Yeovil Camera Club

Colin Varndell Day

YCC Nature Photography Day with Colin & Susy Varndell

15 club members congregated at Netherbury village hall, cars packed with camera’s, lenses, tripods, knee pads, umbrellas and packed lunches eager to know what the day would have in store for us.
After watching a few racks of slides on 'how to do it' and ''what not to do', along with a superb rundown on basic photographic principles it was off to Colin's country estate. Actually it was five acres of the Varndell's private wilderness where the fifteen of us lost ourselves in digital blissful challenges - capturing closeups by applying the tips and tricks we'd learnt from Colin that morning. Susy supplied some absolutely fabulous Dorset apple cake and hot drinks which were to keep us going over the next six hours. When organising a day’s photo shoot most people would pray not for rain, whereas Colin rather likes photographing in either rain, or his favourite, fog!
The forecast was rain at 1pm and it was exactly at 1pm that the heavens opened for about ten minutes. During our five or six miles slog it only rained once more, but within a few minutes we were back lying full length in the grass looking through macro lenses at exaggerated raindrops on buttercups or some such plant. Most of us are none the wiser now regarding even their common names, let alone the Latin ones.
Kingcombe's tiny car park lead on to an almost dried up riverbed, a steep climb took us past a very rare 'Goldilocks Crinkly Cut Buttercup'. Then our first intro to Colin's twenty year old Benbo, an extremely heavy tripod but one of the sturdiest around. Despite being awkward to put up it proved to be ultra versatile and flexible so the camera can be placed quickly and precisely, whether it's four inches above the ground or four feet.
Next stop was a few miles away at Powerstock common. More closeups of tiny plants which several of us walked past only seconds before our guide/tutor stopped and rallied us around.  It was a true eye opener as to what was almost under our feet. Another steep climb to a bluebell woods for a closeup of fungi (the Bluebells were not quite at there best yet) then through a fence for a beautiful vista over the Dorset downs and a few hints on landscape work. Then it was more hiking down to a railway line to search for lizards, toads, voles and snakes.
By now it was six o’clock but Colin seemed determined that we should get our monies worth, but by now our numbers had declined  due to other evening commitments, or ailing limbs,as it was becoming painful to put one foot in front of the other. A few more tiny plants basked in instant digital fame on the way back to our vehicles where we parted company having agreed that this was a brilliant day lead by a great photographer who has won our admiration for his techniques and determination to produce the goods.

Thank you Colin and Susy for all your inspiration and instruction.  http://www.colinvarndell.co.uk/

 A selection of members images from the day

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