East Sutherland Camera Club shines a light on its lockdown photographs
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Amateur photographers have been sharing their snaps during the pandemic despite not being able to meet up in person.
East Sutherland Camera Club switched to online meetings in March when Covid-19 struck and continued with much of its planned twice-monthly meetings until the end of the 2019-20 season at the end of May.
Buoyed up by seeing how online meetings could work well and rather than having the normal dormant period during the summer, the club decided to hold monthly online meetings to enable members to share their photographic activities and maintain social contact which would not have been otherwise possible.
Each month, three members shared presentations on what they had been doing, followed by discussions.
Before the travel ban was lifted photography was limited to indoors, in the garden or within a short distance of home, but that didn’t deter members.
Tessa Palmer (Dornoch) decided to experiment with a photographic process that doesn’t need a camera – cyanotypes.
We all know the word ‘blueprints’ when talking about designs but how many know the origin of the word? As Tessa explained it all stems from the 19th century when engineering drawings and architects’ plans were drawn on tracing paper and the cyanotype process was used to make copies.
The process involves exposing the drawing over a chemically treated paper to light. After processing, the finished print shows the details in white on a blue background. Modern cyanotypes use the same process but leaves, other vegetation and materials are put on the paper and exposed to sunlight to create stunning prints.
Emma Deeth (Tain) adopted an idea which started in the USA in early March. Photographers took relaxed photo shoots of families on their doorstep or those in the community in return for donations to charity. Emma decided on the local branch of Macmillan if folk wanted to donate.
The word got around and she raised more than £500. There were many heart-warming stories of families with newborn babies and 18th birthday celebrations during lockdown who had been unable to have good photographs taken. The local ambulance crew were also included in her project.
Louise MacKay (Brora) spent two socially distanced days at a Clynelish farm photographing the sheep shearing. Her presentation to members provided a complete view of the shearing with some stunning colour and black-and-white photography.
Confined to his home and garden Andy Kirby (Dornoch) used an LED panel to photograph flowers taken from his garden. The technique involved laying them on the panel so the backlighting gave a translucent quality to the petals and pure white background when photographed from above.
Overall nine members gave presentations and the format is being carried forward to the first meeting of the new season, which has recently got under way.
There are plans to have two meetings a month as in previous seasons, but via Zoom. The programme is available on the club website and this includes external speakers and photographic competitions all being managed online.
In addition, socially distanced outdoor photo sessions will be arranged. New members are welcome and the club website is at eastsutherlandcc.org.uk
