2025 Monthly News

Newsletter 19/02/23

Morning All

Many thanks to all members who submitted images for the L&CPU. The competition takes place over 2 days; Saturday 4th March and Sunday 5th March. Good luck to all who have entered.

Notices

Please don’t forget:

2 photographic trips suggested by Michael

  1. An ‘un-official’ small group onto Ainsdale Dunes; we have had the following email from Trevor, the organiser:

The optimum time for a trip to the dunes is early June for Bee Orchids and other things, or about 2 weeks later for Pyramidal Orchids etc.

       This year I will be away in Mid-June for about two weeks.

I would suggest Wed 7th June as a possible meeting; however, it all depends on the weather – wet and windy days are no good in this location. Also, the weather of previous weeks can affect the flora and fauna, either for better or worse. I can provide a running update closer to the time.

If that sounds OK, I will pencil in June 7th for a meeting. There are a couple of options for meeting but I suggest we do so about 10:30 or even earlier if you wish. Parking is on the beach and costs £10:00 per car. Alternatively, you can park on the nearby Sands Lake Pub for coin operated meter at about £4:00 per day.

Meeting on the beach we can go into the dunes and look for images: Orchids, Dune Pansy, Hounds Tongue etc plus insects and caterpillars and anything worth a picture. Gear should be a familiar camera with a macro or close-focusing lens plus a lens for landscape work if conditions are right. A telephoto for dragonflies/butterflies is also useful.  Bring a packed lunch. If conditions are right, it’s worth staying a few hours.

Numbers are not a problem if you park on the beach. We can go into the dunes but it will be “unofficial” so not covered by any insurance nor by Green Sefton. The dunes are open to the public so it’s not a problem. I will brief the group concerning any potential health concerns but it is quite a safe area. I don’t charge for my time but a small donation to Butterfly Conservation is always welcome though not compulsory.

  1. Queen St Mill, Burnley; 3 hour shoot, cost (depending on numbers) roughly between £10 – £15 each.

If you are interested in either or both and you haven’t already emailed in, please let us know ‘cos we need to organise.

Up and coming programme events:

  • Wednesday February 22nd – Members evening including:

Talk by Michael on ‘Extracting Video Stills.’

Talk by Stan on ‘Exporting from Lightroom using different Colour Space settings for both DPI and DSCL Prints, Mono and Colour.’

Talk by Lewis on filters.

Update on Topaz Photo AI – lots of updates since last time we looked at it.

  • Wednesday March 1st – Talk by Adrian and Sue using ‘AV Presentation’
  • Wednesday March 8th – Judging of the ‘Humanity Competition’, arbitrated by Steve Proctor DPAGB BPE5*
  • Wednesday March 15th – ‘Live’ in the Arts Centre – Paul Dunmall with a presentation on ‘Speed and Motion’.
  • NEW: Wednesday March 22nd – Bob Sapey – ‘Live’ in the Arts Centre with a talk on Astrophotography
  • Wednesday March 29th – No Meeting – Committee meeting

Challenges

  • Minimalistic Challenge – We are inviting members to send in 6 (ish) minimalist images by Tuesday April 4th the images could be ‘one-offs’ or in a series – your choice.

I’ll put them in a PowerPoint presentation. These can then be shown in the usual way and you can either comment on them from ‘the floor’ if you like or from the front.

  • Images of Garstang for the calendar: We are asking each member to submit a maximum of 4 images (DPI’s) for possible selection by Monday April 24th. These images can be historical, of say The Children’s Festival or any other Garstang event or you can get out and about and take up to date pictures, it’s up to you!

Coffee duty on Wednesday is Stan and Freda – thanks!

That’s all folks

Mike and Lewis

Newsletter 12/02/23

Afternoon All

Many thanks to all who got to the Arts Centre early last Tuesday for the NZ competition! And, big thanks to Freda for the bacon butties!

I’ve had a lovely email from NZ thanking us for taking part, marvelling that it actually worked, not being too smug that they won (albeit by only 10 points) and lastly, they want to do it all again – sucker for punishment? Us or them? Answers on a postcard please!

Message from Paul

Baylight Festival – Morecambe Bay

Visit: https://exploremorecambebay.org.uk/whats-on/baylight-festival/

All info there! Might make a good trip out. Check it out!

