AGM 99 "Editor's" REPORT

Once again, it was nice to meet up with Pete Guy at Repton. However this year we were joined by Alan Edwards and his wife, Audrey. the weather was very bleak, cold and wet but we had a good B&B and found a very nice pub in the evening to chat over a meal and a pint (or two). Alan has just taken on as Co-ordinator of the newly formed, Area 22 and is keen to try and get his members active and to possibly organise some meetings.

The morning of the meeting was equally cool and wet but immediately after breakfast we went directly to the venue to start setting things up. At this point we had no idea how many members would turn up. However within an hour or so many known faces, and a few new ones suddenly turned up and each were enjoying a good chit-chat well before the meeting started.

THE AGM

There was the obvious air of angziety as the AGM began due to the "additional" that went out with the April Newsletter which formed an air of gloom on mentioning the possibility of the club folding up. What we had to accept was, that the two main threats to the club was 1. Not knowing where we stood with the finances, as Sandra had let things slip due to the very "personal" clash with the previous Area 22 Committee. Likewise we didn't know if she wished to remain in office. And 2. Pete Guy was resigning as Secretary. Without replacements for these two important position it would have been impossible for the club to continue.

When it came to the re-election of officers we were met by the usual 'silence' when requesting replacements, which added to the air of gloom. However things brightened up when, not only did Sandra produce and update of the finances but also said she would be pleased to stay on as Treasurer. Likewise, husband, Kevin agreed to take on as Chairman. This left only the Secretary's position to fill. After another period of silence Lawrence Edwards proposed John Pearle and with little hesitation he kindly accepted and was 'seconded' into office.

With a 'new' complete set of officers the air of gloom was quickly cleared and we got down to discussing how the club should go forward into the new millenium. It was agreed that WE had to open the club to ALL photographic interests and activities and Yes! even DI. However the main aims of the club as regarding the home processing of Colour Reversal film should remain the main objective.

We even discussed the possibility of a new name for the club to meet these changes! Obviously this would have to go through the proper channels before any acceptance was possible but it showed the enthusiasm that not only was there, but was let loose by the relief of the threat to the club. This was left at the point where we should think about it and any possible name and new logo. If you would like to put your thoughts and ideas forward please let us know. One of the problems with the club's name is the term "Colour Reversal". It has always caused confusion but while in the know were in greater numbers we could get by with it. But at Photo Action 98 where all we had to show was the Club's name and some leaflets to hand out, we were met by many who simply passed by not knowing what the Club was about. Pete and I had to explain this many times, so perhaps we do need a re-think! People aren't relating our club name with colour slide film and home processing.

Likewise, while we struggle to gain new members, it has also been felt that there ARE still plenty of interested photographers out there but they don't know about US and or they aren't aware that they can actually process their own colour slides, at home. I told of the experience that I met a few weeks back when running around my train at Swindon station and a trainspotter had his camera set up on a tripod for a time exposure shot. After waiting long enough for him to get his exposure I then asked him if he was using slide or print film. He said "slide". I then asked if he processed them himself. he didn't appear to know that he could do so and I spent a moment explaining the system and about the existence of the CRC. As he was on the internet I gave him my e-mail address and I had a response from him a week or so later. I then replied 'downloading' him the Club's publicity blurb along with a membership form for the area he would belong to. I think this proves my point and hope to hear that he has actually joined.

However returning to the AGM and the fact that we now had a full Committee, we must'nt think that this was the end of the threat. It really was very close and this could easily have been our final newsletter. We still have to accept the need for more members to offer assistance, whether to forward more copy or to help our officers when they organise meetings and exhibitions. his was the one point which depressed Pete so much. Everytime he organises something and requested help the response was very poor and soul destroying. he Photo Action exhibition being just one example. We could have done so much more if others had offered to help. The event is on again this year (October) and we would like to really push the boat out and improve the displays and presentations with the aim of encouraging new membership. Please put your thinking cap on and come forward with offers of help. Its a three day event and we really shouldn't put it all onto one or two shoulders. Simply by offering to attend on just one of the days would be a great help.

