Richard Higgins’ lovely Baldet style GS150 VS5 - ‘landscape’ image
When compiling the 2021 VVC calendar, all submitted photos had to be ‘landscape’, or horizontally orientated, as Richard Higgins’ photo above. Not my choice but a requirement of the flip-over wall calendar’s layout and design. I did make this clear on a few occasions, or so I thought, but still did receive a few ‘portrait’ or vertically orientated photos from members. Frustratingly some were very nice indeed.. but I couldn’t use them, some portrait examples below..
Auro Meotto’s ACMA with ‘misty’ windmills beyond making for a lovely Dutch ‘portrait’ image….!!
Auro’s ACMA again, lakeside somewhere in France or Italy if memory serves but .. ‘portrait’ !
Yet another ‘portrait’ image of Auro’s ACMA, taken in Den Haag / The Hague, Netherlands. A similar ‘landscape’ photo Auro took of his red Hoffmann Vespa, in the same spot as this, did make the December page of the VVC calendar..
Great shot of Paul Diamond aboard his beautifully original Vespa VM2, fitted with some lovely genuine accessories.. liking the ‘Bad Manners’ attitude but it’s ‘portrait’ !! Thankfully Paul did email a nice hi-res ‘landscape’ photo of his VM2 which graces June’s page of the calendar…
Luca Bartolomei’s restored Douglas Rod looking resplendent on Coogee/Clovelly Beach, Sydney Australia… but it’s ‘portrait’!! Luca emailed me a few beach shots to choose from, one of the ‘landscape’ photos appears on the September page of the calendar..
Aside from the whole landscape/portrait issue, space, or lack of it, presented me with another challenge. Making things decidedly difficult, in the case of the calendar, is that there are only 12 months in a year, something I did actually know… but it meant I was going to have to disappoint some members, which genuinely pained me, particularly as they had made the effort to send me their photos, some examples below..
David Taylor’s great photo of his P125ETS was a perfect shot for one of the winter months and was even taken ‘landscape’… but it was a shame that David could only send me it in low resolution. When printed at the calender image size, this would have been fuzzy and lacking sharpness - a pity as I would have liked to include this; being a rarely seen model which splits opinion..
Rich Vickery’s Primavera in front of Kenilworth Castle - a nice shot but I opted for Richard’s other smallframe - see April’s page of the calendar..
US member, Patrick Albregt’s beautiful 1949 Bacchetta would have been spot on for October or November.. sorry Patrick!!!
Another Luca photo; his Rod again on Coogee Beach, the shot I went with had stronger colours but I really like this… great composition too!
Finishing this post as I started, with Richard Higgins’ GS - she is stunning but all in all the final selected 12 members’ photos synced/fitted better I felt.. very sorry Richard !!
Of course, you have to bear in mind the finished calendar is based on my choices and opinions. I have an eye for composition when taking photos but I’m no David Bailey and never trained professionally. Some of you may feel the above are glaring omissions and you may be right..?!
Anyhow, I hope this year’s calendar exercise will inspire you all to get photographing for the 2022 VVC calendar and I hope I haven’t put off members who’s photos didn’t get in - just remember the key words… ‘landscape’ and hi-resolution.
Thanks to all members who got involved and contributed to the 2021 VVC calendar. Members can reap the benefits of our collective efforts by heading over to the VVC online shop and ordering a calendar here
Cheers - Paul Hart (VVC Editor).