TO CANBERRA AND KOSCIUSKO
by J.P. CARNEY ARPS
Reproduced from "The Australasian Photo-Review"
NOVEMBER 1949
When a warm invitation reached me from the Canberra Photographic Society to judge its annual print contest, I was somewhat doubtful, because, after all, it is quite a distance to Canberra from Griffith. But when I read further and observed a statement indicating that the blossoms would be out by that time, my decision was no longer in doubt. I had always wanted to see Canberra in the spring (and incidentally, Tumut in the autumn) and the invitation afforded me the opportunity to fulfill the former desire. An additional touch of good fortune was the decision of Mr and Mrs McNamara and of my wife, all members of our own Griffith Club, to make the trip along with me, the McNamara's providing the transport (a new car); furthermore, a casual letter to Mr J.M. Joshua, of Temora, brought an instant reply intimating his desire to-join the party.
On this trip I was somewhat overloaded with photographic equipment; I had a miniature 35mm for Kodachromes, a 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 inch reflex for general work and a Graflex, with its array of telephoto lenses, for any special distant pictures that might crop up; my wife carried a Brownie Reflex, with which to obtain her own personal record of the trip; Mr McNamara does colour work only and used Kodachrome in a precision 35mm camera which he recently purchased. When Mr Joshua met us at Canberra we found that he had a 35mm precision camera, plus a quarter-plate field outfit.
We arrived in Canberra at night and as we had agreed to join the Canberra Photographic Society in an outing to Kosciusko, which duly commenced at 5.30 in the morning, we did not at that time observe whether the blossoms in the city itself were really out, as had been forecast.
The Kosciusko trip was a great success and good fun, the bus (a standard Pioneer bus) chartered by the Society proved very comfortable and we did the 90 miles in quick time, stopping only for a meal at Cooma.
Snow was quite a new adventure for a large percentage of those attending and in no time, many a humorous incident was in evidence when the unwary newcomers kept constantly sinking deeper and deeper into the snow, quite frequently leaving a shoe or boot behind. Their plights were at once photographed on all sides by laughing cameramen and some very amusing candid shots must have been in evidence when printing time came around.
It was not until I took a reading with my Weston meter that I realized just how much light is reflected from snow-covered ground; the needle flew past the maximum reading without any hesitation at all! A rather reserved reading for Super-XX worked out at 1/500 at f/16! However, as the field of view included trees covered with dark foliage and a normal sky, as well as the foreground of snow, it was obvious that photography was going to be difficult. In the end a series of exposures was tried for the more promising subjects and it was found that l/50th at f/16 with a medium green filter followed by under-development by 25 per cent, in DK-20 the results were moderately good.
During the afternoon the more skillful members gave exhibitions of ski jumping, etc., and I understand that many excellent action studies were secured. I fear that I missed the majority of these events, my afternoon being spent picture-hunting at some little distance from the main groups. We eventually left the mountain about 4 pm. The trip back was a happy one, enlivened by cheery community singing led by the worthy club secretary who demonstrated unsuspected talents in that direction.
On the Monday we were naturally all rather tired, but spent the day photographing the blossoms of Canberra in both color and black-and-white. We anticipate that the former will be the much more attractive and are eagerly looking forward to their return from processing. The most beautiful groups of blossom trees were outside the GovernorGeneral's residence, but we were disappointed to learn that cameras had been banned just the day before. Evidently some photographer had taken more liberties than he should have and has now spoilt it for his fellows.
The day passed quickly enough and on the Tuesday we paid a visit to Mount Stromlo and enjoyed it very much. A charming and intelligent guide showed us through the various buildings and we later took quite a number of pictures from the mountain top. There a medium green filter was used with Super-XX and some fair landscapes were obtained. There were a number of trees in full blossom at the mountain top and these were used to advantage to provide foreground interest to the distant scenes.
That night we were introduced to the various Canberra Photographic Society members at their meeting hall the 2CA Theatrette, an ideal place for a Camera Club meeting. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr W. Jessop, a veteran competitor with the A.P.-R.