Notices

Please don’t forget:

2 photographic trips suggested by Michael

  1. An ‘un-official’ small group onto Ainsdale Dunes
  2. Queen St Mill, Burnley; 3 hour shoot, cost (depending on numbers) roughly between £10 – £15 each.

If you are interested, please email as soon as, if you haven’t already, ‘cos we need to organise.

L&CPU

As per Lewis’s input last Wednesday if you are interested in taking part, please submit your entries by Saturday 18th February.

When sending in your entries please order them numerically in order of preference.

Please also remember if you are a new member you will need to register using the following web address:

https://lcpu.org

Once you have opened the website click on Information Portal

It then says:

Important Information.

To access these services, you will require an ‘approved’ individual personal account. Shared Club accounts are no longer permitted.

As login is now via a personal account, we would strongly advise against the use of generic email addresses (eg.secretary@someclub.co.uk).

To access Club competitions and Club services, you will need to be registered as an Individual and Registered and Approved as a Club officer.

If you had an ‘individual’ account on the previous system, your existing credentials (email address and password) will still work on this website.

Club Logins using a Club Code and Password do not work on this website. Please Register a new user account.

Please use this button (PROCEED) to login, register a new account, recover a lost password, or ask for support.

Summary below:

  • Only doing the 2 PDI sections, prints get more involved with delivery etc.
  • PDI (Projected Digital Images) must be within 1600 px (horizontal) x 1200 px (vertical) in jpeg format, in sRGB colour space (including mono)
  • The entry system will not accept a file size of more than 2mb.
  • PDI: there are two categories in this section – Open (which includes colour and monochrome) and Nature.
  • Entries: a) PDI – Open = up to 16 images from not less than 5 photographers; no photographer may enter more than 4 images in the Open.
  • Entries: b) PDI – Nature = up to 8 images from not less than 5 photographers; no photographer may enter more than 2 images in the Nature.
  • Composite images are not accepted in the Nature sections
  • Club members may only enter images for one club.

Please don’t forget we need a minimum of 5 members to take part or we can’t submit any entries.

Up and coming programme events:

  • Wednesday 15th February: Presentation ‘Live’ in the Arts Centre by Martin Jump on ‘Lancashire landscapes, flora and fauna.
  • Wednesday 15th February: Humanity Cup: Last day for entry (prints and DPIs).
  • Wednesday 22nd February: Members evening including:
  • Talk by Michael on ‘Extracting Video Stills’.
  • Talk by Stan on ‘Exporting from Lightroom using different Colour Space settings for both DPI and DSCL Prints, Mono and Colour.’
  • Talk by Lewis on filters.
  • Up date on Topaz Photo AI – lots of updates since last time we looked at it.

If any other member would like to give a talk/presentation PLEASE get in touch.

  • Wednesday March 1st: Talk by Adrian and Sue using ‘AV Presentation’
  • Wednesday March 8th: Judging of the ‘Humanity Competition’, arbitrated by Steve Proctor DPAGB BPE5*

Minimalist challenge

Following on from the minimalistic images shown last Wednesday we are setting up a challenge! Oh no, I hear you cry!

We are inviting members to send in 6 (ish) minimalist images by Tuesday April 4th and I’ll put them in a PowerPoint presentation. These can then be shown in the usual way and you can either comment on them from ‘the floor’ if you like or from the front.

Just to remind you, if it helps, there were 12 categories, listed below, to give you a guide; but the challenge is ‘open’ so you may want to submit images that aren’t in those groups. 

Categories were: Abstract, Aerial, Architecture, Conceptual, Fine Art, Landscape, Long Exposure, Night, Open, Photomanipulation, Portrait and Street.

I can send a copy of the minimalistic presentation out to anyone who wants to look at it, possibly again – it may help with composition ideas. If you missed the last meeting I can, of course, send you the presentation; just the images not the commentary!

The images could be ‘one-offs’ or in a series – your choice.

Anyway, there it is – please have a go; good, bad or ugly it’s all good practice!

Any questions just email in or chat to us at the next meeting.

