Recent Events

Study Day on Photography 7th March
Provoked by a lecture last year on Great Photographs of the 20th Century, which omitted to mention any by women, Carole Pook was determined to set the record straight and chose the eve of International Women’s Day to do so. She began with a presentation of work from women who have made names for themselves creating memorable images on film, starting with Julia Margaret Cameron in the nineteenth century, through to Diane Arbus, whose retrospective exhibition is currently running at the Hayward Gallery on London’s South Bank.

The presentation covered female war photographers such as Lee Miller, who documented the discovery of Nazi concentration camps and insisted on being photographed in Hitler’s bath and the controversial Leni Riefenstahl, whose striking pictures of National Socialist rallies provided propaganda material for the party. As for more recent work we were introduced to Renike Dijkstra, a Dutch photographer whose portraits of bathers are disturbingly bleak, but surprisingly memorable. In the enjoyably relaxed atmosphere, we looked commented and absorbed.

After a break for an excellent lunch of quiches and salads, we reassembled to listen again. This time a keen amateur photographer showed us a selection of his work, giving clear and helpful advice on composition, lighting, and angles. He showed how well natural conditions of water, mist and low light can be used to enhance a scene. Buildings with arches, windows for reflections and difference of height were also exemplified in the talk.

It was an excellent, enjoyable and convivial day, inspiring us to appreciate images and make more interesting ones.

Many thanks to Carole for organising such an interesting and stimulating day.

o-DOROTHEA-LANGE-BIRTHDAY-facebook[1] (1)

AGM and 50th Anniversary
On 14th June 2018, the Arts Society, Huntingdonshire held its AGM; a talk by Sarah Greaves, of Murray Edwards College, on the New Hall Women’s Art Collection, preceded a celebration of the Society’s 50th anniversary, with cake and Prosecco.
25th Anniversary
A similar celebration took place in May 2008, when there was a display of the members’ own work, and the then Chairman, the late Lady Hemingford, cut the cake.
item11