Sileby Photographic Society
MEMBERS and visitors of
knew that they were in for a very special evening when it was the turn of Gianpiero Ferrari, FRPS, DPAGB, FBPE, AFIAP, a national and international award winning natural history and wildlife photographer, to present digital images under the title “Spring Among the Clouds” at the Zoom meeting held on Monday, December 7.
Gianpiero is one of Sileby’s own members, whose work is much admired across the board, and from whom much can be learnt. His photographic expertise is second to none, and his supporting factual and descriptive information, always makes his presentation all the more remarkable.
Gianpiero travelled to China in June 2019, where he joined a group of like-minded people including a guide, to tour the Yunnan Province to capture on camera the natural history and wildlife which exists in that part of the world. Cable car transport enabled them to reach the heights from where the incredible landscapes and mountainous scenery revealed themselves, and with the Yangtze River below, this provided a perfect backdrop for Gianpiero’s stunning wildlife images. Despite climatic conditions not always being in their favour, with the cold, damp and low cloud often present, his superb and detailed images were up to his usual excellent standard.
Plantlife featured heavily in Gianpiero’s presentation which included close-up and detailed examples of Chinese Trumpets, Salvia, Blue Poppy, Anemones, Lily, Primula, Orchids, Rhododendron, Iris, Gentian, Aster and Jasmine, all thriving in the wild and often in splendid isolation. Growing conditions seemed less than ideal and infertile, but vegetation seemed to thrive, often appearing through the many nooks and crannies on the bleak mountain-side relying on the elements for survival.
Lovely Images of the native birds were included which added another dimension to Gianpiero’s repertoire, and all beautifully captured on camera.
A stunning image of a damselfly did itself justice, as did the many species of butterfly boasting their colourful wing details. The sight of a cluster of various species, highly coloured, and gathered together seemingly for their ‘daily meeting’, was not one to be missed and quite unusual.
Returning to base at the end of the day, Gianpiero included images of the urban landscape and street life which included many of the typical Chinese buildings and their characteristic architecture, together with the locals going about their daily routines.
This had been a fascinating representation of his hectic visit to China where the group travelled daily to a different location in pursuit of their quest and where they were able to learn much from their knowledgeable guide.
Gianpiero was thanked by John Hoogerwerf, President, for a very enjoyable evening which, as ever, was up to the usual standard which members have come to expect from this wonderful photographer.
With the Christmas/New Year festivities on the doorstep, the Society’s next Zoom meeting will be held on Monday, 4th January, when visiting judge, Steve Myall, EFIAP,BPE4*will fulfil the task of “Annual Competition Critique”.
The Annual Exhibition is still available to view in ‘virtual’ form and this can be found by visiting the Society’s website, ‘Annual Exhibition 2020’, and by clicking ‘here’. This has been extremely well put together, primarily by Colin Machin with input from individual members.
Anyone wishing to become a member of Sileby Photographic Society, enabling access to the weekly Monday evening Zoom meetings, should visit the contact page of the SPS website, https://silebyps.org. uk/ when further details will be issued. The programme for the current photographic year is also available to view.