Member Profiles

Member Profile: Simone Jackson

dunedinphotogsoc

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Year joined DPS 2015
Signification positions held in DPS Council member
Honours NZIPP Masters with 1 bar
Current camera Canon EOS 5D Mark 2 & 3 and 2 old EOS 35mm Film cameras
Favourite camera you have ever used/had Probably my old Canon EOS 50E … LOVED that camera
Which do you prefer: Film or Digital? Film, but I only do digital now. Yep, I’m a hypocrite 😛
And why? Sooo much nicer look than digital, and editing digital takes a ridiculous amount of time in comparison. On the flip side, I find digital less expensive to make mistakes with and learn faster!
Which do you prefer: Print or Projected? Print
And why? Being a tactile type, I love seeing the actual print/paper … and have to hold my hands behind my back to not touch!
How did you get into photography? My big OE helped me want to capture what was in front of me. And then working for a tourism company in Queenstown and I kind of fell into it. Later I trained under a wedding photographer, which I really loved and still do.
What is your most memorable moment from your time at DPS so far? Helping out when the judges were judging the 45th Dunedin Festival of Photography. Listening to their comments was amazing, and I love hearing the comments & critique with the projected and print comps every month, great learning!
What keeps you inspired with your photography? Constantly being interested in different genres, whether it’s portraiture, landscape, wildlife or weddings, there are no restrictions on learning! Age, gender doesn’t matter!
Do you have a particular theme that would summarise your photographs? Not really as I’m learning so much, my style changes regarding what’s in front of me.
Where is the best place that you have been to take photos? I’m super fortunate to be a one year volunteer capturing the Northern Royal Albatross at Tairoa Head, which is the only mainland breeding colony in the world. The two unforgettable highlights were, when the chicks were hatching, and when some fledged right in front of me one windy day. This makes up for hanging out on the edge of a cliff in freezing winds! The goal is to capture emotion which is not easy as birds can’t smile lol! So it’s their body actions. The biggest challenge is that they have very little detail in the down/feathers.
What piece of equipment could you not do without in your camera bag? Dust cloth! It gets very windy on the Peninsula!
Do you have any advice for your fellow photographers? Have an open mind to learning a genre of photography that you normally may not be interested in. My hubby once said to me; “Can you do some landscapes”? Biggest mistake ever for him, as before that I was only doing weddings. Photography after that became a whole new world 😀

Do you have any favourite photography related websites or web resources that you’d like to share with other members?		 My interests change so I Google a few things when needing advice. But I do not follow other photographers if I can help it. Otherwise their style will influence me.
Any other comments? My goal is to get more familiar with Photoshop, not just Lightroom.

Member Profile: Nicola Pye

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Year joined DPS 2013
Signification positions held in DPS Secretary
Honours LPSNZ
Current camera Olympus OMD EM1
Favourite camera you have ever used/had The first one I bought myself when I was 16 – a Pentax K1000
Which do you prefer: Film or Digital? Digital
And why? Digital – you can afford to make way more mistakes or experiment more, at no cost.
Which do you prefer: Print or Projected? Projected
And why?
Because I’m cheap, stingy and lazy 😉 
How did you get into photography? My dad used to set up a dark room in the bathroom after we all went to bed, which made it seem so intriguing and mysterious.  I did photography at school for a year, but then didn’t really pick up a camera properly except to take photos of my babies. Decided I needed a hobby in 2013, so enrolled in the SIT Diploma in Digital Photography, and joined DPS then.
What is your most memorable moment from your time at DPS so far? Probably the first weekend trip I went on with DPS, to Milford Sound – somehow I was roped in to taking on the secretary’s role, but it was also a lovely weekend away, with nothing much to do except photography and a few dishes.
What keeps you inspired with your photography? Setting projects and expectations – although I love taking photos, there often isn’t enough time in the day, or a good enough reason to make the time…if I have a set date to meet, I find it much easier to go out and take the photographs, and a deadline promotes desperate inspiration!  Sometimes our projected image of the month is the only thing that reminds me to pick up my camera…
Do you have a particular theme that would summarise your photographs? Eclectic and haphazard
Where is the best place that you have been to take photos? Anywhere stormy and dramatic
What piece of equipment could you not do without in your camera bag? After the camera, an extra battery or two
Do you have any advice for your fellow photographers?
Not really – but if they have any for me, please email it ASAP 😀

Do you have any favourite photography related websites or web resources that you’d like to share with other members?		 I don’t have any real favourites, but I do scan through Instagram a lot for ideas and inspiration, and Youtube is an endless source of useful videos (and quite a bit of complete rubbish).

