As most of us are aware IWDIG photographer, our man from Ventnor Colin Haygarth recently embarked on a 5 week journey to Australia. 

Colin wanted to keep the IWDIG posted on his journey and within the first week forwarded this short text with images below.

Thought you might like to see Kuala Lumpur Airport which was our stop off before we flew on to Adelaide. One for Amanda: A kangaroo jumped a fence to cross the road at Spring Gully Conservation Park. Continue Reading »

Having been set the task of capturing and producing our first Isle of Wight Digital Imaging Group calendar, we are happy to report we’ve exceeded the halfway mark.

Focusing our attention in October 2010 we decided a great project would be to produce our very first IWDIG Calendar.  To launch a calendar for 2012 involves Olympic style planning and we remain focused on capturing 12 fresh scenes from the Isle of Wight each month representative of Jan, Feb etc.

The Calendar task was never intended to be a vanity publication and as the saying goes charity begins at home, last week we mutually agreed the IWDIG 2012 Calendar will be sold to raise funds for Dimbola Lodge. Continue Reading »

In review of the recent Isle of Wight Photographer of the Year Awards, an image by Colin and prose by Amanda has made the Amateur Photographer Magazine news page.

Of course this is not the first time the Isle of Wight Digital Imaging Group or the IWPOY have featured in the news or in the world renowned AP magazine and we are sure it wont be the last.

The article and image relates to former Amateur Photographer Magazine Features Editor Bob Aylott on winning the Julia Margaret Cameron Award.

Continue Reading »

“Monochrome Miscellany”, as the title suggests, covers a variety of subjects from portraits through to landscapes and winter trees. Using a number of techniques and cameras Isle of Wight Digital Imaging Group photographers managed to capture “something for everyone”.

An open invitation to the launch and artists reception at Ventnor Winter Gardens on Thursday 28th October 7:00 p.m in the Balmoral Gallery.  The exhibition is free to view and will run between 28th October till 25th November 2010. 

With a tight deadline and the brief to capture, select, print and frame this exhibition in just two weeks the IWDIG takes great pleasure in presenting the outcome of this photographic challenge. 

Continue Reading »

Nikon Owners Magazine Exclusive Scoop:  In the next issue of Nikon Owner magazine, Editor Gray Levett interviews two of the most well-respected photographers in their fields: Jim Brandenburg and Mike Maloney OBE.

The interview with Mike Maloney will be followed in subsequent issues by a new series of articles unique to Nikon Owner entitled ‘Mike Maloney’s World’. Continue Reading »

Twenty-four photographers (around half the members) from the IWDIG turned up for the Quarr Abbey photoshoot kindly arranged by Lorraine Skipper on Saturday the 30th January.  The group were met, in the car park, by a one-eyed ginger cat named Cruikshank who led them to the assembly point at the Abbey’s Bookshop.

Divine intervention or luck who knows but the light was perfect or according to Cruikshank purrfect!

The tour started with a very informative talk from Father Luke about the lifestyle of the monks and a brief history of the buildings backed-up of course by Cruikshank and a little Robin who had just decided to join the tour.

We are very grateful that our photographers were allowed to snap away to their hearts content throughout the visit and we are very much looking forward to seeing the results.

Although we had hoped for greater access to the Abbey we still had plenty of opportunity to take photographs of the Chapel, the Church and the grounds not to forget Cruikshank, the Robin and a Red Squirrel that had now joined our party. 

Thanks to Father Luke, the cat, the robin, the squirrel and  the photographers for turning up and making this shoot so successful, we look forward to seeing your images and to our next photographic outing. A very Special thanks to Father Luke for allowing us access to the Abbey.  View IWDIG Photos of Quarr Abbey Online click here:

“Abbey” photograph above copyright IWDIG – “Statue & Robin” copyright Lorraine Skipper (all rights reserved).

Did you know, as a photographer creates an image (whether digital or film), copyright is automatic?  It then follows in that creation that a photographer whether running a business or not, is allowed the privilege of licensing where they wish their product or creation to be viewed. 

