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President's Pals - an occasional look at Steve Wood's outings with fellow members of the club.

Since being made President I have been thinking of ways to encourage members to get out with their cameras. I am a firm believer that there is no magic button or tutorial to 'fix' your photos and that practice is far and away the best way to improve.
Realising that I also needed to got out a bit more, I hit on the idea of offering myself as a 'camera buddy'. The idea of sharing transport and knowledge combined with a good day out seemed ideal. I don't work anymore so I am usually available seven days a week and am up for anything within a reasonable distance.
Either grab my email address from the 'Club Info' page of the website or come and speak to me at the club.
Steve
 

8. Egyptology Exhibition - Leeds

7. Stanage Edge

The recent cold snap saw Steve & webmaster David Hall take to the Peak District in the hope of a great sunrise on snowy Stanage Edge (a mere 8 miles from Sheffield city centre & very easily accessible with ample free car parking). Hitting the ridge at around 7.15am our mountain heroes, well wrapped up against the minus six temperatures, were a bit disappointed to see no cloud at all to add drama, so had to do their best as far as sunrise shots went. Undeterred though, about 4 hours were spent up there, slipping & sliding around on the severely iced surfaces...bumps and bruises were sustained, but nothing too risky went on in the boulder-strewn terrain.
Being popular with rock climbers all year round, it was perhaps surprising only one group were encountered - three hardy souls from Germany - so our camera-carrying-couple watched on for a while...all three of the Germans were going up the one rope when the middle one slipped, lost his grip and fell off, narrowly missing the one on the bottom of the rope, who shouted up to the top man "Look Fritz, No Hans!"

6. Stanley Ferry

Peter Wells, Steve Wright & Malcolm Dobson all joined the main man in what onlookers reportedly thought was a remake of Last Of The Summer Wine.
It's a little known fact that Les Forrester bumped into them by the water's edge. Les lived up to his God-like status by walking straight across the surface of the canal to the other side, hardly even getting his shoes wet....Malcolm was stunned to see such a feat....Steve Wood followed Les across, again Malcolm was dumbfounded, but was desperate to do the same himself. So, without so much as a thought for his own safety, stepped onto the surface of the water only to sink like a ton of lead! Steve Wright & Peter Wells fished Malcolm out, who was by now drenched & coughing and spluttering away....on the other bank, Steve whispered to Les, chuckling under his breath "do you think we should have told him where the stepping stones were?!!"
Les, puzzled, looked back at Steve & replied "which stepping stones?"


 

Model President

We all know Steve is not just a pretty face, but apparently some people seem to think he is actually THE ace-face!
The recent 'Sport' themed competition saw several members requesting his services as a model to flesh out their photos. If you have an idea for a photograph that needs a grumpy old bloke or you just fancy humiliating the President then get in touch with him.
Apparently, when his modelling days are over he says he wants to travel the world, work with starving children and marry a footballer.

5. East Leeds

Shereen Allen became the first female to risk going on a President's Pals outing when she went to Temple Newsam Wood and Tropical World, Leeds last Saturday with Steve. Despite the rain while in the wood and the condensation while in the butterfly section they both managed to keep their cameras fairly dry. There were lots of photographic opportunities but the lighting conditions were challenging, especially in TW where tripods were not allowed.
Once in Tropical World Shereen admitted to Steve she’d always wanted a pair of genuine alligator shoes, but was very reluctant to pay the high prices the shops were asking.
After becoming very frustrated, Shereen blurted out, "Maybe I'll just go out and catch my own alligator so I can get a pair of shoes at a reasonable price!"
Steve replied "By all means - be my guest. Maybe you'll catch yourself a big one…I’m going into the butterfly house".
Determined, Shereen turned and headed for the pools full of the hungry snappers, set on catching herself an alligator.
An hour later, Steve returned & spotted Shereen standing waist deep in the water, shotgun in hand. Just then, he saw a huge 9 foot alligator swimming quickly toward her. She took aim, killed the creature and with a great deal of effort hauled it on to the pool’s bank. Laying nearby were several more of the dead creatures.
Our President watched in amazement.
Just then Shereen flipped the alligator on its back and, frustrated, shouted out, "Damn it, this one isn't wearing any shoes either!"

4. Armley Mills Industrial Museum

President's Pals turned into President's Posse as five members accompanied Steve to the Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley. Peter Wells had arranged a discount entrance fee and an 'Access All Areas' pass so Steve, Peter Wells, Trevor Bottomley, David Jones, Steve Dickinson and Mike Pearson made sure nothing went un-photographed.






 

3. Kirklees Light Railway / Canon Hall

Steve and Peter Wells decided to have a go at a steam train. They went to visit Kirklees Light Railway to practice their technique on the steam tiddler that chugs in and out of the station quite frequently. The weather was so good they also went for a look at Cannon Hall but about a million people had the same idea so they had a bit of late lunch and a walk round the gardens.
Apparently while sitting on a bench outside Canon Hall a flower show was in progress.  Peter leaned over and said, "Life is so boring. We never have any fun. For £10.00 I'd take my clothes off right now and streak through that stupid flower show!"   "You're on!" said Steve, holding up a £10 note.  As fast as he could, Peter fumbled his way out of his clothes and, completely naked, streaked through the front door of the flower show.  Waiting outside, Steve soon heard a huge commotion inside the hall, followed by loud applause. Peter burst out through the door surrounded by a cheering crowd. "What happened?"  asked Steve. "Why," yelled Peter "I won first prize for Best Dried Arrangement!!"

2. Yorkshire Sculpture Park

The second outing saw Steve and Trevor Bottomley heading out to Yorkshire Sculpture Park on an overcast, but fine, day. Trevor hadn't been for a while so he saw a lot of changes but they both really enjoyed the work of Spanish artist Jaume Plensa (creator of 'Dream' at St. Helens).
Having worked up a thirst taking all the photos, Trevor nipped off to get a drink from the Park shop.....30 minutes later he still hadn't returned, so a worried President set off to find him...he didn't have to look hard, as Trevor was standing in the middle of the shop floor staring intently at his carton of orange juice.
Trevor, are you OK? What are you doing?" asked Steve.
"Look here, on the carton" retorts TB...."it says CONCENTRATE".

1. Lotherton Hall

"The first President's Pals trip has taken place and saw Mike Crowther take Steve to Lotherton Hall for a bit of bird action. The weather was apparently 'mixed' but birds were seen, photos were taken and a good time was had. Rumour has it that Mike even took a picture of a flower!"
Apparently, while they were there Mike got into a bit of a situation with a parrot....he stopped to admire the bird. The parrot says to him, "Hey mister, your photos are all rubbish!" Well, Mike was furious! He stormed off to look at the penguins. On the way back round he saw the same parrot who again says, "Hey mister, your photos are all rubbish!" He was incredibly hacked off now. Later in the day, sure enough he saw the same parrot and once again it said, "Hey mister, your photos are all rubbish!" At this Mike was so furious that he stormed into the offices and threatened to sue Lotherton Hall and have the bird killed. The management apologised profusely and promised the bird wouldn't say it again. At the end of the day, just as they were about to leave, Mike passed the parrot again, and the cheeky bird said to him, "Hey mister...." Mike paused, scowled with an icy and deadly stare, and said with a hoarse voice, "Yes?" The bird, strutting back and forth on its perch in a cocky manner, said, "You know!"