Member Profile: Gary McClintock

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Year joined DPS 2016
Signification positions held in DPS Current council member – Print secretary
Honours LPSNZ
Current camera Canon 6D
Favourite camera you have ever used/had Although not my favourite camera I was recently amazed at how good my LG3 phone camera was. In 2016 all the photos I took and entered in any competitions were taken on my phone and lots of these are among my favourites. So easy!
Which do you prefer: Film or Digital? Digital
And why? While digital may not have the mystery of waiting to get 24 or 36 slides back the duds are way less expensive
Which do you prefer: Print or Projected? No preference
And why? I do like to see and hold a print but I like the flexibility of projected, particularly as it offers a economic way to get feedback
How did you get into photography? I started taking photos at high school when I was tramping as I have always enjoyed trying to capture the landscape but with little real thought. At teachers college I did a photography course. While developing and printing was interesting I was more excited by the challenge to look more carefully around me for photos and now believe one of the greatest benefits of photography is that it has changed how I see the world and there is potential for this to keep changing and growing.
What is your most memorable moment from your time at DPS so far? Most memorable moment was assisting the judges (not actually judging) at the Dunedin Festival of Photography. It reminded me how subjective the process is and how brutal it is. So best to try not to take things too seriously
What keeps you inspired with your photography? The reason I keep taking photographs is because it keeps giving me the opportunity to be out in the environment and loose myself in the process. Getting a photo that i like is a great bonus but the the being there is most important.
Do you have a particular theme that would summarise your photographs? Most of my photos can be summed up as anything other than people or pets. I particularly like trying to abstract out compositions in the landscapes natural and urban
Where is the best place that you have been to take photos? Christchurch after the earthquake was a unique opportunity and when ever I stayed in the centre of town I would go out in the morning with my phone.I think I have some great images that show how I saw the changing town.
What piece of equipment could you not do without in your camera bag? The most useful thing I have bought recently is a pair of waders. Not having to worry about getting wet means I can access places and set up for shots in places I could not get to before.
Do you have any advice for your fellow photographers? Take what you are excited by because the process of taking is at least as important as the product so do something you enjoy.

Do you have any favourite photography related websites or web resources that you’d like to share with other members?		 I found a book by Ulrich Hensel called Sites which shows images can be abstracted out of the city environment http://ulrich-hensel.de/en/slides

I also enjoy Guy Tal whose website features a section of images abstracted out of the natural landscape http://guytal.com/

If you would like to share your thoughts and images in a member profile, please contact cameracraft.DPSNZ@gmail.com

Member Profile: Melanie Middlemiss

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Year joined DPS  2010
Signification positions held in DPS Vice President 2015, President 2016, Councillor (current)
Honours LPSNZ
Current camera Olympus OMD EM10
Favourite camera you have ever used/had Pentax K100D (but I am growing to love my Olympus)
Which do you prefer: Film or Digital? Digital
And why? I have only really ever photographed using digital, apart from when I was a kid and was just snapping away not knowing what I was doing (and how much it was costing my parents to develop the film!)
Which do you prefer: Print or Projected? Print
And why? I like seeing the finished product. It feels like the final step in the process to me.
How did you get into photography? My brother brought me a DSLR camera before I went on my OE in 2009 and I got hooked.
What is your most memorable moment from your time at DPS so far? I have lots of good memories, but I think so far the most memorable has been celebrating 125 years of the society. It was great helping to get the exhibition and events organised and great to learn more about the history of the society in the process.
What keeps you inspired with your photography? Seeing what others are up to experimenting with new techniques.
Where is the best place that you have been to take photos?  I have been lucky enough to visit London a few times now and absolutely love photographing there. I love the anonymity of being able to photograph people in the streets, the amazing street art, and the mix of old and new architecture. There is always something different and unusual to photograph.
Do you have any favourite photography related websites or web resources that you’d like to share with other members?

