Thanks to everyone who entered images in this year’s exhibition, and congratulations to those members who were successful. The full list of results are available here: 2025 Results
Members
It’s been a while between posts!
An irregular post and shout out to members to inform and record on what’s been happening photography wise regarding some talented members success outside of the club activities, and other related stuff.
On the local front:
We have the Tuhura Otago Museum Photography Exhibition, which can still be viewed until 13th October and well worth a visit.
The exhibition features members:
Greta Wallace: overall winner in the Black & White division with a graceful Royal spoonbill in flight, and another wildlife image; Gary McClintock who earned a highly commended in the Botanical Section with his Grebes, and a number of other images.
Simon Parsons, Andy Smith and Graeme Atkinson also had images selected for display and Craig McKenzie features as a past Photographer of the Year. Craig’s images also feature periodically in the NZ National Geographic magazine, his most recent with images of the nesting Australasian crested grebes in Lake Wanaka.
Apologies if I have missed anyone.
At National level:
PSNZ: Gary McClintock Champion Nature Image: stumped the nation with his image depicting the Crested Grebe courtship.
NZ Amateur Photography Awards: Noelle Bennett: continues to wow us with her mastery gaining 6 silver ( 2 in top 25, & 4 in top 10) eight highly commended awards, with Jodelle Leatham attaining four highly commended awards.
Professional awards
We are very fortunate to have two professional photographers active in the club: Koshy Yohannon and Simone Jackson both who have distinguished themselves among their peers.
At the recent IRIS Awards (Professional photography awards for Australia and NZ run by NZIPP) Koshy received 10 awards- 9 bronze and 1 silver with some stunning nature images of: NR Albatross, NZ Dabchick, Wrybill, Yellow eyed penguin family, Buller’s Albatross.
Simone is best known as a wedding, and nature/wildlife photographer, as a judge at these awards, and also managed to pick up 3 golds and a bronze.
Her two most recent notable accolades include : 3 golds and a bronze; 2024- judged 7th in Top Ten Wedding Photographers- Photographic World Cup; 2023 Awarded Grand Master of Photography (only 21 NZers have been awarded this!).
Our congratulations to all.
If you are looking to view some of their work or some local inspiration, check out these links:
- Simone @simone_jackson_photography; @natures_studio; www.simonejacksonphotography.
- Koshy @igallopfree (Black Stallion Photography)
- Gary @spikernz
- Noelle https://www.noelbennettphotography.com
- Jodelle @jodellesphotography
- Craig @craigmckenzienz
Local exhibitions
Jodelle, and Greg Hughson exhibited some of their work separately at the Daily Coffee Co during the winter months.
Travel
We can look forward seeing images from several members (Graeme, Gary, Suzanne & Jodelle) who have travelled overseas recently featuring in our club competitions and exhibitions in the coming year.
New members
We welcome recent new members: Jörg Haase, Shannon Thomson, Josephine Leong & Alan Sew Hoy.
’24 DPS Big Trip
Fourteen members enjoyed a great 4-day weekend to Banks Peninsula recently based at the well-appointed Wainui Park Camp just across the harbour from Akaroa. There was a variety of photographic possibilities to suit all genres including: wildlife (dead & alive), birdlife, landscapes, seascapes, street, heritage and misc nature, plus the odd non photographic experience. It would be fair to say a successful and thoroughly enjoyable trip was had by all. Thanks Melanie.
Blog
I am hoping to revive this blog on our website, basically for those who do not use social media, and to record and inform the club membership of: new members; fellow member accomplishments/activities related to photography outside of the club. It will not be for repeating club email messages/notifications.
At this stage I envisage it will be compiled two or maybe three times a year.
So if you know of something that someone has done or participated in, have been involved in and deserves acknowledgement then please drop me a message at: cameracraft@dps.org.nz so I can include it in the next edition.
Feel free to blow your own trumpet! Comments (AND PHOTOS!) welcome.
Barbara Newton – Camera Craft Editor
All members welcome
Just a reminder that there is a lot of activity going on in the focus groups each month, and all members are welcome to join any/all the groups whenever they would like.
You don’t have to be able to make every meeting, but if you would like to join at any point, all the details are below.
In addition to these meetings there are fieldtrips, photowalks and meetups planned. These will be advertised to all members and you are welcome to join any/all – you don’t have to be a member of the specific group.
- NATMAT Group (Natural history, Macro, Astro, Timelapse)
- Every Sunday at 7.30pm on Zoom – just use the regular DPS Zoom meeting link
- Affinity Group (Affinity is photo editing software)
- Every Thursday at 7.30pm on Zoom – just use the regular DPS Zoom meeting link
- Projects Group (Focus on working towards photographic project of some description)
- 3rd Monday of month at 7.30 on Zoom – just use the regular DPS Zoom meeting link
- Honours Group (Working towards PSNZ honours)
- 3rd Monday of month at 7.30 on Zoom – just use the regular DPS Zoom meeting link
- Street/Urban Group (Out and about with cameras)
- 1st Thursday of month at 10am – various outdoor locations. Join the Facebook Group (DPS Street/Urban Focus Group) or email Nicola to be added to the email list.
– Melanie
Ian Thomson’s tribute to the Otago Peninsula
DPS member Ian Thomson is featured in the latest issue of the Down in Edin Magazine. Take a look at his tribute to the Otago Peninsula.
Member Profile: Gary McClintock
| 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
Getting creative with Jenny: Part 3
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] [PART 2]
Here is another design, utilising just one photo (a maple tree in Dunedin Botanic Garden) copied and modified with various Photoshop effects. The photos were then positioned and arranged in InDesign to a large file size as the final design was printed onto a PVC “banner” for display in the Botanic Garden.
Photoshop effects included manipulating colour balance and channel mixers, inverting colours, and using “twirl” in the “distort” filter menu.
The design is called “Variations for Vivaldi”, aiming to achieve a feeling of The Four Seasons and musical rhythms (the 5 wriggly lines at the bottom of the banner).
Getting creative with Jenny: Part 2
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).
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.
Getting creative with Jenny: Part 1
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:
- a kereru native NZ pigeon – photographed on my back yard clothesline
- an Australian rainbow lorikeet – photographed when I was hand-feeding it at Broulee on NSW south coast.
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.
2016 Spring Print Exhibition Results
This year we held our Spring Print Exhibition at the Dunedin Community Gallery (28-31st August). Having the exhibition on for a few days gave members a chance to view the images multiple times if they wanted, and enabled us to share our work with the public.
Along with the Spring Print exhibition, we had the Dunedin Junior Photography Exhibition on display. 2016 was the first year for this and we were pleased to get 18 entrants who submitted photos on variety of subjects. 10 images were selected for the final exhibition. We look forward to running this again next year.
In addition we presented a digital exhibition of member’s work from the Filderstadt Photoclub (FCF). In 2015 a member of the FCF visited a DPS exhibition, and this has led to several interactions between the two clubs this year.
We had a good number of visitors through the gallery, and all positive feedback. Our second meeting of the month was held on Mon 29th at the Community Gallery where we heard feedback from the judges (Paul Sorrell, Natural History; John Hart, Open) and got to catch up with one another over drinks and nibbles.
Congratulations to everyone who had images accepted for the exhibition. The honours and awards images are in the slideshow below.
Member Profile: Kathy Richards
| 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? | |
| 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. |
Dunedin Photographic Society 