Page 23 - Cape-Camera-Nov-Dec-2021

Cape Camera November/December 2021

I retired from the UCT Law Faculty at the beginning of 2015. so I’ve been able to help her
A couple of years into retirement, after I’d had done oil paint- with close-ups of plants, mice,
ings of most of my family and some landscapes and completed birds and other creatures.
a substantial creative writing project, I started photography in About three years ago, I
earnest. joined the CTPS AV group
While holidaying with friends at Churchhaven, Richard Gold- and I’ve learnt so much from
schmidt suggested I join CTPS. I was unsure at first, but I accom- Robert Maginley, Ken Woods,
panied Richard to my first photographic evening at St Stephens. and the Barry Beckham tu-
Without hesitation, I joined the club. torials. I had struggled along
My first outing was to Hout Bay where Pat Scott and Joan Ward with the Apple iMovie editing
gave me the benefit of their photographic experience. I was programme for years making
hooked. I soon upgraded to a second-hand Canon EOS 5D Mark family AVs that included some
III and invested in a Canon Macro 100mm and then a Tamron video sequences.
150 to 600mm lens. A whole new world has now
Through the club’s special interest Macro group, I’ve learnt more opened with the purchase of
about the nature of macro photography and the capabilities of PTE AV Studio, and I’m busy
my camera and lenses. I’m still, however, daunted by the idea of exploring the software’s special features. I was slow in submit-
focus stacking. ting images to Salon competitions, but now that I’ve been part
My wife, Wendy, is a talented botanical artist who includes pol- of Nicol and Trudi du Toit’s Salon group I’ve become rather more
linators and other insects and small animals in her paintings, confident and aware of the importance for the club of entering

Cape Town Photographic Society 22