CRC OPEN MEETING REPORT
The 1988 Open Meeting took place at the Staff Club, Didcot, on Sun. 29th May. The proposed programme was changed when we lost Bert sanders and Bill Crumplin due to health reasons. Our Thanks go to Glen Wilgrove (Area 20) for including extra work and in getting John Guthrie of the Wantage Camera Club to put on a 2 & 3 projector AV. Kevin Craske (TFM) couldn't attend and it was left to Cliff manion, M.B.K.S. Retail manager of Morris Photographic Centre of Oxford to display a really well stocked sales stall which included cameras, Lenses,and many items of interest to the colour reversal worker. Ron Croad (Secretary) set up a working table-top projector showing some of his latest processing. Along with this was the Club film sales, Konicachrome and 3M. This was soon deminished with a number of orders in hand. This is proving a very successful service.
Other dealers represented by Adverts and leaflets were - Rayco (UK) Ltd. (Chemical price list), UNO Products (adverts) and Maplin. The editor`s processing unit was on display. This is a water bath with chemical bottles and the UNO Electronic Thermostatic Heater in combination with the Maplin Electronic Thermometer and a fish tank Air Pump to circulate the water. This is proving an ideal set-up. The Club was represented by Leaflet information and membership forma. The spare April Newsletters all went, so perhaps we may see some new members.
CIBACHROME EXHIBITION
In the centre of all this were four print stands stacked full of prints, exhibited by Cliff Manion, Larry Cross, Arthur McKee and the Didcot and Sutton Courtney camera Clubs. There were just too many to mention but Cliff had some excellent Ciba prints with well saturated colours mostly in abstract. One was of Autumn leaves in the roadside, the yellow, red and dried brown colours of the leaves stood out strikingly against the dullness of the road and pavement.
Larry Cross presented a super collection of prints from a previous photographic safari in Africa. These were from slides as used for a widescreen presentation which wa shown at last years Widex Show. Recorded music and jungle sounds added to the atmosphere. Larry has just returned from another safari which is sponsored by Fuji (some people have all the luck) and we can only hope that we may see the results of these, another time.
Arthur McKee, Area 26 Leader, sent half a dozen prints from Belfast. The main theme was abstract and multiple exposure which proved very attractive. A favourite was "Harvester" which pictured a combined harvester alone in a field with the sky full of heavy cloud but with a warm evening sunlight reflecting the same colours of the cut straw on the ground, two figures on the harvester deeply caught up in their work.
Beside this was a B&W Sillhuette called "The Tracklayers". The best way to express this picture is tom turn to page 10 . of this Newsletter where it is reproduced along with an interesting article by Arthur with full details of the method involved in production.
The remainder of the exhibition was by the Didcot and Sutton Courtney camera Clubs, and what a marvellous selection of prints. Certainly too many to comment on, but those by Alan Panes (D.C.C. Committee) were from a film called Low Contrast CFIK Solar Colour. After processing as slides the selected ones are returned and printed on a very high gloss paper. (Matt nt available). The dealer is Genesis Centre, Birchwood, Warrington, Cheshire. WA3 7DB. (10" x 8" print at £3.80).
Our thanks to all who exhibited prints and to Alan Panes for supplying the Print Stands, aided by David Farrell (D.C.C. Secretary) and to David Ward, Chairman of the Sutton Courtney C.C. A really nice effort.
SLIDE PRESENTATIONS
Slide presentations took place in another room. Dr. Niell (Area 11) started off the programme, but sadly was plagued by projector trouble and on the second attempt abandoned "Trees". Then following "Physician's Fantasy" which made an interesting piece. The dream sequence was made up from photographing adverts, comics and magazines which worked well. Still suffering slides in wrong sequence Dr. Niell concluded with "Gibralter", a personal viewpoint of the famous "Ceremony of the Keys". The sound was considerably good, having been made on a pocket sized recorder. Our Thanks to Dr, Niell for the time and effort and our apologies for the disappointment that the projectors let him down.
The remainder of the programmes went smoothly. Glen Wilgrove presented four sections. "Boatarama" was an interesting study in Solarisation accompanied by good music. The contrast between negative & positive and unusual colours was very interesting. I missed "As Other See Us" but quite enjoyed "Around The Adriatic" which made you long for another holiday. Finally "Beaulieu" took us around the excellent motor musium in Hampshire.
John Guthrie then presented "Free Me" a short but telling glance at animals in the Zoo, all who, appeared to express the title theme.
Photographically "Bergun" was exquisit. From lofty mountain views to the more interesting side and back-streets, as we were given a picturesque view of building styles in this pleasant town.
"Railway Preservation" looked at various angles of coaches and locomotives on preservation Societies, mostly in Anglia.
John completed his programme with "Battle of Britain" a three projector AV using black and white prints of London during the Blitz. Many of the shots were from magazines but added with explosions and coloured flames, flashed onto scenes, made quite an impact, and all set to the stirring music "Battle of Britain" Theme. John and Glen used the same equipment which was of a very high picture and sound quality.
"Member's Slides" were shared by George Sparkes, Frank White and Ron Croad. George presented holiday slides from Lazoroti on Fuji film using his own brew, the title slide being from his computer work. Frank showed some CRX100 (Fuji!) and talked on how the pH value caused pink stains and how getting this right will avoid the problem . Ron (Quickly) ran through a number of Konicachrome & 3M slides from his latest processing. He seems to have mastered the E6 process.
The final programme of the day was Pan-35 Widescreen by Bob Grimes. Due to not having Bill Crumplin's widescreen we had to make do with the available 8ft one. This didn`t spoil the Vista effect. This system uses a reduced gate in the projector giving virtually the same ratio as an expensive Anamorphic lens but also allows you to show your slides for normal projection.
The first section was "Holiday Miscellany" with commentary by Bob and music by Arthur Dungate. This took us to various foreign parts then suddenly back to Essex.
"East West" with commentary by Mrs. Jane Grimes was interesting in that it took us across America with beautiful lake and tree scenes and the vast Grand Canyon, then to Russia and stark Moscow and the Kremlin. The clear commentary and the way we were transported from from, then back to Heathrow with a gentle mixture of music made a pleasant change from the fading sunset, and made for a very complete slide show.
All too soon we came to the end of the activities. It had been a most enjoyable day and who can complain of being transported to so many countries in one afternoon!. Three breaks allowed everyone to mix and chat and meet old and new friends which is the nicest part of the meeting. Our thanks to all who made this a grand effort.