Morning All

Many thanks to all the members who sent in their macro images for last week’s members evening – we had 78 in all, very impressive; quantity and quality!

An update on Chris (Helm) from his wife, Dorothy; yesterday Chris was disconnected from the monitors. His heart is now stable and he will be prepared for discharge. That means that he will be worked on by the physios and the occupational therapists. I’m expecting that he will be moved from the side ward into a bay, shortly.

A few reminders

• October 19^th – Events Cup Competition, judged by Daryl Giles, CPAGB, ‘live’ in the Arts Centre. There are roughly 20 prints and 50 DPIs to be judged. Good luck to all.

If you are unable to attend, please email in to Mike or Lewis and we will send you a zoom invite. Unfortunalty, the zoom will only ‘stretch’ to showing the DPIs in the second half of the evening; prints don’t ‘zoom’ well!

On coffee duty is Stan and Mike. We are currently 1 short for coffee duty on Wednesday 26^th October and Wednesday 2^nd November. Please volunteer; see Freda this Wednesday – thanks.

• October 26^th – members evening which will include, amongst other things, a presentation by Stan on the 15 images, chosen by him and his team, for the 5-Way Battle.
• Camera club Christmas get-together is on Wednesday December 14^th at £12 per person; open to all members and their partners and/or friends, and will include quizzes, with prizes, and an Irish raffle (no, I don’t know either), amongst other things!

Places are selling so please email to reserve a spot or speak to Freda, Mike or Lewis at the club meetings.

Finally, a message from Sarah – Iain, from the BMX outing, and the club sent a big thank you to all for the pics.  He has said to just let him know when we want to go on a Tuesday evening for the floodlit session.  

If anyone wants to go on an evening floodlit session, I am happy to set up and then pass Iain’s’ details onto them if much communication is needed.

Short and sweet today so…

That’s all folks and see you Wednesday.

Mike and Lewis

Morning All

Great Saturday morning at Preston Pirates BMX track; we were given a warm welcome, yellow bibs and directions where to stand. Thanks, Sarah, for organising; I took far too many images, guess what I’ll be doing the rest of today!

Thanks also to Jane Lazenby for her talk, last Wednesday, on ‘Working with Textures’. Information: on her Youtube channel, amongst other things, she has 3 lessons on Textures; Lockdown Textures 1,2 and 3, and she does start from basics, so if you are interested…………

Message from Paul at Oaklands, Garstang: He is looking for an official volunteer to be able to drive the small wheelchair access van so that Sarah can attend our camera club meetings. They would need to undertake a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and, in order not to cause an issue with insurance, be under 70. If you can please contact Paul on Paul.Ferguson@valorumcare.co.uk

A few reminders

• Camera club Christmas get-together is on Wednesday December 14^th at £12 per person. Betty is providing a Hot Pot supper, (glutton free) with a vegetarian option and a choice of deserts (pavlova, coffee renoir, fruit salad); includes serving and washing-up.
• Bearded Tit guided walk on at Leighton Moss on Monday 17th October, 9-11am. Please contact Sarah if you want further details – sarah-keast@hotmail.com
• ‘Photographic social-outings’ – Blackpool World Firework Championship.
• Saturday 15 October – Celtic Fireworks from Wales
• Thursday 27 October – Fireworks Factory from Finland
• Friday 28 October – Celebratory display with Titanium Fireworks

As mentioned last week the approach to the fireworks is going to be ‘last-minute’ ‘cos we will obviously want the weather on our side; watch this space!

• This Wednesday, 12^th October, is the workshop on Macro photography. Many thanks to all those members who have sent in their ‘close-up/macro’ images, what a great response so far – but always need more so if you haven’t sent any in, please do so.
• October 19^th – Events Cup Competition, judged by Daryl Giles, CPAGB, ‘live’ in the Arts Centre.
• October 26^th – members evening which will include a presentation by Stan on the 15 images, chosen by him and his team, for the 5-Way Battle.
• Early warning! Environment Cup – Landscapes, architecture, dereliction, sculptures, street art, environmental issues and transport. People and animals must show scale or add to; not focal point. Last date for entry is Wednesday 9^th November, that’s 4 weeks next Wednesday.  