That’s all folks Mike and Lewis

Newsletter 05/02/23

Morning All

Spring is in the air, the sun has got his hat on, though a tad chilly first thing this morning; went out hoping for a lovely sun rise but didn’t develop here at Forton! Hey ho. Though I did hear a Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

Anyway, more importantly – last episode of ‘Happy Valley’ tonight; I’m sure I saw Tommy on Cleveleys promenade Friday morning!

Notices:

Big thanks here to Michael for his ideas, time and effort:

Two from Michael about possible future camera trips:

  1. Michael says – “I have been in touch with Trevor Devanport, experienced photographer from Southport Club. He has years of experience of capturing insects, flowers and fauna.

He would be available to take out an ‘un-official’ small group onto Ainsdale Dunes. It’s about an hour in the car.

It’s one of the largest sand-dune complex in England covering an area of approximately 2100 ha; that’s around 5,200 acres.

It is a fascinating and ever-changing habitat with many photographic

opportunities throughout the seasons. Spring / summer is usually when the dunes are richly rewarding for both botanic and entomological subjects.

If we could get a list of interested members, then we can re-approach Trevor for cost & further details.”

So, if you are interested, please get in touch

  1. Queen St Mill, Burnley. Michael emailed Sarah Stewart, the assistant Museum Manager, in the first instance to see if the camera club could visit for a ‘shoot.’ Her reply below:

“Unfortunately, as we are a very small team, we wouldn’t have any staff available in period costume, I do apologise about that! We have staff on site from 9am till 5pm so anytime between that would be fine with us, we would just need to confirm in advance what time you would like to arrive so you don’t clash with other bookings!

As we have a few events, school bookings and filming coming up, it would be useful to know if you have any dates in mind? Until the end of March we have staff on site from Tuesday to Friday, and from April we will be onsite from Tuesday to Saturday.

For photoshoots we usually charge £500 for a full day which is between 9-5, which works out roughly at £62 an hour. We could arrange for you to have 3 hours for £150 if that works for yourselves? We can include tea and filter coffee within that price.

We would also just need yourself and your members to sign a licence just to say that the photos won’t be used for commercial purposes and they are for personal/educational/research purposes only. If they were to be used for commercial purposes you would need to sign a separate agreement and there is an extra fee.”

So, Michael replied:

“Obviously, I would be interested in the 3 hour shoot – which I think is an ideal time frame on which to explore the site.

I think we would need a minimum of 10 (equating to £15 plus tea & coffee). If we could get 12 (£12.50) or the maximum 15 (£10).”

So, again, if you are interested, please get in touch

Reminders:

Tuesday 7th February: NZ ‘Battle’ at the Arts Centre; 7.15am arrival, latest; bacon butties, toast and sparkling ready! Big thanks here to Freda for organising the catering.

Tuesday 7th February: up to 6 ‘Long Exposure’ images; these to be shown, along with, if poss, a commentary of where, why and how. All images to be sent to me, Mike, via Wetransfer or email. I’ll put together a PowerPoint presentation and he will present them (anonymously if required)! Please have a go!

Preston Pirates BMX Club

Evening ‘shoot’ on 2nd March 6pm – 8pm. The sun sets at 17.49pm. We had a great time when we first visited and this time will be under the floodlights – certainly a challenge! Please get in touch, if you haven’t already, if you are interested.

Wednesday 15th February Humanity Cup: Last day for entry (prints and DPIs).

Many thanks to all members who have managed to put on their respective thinking caps for possible destinations for the Events Cup destinations for this coming spring/summer. More ideas still needed PLEASE.

Up and coming programme events:

Wednesday 8th February: Presentation of members long exposure images; plus, minimalistic images with commentary.

Wednesday 15th February: Presentation ‘Live’ in the Arts Centre by Martin Jump on ‘Lancashire landscapes, flora and fauna. Humanity Cup: Last day for entry (prints and DPIs).

Wednesday 22nd February:  Members evening – Talk by Michael on ‘Extracting Video Stills’; talk by Stan on ‘Exporting from Lightroom using different Colour Space settings for both DPI and DSCL Prints, Mono and Colour.’ Details of further activities will be forthcoming soon!

If any other member would like to give a talk/presentation PLEASE get in touch.

