Random Reports.........
Summer Evening Walk – 14th June 2010
Report by Lester Hicks
Eight RPS members met at the Inn on the Pond, Nutfield Marsh, for the annual summer evening walk. After a warm and sunny start to the day, the clouds and a cooler wind had rolled in with even a few drops of rain. Fortunately that did not come to anything, but the start of the walk over fields up to higher ground alongside the M23 did not yield the hoped-for sunset views back over Reigate Hill. So it was all the more galling to see a framed image of a local sunset from the pub’s “Sunset Club” in the bar when we got back to the Inn on the Pond. But the return walk around the new Spynes Mere nature reserve showed us some water fowl, including a pair of swans attacking every available duck and coot over a surprisingly wide area in defence of their cygnets. Back at the pub the evening concluded in the usual enjoyable session of chat and reminiscences.
Summer Garden Party – 4th July 2010
Report by Lester Hicks
Many club members were either away or not available this year, but despite that eight (some but not all the same as on the Walk) made it to Carol and Lester Hicks’s home in Linkfield Lane Redhill for the annual Garden Party. As on the walk, the warm sunshine of this splendid mid-summer had receded somewhat by late afternoon (in line with Tomas Berbych’s hopes of beating Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon), and a gusty wind had blown up, though not enough to drive us indoors. After some preliminary nibbles, in order to work up an appetite for the customary buffet high tea four of the party tried their hand at a round of croquet – omitting some of the more aggressive inter-player tactics. As a result, tempers remained unruffled as the players practiced their skills not in driving their opponents’ balls into the bushes but on coping with the slope of the lawn, with some success. Several interesting images were captured for the record, before everyone got down to the serious business of demolishing Carol’s savoury buffet, fruit and cream, cheeseboard, cakes and tea………..
Don Morley – featured in 'Fast Bikes' September edition
Report by Peter Flower
Having heard the news that a 7-page article on Don had appeared in the September edition of this motor-bike enthusiasts magazine I thought it worthwhile to obtain a copy. Most members will be aware of his enthusiasm for motor-bikes (he has a considerable collection of them in his garage) and his long-term following of the sport.
In a life-time career as a professional photographer Don dedicated himself to coverage of motorcycle competitions and spent time with many of the top names in the sport. He is probably best known for his following, and photographic records, of the Isle of Man annual TT races, which he attended for over forty years. However, his photography was not exclusively dedicated to to motorcycling and spanned everything from football (he almost got fired when he missed the 1966 World Cup winning goal), to his exclusive shots of Muhammad Ali in training, the Olympics (including the 1972 Munich terrorist attack), and publicity photography for a large number of companies.
An interesting aspect of his career is the contrast between working conditions when he started in the '50s up to present times. He mentioned the fact that when he first worked for Motor Cycle News he was using plates, not film. As the article states 'You had twelve plates for all weekend and if you used them all you got fired! You had to return with one in reserve just in case you saw an air crash on the way home.' Even when he was using 35mm film in the '70s it was still essential to keep use to a minimum because it had to be processed and delivered by hand. (No 'instant' digital results and wi-fi networks for transmission to the news desk!)
Don also expressed regret at the way that access to sporting events had changed. In the old days it was possible to wander around the pits and track at a race track, getting up close to the riders without much formality. Today, it is so tightly controlled, and Don cited the the instance where his pass to the British GP in 2000 wouldn't even allow him into the paddock to see the riders. Having worked in GPs for over 30 years he felt insulted by this. He handed the pass back, and has not been to a GP race since.
As an aside, I would mention my own experience from those earlier times, when I went to several motor racing events, purely as a spectator. I have photographs from that era, taken at Brands Hatch, of motor racing stars like Graham Hill and Jim Clark. These were taken during the practise sessions in the open pits area with my Rolleicord camera, so I was within a few feet of these motoring greats.
Don's association with publicity photography was mentioned earlier, However, he was himself the subject of publicity, as this article shows. Against the banner headline 'The Godfather Of Photography, there is a shot of a much younger Don with no less than four Nikon 35mm cameras (and an impressive array of lenses!) slung around him. There are also examples of the advertisements for Canon and Olympus in which he features.
Much of the information in this article will already be known to members who attended an evening when Don told us about his varied and action-packed career in professional photography, but this article provides yet further interesting insights.