatre where Roger Perry of Paterson Group soon got
everyone`s interest as he set up a Paterson Auto Colortherm
processing unit to process a 36exp length of colour reversal film,
using the latest Photocolor Chrome Six 3+, three bath processing
kit. With no `Kitchen sink`to hand, he simply used two buckets, one
of warm water, for film washing, and another to empty into
afterwards.
The
Auto Colortherm is quite different from the Jobo CP2 processing
unit, as obviously, it is designed for use of Paterson`s own tanks,
spirals and chemical beakers. Roger used two-film Super System 4
tank and chemical storage containers with lift on/off lids. The tank
sat in the unit and Roger gave `twirl` agitation rather than
Inversion agitation. He used an electronic Paterson 2050 Enlarger
& Process timer, which can be preset for all the processing
stages, giving various `bleeps, when to start and stop each stage.
This allowed him to carry on talking without having to watch a clock
type timer.
It
was interesting watching how simply he made up the three developing
baths. Using a measured beaker he first poured in some warm water,
then adding the measure of developer, then topped up to the mark
with more water, all simply from eye level rather than our usual
precise manner and, he quickly had all three baths made up and
sitting in the tempering unit which raised them to the required 38C
while he continued talking and answering questions.
Two
questions were on the amount of films you can expect to process from
a 300ml kit and how long the chemicals will last once used. Roger
explained that `three` films is the recommended number but a
`fourth` IS possible, but this depends on how precise you carry out
each wash and avoid any carry-over, as, he explained, "even
dipping half the bulb depth of your thermometer into one developer,
letting it dry, then dipping it into another developer will have
have a strong effect on the finished film". You are also more
likely to get a fourth film processed providing you process all the
films in one session, or no later than next day.
As
I use a Jobo processor which gives continuous rotational agitation I
asked if there was any need to give a different processing time to
`twirl` or `inversion` agitation, but Roger explained, as the Jobo
uses a smaller amount of chemical and for half the rotation the film
is `out` of the chemicals, it balances up the overall timing and
there is no need to alter the kit`s timings.
It
was interesting too, seeing Roger use a changing bag to load the
film into the tank, and also, as I am sure most of us do, cut the
film leader off at the base of the tung, between sprockets and also
snip the corner edges off the film to make it easier to load into
the spirals. He also explained how easier loading is if the spirals
are dry and warm. However it also explained that when you process a
lot of black & white films, layers of `silver` build up on the
spiral grooves and can make loading difficult. Paterson do sell `Acuclean`
which is a solution that will remove stains and deposits from tanks
and spirals (N.B. Not clothes or skin).
While Roger agreed
that he was probably `taking coals to Newcastle` talking to CRC
members, I am sure many of us picked up some new tips or at least,
was reassured that most of our working procedures have been correct
over the years.
As he wasn`t going to
process further films Roger poured the two developers into the
bucket but kept the `Blix` bath for his demonstration of printing
from a slide to Ilfochrome (Cibachrome) paper.
Those
who have been to Repton before will know how we have been let down
through the lack of black out for our slide programmes. The lecture
theatre was excellent, albeit for the Exit sign which was solved by
Pete holding Roger`s changing bag over it for the moments of
exposure of the film in the enlarger. It should be noted that the
film was exposed prior to the meeting by Pete.
For
speed Roger blew dry the film with a hair drier then chose a frame
to use as a print. For development he was using Paterson`s Chrome
`R` three bath kit, as used for producing prints from
transparencies, but of course only had to mix up the First &
Colour developers as he would use the Blix again. Using the paper
drum in place of the developing tank Roger used the same method of
mixing up the two developers.
As
time was running out and watching the print drum rotate for long
periods could be rather boring, Roger only processed two prints. The
first was just to get the basic timing and colour correction. The
second gave further filter correction but while it still wasn`t
quite right it gave a good demonstration of both the exposure (in
the enlarger) and the procedure of processing colour reversal
papers. While some people start with no filtration, as Roger
explained "If you have nothing, how can you take anything
away"? So he began with a fixed setting of filters and was able
to judge how much to reduce for the second print to get nearer the
mark. I am sure if he had processed a third paper it would have been
perfect.
During
clearing up time I asked Roger if he could put any light on the long
standing problem I had getting that `tobacco` effect
when using the CRC Formula. It was heartening to hear him
point directly to the `Reversal` bath, and that it was probably
caused by the reversal bath deteriorating due to, possibly, one of
the chemicals not being as fresh as thought, or that it may have
been affected by air absorbtion and when weighing wouldn`t give the
correct balance of that chemical. As you know I suspected the
reversal bath from the start, but with other CRC members not getting
any problems and some suspecting the Colour developer, I never got
around to solving the problem, or pinning the actual chemical. While
the colour developer could be suspect, I think this was proved not,
when during one session when I got the `tobacco` effect from the
very first film from a completely fresh set of developers, with two
other films to process I made up a fresh reversal bath, on the spot,
and without even checking the pH value I got a completely processed
film BUT! the tobacco effect returned with the third film, so would
suggest that the reversal bath was the problem. Without going into
this again, I think it best to conclude by referring to Frank
White`s comments on his experimenting on this and which apeared in
CRCN No.87.
NO
SLIDE PRESENTATIONS!
As
both the AGM and the Demonstration lasted some time, and a number of
members had to start heading homewards there
was no slide projections this time. As Brian Asquith and John
Batty couldn`t attend there were no AV programmes and only a few
members had brought a handful of slides it was decided call it a
day. However please don`t think it was a wasted day, the AGM
required a full hearing and Roger`s talk and demonstration was well
accepted. In between members enjoyed simply chatting over tea and
refreshments and while attendance was around the average there was
also a few new faces as well.
I
found it a nice break to have the extra time at Repton and as well
as enjoying Pete`s company over a pub meal it was nice to get up in
the morning and know I was already there instead of the usual early
start and arrival at Repton around midday after everyone else had
arrived and with an eye on the clock for catching the return train
homewards.
Bower
Lodge really is a lovely place, so why not consider a longer stay
next year. Give them a call on 01283-702245. You will find Mr. &
Mrs. Plant a lovely couple and will make your stay most welcome.