Wednesday March 1st: Talk by Adrian and Sue on ‘AV Presentation’

Wednesday March 8th: Judging of the ‘Humanity Competition’, arbitrated by Steve Proctor DPAGB BPE5*

That’s all folks Mike and Lewis

Newsletter 29/01/23

Morning All

Morecambe ‘Battle’ – unfortunately we came second!

Scores: Morecambe 523, Garstang 521.

So, a very close run competition but we will exact our revenge next year, I’m sure. However, some really excellent images from both clubs and fairly judged with some good constructive criticisms. I’ll give feedback in the next meeting.

New Zealand ‘Battle’ up-date:

Battle with the Rangiora (Rang – ee – aw – ruh) Photographic Society of New Zealand. Now scheduled, in New Zealand, for Tuesday 7th February at 8.30pm. We are 13 hours behind so will be shown here in the Arts Centre on Tuesday 7th February at 7.30am start! Also available by zoom!

We are organising bacon butties, toast and something sparkling! Please join us for a 7.15am start in the Arts Centre. They are wearing bright clothes, well, it is their summer – shall we do the same?

I do appreciate that work may well get in the way, but for the first hour?

If you are coming to the Arts Centre, PLEASE could you let us know – just for catering arrangements – cheers.

Long Exposure challenge:

The deadline has been extended by 1 week to Tuesday 7th February

Please send in up to 6 ‘Long Exposure’ images; these to be shown, along with, if poss, a commentary of where, why and how. All images to be sent to me, via Wetransfer or email, by Tuesday 7th February. I’ll put together a PowerPoint presentation and he will present them (anonymously if required)!

It’s an opportunity to show your images and possibly receive constructive criticism – all, of course, in the best possible taste! Please have a go.

Preston Pirates BMX Club

Evening ‘shoot’ on 2nd March 6pm – 8pm. The sun sets at 17.49pm. We had a great time when we first visited and this time will be under the floodlights – certainly a challenge! If you are thinking of joining us, please let me know so that I can inform Ian (the boss) ‘cos we are photographing children and we will be issued with yellow jackets.

Humanity Cup

Update and definition. ‘People in all environments, activities and emotions. People or people-related connections must be the focal point. More than one person may be included.’

Prints to be mounted? – Sharon’s deadline is 01.02.23.

Last day for entry (prints and DPIs) Wednesday 15th February.

Competition date: Wednesday 8th March.

Events Cup summer of 2023

We had 7 destinations last season, (probably less this time around) between April and September. New destinations please!

Proposed calendar for 2024, in support of the Arts Centre

A reminder!

  • Images of Garstang, restricted to the town boundary; historical images acceptable, colour, landscape and 3:2 aspect.
  • Max of 4 images per member, to me by Monday 24th April.
  • All shown on Wednesday 26th April, as a slideshow then individually.
  • Everyone will have a score sheet to mark each image out of 20; can’t vote for your own!
  • I’ll average them out and the top 36 will go to the Arts Society Committee to choose the 12 for the calendar.
  • Image on the front already chosen.
  • Each of the selected 12 images will be labelled with the author’s name.

Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union Annual Club Competition

Annual Club Print & Projected Image Competitions, 4th & 5th March

Overview:

  • Online Entry Opens: Saturday 21 January 2023 @ 00:01
  • Online Entry Closes: Saturday 25 February 2023 @ 23:59
  • Only doing the 2 PDI sections, prints get more involved with delivery etc. If you want to have a go with the prints, we can give guidance but you will need to organise yourself.
  • PDI (Projected Digital Images) must be within 1600 px (horizontal) x 1200 px (vertical) in jpeg format, in sRGB colour space (including mono)
  • The entry system will not accept a file size of more than 2mb.

Further details

  • PDI: there are two categories in this section – Open (which includes colour and monochrome) and Nature.
  • Entries: a) PDI – Open = up to 16 images from not less than 5 photographers; no photographer may enter more than 4 images in the Open.
  • Entries: b) PDI – Nature = up to 8 images from not less than 5 photographers; no photographer may enter more than 2 images in the Nature.
  • Composite images are not accepted in the Nature sections
  • Club members may only enter images for one club.
  • Lewis is coordinating when he returns from hols.

As you can see from the above we need a minimum of 5 members to take part – PLEASE let us know if you willing to send in entries then we can ensure we meet the demands of the competition.

