At the start of each new year, Society members look forward to the presentation by their President, wondering what delights he (or she) has planned to entertain us.
This year’s President, Tony Curtis, projected what he described as “a series of random images” accompanied by his personal commentary under the generic heading ‘My Photography’. To be perfectly honest, in our second Covid-affected year, it was good simply to meet back together again for the first time after a series of Pandemic-related postponements and the latest pause to our planned photographic programme over the festive period! He had originally planned to show these images the previous year, so had adapted them to ensure their relevance to 2022.
Tony is a salesman working across the Island. He always carries his photographic equipment with him, which means that he often captures a fleeting moment on his travels before it disappears for ever. (This would be a good practice for all amateur photographers to adopt!) Naturally enough, the work of the Laxey Mines Research Group, of which he has been a member for many years, featured heavily in the presentation. Abseiling down the mines is challenging and extremely dangerous, even with the essential safety gear and precautions! It is something few of us would be brave enough to attempt, even if we were permitted to do so in these risk averse times of strict health and safety requirements. Fortunately, the Mines Group is the only body of ‘experts’ who are licensed by the Isle of Man Government to enter such treacherous and unforgiving places. Through the medium of Tony’s images, however, we were rewarded with a beautiful range of colours of the minerals, including copper and lead, leaching though the rocks deep underground, all skillfully illuminated for us in what would otherwise be a dank and pitch-black environment.
Tony also displayed several images of nature and showed his expertise at landscape and portraiture work, including a few local celebrities such as the Manx Bard, Zoe Cannell. Tony is also a TT enthusiast and accomplished motorcycle race photographer, with several shots on view.
After refreshments, the evening concluded with a partial viewing of the latest Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union Folio for 2022. This is usually an opportunity to see some of the best shots taken in the northwest of England and be inspired by whatever is in vogue.
The next meeting of the Society will be held at 7.00 pm on Wednesday, 9th February, 2022, at the St John Ambulance headquarters (off Glencrutchery Road in Douglas) when there will be the 'Environment' Assignment Competition. New members, whatever their experience, are always made most welcome.
By Antony Hamilton
