Camera Club exhibition showcases photographic talent in Motueka

October 2nd, 2010
By David Armstrong

The Motueka Camera Club (details here) have celebrated their first birthday with an impressive display of members' talents in a photographic exhibition opened last night at Bowater Toyota's showrooms. The exhibition, which will run until October 20th, features just on 90 photos submitted by 18 club members.

About 75 people attended the wine-and-cheese opening, which used the deck of a Hilux truck as the nibbles table and bar. They were formally welcomed by MC, club vice president Lisa Ball. She and other speakers told of the origins of the groups and tribute was paid in particular to the club's instigator, Alan Bilham. "We've been fortunate that Alan came to live in Motueka and is sharing his expertise and advice with us," said Lisa.

The exhibition, which is open to the public during the hours of opening of Bowater's showroom, provides a range of photographic styles and topics. All demonstrate clearly to any viewer just how talented and creative these photographers have become over such a short time.

The club's genesis can be traced to SeniorNet and the running in recent years of a Digital Interest Group which learnt about digital photography, cameras and image processing using software such as PhotoShop. Last year an Auckland photographer, Alan Bilham, moved with his wife to Motueka to live, and he went to SeniorNet where he offered his services and experience to formalise the group as a camera club. He is the inaugural club president.

Presenting the main address at last night's opening, Alan quickly traced the history of photography up to the digital revolution, and then paid tribute to the club members - now numbering 28 - many of who were total beginners a year ago but who now are exhibiting their work publicly.

He said that with the capabilities that digital cameras and software now offer, a lot of creative photography is moving back to "Monet-style" impressionism and abstracts. A good percentage of the photos in the exhibition are examples of this trend. He said he is "amazed at the quality of work on display".

Acting president of the Motueka Arts Council, Freda Gerslov, said that photographers in our region are now really stepping up to new levels of expertise, thanks to SeniorNet, the annual photographic show at the Festival of Lights, and the recent "Welcome to the Godwits" event. The Arts Council was a key provider of early grants funding to the fledgling camera club.

Tony Bowater, owner of Bowater Toyota, welcomed the exhibition in his showroom, and said he is keen to have the exhibition back again in future.

Those attending the exhibition opening, spoken to by this writer, were unanimous in their admiration of the quality of the photos on display and the skill of the photographers, though some expressed reservations about how some images had been manipulated by software - undoubtedly a topic of controversy among the arts community likely to continue for many years to come. However, all agreed that even if the colours or lighting of some photos had been adjusted on computers, the content and compositions were still remarkable and compelling.

Alan Bilham

Freda Gerslov

MC Lisa Ball

Tony Bowater

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