NRPS (Norton Radstock Photographic Society) members gathered around their respective PC screens for a presentation of images taken by John Scaife and Jane Richardson during the time they have been walking out and about together with cameras.

This partnership certainly pays off image-wise, as, when on location, as individuals, they view the scenes they see through their viewfinders very differently. This was illustrated time and time again as John’s images reflected the minimalistic, wider viewpoints, while Jane’s tended to concentrate on the finer details, or were framed by swaying grasses and featured intricate patterns.

John is well known as a photographer in his home town of Weston Super Mare, and is often called upon to photograph community events, such as the touring exhibition of the Knife Angel. This is an impressive sculpture fashioned from thousands of knives collected during a recent amnesty across the UK.

Thus, the presentation began with documentary evidence of its arrival on a lorry in the early hours, and the ceremony featuring the High Sherriff that ensued. From this impressive beginning we travelled further afield with the two of them.

The beaches of Weymouth led to long envisaged footprints in the sand on a trip to Devon, and a foray into the woods for twisted branches and crops of colourful crocuses. Family visits have taken each to unfamiliar pastures where Richmond Bridge, the underground and the famous deer caught their eyes, contrasting nicely with the architecture and the roof patterns of Jacobean Tyntesfield House and its gardens, closer to home.

The photos told the story of their ramblings, but the commentary from both was entertaining, reflective, and a real testament to the benefits of joint endeavours with camera, as we clearly saw how the perspective that each brought to any scene was much enhanced by the perceptions and preferences of the other.

Jenny Short