Newsletter 2 was issued on 7th March 2001. The full text of the newsletter is available as HTML version (102K) or PDF version (140K)
The contents list of newsletter 2, together with information about the field meeting in March 2001 appear below.
Cave Photography News see below
- Joining the CPG and Details of Future Newsletters. Membership details for joining the CPG and plans for a major change in the format of the newsletter
- Spring Photographic Field Meet. Details of the field meeting this month in the Yorkshire Dales
- Other CPG Field Meetings. Plans for future field meetings around the country
It's All Dark Down Here!
Richard Rushton discusses some of the problems of taking photographs in the dark
Infrared Filters
Some thoughts from David Gibson on using infrared filters on your flash guns
The CPG Is Alive!
Richard Rushton suggests some of the ways you can get more involved with the Cave Photography Group
Readers' Letters
Your chance to let us know what you think
Locating Your Flash Guns in the Dark
Richard Rushton provides help with finding your flash guns once you have taken your pictures
Submission of Articles
Details for submission of articles and material for the next issue
Big Bulbs-R-Us
An account of some experiments with Meggaflash PF50 flash bulbs by Glenn Jones
Why Not Get Yourself A Project?
John Forder talks about getting some purpose behind your cave photography
Digital Corner
In this issue Footleg explains how digital photographs are stored and discusses some of the more common image file formats
1. Cave Photography News
Joining the CPG and Details of Future Newsletters
- By Footleg
The Cave Photography Group has now produced two editions of our newsletter and distributed them at no charge in order to generate interest in the group. Now the time has come to formalize membership of the CPG and put the newsletter on a more stable footing. The first newsletter attracted a good deal of interest, and an offer from one of our readers, Chris Wood, to print future editions of the newsletter in full colour at a non-profit cost which makes this possible. This will enable us to include full colour photographs in the newsletter, which I am sure you will agree is a definite step in the right direction for a cave photography organisation.
In order for it to be worth our while producing a colour printed newsletter, we have decided that it will not be possible to continue to distribute an electronic copy of the newsletter free over the internet. We hope that the majority of our readers will prefer to receive a real printed copy rather than a virtual one once we are publishing a colour photographic newsletter. This is also partly because of copyright concerns which some photographers have regarding the publication of photographs on the web site.
Individual membership of the CPG will cost £12.00 per year and this will include regular editions of the newsletter for the year. Due to the fact that we are UK based we regret that we will have to charge overseas members a higher membership fee to cover the additional postage costs for sending the newsletters out. We are also intending to distribute the newsletter through regional caving retail outlets as a way of generating further interest and increasing our membership base. Copies of the newsletter will be available for £2.95 per issue through various caving shops. We will not be selling individual copies of the newsletter directly ourselves, but hope to retain a small number of back issues for sale to members who join the group in the future.
You will find a membership form with this newsletter, or on the CPG website. Please fill one out and return it to us promptly with your membership fee to ensure you receive the next edition of the newsletter due for publication in June 2001.
Spring Photographic Field Meet
- By Richard Rushton
There is just time to remind you all about the CPG photographic field meet that is due to be held in the Yorkshire Dales over the weekend 24th and 25th of March. This will be based in the Dalesbridge Centre (between Settle and Ingleton) on the Saturday when we will be holding talks and slide shows etc. On the Sunday we will be venturing underground (subject to access restrictions on account of the current Foot and Mouth disease outbreak) in an attempt to put all our newly acquired skills to the test.
In addition to talks from Dave Gibson, Footleg and myself we also hope to have some international cavers attending, with slides of Canadian and other foreign caves. We are also in the process of trying to set up a preview of the film 'Highest & Deepest' with Sid Perou. Those of you who attended the field meet last year will remember the discussion held by 'Chips' Rafferty about the planning of this project. If this year's event is anything like the field meets that we have held in previous years (hosted by the BCRA special interest group CREG) it should be a really good weekend.
We intend to hold a mini salon on the Saturday for you to show your work - for which we will award a prize for the best image (print, slide, film or other are all eligible). This is an ideal opportunity to show your work to a small and select audience before you enter it into the national BCRA conference photo salon. If you are intending to come to the field meet weekend and haven't already contacted me then please do so.
To get in touch with me, see How to Contact Us. Don't miss out - come along and have a great time!
STOP PRESS!
We have checked with the Dalesbridge Centre about the current situation regarding the Foot and Mouth disease outbreak, and they have assured us they will be open for business as usual due to the fact that they have an entrance directly off the main road and do not have any land used for livestock farming. Contact Richard if you have any questions.
Other CPG Field Meetings
- by Footleg
In addition to the annual spring field meeting, the CPG is planning to organise a number of informal weekend meets. The format of these weekends will be simply to get together with the aim of doing some cave photography. This will give us the opportunity to share ideas and meet other like minded souls. The organisation of these weekends will be subject to demand, and will consist of just booking bed space in a suitable caving hut and possibly arranging for access to particular caves where permits are required. Novice photographers are welcome and there will be the opportunity to have some photographic instruction underground from more experienced photographers. However you should have some previous caving experience as there will be no formal leading of caving trips. You are free to turn up and do your own thing underground if you desire of course.
The first of these weekend meets was provisionally mentioned in the last newsletter for the weekend of 19-20th May 2001 to be held in Devon. We are currently waiting to see when the restrictions on caving due to the Foot and Mouth disease outbreak will be lifted. If you are interested in attending then please contact me or Richard (details on the front cover) so that we can let you know the latest plans and sort out accommodation.
If there is an area of the country which you would like us to organise a weekend meet in then get in touch. I am happy to organise a meet wherever there is enough interest and look forward to the chance to meet some more of our readers.