That’s all folks

Mike and Lewis

Morning All

Many thanks to Paul who delivered an excellent presentation last Wednesday titled ‘A poor man’s macro’. Thanks, Paul, for all your time, trouble and effort, it was really appreciated by us all!

Also, many thanks to Freda, Robin and Rhona who over-saw Saturday’s successful coffee morning and thanks to all members who popped in to say hello and/or who provide some very edible cakes!

Well, it’s beginning to feel a lot like – sorry! Christmas has arrived, in part, to all local supermarkets so I thought it was a timely reminder to mention the camera club’s date!

So, please put in your diaries the date Wednesday December 14^th. We have organised the caterers, Betty, (who served us an excellent meal last May, for the presentation evening) to provide a Hot Pot supper, (glutton free) with a vegetarian option and a choice of deserts (pavlova, coffee renoir, fruit salad) all for the princely sum of just £12pp – this includes serving and more importantly, washing up!

The evening will be open to all members and their partners and will include quizzes, with prizes, and a raffle amongst other things!

To reserve your place(s) please pay Freda. Many thanks.

A few reminders:

• Please don’t forget the ‘Whole-Year Project’; Photograph something every week/month.
• Last call for the BMX photographing session next Saturday, 8^th Sarah needs a list of names and address of all those who wish to go.

We will meet at the car park (Preston Pirates BMX club Fishwick Recreation Ground London Road, Preston, PR2 5AN) at 10am or at 11am; either session or both! Interested? Please email her – sarah-keast@hotmail.com

• There is a Bearded Tit guided walk on at Leighton Moss on Monday 17th October, 9-11am. Cost is £10.50 for RSPB members and £13 for non-members.  Full access to reserve [which is normally £9 for non-members] for the rest of the day afterwards. The link for the event is – https://events.rspb.org.uk/browse?filter%5bschedule%5d=1409

You will need to book yourselves on the Leighton Moss one as Sarah can’t block book. If you book, PLEASE email Sarah so that she knows how many members are going.

Both of these ‘events’ are for anyone, just bring your camera and practice but more importantly have some fun and enjoy being out and about with the camera!

• Sharon (Garstang Fine Arts) is away on hols from Monday 17th October and re-opens Saturday 29th October; This will affect prints that need mounting for the Environment Cup. Deadline to Sharon was 26th October but is now 29th October.
• From Michael – https://www.lightroomsummit.com/ Introducing the Lightroom Summit 2022. It’s free, 48 classes over 5 days; OCTOBER 3 – 7, 2022
• The Wednesday afternoon art group are having a day trip to Port Sunlight on Wednesday 19th Oct and have a few spaces available on the bus. They wondered if anyone from the camera club would be interested in going as well. Cost for the bus would be £25 (or a bit less if the bus is filled.)
  If anyone is interested, they can book a seat by ringing Holly this week on 07368 874212.
• More ‘Photographic social-outings’ from Sarah. Blackpool World Firework Championship: will take place once again over the beach in front of The Blackpool Tower. All of them are free to access!

Saturday 1 October – Caribe Fire FX from Barbados.

Saturday 15 October – Celtic Fireworks from Wales

Thursday 27 October – Fireworks Factory from Finland

Friday 28 October – Celebratory display with Titanium Fireworks

All displays are subject to suitable weather conditions. The event will build-up from 7.30pm with an approximate firing time of 8.30pm for each display.

• The approach to the fireworks is going to be ‘last-minute’ ‘cos we will obviously want the weather on our side. Now, it doesn’t have to be calm and clear and warm, but we don’t want gale force winds and heavy rain! So, watch this space for updates.

Macro Challenge.

Following on from Paul’s excellent macro presentation we would like to mention the macro definitions we discussed.

• Close-up photography is a blanket term for close-ups, macro, and micro photography.
• Close-up means you’re just shooting at a short distance from the subject. You can use virtually any lens to achieve close-up photos.
• Macro means you’re taking super close-ups of objects at least 1:1. So the size of the image on your sensor is equal to the size of the item you’re photographing in real life.
• Micro means the magnification is at a microscopic level. Basically, it deals with subjects you can’t see with your naked eye.

