COWAL Camera Club members were treated to an intriguing and entertaining talk on Monday night when Bernard Ormrod presented Weird Scenes Inside the Goldmine.
The title immediately sparked curiosity among those attending, and Bernard was quick to explain its origins, referencing Weird Scenes Inside the Goldmine, an album by The Doors whose cover, like many from that era, made use of infrared photography.
Bernard took the audience on a journey back to the early days of infrared science, explaining how infrared radiation was discovered in 1800 by astronomer Sir William Herschel while experimenting with sunlight, prisms and thermometers. He then charted the development of infrared photography over the years, from early film-based techniques through to modern digital camera conversions.
To illustrate the process, Bernard brought along examples of his own infrared prints, as well as books and filters, which helped bring the subject vividly to life and gave members a practical insight into how the images are created.
The second half of the evening focused on Intentional Camera Movement (ICM), a technique more commonly associated with outdoor photography. Bernard demonstrated a contrasting indoor approach using a setup he had constructed himself, featuring coloured lighting and wire to create abstract effects.
The resulting images proved both striking and imaginative, showing how ICM can be used in unexpected ways to produce creative results.
The talk was warmly received, with members praising an evening that combined humour, creativity and fascinating insight into two distinctive photographic techniques.
Cowal Camera Club meets regularly throughout the season at the Community Shed, Wellness Room, Unit 2, 8 Hamilton Street, Dunoon. The club warmly welcomes photographers of all levels, from smartphone enthusiasts to seasoned DSLR users.
For details on upcoming speakers, events and membership, visit www.cowalcameraclubco.uk.