Up and coming programme events:

  • Wednesday 1st February: Workshop – Robin has very kindly offered to give a presentation on ‘Rajasthan and Kashmir’ in India and Morecambe ‘Battle’ feedback.
  • Tuesday 7th February: New Zealand ‘Battle’ at 7.15am
  • Wednesday 8th February: Presentation of members long exposure images; plus, minimalistic images with commentary.
  • Wednesday 15th February: Presentation ‘Live’ in the Arts Centre by Martin Jump on ‘Lancashire landscapes, flora and fauna. Humanity Cup: Last day for entry (prints and DPIs).
  • Wednesday 22nd February: Members evening – details to follow

Phew – that’s all folks Mike and Lewis

March 2023 News

Hello to all readers.

As I write this , we are having a spell of fair weather i.e. no rain! ( that does it )  Cameras are being dusted off after a short spell in their bags and batteries being charged, always an important tip. Since my last spell sitting here at my escritoire or should it be screen and keyboard (oh for times past), we have been involved in two battles in which we achieved two second places! The first was against Morecambe Camera Club and the last one on Feb. 7th. between Rangiore Photographic Society in New Zealand (you do the maths!)  We lost the battle of the Hemispheres by 10 points, however one of our members, Stanley Pearson held 1st. place with his image of Lytham Jetty. Well done Stan.  Both battles being judged by independent adjudicators.

Irrespective of the many different makes of cameras, there seems to be a plethora of new models aimed at the beginner and the professional coming onto the market each month. Personally, I would hate to be in the position of starting out in our craft and having to choose one. The advice I would give  would be to knock on doors, in short, to attend/join a club and seek the advice on various makes and types. It is just as important to know what NOT to buy as well as being given the correct information. At this early stage, avoid websites with used equipment unless armed with knowledge.

Our menu for March is as follows :

March  1st.   Audio Visual Presentation by Adrian and Sue Whittaker.

           8th.   The judging of our Humanity Competition by Steve Proctor  DPAGB….BPE5*

           15th.  Speed and Motion   by Paul Dunbar Live   i.e. NOT Zoom.

           29th.  Member’s Evening………….Various activities.

That’s all folks .

Maurice  Barker

http://www.garstangcameraclub.co.uk

Newsletter 22/01/23

Morning All

Many thanks to Paul King for some excellent ‘judging’ of the Creatures and plants of the world cup last Wednesday; I’ve attached the results of the mono and colour prints as well as the mono and colour DPIs.

Also, a big thank you to everyone who put an entry in whether or not you got a result – taking part is what it is all about!

Up and coming programme events:

  • Wednesday January 25th: Members evening; Stan giving a talk titled ‘Is it a photograph?’ plus Mike showing Winning Landscape Images Awards, with feedback commentary. John is giving a talk about using a Xrite Display Pro for monitor calibration also including paper profiles and soft proofing; these are all factors in making sure that the finished print matches what is seen on the screen also a talk on ‘Wildlife in the Garden’.
  • Thursday January 26th: Morecambe ‘Battle’ – 7.30pm, takes about 30 ins pm.by car. Zoom invite below which will be opened at 7.15pm:

Morecambe Camera Club is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Morecambe CC vs Garstang CC
Time: Jan 26, 2023 07:30 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82608816553?pwd=WGwrNTBhNTNBZlRMdUlLSVN1MjBxdz09

Meeting ID: 826
0881 6553
Passcode: 759861

  • Wednesday 1st February: Workshop – Robin has very kindly offered to give a presentation on ‘Rajasthan and Kashmir’ in India. Presentation of the ‘Long Exposure’ images and Morecambe ‘Battle’ feedback.
  • Wednesday 8th February: Battle with the Rangiora Photography Society of New Zealand.
  • Wednesday 15th February: Presentation ‘Live’ in the Arts Centre by Martin Jump on ‘Lancashire landscapes, flora and fauna

Victoria Festival

Using the link below you will be able to view all the images the club submitted for the Victoria Festival back in December – all good publicity and thanks to all who managed to venture out and take them.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084233199813

Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union Annual Club Competition

We have attached the rules and guidelines for this annual competition. Do please have a read through and we thought we could discuss this at next Wednesday members evening, confirm the rules and regs and decide what we should enter.

