Landscape Photography and Aerial Photography by the inspiring Mieke Boynton
Last night's presentation from Mieke, more than 10,500 miles away from her home the beautiful Alpine Valleys of North-East Victoria in Australia, broke the Societies record of distance for a presenter and allowed 58 members and guests to enjoy a fantastic evening of wonderful photography and infectious joy from a world class practitioner. For Mieke this was the start of her day 6.00 am!
The presentation was in two distinct parts, the first part about her background and her inspiring landscape photography and in the second part we were transported into the air for helicopter rides over Kimberley and Iceland.
Meike gave us a short CV - art school; scholarship in America; teacher in Melbourne; a librarian; discovering camping and connecting with nature and the aboriginal culture when she moved to Kimberley. How she discovered that photography was an art form not just a record of what it looked like!
She asked us what makes a landscape photograph special. She gave us a list. Seven points that she considered important in her landscape photography. Then she showed a selection of her photos and we had to explain to her what she had captured in each shot. Real listener participation. We saw pictures from Patagonia, Tasmania, Iceland, Kimberley, New Zealand, Norway (red wine and the aurora), Namibia and Morocco.
And she answered her own question about what makes a landscape photograph special by saying that she showed people what they don't normally see!
EYSTRAHORN, ICELAND - copyright Mieke Boynton
In the second half we saw a collection of her outstanding abstract pictures taken from the air - sometimes views that were illusory and tricked the viewer's brain.
She gave us a list of pointers for abstract aerial photos and some details of camera settings that should be useful.
Meike concluded her presentation by answering a set of commonly asked questions and a variety of questions from the audience.
Many thanks, Meike, for an evening of wonderful photographs, down to earth advice, and practical suggestions. Most of all thanks for your infectious enjoyment of taking and sharing your photos - and Banjo!
DRAGONFIRE The top scoring photo captured Southern Iceland on a chartered flight over the glacial braided rivers, a network of small channels in the 10th Epson International Pano Awards - copyright Mieke Boynton