A FAR FLUNG FIRST SPEAKER
10th September 2025
After a first meeting of introductions and reminders, the club got back to business on 8th September with the first speaker of the new season. He was Chris Newham from Nottingham and he promised us an evening of ‘Adventures in the Middle of Nowhere’. This proved to be the Faroe Islands, off the north west of our islands towards Iceland. Interestingly he began by telling us that his fee goes to the National Parrot Sanctuary in Lincolnshire.
VIDAREIDI COAST
One of the major benefits of belonging to a photographic club for anyone who loves landscape shots was amply demonstrated by what Chris described as ‘an abundance of weather’. He did not just show us the wonderful verdant mountains and inlets with tiny villages of colourful houses clustered around tinier harbours, but also shots of himself and his companions sitting in howling winds and rain waiting for a break in the weather to reveal the shots we saw. The fact that they all wore extremely effective waterproofs and he said two sets were needed to allow them to dry between soakings told the story.
SAKSUN VIEW
Chris also used a number of short videos to demonstrate the conditions. One friend had had his tripod blown over the first day, breaking a lens, but mercifully leaving the damaged body functional. Even local facilities and a short lighthouse were tethered by cables to huge rocks to stabilise them! Later we saw the four photographers almost unable to make progress against the gale when heading for a viewpoint. This was the more dramatic for the fact that they were following a path along a narrow ridge with steep drops on either side.
What did we learn as photographers, other than an exceptional degree of fortitude being essential for such an excursion? Firstly, all land in the Faroes is private and everyone must stay on the paths or, in some cases, pay to go nearer a good shot. There were sheep everywhere but seemed to be no people about at all. We heard that cafes are few and far between, so you need to self-cater, go armed with sandwiches and be prepared to live on pizzas, curries (or whatever you can find in the local shops) heated at your rental property.
MYKINES HOLMUR LIGHTHOUSE
Getting about among the 18 islands is easier than you might think as many are linked by under-sea tunnels. The sea crossings by ferry which pre-dated them must have been challenging. We were surprised by the first under sea roundabout most of us had encountered. You had a choice of which island you wanted to emerge on. A pass purchased with your car hire meant no stops to pay at each crossing.
Many of the houses’ roofs were either corrugated metal painted in cheerful colours or were clad with grass. Every village, no matter how tiny, had a church and they were all of a very similar design and immaculate. There were bus stops, and Chris had learned that there were regular but infrequent services. You are encouraged to pick up after the abundance of sheep. Not in the dog walking sense, but the many tufts of wool shed from their fleeces as it hampers what is the already sparse growth of grasses.
Photographically we discovered that the wind makes what look like promising long exposures virtually impossible. Even a heavily weighted tripod will not be sufficiently stable to permit the static elements to be rendered sharp. Taking multiple single shots and stacking them gave a close approximation. Chris had changed his kit when he decided that this type of work was for him and his choice was driven, not so much by photographic excellence, but by the search for the best weather sealing to prevent rain damage.
EARLY MORNING AT KALLUR LIGHTHOUSE
If you like shots with shafts of light beaming through the clouds, this could be your place, but you have to be prepared because they don’t last long. When the gloom lifts, the views are spectacular and the cluster of islands in a seascape will give you excellent recession.
PHOTOGRAPHY WITH THE PERMISSION OF CHRIS NEWHAM
On 22nd September our members take centre stage when they give us an insight into what they have been doing recently. These are always popular evenings, so if you have yet to join us, why not put the date in your diary?
You can find us in St Joseph’s Hall, Babworth Road, Retford at 7.30pm On Monday nights until 8th December 2025 when we break for Christmas.. Our web site: www.retford-photographic.co.uk is the place to look for more information about the club. Feel free to drop us a line if you would like us to look out for you when you arrive.
VIDAREIDI COAST
One of the major benefits of belonging to a photographic club for anyone who loves landscape shots was amply demonstrated by what Chris described as ‘an abundance of weather’. He did not just show us the wonderful verdant mountains and inlets with tiny villages of colourful houses clustered around tinier harbours, but also shots of himself and his companions sitting in howling winds and rain waiting for a break in the weather to reveal the shots we saw. The fact that they all wore extremely effective waterproofs and he said two sets were needed to allow them to dry between soakings told the story.
SAKSUN VIEW
Chris also used a number of short videos to demonstrate the conditions. One friend had had his tripod blown over the first day, breaking a lens, but mercifully leaving the damaged body functional. Even local facilities and a short lighthouse were tethered by cables to huge rocks to stabilise them! Later we saw the four photographers almost unable to make progress against the gale when heading for a viewpoint. This was the more dramatic for the fact that they were following a path along a narrow ridge with steep drops on either side.
What did we learn as photographers, other than an exceptional degree of fortitude being essential for such an excursion? Firstly, all land in the Faroes is private and everyone must stay on the paths or, in some cases, pay to go nearer a good shot. There were sheep everywhere but seemed to be no people about at all. We heard that cafes are few and far between, so you need to self-cater, go armed with sandwiches and be prepared to live on pizzas, curries (or whatever you can find in the local shops) heated at your rental property.
MYKINES HOLMUR LIGHTHOUSE
Getting about among the 18 islands is easier than you might think as many are linked by under-sea tunnels. The sea crossings by ferry which pre-dated them must have been challenging. We were surprised by the first under sea roundabout most of us had encountered. You had a choice of which island you wanted to emerge on. A pass purchased with your car hire meant no stops to pay at each crossing.
Many of the houses’ roofs were either corrugated metal painted in cheerful colours or were clad with grass. Every village, no matter how tiny, had a church and they were all of a very similar design and immaculate. There were bus stops, and Chris had learned that there were regular but infrequent services. You are encouraged to pick up after the abundance of sheep. Not in the dog walking sense, but the many tufts of wool shed from their fleeces as it hampers what is the already sparse growth of grasses.
Photographically we discovered that the wind makes what look like promising long exposures virtually impossible. Even a heavily weighted tripod will not be sufficiently stable to permit the static elements to be rendered sharp. Taking multiple single shots and stacking them gave a close approximation. Chris had changed his kit when he decided that this type of work was for him and his choice was driven, not so much by photographic excellence, but by the search for the best weather sealing to prevent rain damage.
EARLY MORNING AT KALLUR LIGHTHOUSE
If you like shots with shafts of light beaming through the clouds, this could be your place, but you have to be prepared because they don’t last long. When the gloom lifts, the views are spectacular and the cluster of islands in a seascape will give you excellent recession.
PHOTOGRAPHY WITH THE PERMISSION OF CHRIS NEWHAM
On 22nd September our members take centre stage when they give us an insight into what they have been doing recently. These are always popular evenings, so if you have yet to join us, why not put the date in your diary?
You can find us in St Joseph’s Hall, Babworth Road, Retford at 7.30pm On Monday nights until 8th December 2025 when we break for Christmas.. Our web site: www.retford-photographic.co.uk is the place to look for more information about the club. Feel free to drop us a line if you would like us to look out for you when you arrive.