Thanks to Barry and Michael for their coffee and tea duties last Wednesday.

Dave and Sue are on refreshments next Wednesday, 25th Jan.

That’s all folks Mike and Lewis

February 2023 News

Hello folks.  Here we are in February and as a person on the radio announced yesterday regarding the ever increasing fuel payments  “ well the worst of the cold weather is now behind us “   what planet is she on ?  No way! Although the past month has seen record rainfall in many parts of the country and therefore poor opportunities for camera work, we can still hope for some better days….dare I mention the word SNOW ? As I look out onto the garden, I can see the harbingers of spring announcing daffodils, snowdrops and crocii , all raising their welcoming heads once more.  The climatic change is still surprising some people, an ex- colleague of mine travelled to his son’s family in Sunny California for the festive season and the State had it’s worst floods ever recorded, and so not much film used there !

Our last two meetings produced two excellent presentations on Lake District Moods ( never seen it like this before ) and a quite informative evening on Long Exposures promoting members to go out and have a go.

Future meetings are as follows :-

Feb. 8th            The Battle by Zoom between Garstang Camera Club and Rangiora Photographic Society of New Zealand, the first time we have gone International.

Feb.15th.           Martin Jump presents ( live )  Lancashire Landscapes  Flora and Fauna.

Feb 22cnd.      Member’s Evening,  various activities.

March 1st.        Adrian and Sue Whittaker will give us an Audio Visual presentation……..always interesting.

March 8th.       Judging of our Humanity Competition.

Best Wishes and good shooting.

Maurice Barker

http://www.garstangcameraclub.co.uk

Newsletter 15/01/23

Morning All

Bird update; you may remember I showed an image of a bird from my garden and asked for an ID? Well, thanks to members contributions it is most likely a Leucistic Female Blackbird. And, I spotted again yesterday so I may get the chance for a better photo!

Attached to the newsletter is a quick guide to using ND filters from Anthony Zacharias, last Wednesday’s speaker, which you may be interested in.

Many thanks to Mike and Stan for their coffee duties last Wednesday and, of course, the lovely cakes.

This coming Wednesday Michael and Barry are on duty!

Don’t forget the 2 challenges:

  1. Members are invited to submit up to 6 ‘Long Exposure’ images;

These to be shown, along with, if poss, a commentary of where, why and how. We would like as many members to have a go to practice their skills even if things go a little/lot pear-shaped! All images to be sent to Mike, via Wetransfer or email, by Tuesday 31st January. Mike will put together a PowerPoint presentation and he will present them (anonymously if required)!

  1. Calendar images of Garstang for 2024;

We are asking each member to submit a maximum of 4 images (DPI’s) for possible selection by Monday April 24th. These images can be historical, of say The Children’s Festival or any other Garstang event or you can get out and about and take up to date pictures, it’s up to you!

Up and coming programme events:

  • Wednesday January 18th: Judging of our 3rd internal competition – Creatures of the World and arbitrated by Paul King CPAGB; 108 images entered. This will be available via zoom, so if you wish to have an invite, please send an email to Mike. However, there are no guarantees; the DPIs should be ok to share but we are trying out a new technique for the prints, thanks to Paul and Ian and their technical knowledge! Anyway, we are having a go!
  • Wednesday January 25th: Members evening; Stan giving a talk titled ‘Is it a photograph?’. Winning landscape images and the Minimalist Photography Awards, both with feedback commentary.
  • Thursday January 26th: Morecambe ‘Battle’ – 7.30pm, takes about 30 mins by car. Will be available via zoom, so if you wish to have an invite, please send an email to Mike.
  • Wednesday 1st February: Workshop – Robin has very kindly offered to give a presentation on ‘Rajasthan and Kashmir’ in India. Presentation of the ‘Long Exposure’ images and Morecambe ‘Battle’ feedback.

Early warning!

Next internal competition:

Humanity Cup:

Images: People in all environments, activities and emotions. People or people-related connections must be the focal point. More than one person may be included.

If you use Garstang Fine Arts (Sharon); any prints to her for mounting by 1st February please. And all images for submission (prints and DPIs) in by 15th February please.

That’s all folks

Mike and Lewis

Newsletter 08/01/23

Morning All

I see that more rain greets us this morning and for the coming week, though the daffs are beginning to poke through, roll on spring.

