Photography

Kenneth McCalpine took these pictures when the OIR opened "The Tam O' Shanter Trail in, 2005. They may be of interest to those who took part.

Photo Stack of Opening of Tam O' Shanter Trail
(photos supplied by Kenneth McCalpine)

This Report on the activities in the group has been prepared by Douglas Wilson who been tasked with co-ordinating the input to the Website from Photo Group One.

The summer season is now well and truly over (What Summer!) and we are now back in Loudon Hall on Wednesday mornings. Not resting on our laurels, as the Annual Photographic Exhibition is being prepared -the Exhibition will be formally opened in the Carnegie Library by the Provost at 12 noon on Wednesday 2 November. In addition we continue with our schedule of Guest Speakers, presentations by our talented members, workshops and “six of the best” - where members are invited to display their current digital masterpieces using the OIR Digital Projector.

It was agreed that this summer more use would be made of our bus passes to get to certain venues and in particular that we would explore the photographic possibilities in Glasgow. To this end 3 expeditions were proposed.

1. Kelvingrove Park.

The weather was not kind to us for most of the summer - indeed, the catch phrase was “It’s raining - it must be Wednesday”. The weather that day was dull and largely overcast but the rain did hold off for a time. It was an enjoyable day with plenty of scope for photography.

Again, not the best of days weatherwise; but a very interesting and informative expedition led by Sheena Andrew. Her encyclopedic knowledge of Glasgow and it’s history made this an extremely enjoyable day. I learned that I didn’t really know all that much about Glasgow and it’s history. Thank you Sheena!

This time the weather didn’t really matter as we would be indoors at the New Riverside Transport Museum. Photography in a Museum is, at best, a chancy business. The juxtaposition of the exhibits, the crowds and the lighting always cause problems and the Transport Museum was no different. In addition, some of the exhibits were curiously arranged - the cars and motorbikes, in particular, were stacked on shelves which made close-up viewing and photography very awkward. Also the interior of the museum, walls and ceilings are painted in what can only be describes as an “icky green”. Challenging!!

I much preferred the layout in the old Transport Museum; but don’t let me put you off, as it is well worth a visit. The bus was free, entrance was free and we had a very enjoyable day.

Just to prove that the Group's Summer Outings are not all about serious photography but do have a lighter side. The following photos are from the Group's Resident Big Game Hunter & Wildlife Expert - David Sproat.

---------------------------------------------

Tuesday Photographic Group

The information on this webpage has been compiled by Tony Box on behalf of the Tuesday Photographic Group (TPG). It is based on material supplied by all the members of the TPG and is designed to reflect both the activities undertaken and the ‘character’ of the group.

Introduction

TPG members use a range of digital photographic equipment from ‘compact’ through ‘bridge’ to ‘digital single lens reflex’ cameras. The photographic interests of the group are as broad as the range of camera equipment used and includes action, landscape and townscape, wildlife, portrait, astronomical and reportage. The photograph below is an example of the work of our astronomical specialist.

To meet of our range of interests our programme is designed, with input from all group members, to include something for everybody whether it is simply improving holiday photographs, creating an album of the grand children’s development or recording the life cycle of wild birds. To satisfy the broad range of abilities and interests the TPG’s programme comprises a mixture of workshops, seminars, for example, ‘master class’ critique sessions, presentations, including short presentations by group members, location visits, photographic exercises and competitions and an annual field course.

Whilst taking our photography seriously and working to improve our technical and compositional skills we also believe that what we are doing should be fun and provide an enjoyable challenge to all. This approach is exemplified by our well attended Christmas Lunch and the photograph below taken at Eglinton Country Park during our visit to Irvine during summer 2011 to record various aspects of the town’s history and life. As the picture shows here is a group of members working very hard at their photography – the excellence of the summer weather being a bonus.

TPG limits it membership to 35 to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to get involved and contribute to its activities.

The principal aim of the group is to provide its members with the knowledge and confidence to reduce their use of their camera’s ‘auto’ setting and increasingly explore the functions and flexibility it has when setting it up manually. There is no peer pressure, however, on those group members who want to improve their photography by better understanding the range of automatic and related settings their camera offers.

Programme

The programme for autumn 2011 finished with an excellent Christmas lunch. This included an informal competition in which each member was asked to bring along two to four photographs, with at least one entitled ‘guess where I am’ and the other ‘guess what I am’. It was suggested that the ‘where I am’ photographs should be of places those living in the Ayr and surrounding areas could be expected to have visited.

