7 th January 2004 - Ann & Mike Pannett

This meeting was an excellent start to 2004, in fact a most intriguing and fascinating type of presentation the Probus Club of Ewell have been confronted, entertained, kept on our toes for the whole time from start to finish, which for many was far to soon.

Ann and Mike Pannett (shown above, more details below) are a powerful team, Ann the front "man" outlined the type of visuals we were to witness whilst Mike the quiet backroom technocrat provided the visuals, which were terrific and the synchronised music and scintillating translation/merging of the slides.

Ann gave a short synopsis of three sessions, namely, first a trip to Paris starting from Waterloo on the International Eurostar train with a tour of Paris historical highlights. 

Then onwards to the Monet's gardens interwoven with some beautiful and restful garden/flower and water scenes. Ann kept us transfixed because we had to solve a deliberate mistake. Luckily we did not have a written test, but Ann kindly gave us the answer, namely that the one sequence was shot over two different periods in the year. The keen gardeners would have noticed the floral show of early spring do not produce in the same period in the open such beauties as Abutilon, Impatiens (Busy Lizzies) or Fuchsias in full bloom.

Secondly a trip via Amsterdam and the tranquil canals and docksides, then onwards to the Cheese markets of Alkmaar and yet more beautiful garden of the famous Keukenhof tulip fields.

At Alkmaar there are four Cheese Porter Guilds, each with distinctive colours. The porters carry 80 round Edam cheeses on long wooden sleds by means of slings. Professional buyers burrow deep into the cheeses with a small tool and remove a core of cheese for tasting. After tasting and feeling the cheese for texture, they place their bids.

The flower garden of Keukenhof was started in 1949. The Mayor and prominent flower bulb growers and exporters from the area surrounding the village developed the idea for an open-air flower exhibition, in order to be able to show the consumer the wide range of flower bulbs.

Mike has a wonderful eye behind his camera compositions, for not only did we recognise many of the scenes from tourist images, but also each had it's own individual and unusual capture giving a sense of knowing the place but yet captivatingly different. In all we viewed over 150 pictures so it is not possible to even get a flavour in this report, but by kind permission we have only a few examples to illustrate their work, so if you missed this lecture then surf the web and find out their next presentation, or if you wish for them to visit you see the details below.

Whilst Ann introduced each sequence, from then onwards each had it's own music sequence capturing the images into a comprehensive sound byte story, with the transparencies merging into each other in a very professional manner, in fact a first class presentation worthy of any audience.

The final four minute was different by nature as it was really a time capsule, a story within a story, showing graphically the transition of time on the countryside, rural living and decay, very beautiful and moving.

This was a truly great audio visual presentation, in his vote of thanks Ron Johnston one of our keenest gardeners was almost lost for words in his warm appreciation, never the less the membership responded with most generous applause in our normal fashion.

All photographs on this page are Copyright ©  Mike Pannett ARPS DPAGB, 

please note originals reduced to reduce download time.

Our speakers were Ann and Mike Pannett ARPS DPAGB who is the contact for Whitton Photographic Club, which was formed over 30 years ago. It is a Section of the Whitton Community Association. For many years it has been affiliated to the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain through the Surrey Photographic Association. These organisations are established to promote and co-ordinate matters of common interest to amateur photographic groups at local and national level.

They meet most Monday evenings at 7.45 p.m. at Whitton Community Association premises, Percy Road, Whitton, Twickenham, Middlesex.

Through their association with the above organisations, they participate in inter club competitions held annually by local Photographic Federations. This provides the opportunity for members to demonstrate their photographic skills in a competitive environment to a wider forum other than the club membership.

Although membership is not large, in competition they often out-perform clubs with significantly greater membership numbers, where one would expect a stronger portfolio of work.

Whitton Photographic Club has a growing reputation for innovative and imaginative work.

Above all, they promote a friendly and relaxed environment within the club, which allows all its members to pursue and fully develop their individual photographic interest.

Contact Mike Pannett ARPS DPAGB on mike@mpannett.fsnet.co.uk

Or 0208 894 1553

37, Cypress Avenue, Whitton, Twickenham, TW2 7JY