Events

TIME: 7:30pm
DATE: Wed 21st January 2026
VENUE: Kennet Valley Hall
Presenter: Deborah Loeb Bohren
Website:

'The Art of Abstraction' 

The offspring of two photographers, Deb believes her inescapable passion for photography is imprinted on her DNA. For the past several years that passion has led her to abstraction in a quest to challenge reality and capture a feeling or impression with her camera rather than replicating reality with precision.

In her presentation Deb will explore the art and science that underlies the creation of successful abstract images in art and photography. Designed for photographers looking to enhance their creative vision, she will delve into the role the elements and principles of design play in abstraction, as well as examine how Gestalt psychology influences composition and perception. She will also reflect on how abstraction challenges photographers to think differently, pushing them beyond traditional ways of seeing and composing images.

Her talk starts by defining abstraction in photography, distinguishing it from traditional representational imagery and considering some of the challenges facing abstract photographers. Through a series of visual examples — both her own and those of famous painters and photographers — you will see how the world can be abstracted by leveraging key artistic elements, including color, line, shape, light, pattern and texture to create compelling abstract photographs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biography

Based in Stamford, Connecticut, Deb won her first photography contest when she was in the 6th grade at P.S. 27 in Yonkers, NY and can't remember when photography wasn’t a part of her life. After a successful 30+ year career in corporate communications she decided to leave the corporate world behind and pursue her photography full-time.

Her work has been recognized and exhibited across the U.S. and internationally at New York’s Soho Photo Gallery, both the Sohn and Cousen Rose galleries in Massachusetts, and the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan, CT, as well as at the Horsebridge Arts Centre in Whitstable, England, among others. It is also part of private and corporate collections nationwide, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Idaho and Willow Gardens Memory Care Center.

Deb serves as a judge and guest presenter for camera clubs on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as teaching a range of photography courses online. Her newest venture has her leading international travel photography workshops with British photographer Jonathan Vaines in London, Paris, Lisbon and New York City. Deb also chronicles her global adventures in words and images as a contributing editor for Everett Potter’s Travel Report.

TIME: 7:30pm
DATE: Wed 18th February 2026
VENUE: Kennet Valley Hall

Your two best images inspired by Deborah Loeb Bohren's talk.

If you wish, please send 2 images to chairman@marlborough.photography in advance of the session.
Image files should be named 01_theme_yourname, 02_theme_yourname
Large files can be sent using wetransfer.com

TIME: 7:30pm
DATE: Wed 18th March 2026
VENUE: Kennet Valley Hall
Presenter: Kevin Mullins
Website: Documentary Wedding Photographer Kevin Mullins

 

 

'Seeing the Light and Shadow' 

A discussion of the power of monochrome in a candid world from Weddings, Street and Personal Photography. Delve into the ability to "see the light" and edit great black and white images with Kevin.

 

 

 

 

 

TIME: 7:30pm
DATE: Wed 15th April 2026
VENUE: Kennet Valley Hall

Your two best images inspired by Kevin Mullins' talk - 'Seeing the Light and Shadow'

If you wish, please send 2 images to chairman@marlborough.photography in advance of the session.
Image files should be named 01_theme_yourname, 02_theme_yourname
Large files can be sent using wetransfer.com

TIME: 7:30pm
DATE: Wed 20th May 2026
VENUE: Kennet Valley Hall
Presenter: Joss Ridley
Website:

 

 

 

TIME: 7:30pm
DATE: Wed 17th June April 2026
VENUE: Kennet Valley Hall

Your two best images inspired by Joss Ridley's talk.

If you wish, please send 2 images to chairman@marlborough.photography in advance of the session.
Image files should be named 01_theme_yourname, 02_theme_yourname
Large files can be sent using wetransfer.com

TIME: 7:30pm
DATE: Wed 15th July 2026
VENUE: Kennet Valley Hall
Presenter: Viveca Koh
Website: Viveca Koh Photography

 

'From iPhoneography to Fellowship: My Continuing Journey'

My second presentation follows on from my first – ‘Urban Exploration to Fine Art: A Photographic Journey’ – in which I will discuss my use of an iPhone to take photographs, leading up to the separate challenge of attaining Fellowship with The Royal Photographic Society using illustrations from a book of poetry and prose entitled ‘Star Blossom’, in which my images become more abstract and in some cases a little surreal, utilising multiple layers, textures and double exposures, whilst using the written words as inspiration.

 

Biography

I am a self-taught Fine Art photographer, with a special fascination for small details, for lost, abandoned, poignant and generally broken objects, and also for darkness contrasting with light, both in a physical and emotional sense.

Abandoned buildings are a passion of mine, as are the details of places that attract my eye, the minutiae which collects in hidden corners, the small parts of bigger things that are fascinating in their own right. I enhance many of my photographs with texture layers and overlays, experimenting with digital double exposure,
using old documents that I have collected to add a different dimension to the work in question.

I attained Fellowship of The Royal Photographic Society in 2014 in the Visual Art genre, following on from my previous distinctions of ARPS and LRPS.
In 2021 I achieved Fellowship of The Irish Photographic Federation, and in 2024 a second FRPS in the Contemporary genre.

I am an LRPS Panel Member and Visual Art Panel Member, assessing all three levels of RPS distinctions in these categories.

I have exhibited in a number of venues, and many of my photographs are sold via my website as signed numbered Limited Edition Giclée Fine Art prints.

 

TIME: 7:30pm
DATE: Wed 19th August 2026
VENUE: Kennet Valley Hall

Your two best images inspired by Joss Ridley's talk.

If you wish, please send 2 images to chairman@marlborough.photography in advance of the session.
Image files should be named 01_theme_yourname, 02_theme_yourname
Large files can be sent using wetransfer.com

TIME: 7:30pm
DATE: Wed 16th September 2026
VENUE: Kennet Valley Hall
Presenter: Paul Mitchell
Website: Paul Mitchell Photography

 

 

 

 

'Woodland Ways'

This talk centres around some of Paul's favourite woodland locations including Burnham Beeches, Savernake Forest and various locations throughout the UK. Paul's talk is fully illustrated with digitally projected images and prints made throughout the four seasons.

Biography

Paul has had numerous exhibitions in London and the South East and has had articles and images published in many photographic magazines. He is a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and is the current Chair of the Landscape Distinctions panel. He also serves on the Visual Art and PhotoBook panels and is a member of the prestigious Arena group of photographers. Paul is also a well respected photographic judge and lecturer.

Paul has also been successful in the prestigious Landscape Photographer of the Year competition, winning the Sunday Times Choice Award in 2013, the Urban Category winner in 2015 and commended in 2017 and 2018. He has also had successes in the Outdoor Photographer of the Year and the International Garden Photographer of the Year. In March 2022 Paul won the RHS Gold Medal and Best in Show at their Botanical Art and Photography Show held at the Saatchi Gallery.

 

TIME: 7:30pm
DATE: Wed 21st October 2026
VENUE: Kennet Valley Hall

Your two best images inspired by Paul Mitchell's talk - 'Woodland Ways'

If you wish, please send 2 images to chairman@marlborough.photography in advance of the session.
Image files should be named 01_theme_yourname, 02_theme_yourname
Large files can be sent using wetransfer.com

TIME: 7:30pm
DATE: Wed 18th November 2026
VENUE: Kennet Valley Hall
Presenter: Julian Baird
Website:Dartmoor Photography, Tuition and Stories by Julian Baird

 

'Photographing Dartmoor'

Biography