At the bottom of our Garden - Jayne Odell FRPS, FIPF opens the Autumn Season
Last night nearly 55 people, including some of our friends from Old Coulsden Photographic Society, London, were treated to a feast of black and white images from Jayne Odell based on her attainment of both ARPS and FRPS from the Royal Society. All presented under the heading of At The Bottom of Our Garden!
Jayne began by outlining how her interest in photography was fired. Like many of us she began with landscape photographs from family holidays, in her case the Lake District, before later moving on to club photography, exhibitions, salons and finally RPS distinctions.
She showed us her kit, Nikon full frame SLR plus 5 lens' and now more often Fuji mirrorless plus 2 lens'
Jayne attempted the Associateship first following an advisory day, which means 15 pictures and a Statement of Intent. Success!
But having achieved Associateship was Fellowship possible? She held back but continued to enjoy taking photographs! She moved to Newmarket and found a stables at the bottom of her garden and became intrigued with the morning 'runs' and the regular workings of a stables. Then, quite by chance she met the trainer, Charlie Fellowes who wanted photos of his horses, and this led to a long standing relationship between the racing stable and the photographer. Jayne began to photograph everything from before dawn when the first string of horses head out to exercise on the Heath to all the candid behind the scenes shots of the teamwork that is so evident around the yard.
Her body of work had begun!
With many photos already to hand she was ready for an attempt at Fellowship. Interestingly all her pictures were black and white. She made a selection, wrote a Statement of Intent, and offered them for consideration. Then which paper to use, which mount to select, what size should they be?
She packed them up and sent them to Bath for assessment and consideration for a Fellowship. Disappointment! Referral! Four pictures had to be changed. OK three new pictures and one worked on, re-submit. Referred again! Two new pictures needed!
She waited, took new pictures looking for emotion, atmosphere, and a story. Then success.
A cathartic process but one which has led to lots of other work and inclusion in private collections, magazines, and the National Horse Racing Museum Gallery.
Thank you Jayne for a wonderful and inspiring talk and for all sharing not just those photographs that comprised your submitted panel but also your favourite images that did not make it...!
You can enjoy more of Jayne’s work by visiting her website www.jayneodell.com and by following her on Instagram. Both are well worth a visit.
Jatne Odell’s successful FRPS panel