The competition pictures were well displayed on the stage and within half-an-hour or so the decisions were made. Generally speaking, in the task of judging I usually find it is quite an easy matter to select the best three or four, but the final placing is likely to be the problem. Finally, one of our party suggested that we donate two extra prizes and this idea was carried out; we added a second prize and then a further award for the best child picture, the latter being won by capable Hon.Secretary, Mr K. Carnall.
The "Picture of the Year" proved to be an attractive contre jour landscape by K. Dinnerville that had recently received a prize and reproduction in the A.P.-R.
The next day Mr Joshua and I were interviewed by Mr K. Carnall, who conducts a photographic session over 2CA for the youth of Canberra. A recording was made and later we had the very unusual experience of listening to our own voices as we journeyed along in the car homeward bound. On the return trip we left Mr J.M. Joshua at Yass and then proceeded to Tumut. It rained most of the time at Tumut, but as rain was very-much needed for the wheat crops we could hardly complain.
To keep up one's interest in photography there is nothing like a trip of this kind. It gives you new interests, you meet new friends and you certainly enjoy yourself. During the past two years I have had trips to Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Mildura and Canberra and have attended meetings at most of the Camera Clubs at those places. These visits open up avenues to new friendships with camera workers, enabling you to meet in person enthusiasts that, until then, have been nothing but names.
"SPRING LANDSCAPE"
J.P. Carney ARPS
"COMPANIONS"
J.P. Carney ARPS
"WINTER VISTA"
J.P. Carney ARPS
Wednesday 24th July 1940 Page 8 - Cairns Post (QLD)
PHOTOGRAPHY
IMPROVED STANDARD
JUDGE IMPRESSED
"The quality of the photographic exhibits shows a definite improvement this year", said Mr H. Chargois, judge of this section. He pointed out that amateur photographers seem to have a better grasp now of what is required for a show exhibit.
Mr Chargois said that on previous years much of the work was below the standard demanded of such a large show, but this year it was gratifying to see that many competitors had so greatly improved their exhibits.
"Speaking generally", he said, "I would say that the photographs displayed a bolder treatment and a more modern outlook and that all the work and not only the prize winning exhibits, displayed a much superior standard".
Mr Chargois pointed out that if very small prints were exhibited they needed to be of very good quality. Unless an enlargement is specially stated in the schedule, he said, the size of the print does not make any difference to the judging, but many exhibitors could make more of their work by presenting larger prints.
He said that many small prints had scored over large photographs, but that was because their quality was of a high standard.
Although the entries in the photography section are not as large as last year, the display was very impressive and the work of the local competitors who ranked among the winners in various classes was of a standard fit to meet competition from all-comers.
JUDGE: Mr H. Chargois.
STEWARDS: Messrs. H.H. Pittard, V. Murray, H Jones, H. Whittaker and W.P. Fish.
AWARDS - PHOTOGRAPHS: AMATEURS:
LANDSCAPE ENLARGEMENT: J.P. Carney 1, R. Bradley 2, W. Slater 3;
SEASCAPE OR SHIPPING: C.J. Nixon, 1 and 2, R. Bradley 3;
RIVER VIEW: C.J. Nixon 1, J.P. Carney 2, R. Bradley;
HOME PETS: J.P. Carney 1, L.D. Hyde 2;
FLOWER STUDY: J.P. Carney 1, H.G. Pass 2;
PORTRAIT: J.P. Carney 1, R. Bradley 2, L.D. Hyde 3;
CHILD STUDY: J.P. Carney 1, R. Bradley 2;
HOME AND SURROUNDINGS: J.P. Carney.
PHOTOGRAPHS: SNAPSHOTS:
SET OF SIX PRINTS, PORTRAITS OR FIGURE STUDIES: J.P. Carney 1, A.J. Broughton 2;
SET OF SIX SNAPSHOTS: J.P. Carney 1. W. Slater 2, Miss E.P. Simpson 3;
SIX SNAPSHOTS, LANDSCAPE OR STREET SCENE: J.P. Carney 1, W. Slater 2, A.J. Broughton 3;
ENLARGEMENT OF PORTRAIT OR FIGURE STUDY: J.P. Carney 1, Mrs C.J. Nixon 2, J.P. Carney 3;
ENLARGEMENT OF LANDSCAPE: J.P. Carney 1, C.J. Nixon 2. J.P. Carney 3.