On Monday September 27th Banbury Camera Club held its first Print Competition of the new season. Because of reduced membership following lockdown entries were fewer than usual. This led to the decision for member Chris Baldwin being asked to be judge. The results were as follows.
Print Competition No1 – 2021-09-27 : Print Colour Open
On Tuesday 4th May 2021 Banbury Camera Club competed in a photographic inter-club battle with Stratford Photo Group. The Judge was Dave Tucker.
This competition has been run annually for 7 years. It is normally a print competition but unfortunately as this year’s competition took place on-line it had to be a digital images competition.
The results (with points out of 20) are as follows:
On Monday 12th April, Banbury Camera Club held a Digital photography competition. Members had submitted images: either Colour and Monochrome in advance. This is the fourth regular competition of the 2020-2021 season and took place on-line over Zoom.
Winners in the regular competitions accumulate points towards winning The F-Stop, Tony Grice, or Bodicote Trophies. The Annual and the Walford and Round competitions are additional and do not accumulate points. This year in the absence of print competitions, points are awarded for digital images and will lead to the award of trophies later in the season.
Joining us on-line, the guest judge was Peter Cox. The results were as follows.
The next meeting on April 26th will be a Members’ Evening – 10 images in 10 minutes. Members invited to fill a 10 minute slot with their own images – anything goes: favourite pictures, recent walks or travels, experiments under lockdown, messing with photoshop, etc.
We are saddened to hear of the death in Russia of Valentina a former member of Banbury Camera Club, excellent and creative photographer.
Valentina grew up in Soviet Russia and was a chemist for a government agency before later becoming a University teacher of Chemistry. She had a doctorate and several industrial patents to her name.
She came to live in England some 20 years ago . At that time she had no English, could not drive and didn’t take pictures.
Valentina
Joining a photographic course was a way of meeting people and, she said, did not involve much conversation at first. Progress was quick on all counts for Valentina, not only did she learn English , she became a proficient photographer and soon got her driving licence and a UK passport.
The impact of her photography on the local camera clubs is something legendary. She soon became a speaker of some repute, and although she was hesitant of presenting in her adopted tongue, the pictures spoke for themselves. Her exhibition successes were both numerous and varied with many medals, other awards and the odd FIAP blue badge. An ARPS and MPAGB were amongst her other achievements.
Her willingness to share her photographic skill was an example to all, and many friends, club members and admirers remain grateful for her inspiration and patient encouragement. I recall a phone call from her soon after we first met. ‘I invite you to my house, you will bring your portfolio, next Tuesday’. Who was I to argue? Her seemingly authoritative style was also a feature of the Banbury Camera club exhibition hanging day. We all just obeyed !
She was a true friend to so many of us and our lives are richer for having known her.
A mutual friend said ‘she was the brightest person, but the light went out..’
Valentina passed away in a Moscow hospital, a victim of Covid. She leaves a Son , Mikhail also a photographer, and a grandson .
Note: this article appeared in Banbury Guardian 25th March 21
Alan Sargeant, aged 86, passed away on Friday March 12. Mr Sargeant was a long-time member of the Banbury Historical Society, Banbury Camera Club, and most recently “Times Past” group at Banbury Museum. He developed a slide show called ‘A Walk Round Banbury’ which he took on tour around local care homes and senior clubs, inspiring hours of happy reminiscing. He was also involved in computerising the records of the village of Cropredy. Alan’s daughter, Linda Chatterjee, said: “Nobody knew more about the history of Banburyshire than Alan.” The funeral will be on April 12 at 11am, at Banbury crematorium, Southam Road. Due to current Covid restrictions attendance will be by family invitation only.
The Sargeant family moved to Banbury from Middlesborough in 1939 when Alan’s dad, Alfred went to work at the aluminium works, known locally as “the Alley”. They lived next to St John’s Church, and Alan attended school at St Mary’s and then Dashwood Road School (now Dashwood Academy.) Linda added: “He was part of St Mary’s moth anniversary celebration in 2018, regaling current pupils with his memories of World War II. He chuckled when a young boy asked him if he had survived.” Alan left school at the age of 15 and went to work at Stock-ton Sons and Fortescue, a firm of solicitors in the High Street. The story of this first job, “The Office Boy” was published in Ottaker’s Local History Series book after Alan won a writing competition in 2001. Mr Sargeant also served in the RAF for three years, which included time as an air plane mechanic in Egypt. He also earned the Suez Canal service military service medals for his service time in Egypt.
Mr Sargeant had a life-long love of learning. His daughter Linda recalled how her father would joke that he was “educated at Rugby and Oxford” because he attended technical college in both towns studying engineering. She added: “I am the first in my line to get a bachelors, and Jane got hers a couple of years later. Both of us got our love of learning from our parents, especially dad.” Mr Sargeant also had a passion for languages. His nephew, Mr Green, added: “He was fluent in at least two languages (German and French) and a skilled and qualified translator.” He became a draftsman for General Electric in Rugby, and later for many years at Demag (cranes) in Banbury. While at Demag, he learned advanced German, earning the initials AIL (Associate of the Institute of Linguists) and when computers replaced draftsmen, he continued translating German technical drawings for Demag on a freelance basis. He donated a large collection of German books to Oxford University.
