2020 Club Weekend Away 6th to 9th March Barmera
Once again the club ventured out for it’s annual weekend away on the March long weekend. We were fortunate to have decided on a March trip away this year as it would have been doubtful that we would have been able to hold a June weekend away this year.
A larger than usual number of members elected to come away with 25 attendees in all (including partners and hangers on).
The usual culprits in the Seidels (Barbara and Keith), the Hickeys (Sue and John), the Dettmans (Robert and Rachael), Aldo Trissi and “The Pres” (Ross Pollock) and myself were in attendance. David Smith and Teresa Karas made welcome returns to the group and Ross Lange attended for a second year.
New attendees (and in the main new members) were the Shetliffes (David and Christine) John Standen, Alan Bevan (and camera caddy Mark), the Langos’ Bernd and Angie, the Jones’ Brenda and husband, Judy Theis, Peter Burke and partner Francine and new member Robert Woodward and wife made up the contingent.
Day 1. We All Arrive.
Ross and I arrived early on the Friday preceded by the Hickey’s who added in a couple of extra days around the weekend.
First objective was to have a look around and decided on a spot for a sunset shoot and potentials for a spot of astro photography the next morning.
During this initial investigation, “The Pres” managed to take his Oscar winning shot (more on the Oscars later) of a pelican (often referred to over the weekend as a penguin).
I am aware that this is a photography site and there are a lot of words so far and not many pictures, but bear with me and we will get to the images
So; back to signing in to the caravan park. The group gradually arrived, and we convened at the president’s hut for a quick drink. A number of us grouped up and went out for an evening shoot off the Morgan Rd between Lake Bonney and Loch Luna.
The timing was right as a pod of pelicans (yes that is the collective noun for pelicans) had mobbed (sounds better than podded) together to catch fish flowing back through the inlet that separates Loch Luna from Lake Bonney.
From shots of the birds, to the other side of the road where about 10 of us proceeded to shoot the sunset. To my mind, Alan Bevan got the best of the shots with this one:
Once it was too dark to do much, we all headed back and again convened at the president’s hut for a well deserved drink and chinwag before adjourning to bed for those of us intrepid enough (nicer sounding word than crazy) to get up at 4 the next morning for some astro photography.
Day 2 The Fun Starts
At around 4am Bernd Langos joined Ross and I to go for a morning shoot and caught up with Peter Burke, partner Francine and David Smith for some star shots. Here is a sample, with David Smith easily taking the honours in this category.
This then went on to the morning shoot, with some serene images around the lake being taken by any who had elected to rise for an early shoot.
Breakfast was followed by an exodus to all points of the compass by club members with Sue Hickey hitching a ride with Ross and I to Banrock Station Winery for coffee and cake followed by a stroll down to the wetlands where other club members had also made their way. This was followed by a sprint to Overland Corner where the entire team gathered for a leisurely lunch.
This was followed by further trips to all parts of the compass, with Ross, Sue and I venturing to Hastings Bluff for a few afternoon shots, followed by Teresa Karas, Judi Thies and Aldo Trissi who were heading to The Woolshed Brewery.
Not sure what happened at the Brewery, but here is a shot from the Bluff taken by Robert Woodward later in the evening.
Back to the park for another catch up and out again for a sunset shoot by a large contingent followed by a bit of light painting in the lake and over by Overland Corner by the more enthusiastic. For the others it was back to the Hickey’s caravan for a well-earned drink, which the light painters repaired to once they had finished.
Thus ended day 2
Day 3. The Fun Continues
Another early start, albeit a few hours later than Saturday. Joined by Sue Hickey and Bernd Langos we headed out for another morning shoot. To date the weather must be described as perfect for the morning and sunset shoots and again the day did not disappoint.
The shoot (plus breakfast) was followed by a journey into Barmera where the monthly market was being held in the main street. Shots of the locals were taken to add to members’ portfolios for future portrait competitions (as well as the occasional purchase of the local produce for future consumption). Sue Hickey was of course engaging every dog owner for pooch portraits.
Lunch at the Barmera Club for around 20 of us followed the market activities and then on to a look around for further photo activities leading up to the next evening shoot.
Lunch was followed by a bit of a siesta and catch up before venturing out for the usual sunset shoot. A communal tea at the president’s hut was held afterwards with all gathering for a chat, drink and dinner as is the norm on the weekends away.
Despite the relaxed meal and gathering a few of the more intrepid headed off to capture the Lake Bonney jetty after sunset where Teresa Karas beat all with this image.
So it was dark, time for more light painting fun – this time at Napper’s Ruins at the north end of Lake Bonney – accompanied by, Ross Pollock, Robert Dettman, Judi Thies and Teresa Karas.
A quick nightcap back at the cabin, bed and the end of Day 3
Day 4. And We Go Home
Well Monday had arrived all too soon, but there was still the opportunity for one more morning shoot around the lake, so Ross Pollock and I headed off for one final shoot just before dawn.
Again, it was a perfect morning to capture the sunrise before farewelling Barmera. Ross however did manage to get himself a lecture on how close to a campervan he should stand (in a public place mind you). What made this especially funny (to me at least, not to Ross) was that I had been the transgressor a few minutes earlier (well you get your laughs where you can).
So back for breakfast, a quick clean up and an easy drive home, broken by the essential pitstop at the Truro Bakery, a must for any trip home (or whatever country bakery is on your way home).
The Oscars
So what are the Oscars? Well back in history a tradition started in the club that all attendees at the Club’s weekend away be invited to submit four of their best images for a mini competition and it would be a crowd judging event at one of the attendee’s homes.
Due to COVID-19 that was not possible this year so a meeting via Zoom was arranged with one of the club’s members (a judge) who did not attend the weekend doing the judging. This honour (?) fell to Don Brooks who assessed the 57 entries and gave the four images below a ten. First place went to Ross Pollock’s pelican (penguin), and Second place to David Smith’s Sugarloaf Detail with the remaining two images getting an honourable mention.
All images on this page have come from the Oscar entries and the complete set of entries can be seen here. The photographer’s name and image title can be found with each of the images on that page.