Member Profile: Kathy Richards

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Year joined DPS 2015
Signification positions held in DPS Council Member
Current camera Nikon D3000
Favourite camera you have ever used/had Nikon D3000
Which do you prefer: Film or Digital? Digital
And why? Because I can experiment more and see the results instantly
Which do you prefer: Print or Projected? Print
And why? Projection is convenient and easy to use and share but I enjoy viewing images in hard copy more
How did you get into photography? My husband was interested in photography and I used his camera to record the kids as they were growing up. I enjoy all sorts of art forms. Drawing, painting, fabric sculpture etc. For me, photography is just another medium for sharing how I see the world.
What is your most memorable moment from your time at DPS so far? I had two goals when I joined DPS. To get an image on the wall in an exhibition and to get an image into the NZ Camera book. I have achieved both so I am stoked.
What keeps you inspired with your photography? I tend to be obsessive with hobbies, then get bored of them and move on to something else. But photography is so diverse, there are always new concepts, subjects and tools to explore, I don’t think I will ever get bored with it. I look up photographers that inspire me, but mainly I am inspired by the world around me.
Do you have a particular theme that would summarise your photographs? I like the wabi sabi concept. The beauty of imperfection, impermanence, the state between being and not being.  Layers of peeling paint, rusty cars, stark trees, skeleton leaves, subtle colours, patterns and textures. I also look for juxtapositions and emergence.
Where is the best place that you have been to take photos? On the glacier at Franz Josef. Blue ice, melted into constantly changing sculptures.
What piece of equipment could you not do without in your camera bag? My camera. That’s all I really need.  I don’t have much equipment. One camera, two lenses, one battery, an ND filter. A couple of little bean bags which are useful to hold my camera still when I don’t have my tripod.
Do you have any advice for your fellow photographers? Stay true to yourself. Make images that you like and are proud of, not just ones that meet the brief, or you think the judges will like.
Use the title to help tell the story.
Always shoot in RAW and use good editing software to get the most from your image.

Do you have any favourite photography related websites or web resources that you’d like to share with other members?		 I like pinterest for ideas like portrait poses and tips.
Graphicriver has some fun photoshop actions.
http://graphicriver.net/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&term=photoshop+action&as=0&referrer=homepage
My favourite photography book resource is ’30-Second Photography’ edited by Brian Dilg.

Member Profile: John Casey

cameracrafteditor

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Year joined DPS 2003
Signification positions held in DPS President, Treasurer, Councillor, Festival Co-Ordinator, Natex Co-Ordinator
Current camera Nikon 750
Favourite camera you have ever used/had Nikon 750
Which do you prefer: Film or Digital? Digital
And why? Have never got into developing and my serious interest in photography has only really developed since the advent of digital
Which do you prefer: Print or Projected? Print
And why? Nothing like holding a good print in your hand. I like digital also but print is more permanent and a quick ready reference
How did you get into photography? Did quite a bit in the old days of youth –  mainly centered around family and youth Forest and Bird Activities. Later at end of school days in Tonga I did the Tourist type photos in slides and a little later the camera died and I did not replace it as Robin did most of the family photography.

John Hart ran a series of lectures through DPS one of which I attended was made welcome, the bug regenerated I bought a camera and the rest is history
What is your most memorable moment from your time at DPS so far? Being awarded a Life Membership at the 125th celebration
What keeps you inspired with your photography? Watching the crop of excellent photographers we presently have in the club and trying to learn from them how I can effectively capture the things I want to. I want the end result to match my vision which I find very difficult to do but have lotsa fun trying
Do you have a particular theme that would summarise your photographs? Water, Landscape, Buildings, lowlight and backlight
Where is the best place that you have been to take photos? Milford Road and Sound
What piece of equipment could you not do without in your camera bag? Lens hoods
Do you have any advice for your fellow photographers? Follow your vision and don’t give up
Do you have any favourite photography related websites or web resources that you’d like to share with other members? DPS (Digital Photography School)
Cambridge in Colour
Any other comments? I enjoy my membership of DPS and by participating, listening and looking, learn much which then challenges me to put into practice

Member Profile: Matheson Beaumont

dunedinphotogsoc

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Year joined DPS 1948
Signification positions held in DPS
  • President on three occasions, the last for our 100th Anniversary year.
  • Chairman of the Organising Committee of the 50th PSNZ Convention in Queenstown
  • Current Patron
Honours ONZM, FRPS, FPSA, Hon FPSNZ, Hon FNPSNZ
Current camera Canon D5
Favourite camera you have ever used/had Although I love my D5,  I had a love affair with Olympus for a number of years owning OM1, OM2, OM3 and OM4’s
Which do you prefer: Film or Digital? Digital
And why? I enjoy the ability one has to manipulate the image, to make it into the picture you envisaged at the time of taking.
Which do you prefer: Print or Projected? Print
And why? I am a print maker, and prefer this medium to the projected image. I had a long involvement with Slides from the early 1950’s and even pioneered Multi Screen Audio Visuals in NZ , in the early 1970’s. My AV’s being shown around NZ, in Australia as well as in London.
How did you get into photography? I was given my first camera about 1942 whilst at High School. Living next to my parents in St Clair were the Erwin’s; energetic members of DPS. Occasionally Mrs Erwin would bring members of DPS in to our garden to photograph the Gold Fish in our Lily Pond, which fascinated me. And as I grew up I was impressed by the pictures of scantily clad girls on the covers of the Photographic Magazines in the Book Shop at the St Clair Beach, so these two influences were significant.
What is your most memorable moment from your time at DPS so far? Presenting my Multi Screen,  6 Projector AV. ‘Something Special’ To the 21st.  PSNZ Convention in Queenstown. – To a standing ovation.
What keeps you inspired with your photography? The Challenge of image making and the involvement with the special people who share the same interest.
Do you have a particular theme that would summarise your photographs? I love the Landscape and the challenge that it presents. I have pursued many branches of photography, from Marine to Portraiture and Genre, but it continues to be the Landscape which presents for me the greatest challenge.
Where is the best place that you have been to take photos? I have photographed in many places from Mexico to Tibet, in The UK the USA and Europe, but the place that really brings me on is the Mackenzie Country and the ‘Lindis’ Pass. When I am there and the light is “right” I think that I ‘vibrate’.
What piece of equipment could you not do without in your camera bag? My Canon 28mm to 135mm zoom.
Do you have any advice for your fellow photographers? Learn to Look.  And having looked – See!
Any other comments? Some thoughts on photographing the Landscape.
The very nature of the photographic process is perhaps the reason for the landscape being so seldom done well. Photographs are made in a 125th of a second, usually less, and are often made by casual photographers who are out “Taking Pictures”. If the painter could rip off a canvas in so short a time, the world would be without many of its great works. The photographer who understands the landscape takes time to contemplate and actually feel what is going on in front of the lens. The skill is in ‘making’, rather than the predatory ‘taking‘  which leads to success.The great landscape relies on fine union of trained eye and imaginative mind. To make it you must be not only intellectually involved, but sensitive to what is going on in the subject, if you are you, you will have a better chance of communicating your feelings to your viewers. The photograph should open up our minds to the mystery of the scene and allow our imagination to to escape”.

Member Profile: Pam Constable

dunedinphotogsoc

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Year joined DPS 1987
Current camera Olympus  E300 / Canon ixus 800
Favourite camera you have ever used/had Olympus C730
Which do you prefer: Film or Digital? Digital
And why? Because I can process the image exactly how I saw it in my head when I pushed the button. AND its a lot cheaper (once you have your computer setup)
Which do you prefer: Print or Projected? Both – no preference
And why? They each do different things. I prefer projected images now because all my photo work is done on the computer, but the printed image allows for more care and thought both when during the creative process and when being interpreted by the viewer. It is a pity for instance, when the photographer has put a lot of effort into making a distinctive image, enters it into the  projected images section of a salon where it might even win an award  but it is still  only seen for 6 seconds during a convention.  A print submission will be on the wall for the entire convention and is available for people to absorb and make comment back to the author.
How did you get into photography? My whole family were passionate photographers and I had the usual box brownie when I was 12,  then a gap of many years till I was given a Kodak Instamatic, which took square photos so I dutifully recorded the babies and pets till my husband gave me a small 35mm and a week or so after that we went to Taranaki and while he was busy I spent a whole day driving around Mt Taranaki shooting off 5 films in all. The difference for me was that the 355 mm format was making a picture rather than just a record, the shape suited how I saw things and suddenly I couldn’t want to do more and more.  On the flight back home I said to my husband “Thank you again for my Christmas camera but I have had such fun today that I think I need to go and spend a lot more money and get a proper SLR”. And so I did.
What is your most memorable moment from your time at DPS so far? Walking into the exhibition and seeing my first ever top print award on the wall.
What keeps you inspired with your photography? One of the  current inspirations is continuing to enter images in salons throughout NZ. As I cannot roam  as I used to, my material is based on my archives, and when an entry is due, I mentally review what I have on hand and rework it ti suit the current requirements. I am also co-manager with Ian Thomson of the yahoo photo group DNZ-3 online and it has competitions every fortnight alternating set subject and  open (https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dnz-3/info  if anyone is interested)
Do you have a particular theme that would summarise your photographs? I don’t have an exclusive theme, but interests include landscape, specially what I term “specific or detailed landscape”, architecture and created images; i.e. montaged multi image compositions to illustrate an abstract idea.
Where is the best place that you have been to take photos? Travel is always inspiring  and Yosemite was a highlight, but then so was a week spent with friends in Hanmer Springs, going out all day up the Clarence Valley, coming home at night then spending evenings reviewing the day’s efforts,  the best workshop I have ever done.
What piece of equipment could you not do without in your camera bag? Well, my camera of course, but for me the best piece isn’t in the camera bag it’s in my head, and that’s the piece I enjoy using the most. Probably because it can create endless images from just a single frame, providing that has good basic ingredients  to start with.
Why have we not seen you much of late? I find it difficult to get along to club meetings these days but I am still participating in digital competitions when I can, as well as coming along to any special events.
Do you have any advice for your fellow photographers? Always, always follow your own pathway regardless of where others think you should be going.  Real inspiration comes from your own individuality, not from conforming to a set of salon rules.
Smart phones do not make smart pictures, but they are wonderful to record the exact moment which would be well gone by the time you ran for the SLR.  I hope this novelty for the gadget-minded will wear off fast for serious image makers and allow us to get back to what we do best, crafting thoughtful, artistic works for others to enjoy.