In 1962, Alan Sargeant married Beryl Knowles whose parents owned a shop in Easington. Beryl is remembered as a leader of local Girl Guides in the 1970s and 80s and as the Matron at Drayton School. She died in 2000. The couple leave two daughters – Jane Sargeant who lives in Yorkshire, and Linda Chatterjee, who lives in the USA. Jane remembered fondly how her father passed his love for gardening down to her. She said: “In the early years of bringing up a young family dad would grow all our vegetables, potatoes, cabbage etc, with just a few flowers for colour.
When we moved from Rugby to Banbury he continued growing vegetables in my nan’s house in Cromwell road. “Our small garden in Morris Drive was taken over by swings and our pet rabbits. Later on as we grew up and left home, dad was able to take up his passion for growing flowers. He swapped the potatoes and cabbage for fuchsias and pelargoniums. “He would spend hours in the greenhouse taking cuttings and potting them on. He loved to share this passion with family and the close neighbours he had and there was usually a plant exchange or two going on in the street.”
The family got together with the Knowles clan to celebrate Mr Sargeant with a “This is your Life” party for his 85th birthday in 2019. Mr Green described his uncle as ‘a tower of strength to the entire family.’ He said: “Throughout his life he gave of his best to family and friends, encouraging and supporting us all. There was never anything he wouldn’t do for you, and if he knew you had a specific interest he would go out of his way to research and provide further information. His was a life lived to the full.”
On Monday 22nd March, Banbury Camera Club held its annual Projected Digital Images (PDI) photography competition. Members had submitted images in advance. The event was held via Zoom all images submitted in advance.
Joining us on-line, the guest judge was Terry Pollard.
Placings were awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd plus highly commended for Monochrome and Colour. The judge also selected the overall winner from the two 1st placed entries.
Annual PDI competition – 2021-03-22 : PDI Colour Open
On Monday 8th February, Banbury Camera Club held its annual Walford and Round photography competition. Members had submitted images in advance. There were 2 set subjects “Water” and “Square”. This competition is normally a print competition, however as the event was held via Zoom all images had to be submitted as digital images.
Joining us on-line, the guest judge was Kathy Chantler.
For each set subject placings were awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd plus commended at the judge’s discretion. The judge also selected the overall winner from the two 1st placed entries.
The overall winner was Joining the Flow by Chris Baldwin. He will receive the Walford & Round Trophy, once we can return to face to face meetings.
The next meeting on Banbury Camera Club on 22nd February will be “Shetland to Scilly Islands – Birds of the British Isles” with guest speaker: Ashley Grove.
Full details of how to participate in our Zoom Meetings are sent out to members by email.
On Monday 11th January, Banbury Camera Club held a Digital photography competition. Members had submitted images: either Colour and Monochrome in advance. This is the third competition of the 2020-2021 season and took place on-line over Zoom.
Joining us on-line, the guest judge was Graham Walton. The results were as follows. This year in the absence of print competitions, points are awarded for digital images and will lead to the award of trophies later in the season.
The next meeting on 25 January will be a Members’ evening. A presentation by members of images that they have taken during 2020. Members who would like to talk through a few of their photographs should contact Barry Boswell, or better send him digital images of the photographs you wish to show on the night.
Full details of how to participate in our Zoom Meetings are sent out to members by email.
On Monday 30th November, Banbury Camera Club held a Digital photography competition. Members had submitted images: either Colour and Monochrome in advance. This is the second competition of the 2020-2021 season and took place on-line over Zoom.
Joining us on-line, the guest judge was Alan Edwards. The results were as follows. This year in the absence of print competitions, points are awarded for digital images and will lead to the award of trophies later in the season.
The next meeting will be held on Monday December 14 when guest speaker – Jerry Webb will present a talk entitled “Mono photography with an edge”. Full details of how to participate in our Zoom Meetings are sent out to members by email.
This video of the competition has been published for your enjoyment.
On Monday 5th October Banbury Camera Club held an On-line Digital photography competition. Members had submitted 50 images in 2 categories Colour and Monochrome in advance This is the first competition of the new season (starting in September).
Joining us on-line, the guest judge was Colin Mill from New City Photographic Society in Milton Keynes. The results were as follows with links to the images.
As we’re unable to hold any print competitions this year, it has been decided to award points for winning images in on-line competitions. These are shown in the results below.
Two images by Charles Binns – Glacier Bay and Re-Tyred – were duo toned. This “Officially” places them into the colour section. They were however judged as mono images in the competition. It has therefore been decided (at Charles’ suggestion) that points are not awarded for them on this occasion.
The next meeting will be Your questions answered – 19th October. This is an opportunity for members to ask questions on any aspect of photography and have it answered and explained in depth with practical demonstration where appropriate. Although questions may be taken on the night, to avoid disappointment please will members submit their questions to Barry Boswell asap.
