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The word ‘Opposites’ refers to things that are completely different or contrary to each other in meaning, nature or direction. So, when the LADCC members were set the task of converting the title of ‘Opposites’ into an image for their monthly photographic challenge, the results that they produced were extremely wide and varied. This wide range of subject matter made the 24 submitted entries even harder to judge.

 

“A truly challenging topic title” was how one member described the monthly challenge. “One that was quite different that allowed me to challenge my limited photographic skills!” Even though some members have their own excellent photographic specialities, the wide and varied topic titles are challenging many to think quite differently about their photography and many are learning new techniques.

 

This month’s winner, Richard Townend, pulled something amazing out of the bag to mystify and impress the members with his spectacularly created photograph called ‘Harlequin glass’. Members were left asking how he had created this image and Richard has agreed to demonstrate how he did it at the next meeting.

 

Richard confessed that some years ago he had produced a similar ‘Harlequin image’ but in colour. Thinking it would work well in monochrome he experimented with the idea featuring the colours black and white as his opposites. He used props of two pieces of black card, two pieces of white card plus a wine glass half-filled with water. Richard placed two pieces of black and white card vertically, to use as a backdrop, and then two pieces of black and white card horizontally on a flat surface. The black and white cards were placed opposite each other (as shown in the diagram below) ensuring that the joins of the cards matched both vertically and horizontally. The half-filled glass was then placed centrally on the join of the two horizontal cards.

 

 

For the more technical readers his settings were: 1/8th sec, @ f5.6, ISO200

 

Richard explained that when you half fill the glass with water you are effectively using the water as a lens which inverts and rotates the image where the water is.

 

This winning shot wasn’t a quick one-shot image but one that was painstakingly constructed with time and patience to get the camera angles and lines correct to achieve his desired effect. However, it was well worth the effort as Richard’s photo was given the highest mark of this year so far! He was pleased to advise that once he was happy with his efforts the wine glass reverted to its original purpose!!

 

Maybe any interested readers could try this out at home?!

 

 

This wonderful image was certainly not a “stroll in the park” for Richard, but Julian Pering’s “Stroll on the beach” was, similarly, a wonderfully created photograph and came a deserved second place. The lengths some of our amateur enthusiasts go to is quite incredible!

 

Julian advised us that he made these figures out of plasticine as he was struggling to think of a suitable “opposites” image. He created a 19cm female model (no expense spared on photographic models!) and a smaller male model. Using coloured plasticine he could then highlight many different opposites: tall/short, fat/thin etc. but there are many more – see how many you can find! It was a very cleverly constructed image with many opposites, and showed off Julian’s artistic skills perfectly!

 

 

This popular camera club usually meets twice a month, at the Las Claras Centre in Los Alcázares, on the first Tuesday of every month and, often, an outing towards the end of the month, where the group gets together to collectively work on the topic for the monthly competition. With modern day technology we can all keep in contact for training sessions, sharing knowledge etc. via ‘group chats’. We are interested in hearing from anyone who would like to join us when the opportunity arises. You will be put on a waiting list and be contacted when a space becomes available. If you would like more information about the Club please do not hesitate to look at our website,

www.ladcc.es, or email us at informationladcc@gmail.com.