Member Profile: Ian Thomson

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Year joined DPS 1980
Signification positions held in DPS Camera craft editor for a few years, after Jean Nelson gave it up. Was also a “judge/selector” for competitions including Festival at times.
Honours FPSNZ
Current camera Nikon D800e
Which do you prefer: Film or Digital? Digital
And why? With digital you get another chance if people shut their eyes and also scanning negatives was a boring task.
Which do you prefer: Print or Projected? Projected
And why? I’m fairly active on Flickr and don’t need prints on there and I could never get my mounts right.
How did you get into photography? My grandfather was a member of a Liverpool photography society and had some salon success about 1910. My Grandma on the other side worked as a photographer’s assistant in Dunedin about the same time and both my parents were photographers. I started with family portraits on a plastic Diana camera about age 10. As a teenager I went with Dad to the Waimate Photography Club and learned lighting for portraits and darkroom work from the town’s Professional photographer, a Mr Jim Hore. At first when I came to Dunedin I was busy with University study and getting to know a young lady who later agreed to be my wife, but when I started work I found time every second Monday to go along to the Otago Museum for DPS meetings. One of my first prints of a rose was said to look like a “cabbage” and I have tried to progress from that.
What is your most memorable moment from your time at DPS so far? There are many memories but sometime in the 80’s (near the time of Halley’s Comet) DPS hosted the national PSNZ meeting and I was lucky to show an AV program on the University set to music from Chariots of Fire. In those days every fade was manual with two projectors and one had to get the timing right while hoping no slide would jam! Fortunately all went well. My wife and 6 week old daughter were there to see the show and Rebecca is possibly still the youngest to attend a PSNZ convention. She had her photo taken with a senior member age about 86.
What keeps you inspired with your photography? I see a lot of pictures every day in selecting for groups on Flickr which helps with ideas. Also just driving around Otago especially when the weather is “bad”
Do you have a particular theme that would summarise your photographs? Just looking for beauty in landscapes or people
Where is the best place that you have been to take photos? Probably in Prague when the mists were rising off the Vlatava River just after sunrise. It was a cold autumn morning but I was so entranced by the light and recession behind statues on the Charles Bridge that I didn’t realise how cold I was until it was time to go.
What piece of equipment could you not do without in your camera bag? I need two, both a camera and a lens  🙂
Do you have any advice for your fellow photographers? Just that you need to find the light and that won’t happen if you are sleeping in 🙂
Do you have any favourite photography related websites or web resources that you’d like to share with other members? If you are bored feel free to take a look at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzpix
(There are over 4000 photos, a few with over 50K views and nearly 6M views for the stream since 2007)Otherwise I visit DPReview (http://www.dpreview.com/) to read about equipment, and occasionally either http://www.photo.co.nz/ or Johnathons to buy.Otherwise I follow DPS on Facebook!