Thanks, John, for booking Carmen for last Wednesday’s presentation; I realise many of us know the Lake District, but what fantastic images were shown and delivered in a professional manner – magic!

  • En Plein Air competition; Many thanks to all those members who left prints from last summer’s En Plein Air competition; the artist’s exhibition will be displayed from Tues 10th January (until Thursday 9th February) together with our images in the Arts Centre, so pop along if you have time. I believe this competition will be repeated this year – details will follow when we have them.
  • BMX – Preston Pirates. If you recall Sarah (Keast) organised a photo shoot at their base in Preston which proved to be a great couple of hours and was really enjoyable. Well, we have been in touch again to organise an evening shoot. This will take place on a Thursday evening from 6pm – 8pm; all are welcome to try out their photographic skills, not their cycling skills! The actual date has yet to be decided because the club schedule is subject to change due to adverse weather conditions but we will keep you posted.
  • Tom Peck – Questphoto.co.uk. We had an email from Tom advertising his current list of club talks – we get a few of these throughout the year. As well as telling us about his talks and various 2023 workshops he has also written about ‘The Safari of a Lifetime’ for Feb/March 2024 in 2 locations, each in private game sanctuaries. This Safari is not advertised on the website. If you are interested, we can forward you the details.

Reminders

  • Wednesday January 11th: A presentation by Antony Zacharias titled “Long Exposure Photography”. This will be available via zoom so if you wish to have a zoom invite, please send an email to Mike.
  • Wednesday January 18th: Judging of our 3rd internal competition – Creatures of the World and arbitrated by Paul King CPAGB. We had the following entries: print Mono – 9; print Colour – 29; DPI Mono – 24; DPI Colour – 46. That gives a grand total number entered of 108! Should be a busy and hopefully an enlightening good evening!
  • Wednesday January 25th: Members evening; Stan giving a talk titled ‘Is it a photograph?’. Further details about the evening to follow.
  • Thursday January 26th: Morecambe ‘Battle’ – 7.30pm, Heysham Library, 396 Heysham Road, Heysham, LA3 2BJ; takes about 30 mins by car. Will be available via zoom, so if you wish to have an invite, please send an email to Mike. Judge for the evening is: Alfred Brown CPAGB. Hon L&CPU.
  • Wednesday 1st February: Workshop – Robin has very kindly offered to give a presentation on ‘Rajasthan and Kashmir’ in India. Other details for the evening will follow shortly.

2 Challenges! – Time to get that camera out, despite the weather!

  • Following on from the talk by Antony Zacharias (this Wednesday coming, 11th Jan), members are invited to submit up to 6 ‘Long Exposure’ images; these to be shown, along with, if poss, a commentary of where, why and how. We would like as many members to have a go to practice their skills even if things go a little/lot pear-shaped! All images to be sent to Mike, via Wetransfer or email, by Tuesday 31st January. Mike will put together a PowerPoint presentation and he will present them (anonymously if required)!

          It’s an opportunity to show your images and possibly receive constructive criticism – all, of course, in the best possible taste!

  • We have received a request from Muriel Burnham-Airy, Chair of the Executive Committee of Garstang & District Arts Society, to help with the creation of a calendar for 2024. This calendar will be sold, from possibly August onwards, to raise much needed funds for the Arts Centre. Lewis, Sue, Michael, Mike, Muriel and Anne-Marie had a meeting the other day to ascertain our (the camera club’s) responsibilities. We have agreed the following:
  1. Michael, due to his skills in graphic design, will put together an example of a calendar. In fairness to Michael, he has already designed 4 samples which were presented to the meeting and one design was accepted. MANY thanks go to Michael for his time and efforts here already.
  2. The camera club has been tasked to provide the images to be on the calendar.
  3. Images of? Well, restricted to Garstang and the town boundary. We just need to use our common sense and judgment on the extent of the boundary!
  4. Images to be in colour, sRGB, within or maximum of 1600 x 1200, ratio of 3:2, and landscape.
  5. We are asking each member to submit a maximum of 4 images (DPI’s) for possible selection by Monday April 24th. These images can be historical, of say The Children’s Festival or any other Garstang event or you can get out and about and take up to date pictures, it’s up to you!
  6. Images to be sent to Mike, via Wetransfer or email.
  7. Mike will then put all the images (say approx. 60ish) into a slide show; all images will be shown anonymously.
  8. On Wednesday April 26th (members evening) all images will be first shown as a slideshow then each image swill be shown separately.
  9. Each member will be given a score sheet so that when the images are shown separately you will be asked to score each image up to a maximum 20 points. You will not need to put your name on this score sheet.
  10. Mike will collect all the marked score sheets in and average out the scores.
  11. At the end of this process, we will have the ‘top’ 36 images.
  12. These images will then be given to the Executive Committee of Garstang & District Arts Society and they will choose the 12 selected for each month.
  13. The image for the actual front of the calendar will be one all ready selected of the Arts Centre itself.
  14. Each of the final selected images will have the name of the author on it.