One member of the group offered a bottle of champagne for the first person who could identify the location and occasion on which his ‘where am I’ photograph was taken. Ian McLarty recognised the O2 arena at Greenwich and the green laser beam marking the exact location of the Greenwich Prime Meridian – 0 degrees longitude.

The two images below where taken when members were discussing and viewing the competition photographs and before the group sat down to a very enjoyable lunch.

As indicated above the TPG meets on a Tuesday morning, weekly during the autumn, winter and spring, with an appropriate break for the festive season, and fortnightly during the summer. The meetings between September and the end of April are mostly held at the Loudon Hall in Ayr with the occasional off-site session, whilst those between May and August are field visits to photograph particular sites/sights that are visited in small groups.

The winter programme also includes field work with specific themes carried out between the meetings and the principal annual competition. This winter subjects have included the ‘festive season’ and ‘winter scenes’.

There is also a series of summer learning trips, each of which starts with a seminar related to a particular element of digital photography followed by a visit to one or more locations where the new skill can be practiced. Each trip will include a competition.

The programme for the Winter/Spring session for 2012 is contained in the table below. All gaps in the programme will be filled in due course and this webpage updated accordingly.

---------------------------------------------

Scottish Country Dancing

This class provides some fun and a good opportunity for both physical and mental exercise. Why not give it a try?

---------------------------------------------

Scrabble

Scrabble is a word game in which two to four players score points by forming words from individual lettered tiles on a game board marked with a 15-by-15 grid. The words are formed across and down in crossword fashion and must appear in a standard dictionary.

---------------------------------------------

Short Tennis

Short Tennis has been going for a number of years, and continues to be as popular as ever. The emphasis is placed on the social aspect, combined with gentle exercise.

We meet at Newton Church Hall, Main Street, Ayr every Friday between 2pm-4pm and the cost is ВЈ1 for which you receive tea and biscuits.

---------------------------------------------

Short Walks 4

We meet in the car park behind the O.I.R. office at 9.00am. Our walks usually last between 2 and 3 hours although they can be longer. Then, appetites keenly whetted, we have lunch together. The group has ten members so that we need use only two cars.

In winter, we explore the nearby countryside, towns, cities and places of interest. In summer, we venture further afield when the weather permits. Everyone is encouraged to wear walking boots, to be suitably dressed for all weathers, and to carry a day bag. A walking pole or two are useful aids. Some photos taken during our walks are shown below.

---------------------------------------------

Short Walk 1

The short walks on Fridays are meant to be a вЂњsociable walkвЂќ as opposed to a true walk. The walks follow the Tuesday OIR meetings and run throughout the year. The distance is usually about 3 miles on fairly firm and flat surfaces. This can not be guaranteed in winter!!! The locations are within about 15 miles of Ayr. For those without transport the meeting place is Mill Brae car park at 09.30 and the start point at 10.00 for those with transport.

There are about 50 members and 20 to 25 attend on the day. Where possible the intent is to return to the start point where coffee or lunch can be taken at a local cafГ©.

---------------------------------------------

Short Walks 2

If you have ever thought of becoming an outdoor group leader
Alice gives some helpful hints here. Just click on Alice for full guidance.

The walks 2 and 3 meet on alternative Fridays at 10:00. The membership of each group is mostly different though a few people are in each group. The groups use public transport where possible go for a 3-4 mile walk finishing with a coffee stop. Contact leader for further details.

---------------------------------------------

Short Walks 3

---------------------------------------------

Social Science

In the popular Issues in Social Science course you explore and discuss current affairs and issues within modern society. It is an excellent opportunity for you to voice your opinion and learn something new in the process.

The Social Sciences class is going ahead to a second semester this session. However, it will not now be on a Wednesday, but on every Thursday, starting on Thursday, 9th February 2012 ----9.15---11am. New members welcome. Cost-Ј40 per semester as before. Takes place in Ayr College building just beside the river, Room L116b.

---------------------------------------------

Spanish Classes

For those who love to take their holidays in the many Spanish speaking parts of the world. OIR offers a structured series of two levels.

This group started out as вЂњAbsolute BeginnersвЂќ just over two years ago and are now вЂњAbsolutely AmazingвЂќ. They can conjugate verbs (while tossing a soft toy to one another) memorize vocabulary, sing some rousing Spanish songs, and even speak a few words of Spanish while on holiday in Spain or Latin America! You may have heard of вЂњFrench Without TearsвЂќ. Well, this is even better. This is вЂњSpanish with Lots of LaughsвЂќ. If you know a bit of Spanish, why not come and join us?

Levels: