Editorial
By Peter Fortune
It is that time of year again! Years ago when my daughter was born on the 13th of September, my wife, who had a Caesarian in hospital and who was quite superstitious and had therefore had not bought any stuff for the baby in advance, sent me into the local shopping centre where we then lived with a long list of things to buy. As I went into the local John Lewis store I noticed that the staff were just putting the finishing touches to the Christmas displays. At the time of writing it is six weeks later and I expect the Christmas displays need a good dusting! Those readers who have young children may well be wondering what to buy them for Christmas. Why not buy them a camera (to start them young!). If you have a serious camera yourself think about the starter DSLR or Mirrorless for the same brand. Then they can share your lenses and even borrow your camera for special events.
I was given a Kodak Brownie 127 for my 6th birthday and I have been hooked ever since! I now have a semi-pro mirrorless camera but the thrill of taking pictures is no less it is just that the results are technically better (sometimes).
I was swapping emails earlier in the week with a member who was in the Outer Hebrides - I hope he was a photographer who rose to the challenge of bad weather because if the news is anything to go by he would have to be! Another friend spends several weeks, about now making Christmas cards featuring his best shops of the year. I would probably do the same if I had enough shots that were good enough and I had the time and the patience.
Image: Sarlat Square © Peter Fortune
Many members will be going abroad for Christmas hoping for some good shots. If you are I advise you to take receipts for all your major items of photographic gear. When returning from Thailand one year I had all my lenses and cameras impounded by Customs until I could produce receipts to prove that I had bought them in the UK and not in some duty-free shopping area. It took me 2 months to get the equipment back!
As there is no edition of the Newsletter in December I would like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and if you are planning any - good shooting!
Peter Fortune
RPS Landscape Group Newsletter Editor
All Images © Peter Fortune
Header Image: Troyes Old Street © Peter Fortune
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