Wow – I hope you all have grasped the above and will take part – PLEASE! We think that this is a great opportunity to show the club’s individual skills and great opportunity to advertise our club.

Coffee duty on this coming Wednesday is Stan and Mike – many thanks!

I’ve attached 3 images of a bird. Sorry about the quality, but taken through a window and in the rain. I think it could be a Thrush or female Blackbird. Any ideas? I’ve seen a few with white on before but not quite as strange as that one!

That’s all folks

Mike and Lewis

Newsletter 01/01/23

Morning All

Lewis and Mike would like to wish all members a happy, healthy and prosperous 2023!

4 + 1 quotes I always like:

  • William E. Vaughan – an optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.
  • Billy Vaughan – Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Middle Age is when you’re forced to.
  • Nia Vardalos – “My New Year’s resolution list usually starts with the desire to lose between 10 and 3,000 pounds.”
  • Charlie Brown – “You know how I always dread the whole year? Well, this time I’m only going to dread one day at a time.”
  • My own – 10pm is the new midnight!

Message from Robin

A Journey Through Central America

Robin Shorrock will be giving a show on his trip through Central America on Friday 27th January 2023 starting at 7.00pm with hotpot supper in KIRKLAND and CATTERALL MEMORIAL HALL.

The Journey starts in Panama City visiting 3 very different parts of the city and then a sail on the Panama Canal.

Flying onto Costa Rica we first visit a coffee farm, then a quick overnight stay in the capital San Jose, then into the cloud forest to see some wildlife.

Other countries visited are Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.

In Honduras we visit the Mayan site of Copan with its fine stone carvings, and in Guatemala the larger Mayan site of Tikal with its tall temples piercing through the jungle canopy. Other things to look out for are the Bananas crossing the road and the volcano saying goodbye at the end of the trip.

Tickets cost £10 and are available from Robin Shorrock on 01995 602238

Proceeds to St Helen’s Church Churchtown.

I know this show is proving to be very popular and there are limited tickets available so to avoid disappointment please get in touch with Robin ASAP!

A few reminders of up and coming dates

  • En Plein Air competition; if you any prints which you may wish to be displayed in the artist’s exhibition from Tues 10th January, please bring them in on Wednesday January 4th so that I can hand them over to Sheila.
  • Wednesday January 4th: A presentation by Carmen Norman titled ‘Lake District Moods’. This will be available via zoom so if you wish to have a zoom invite, please send an email to Mike or Lewis.
  • Wednesday January 11th: A presentation by Antony Zacharias titled “Long Exposure Photography”. This will be available via zoom so if you wish to have a zoom invite, please send an email to Mike or Lewis.
  • Wednesday January 18th: Judging of our 3rd internal competition – Creatures of the World and arbitrated by Paul King CPAGB. We had the following entries: print Mono – 9; print Colour – 29; DPI Mono – 24; DPI Colour – 46. That gives a grand total number entered of 108! Should be a busy and hopefully an enlightening good evening!
  • Wednesday January 25th: Members evening; details to follow
  • Thursday January 26th: Morecambe ‘Battle’ – 7.30pm, Heysham Library, 396 Heysham Road, Heysham, LA3 2BJ; takes about 30 mins by car. Will be available via zoom, Judge: Alfred Brown CPAGB. Hon L&CPU.

Coffee duty on this coming Wednesday is Ian and Freda – many thanks!

That’s all folks

Mike and Lewis