Barry Camera Club Meeting 16/01/2009

Philippa Wood AWPF CPAGB was the guest speaker at Friday's meeting of the Barry Camera Club . Her presentation, entitled "One Woman, One Camera" was a feast of excellent image and Philippa's commentary showed the 30 members present how much she enjoyed her photography . Enjoyment was a recurring theme throughout her talk and the pleasure that Philippa got from her photos, whatever the subject and wherever they were taken, was very evident. She said that many photographers never really went out regularly to take photos . Having a camera at the ready was part of her way of life but admitted that there had been occasions when she had missed shots because she was without her camera or even because she failed to really look around her to see what photos were just asking to be taken.

She showed projected images she had taken at the 2008 Eistedfodd many of which were of people who were completely oblivious of her camera pointing at them . St Fagans Folk Museum proved another source of wonderful shots many of which were in monochrome in order ot enhance the feeling of times past in them. Another location which proved a great source of images was a Point-to-Point meeting near Cowbridge although she admitted she was a little too keen to get close to the jumps there and had to make a hasty retreat when the horses and riders got very close indeed. Equally rewarding were the World Sheepdog Trials at Llandeilo with some endearing images of beautiful dogs and their owners. She found over many years of photographing people that they were usually very happy to assist in any way to get good photos if asked, and the only reward requested would be a copy of the image for themselves.

		Other locations she showed images of were the Scilly Isles, fairgrounds,often found at agricultural shows and most spectacularly Cuba, where she had taken a photographic holdiday. Most of her photos were outside the capital Havana and showed the fantastic scenery. The influence of Russia was evident in some of these shots and the island's association with Che Guevara was shown by the wonderful memorial erected at St Anna where he had been reinterred. Beautiful French rather than Spanish style architecture was shown in many of her shots taken in Cienfugos on the island. No photo holiday on Cuba would be complete she said without taking shots of the many old American cars still running there ,often held together by string and anything that could be found.

Chairwoman Barbra Archdale-Smith thanked Philippa for her superb presentation and hoped that there would be future opportunities to invite her to talk at the Barry Camera Club.

Next week's talk is entitled "The Pleasure's All Mine" by Grahame Hodgkiss ARPS DPAGB APAGB and is sponsored by Lion Fine Print. Full details of the club programme are on the website www.barrycameraclub.org.uk> and anyone interested is welcome to attend free for 2 or 3 weeks before making up their minds about joining.