AV News 177 - August 2009
North Wales & Wirral AV Group Workshops
E liz a b e th C o o k
It was a glorious morning on Sunday 19th April, as we drove up the lovely
Conwy Valley to Capel Curig, not a day to spend inside watching AVs. However
we soon forgot the sunshine outside as a fascinating day began. The Guest
Speaker was Ron Davies FRPS EFIAP FIPF FACI(M). Ron is
a native of North Wales and his passion for his home
country shone through. He showed us several of his
excellent AVs the first being "Hiraeth" which he made in
1986. There is no true translation for this word in English
but it means a longing for the Land of My Fathers.
Not only did Ron talk about the reason behind the next
AV, he also dissected it. Ron has to have a reason for
making a given AV and likes to have the script written
before tackling the photography. He particularly
mentioned the dissolves. He tries to remember the following planned
photograph and the angles within that photo and then takes a photograph that
will dissolve into it matching lines or angles to make a smooth transition from
one to the other. The title was "Vigilantes" and Ron photographed it on a very
run-down housing estate in Little Hulton a few miles from his home. This
interested me particularly as I had worked in the area more years ago than I will
admit to and I was horrified at the state of the area when this AV was made in
1992 using slides. Ron took his life in his hands even going into the estate. He
did not dare to risk taking his car there.
Further AVs followed and we were told the reason behind them with many
amusing anecdotes. His family were slate and coal miners and there was a
particularly sad story about one of his relatives killed in the slate mine in the first
week he worked there. His family were also poets - his father wrote poetry in
Welsh and Ron has obviously inherited his family's love of words with some
marvellous phrases - "Poetry in our soul", "music in our blood" "strife in strung
woods". Ron has won many international competitions and is now an
international judge. We were lucky that he could spare a day in his busy
schedule to be with us. The AVs were outstanding with not only inspiring words
but magnificent photographs also. Tea and coffee were ever available,
everyone was friendly and all in all it was a special day.
Sunday 28th June saw us back at Capel Curig for another Workshop. This day
was to be about Distinctions and Competitions. It is a pity not more people
attended because we again had a very enjoyable day. As usual we started the
workshop watching AVs produced by members and constructive criticism
followed. Marion Waine then presented a detailed breakdown of the various
distinctions, PAGB, RPS and FIAP, that one can work for, what is required at
each level and how much it will cost.
We were shown examples of Photo Harmony and it was explained that no
words or story with a specific beginning, middle and ending are required, but it
must contain not less than 40 images. The emphasis is on matching the images
with appropriate transitions and harmonising them with the sound.
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