Author: dunedinphotogsoc

Getting creative with Jenny: Part 2

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In this 3 part special feature Dunedin Photographic Society member Jenny Longstaff shares how she goes about creating her fascinating artworks that start as simple photos. [PART 1]

Here is another design, called “Maritime Networks”, created from 4 separate photos of fishing net details (location: Taieri Mouth) arranged into patterns, with a photo of fishing boats (location: Moeraki).

1.net details
I chose 4 fishing net photos, paying attention to the colours and angles of the rope strands, then in Photoshop I modified the proportions so they were each equal-sized squares. The photos were then placed on a blank page in InDesign program, repeated and mirror-imaged as necessary, achieving a kaleidoscope effect – my version of “knitting” the designs into fishermen’s jerseys (or guernseys, or Arran-Isle patterns) As an aside: did you know that, in the past, each fisherman’s hand-knitted woollen jumper was unique, so he could be identified if he drowned?
You will notice that the top woven band includes vertical fish-shapes. The top circle represents the Moon; the bottom circle is the Earth, and the large dotted circle represents the connection with the Moon influencing the tides. It also represents maritime navigation with the stars or lights.
2.maritime networks

Getting creative with Jenny: Part 1

dunedinphotogsoc
In this 3 part special feature Dunedin Photographic Society member Jenny Longstaff shares how she goes about creating her fascinating artworks that start as simple photos.
The first 2 images are repeat patterns:
  1. a kereru native NZ pigeon – photographed on my back yard clothesline
  2. an Australian rainbow lorikeet – photographed when I was hand-feeding it at Broulee on NSW south coast.
1.kereru 3.rainbow lorikeet
I removed the backgrounds (in Photoshop) so the shapes of the birds were clearly defined. Through my past working life as a book designer, I am familiar with the InDesign program, so I use that to position my photos on a blank page (dimensions to my own choice), then arrange copies of the photo to create the repeat patterns. Using commands such as copy and paste, mirror image, and flip vertically or horizontally, or changing the angle of placement, brings in as much variety as I need.
For the kereru design my main preoccupation was to create an ambiguous design of positive and negative areas that would not be immediately recognisable. In fact, some people never see the birds until they are pointed out to them!
For the lorikeet parrot designs I was playing with the vibrant colour arrangements. The images were included in an exhibition I held during the International Science Festival, which I called “Pigments of Imagination”, aimed at children. It was about colour theory and mixing, so the bird’s plumage was a good example of primary and secondary colours. I arranged them to enhance the feeling of rhythm and energy, and colour vibrations. A drop-shadow effect was added to the larger single bird to make it more 3-dimensional.
2.pigeon pairs4.parrot patterns

Sutton Salt Lake trip report

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Ian1Almost a dozen DPS members met at the railway station in warm sunny conditions two
weeks ago. Our drivers took us out past Outram to Lake Mahinerangi. First we took some overviews of the lake and village working with gently windswept tussock grasses for foreground interest. Next stop nearby was the Canton stamping battery used 100 years back to extract gold from quartz rocks. Lots of rust and lichens to add texture to our shots.

Ian2After a quick drive to Middlemarch caffeine levels were restored and we were ready for the 20 minute walk into Sutton Salt Lake. This was cleverly timed so we arrived just before sunset and the unusual rocky landscape of schist torrs was enhanced by the long shadows. There was only a little water in the lake which is the only salt lake in NZ fed by rain only and no streams in or out. Ian3

The sunset itself was not so dramatic but with a full moon rising over hills to the north east and lake reflections there was plenty of exciting photography to be done.

We made good time home in the dark and would like to thank our organisers and drivers for an interesting and satisfying afternoon.

Text and images by Ian Thomson

DPS Exhibition in Germany

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Our partner club, Fotoclub Filderstadt in Germany is currently holding an exhibition of their members’ work.  As part of this, earlier in year they invited our members to submit images that would be selected to be part of the exhibition.  The exhibition opened on 11th December and runs until 8th Jan 2017 at Städtische Galerie Filderstadt (Filderstadt Municipal Gallery).

Below is a list of DPS members and images in the exhibition, along with a slideshow of these images.

  • Simon White: St Clair; Port Chalmers
  • Paul Sorrell: Fernbird calling, Orokonui Ecosanctuary, Dunedin
  • Matheson Beaumont: The Vine Shed; Hoar Frost at Lake Pearson
  • Pam Constable: Winter Grazing
  • Clive Copeman: The Missing Shepherd; The Last Bus Stop
  • Michael Sutton: St Clair Storm
  • David Steer: Hoopers Inlet; Standing Firewood; Where to from here?; Breaking Into Spring; Cone in the Cloud; The Roost
  • Kathy Richards: Baldwin Street
  • Simone Jackson: Hoopers Inlet – Dunedin and Milford Sound
  • John Hart: Central Otago Hoar Frost
  • Mark Cowden: Milford Track NZ
  • Nicola Pye: Campervan on Mt John; Path to Tunnel Beach; Postcard from Queenstown; On the brink, Lake Pukaki
  • Craig McKenzie: Royal Spoonbills; Taiaroa Head
  • Kate Burton: Lake Ruataniwha
  • Micky Waby: Tasman Valley
  • Noelle Bennett: Stormy day at St Clair
  • Howard Bennett: Evening at Careys Bay
  • Melanie Middlemiss: Sunset, Otago Harbour; Matanaka Farm; No Picking; Flat Mates, University of Otago, Dunedin
  • Glenn Symon: The Old Bus; The Nevis Tree; All Tied Up

2016 Awards and Trophies

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dps-xmas-1

The final night of the year was the President’s evening on Dec 12th.  We had a fun night hosted by President Kate Burton – slideshows, quiz, food and a few laughs. Of course an important part of the evening was to recognise members who had done well with their photography throughout the year.  Congratulations to the following members on their success.

2016 Dunedin Photographic Society Awards and Trophies

  • DPS Honours Board, for the Champion of each seasonal print exhibition:
    • Kathy Richards (Autumn); Ita Daniels (Spring)
  • Williams Silver Medal,  for the Champion of each seasonal projected image exhibition:
    • David Steer (Winter); Simon White (Summer)
  • Colour Trophy, for the highest aggregate in seasonal projected image exhibitions:
    • David Steer
  • DPS Tividale Trophy, for the highest aggregate in the natural history section of the seasonal projected image exhibitions:
    • (joint) Noelle Bennett and Paul Sorrell
  • George R Chance Nature Trophy, for the highest aggregate in the natural history section of the seasonal print exhibitions:
    • David Steer
  • F. H. Williams Memorial Trophy, for the best landscape in each of the seasonal projected image exhibitions:
    • Pam Constable (Winter); Andre Koschinowski (Summer)
  • DPS Print Trophy, for the highest aggregate in seasonal print exhibitions:
    • (joint) Kathy Richards and Micky Waby
  • DPS Print of the Month Award, for the highest aggregate in the print of the month for the year:
    • David Steer
  • DPS Projected Image of the Month Award, for the highest aggregate in the projected image of the month for the year:
    • Nicola Pye
  • Como Marine Award (Print), for the best marine image in each of the seasonal print exhibitions:
    • Mark Cowden (Autumn); Ita Daniels (Spring)
  • Como Marine Award (Projected Image), for the best marine image in each of the seasonal projected image exhibitions:
    • Simon White (Winter); Andre Koschinowski (Summer)
  • C. W. Pattillo Portrait Cup, for the best portrait in each of the seasonal print exhibitions:
    • Ken Trevathan (Autumn); Micky Waby (Spring)