DIDCOT OPEN MEETING

While on the subject of meetings I was asked if we could continue the autumn meetings at Didcot again. I really missed last years meeting but as explained my new work commitments is not only leaving me with less free time but also difficult to organise anything more than a few weeks into the future and I couldn't guarantee to be able to actually attend on the day. Likewise I had lost the services that produced the refreshments. However Eric Dugdale and Arthur Comer kindly offered their assistance and I agreed to give it a go. The date is Sunday 7th of November. As there won't be an AGM to take up time we shall be relying on plenty slide and print presentations. Fuller details will be found elsewhere in this newsletter.

Prints were well supported. John Pearle brought two stands, one of general colour prints but one with examples of his "Silver" process which he gives interesting detail on pages 13-15 in this newsletter. Its a pity we can't "yet" produce example prints in our pages, but it really a very precise processing method.

Eric Weatherill and Margary and Kevin Maskell brought along a collection of DI produced prints. Both proved how you can use this new system to produce numerous images from a single 'original' transparency, giving hours of enjoyment once the transparency has been processed and viewed on its own merit. Also, what these prints prove is how the equipment for producing DI is progressing in leaps and bounds and what YOU can produce from it is only restricted to your own imagination and artistic merits.

D.I. DEMONSTRATION by David Spencer

A very tricky subject to present to a group steeped in the world of the silver image and home processing. However David proved very expertise in his subject and had a positive answer to the many questions that progress into the subject brought.

I have to admit, I wondered how he was going to show his working at the computer to the large audience! This was done by linking the computer to a "projector" which threw the image onto the large projection screen. Is this the future of slide shows and AV presentations, I ask? The resolution was much lower than with present transparencies and projection hat it was difficult to read some of the text, but the photographs were not that far off with good colour saturation. Once resolution reaches that of film and with a bit of software that allows you to set up your DI saved transparencies in AV fashion and presentation this could certainly be the future method of showing family and holiday pictures to larger audiences.

There were two reactions that I found most interesting! One was the usual distaste for anything computer and or DI. The other was in just how many of our members were not only already using computers and the same DI programme that David was using but they really were interested in learning more about the subject and I am sure David must have been as surprised as I at the seriousness and depth of the questions.

It was fascinating seeing how the basic picture, which were scanned from slides, was manipulated and changed. using the dozens of 'filters' that are available in the programme colours could be changed to suit, part of the image could be turned to B&W, while any part of the image could be copied and 'burned' in to make near instant 'montages' which would take hours in the darkroom. One particular 'move' was seeing how easily a picture of Cologne cathedral's twin towers, on which the original the verticals were well out, was so easily 'straightened' by simply clicking on the correct 'box' and the clicking on the edges of the image and pulling the towers into perspective. Amazing! So there you are, as well as the years of new life for all your 'trannies', all those terrible shots of buildings with poor perspective can also be made perfectly useable.

I have to admit, that this subject often lost me, mainly as I am not quite into that stage yet, but where it interested me I was able to pick up a lot of pointers so that when I eventually get myself a scanner and colour printer I shall have much more confidence to get stuck into it.

Of course, the finished work would only prove itself by seeing the final print. Here too we weren't disappointed. using an Epson Ink Jet printer and glossy paper the results were 'almost' indistinguishable from a commercial 'film' print. there are still tell tale signs to warn the keen eye that they are produced on a printer, some scanning lines, but mainly the actual paper itself. Both in quality and texture they are different from printing paper, but again this all depends on how much you can afford to pay for both the printer and papers. But whatever, I was most impressed with how close to film quality DI has become. Colour and sharpness is excellent nd one print of a racing motorbike produced such excellent chrome hat it was difficult to believe that an ink jet printer could have produced it. But again, cost came into it when David displayed a print of the same picture but produced from a laser colour printer, the difference was staggering, although it showed up how the overall colour of your print will vary according to the type of printer and inks you have.