SOME fine professional looking work is on view at Huddersfield Art gallery in the annual exhibition of the Huddersfield Photo-Imaging group.
There’s plenty to admire, both from the straightforward camera work to pictures enhanced by digital means.
Black and white remains an attraction for many photographers, and for viewers too.
In this category, Graham Sykes’ Statue of Lord Wilson in St George’s Square and the South Front of Kiddleston Hall, Derbyshire, are worth mentioning, while Robin Longbottom’s shots of London monuments show superb detail and clarity.
They included a section of the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens and the Battle of Britain Memorial at the Embankment, with its dramatic image of pilots racing to their planes.
Still in monochrome, Peter Thornton shows how to turn a simple subject into something spectacular, with his picture of lone wooden cross against a dark background at Silkstone Church creating a powerful image.
Natural life, in colour, provides a fine contrast, and Malcolm Sykes is again perhaps the doyen here, with some exemplary work. There are charming and sometimes astonishing close-ups of sparrow, snipe, little owl and whinchat, along with a hurtling fox.
Full marks too, to Phillip Haigh for his different varieties of dragonflies and his frightening looking spider (definitely not for arachnophobics!)
Stephen Challenge’s red deer – stag with hinds is a charming idyll, and lovely enough to turn anyone against deer-culling.
It’s difficult to give an impression of the projected images on a TV screen, because they are so many and varied, but all of good quality. They range from Mating Frogs and Leopard Cub to champagne grapes, winter snow, steam punks, a Morris dancer and rugby and football pictures which capture all the action.
And mention must be made of Graham Sykes’ colour shot, Money by the Slice, which will certainly keep visitors asking, how on earth did he do it?
The show runs until April 2.
oLUPTON Square Gallery, Honley has opened its spring show and owner Geoff Harrop has again assembled an excellent range of talent.
Jeff Beaumont’s local landscapes with their fine skies are well known, and there are impressionist oils on canvas by Kate Masterson, including St Ives, Cliff Edge, Coast and Coast walk.
Neville Fleetwood, whose work is also well known locally, lays the paint on lavishly in his acrylics like Farmland and Yellows Fields.
Michael Curgenven is showing colourful, near abstracts of Kintyre and the Holme Valley.
Maxwell Doig, who is returning to this area from Manchester, where he has established a big reputation, has two intriguing self-portraits on view as well as one of his overhead paintings of a rowing boat this time.
Sue Birkinshaw’s large acrylics like Sea Cycle and Passing Storm rank high in colour and atmosphere.
Adding to the exhibitions’ attractions are new ceramics designs by Sue Jenkins, Moz Khokar’s ceramic vases, and the gorgeously shaped and coloured Rio Vase from Michael Hunter’s glass studio.
oDAVE Hayes is the owner of Huddersfield’s newest art shop and he hopes to be holding a series of painting demonstrations and other events.
The first is on Saturday April 2 when Jason Bowen will be at Paint and Art at York House, Leeds Road, to share the skills of oil painting.
There will be two demonstrations, one at 10.30am and the second at 1.30pm.
Jason uses techniques developed by Bob Ross, an American painter whose Joy of Painting series on television encouraged many people to start painting.
“If you are you’re interested in this fantastic style of painting and have questions to ask then please come down to the demonstrations,” said Dave.
