Studio group update for BPS website

2017 further Studio Group meetings.

In August we had a good Avoncroft session with the lovely and versatile Em who is skilled in ballet dancing and gymnastics. She travelled over from Milton Keynes and we arranged 2 groups of 5 members for 2 hour sessions.

Em is a partner in a large studio (Natural Light Spaces) near Northampton and several of us visited in November. We split into 2 small groups and had 90minute sessions using the spacious shooting areas.

2018

Ciaren was the first model of the year when he came to Bromsgrove in January. He is well known to some of us and he came prepared with dinner jacket, casual outfits and finished with a gym set up with weights and doing push-ups! He also did dramatic poses as a rock singer and Roger Lewis was able to set up his smoke machine!

By contrast Sabrina showed us her bohemian/gypsy look for 7 of our members in May.

In August 7 of us had a return visit to Natural Light Spaces where we met the model Gem who travelled up from the London area.

2019 and 2020

The 2019 year started with a session at Avoncroft with Jessica. Roger was keen to try some dramatic lighting along with his smoke machine. Our group consisted of 7 which we are finding is probably a good maximum number allowing 1:1 shooting at a manageable cost for room hire and model fee.

In November 2019 and January 2020, I arranged 2 beginners sessions with 5 members in each session. This was mainly portrait lighting tuition as well as posing guidance. We appreciated the help of other members acting as models.

In February 4 members shot on location at Gloucester Docks where they met up with local model Johnny.  

NB. Further Studio Group meetings were not possible for the rest of the year due to the Corona Virus pandemic and restrictions on indoor meetings.

Colin Close – Nov 2020

 

The Studio Group met on April 7th for another session aimed mainly at beginners. The model was Jon who is well known to BPS in recent years. His characteristic rugged looks are great for contrasty male portraits. He has recently changed his look with shorter hair and a goatee beard. We started with mainly single light for portraits and moved onto  him stripped to the waist and pulling on a rope. Finally he donned boxing gloves for some, possibly clichéd, poses!

Special thanks to Adrian Butt who provided the link between cameras and a large TV screen so we could view, almost in real time, our pictures. This was valuable in demonstrating changes in the light set up. Jon benefited from receiving pictures afterwards for his portfolio and to pass onto agencies for his film and TV work.

It is hoped to arrange future sessions on a 6-8 week basis.

Colin Close LRPS CPAGB AFIAP

 

In addition to being an active participant in the club’s monthly competitions, Colin Close, our External Exhibition Secretary, has also been busy competing externally. Not only entering but being awarded a Gold Medal for this winning image title “The Defeated Champ”

Colin commented, “It was entered in an international salon involving 3 exhibitions in 3 different countries: Serbia, Macedonia and Romania. It was accepted in all 3 parts of the Salon and I was delighted to receive a gold medal in the Serbian judging. The picture is a new reworking of a picture taken at Avoncroft a few years ago”.

“The model is Jon who now has a new look with shorter hair and a goatee beard and featured in one of our recent club competitions”.

Our congratulations to Colin on his well-deserved success.

Linda Allen – Publicity Officer

We recently had a successful Studio Group evening at Avoncroft Arts Centre. This was the first one for a while and 6 of our newer members attended with myself and Roger Lewis. This event (and previous ones) took place on a Friday evening which is usually the only available evening at Avoncroft (hence the often used question “When’s the next Friday shoot, Colin?”).

A young lady called Imogen was our model and the 2.5 hour session was a mixture of brief tutorial/demonstration of lighting and practical 1:1 shooting. Imogen was keen to have dramatic old style Hollywood portraits which led to some interesting lighting set ups. Some of these were successful and even if we didn’t get it exactly as hoped we all learnt something for the future. For instance, the full length shadow picture of Imogen would be great for trying again with the model dressed in an elegant long gown +/- a feather boa!

All members felt the evening was very useful and more productive than the busier Tuesday model nights that are part of our normal programme and occur every 6 weeks or so. Hopefully we’ll see the results of this evening in future club competitions. I’ve included 3 of my efforts here!

I hope we can continue regular future events with the next one being open to newer members then subsequent ones open to the whole membership. Limiting numbers to about 6 participants seems about right and costs for this event were £18 per person.

Colin Close