There appears a growing lack of respect for photographers who create images in the course of their work, whether it be in the news or media, images that payment and credit is required for in the main is not being given. If images are used in ignorance and without the expected payment and legal requirements those images are then launched into cyber-space without any visible means of parentage and can quickly become cyber-orphaned for all time. Thus negating any further financial benefit to the image creator and as there is no name given where is the return business to the photographer? Continue Reading »

A photographic book providing an in depth view of the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival has reached the Best British Book category in the British Book Design and Production Awards 2009.

What significance has the Isle of Wight Digital Imaging Group to the ‘The Isle of Wight Festival 1970: Six Days That Rocked The World’ publication?  Although compiled by Amateur Photographer Magazine columnist, author and former Fleet Street photographer Bob Aylott, quite a lot of the iconic photographs used within the book were taken by our very own  Mr Paparazzi himself Doug White.

Doug (pictured circa 1970) from Cowes, became a member of the Isle of Wight Digital Imaging Group when we moved our meeting venue to Dimbola Lodge (home of the Isle of Wight Festival Archive) in January 2008.

Publicity surrounding the book, which was launched to highlight the Isle of Wight Festival’s 40th anniversary next year has created a stir worldwide.  The book has been two years in the making for Bob Aylott, Bryn Campbell, Bob Mazzer, Doug White, Ken Beken, Mike Hardy, and Chris Weston, who have contributed to, the most important publication about the greatest pop festival of all time.

With exclusive stories, iconic and unpublished photographs, ‘Isle of Wight Festival 1970, ‘Six Days That  Rocked the World’ is set to go down in rock and roll history.  Commemorative posters such as Jimi Hendrix (pictured), have also been printed as part of the book launch and can be purchased along with the book from www.isleofwightfestival1970.com

Doug’s photographic collaboration in ‘The Isle of Wight Festival 1970: Six Days That Rocked the World’ follows on from the launch of another book ‘The Last Great Event’ which also highlights many of Doug’s photographs featuring the late and to many music aficionados the great Jimi Hendrix. Continue Reading »

Earlier this month  members of the IWDIG were given the opportunity to practice their sporting skills not least their camera action as they covered non-stop hockey in the Annual Isle of Wight Hockey Festival.  Saturday and Sunday brought fabulous sunshine and entente cordial between Mens, Ladies and Mixed groups of 11 a side teams from mainland UK including international visitors from Holland.

The two day event takes place in May every year on the Isle of Wight and as always hosted by the Isle of Wight Hockey Club at the Victoria Recreation Ground in Newport.

The 2009 Isle of Wight Hockey Festival was a great success with 36 teams and over 400 people visiting the Island. There was sunshine all weekend and the feedback from the event was very impressive.

IWDIG members shot and dodged wayward balls on behalf of event photographers Island Lifestyles 2020  the official photographers for the IOWHC.  To view the photographic results of Amanda, Anne, Colin, Gary, Lucy, Peter, Richard and Sandra’s adventurous weekend click HERE:  and for more information about the Isle of Wight Hockey Club visit IOWHC website.

We were very pleased to be contacted by Jackie Parry the author of “Isle of Wight Landmark Visitors Guide” earlier this year with a request for new images for the guide’s latest edition. We set the IWDIG photographers the task of submitting images to meet their brief and made available 60 images for selection in the portfolio: view here

The response from both the author and publishers was very complimentary regarding the quality of the images submitted and they were pleased to be able to select 7 images (pictured) for this new edition to be published early in the New Year.

Congratulations are due to the following IWDIG photographers:

 Amanda Johnson for ‘Quarr Abbey’ and ‘Osborne House’
Lorraine Skipper for ‘Round the Island Race’
Colin Trigg for ‘Newport Mermaid’
Michael Thomas ‘St Catherines from the Waverley’
Neil Hunt for ‘St Catherine’s Oratory’ and ‘The Needles’ 

The photographers will be credited for their images in the new guide and thanks to their efforts the IWDIG received a donation to boost its funds. We hope to follow-up on more publishing opportunities in 2009 and promote both our photographers and the IWDIG where possible.

All images copyright 2008 © the Photographer and may not be reproduced without permission