So, ready for the next workshop – 12^th October:

• Members to have a go at ‘close-up-photography’; whatever definition you choose!
• Up to 6 images each; preferably ‘new’ images but ones taken during the last few months will be fine – just have a go! You won’t need to stand up at the front to talk through them!
• Deadline – 12^th October for the workshop meeting
• Good preparation for the presentation of macro photography by Justin Garner on Wednesday November 9^th
• Bring them in on a USB stick or email them in or send by Wetransfer

Finally!

Last but certainly not least – Wednesday’s presentation.

We welcome, via Zoom, Jane Lazenby with a talk titled ‘Working with Textures’

The presentation will be zoomed into the Arts Centre for the meeting. However, if you are unable to attend, please email in to Mike or Lewis and we will send you a zoom invite.

That’s all folks and see you on Wednesday

Mike and Lewis

Afternoon All

Great presentation on Wednesday by Alan; marvellous images in ‘Bulgaria and Beyond’. In fact, we ‘visited’ The Kruger National Park, Cairngorms, Skomer, Hampshire, Mull and Saltee (Eire) to name but a few – and those pelicans!

The camera clubs’ exhibition at the Arts Centre is now on. Big thanks here to Maurice for doing the sorting and organising. And of course, to Freda, Sue and Adrian for helping out – it is very much appreciated.

The exhibition is for all the print winners, (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd plus highly commended and commended for the 2021/22 season).

A few gentle reminders!

• September 25^th Sunday: Events Cup – last one – destination Blackpool Zoo, open from 10am; Post code: FY3 8PP: take the M55 to junction 4, then follow the ‘Brown Elephant’ signs to the zoo. 
• Mike is going and he’ll park at Kirkland Memorial Hall at 9.15am Sunday morning and leave at 9.30am. If anyone wishes to car share or have a lift, be there! This is on a first come first served basis – I have 2 places available. Email me first to check availablity.
• September 28^th: Wednesday. The 5-Way Battle; deadline for images to Stan, max 6 images per member for consideration. Pleas email Stan on stanley.pearson@talktalk.net
• September 28^th Events Cup deadline for entry; prints and DPI’s; submit a max 9 entries and with no more than three entries allowed in any one section. Please visit our website, click on Information and then competition rules to make sure you follow them – especially rules 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
• September 28^th Members evening; Images to show from 2 international competitions; Paul giving a talk titled “A Poor man’s Macro”; Demo on Topaz Photo AI; send in any images you may want to have edited.
• October 1st Saturday Coffee Morning, at the Arts Centre; volunteers needed to help and cakes or anything edible we can sell to raise some funds! Please email Lewis or Mike.
• Please don’t forget the ‘Whole-Year Project’; Photograph something every week/month.

2 messages from Sarah: her email address: sarah-keast@hotmail.com

Photographic ‘social-outings’.

1. Confirmed Preston BMX training session.  (https://www.prestonpiratesbmxclub.com/) for Saturday October 8^th – Sarah needs a list of names and address of all those who wish to go.

We will meet at the car park (Preston Pirates BMX club Fishwick Recreation Ground London Road, Preston, PR2 5AN) at 10am or at 11am; either session or both! Interested? Please email her – address above.

2. There is a Bearded Tit guided walk on at Leighton Moss on Monday 17^thOctober, 9-11am.  Cost is £10.50 for RSPB members and £13 for non-members.  Full access to reserve [which is normally £9 for non-members] for the rest of the day afterwards. The link for the event is – https://events.rspb.org.uk/browse?filter%5bschedule%5d=1409

You will need to book yourselves on the Leighton Moss one as Sarah can’t block book. If you book, PLEASE email Sarah so that she knows how many members are going.

Both of these ‘events’ are for anyone, just bring your camera and practice but more importantly have some fun and enjoy being out and about with the camera!

Members evenings

Does anyone want to give a talk (short or long) on any of the following or on a topic of their own choice:

• Light painting
• Gadgets: Show ‘n Tell
• In Camera Motion
• Depth of Field and Focus Stacking
• Long Exposure [and filters]
• Time Lapse
• Stop Motion
• Photographing fireworks

The members evenings are there for all to look and learn!

Well, that’s all folks

Mike and Lewis

Morning all

Early this week!

We were very impressed with our speaker this week, Adrian Almond; excellent images of not only a good range of subjects but some detailed info on camera settings. Thanks, John, for your choice!

Congratulations!

To Sarah (Kinghorn): Sarah has been successful in The Disabled Photographers’ Society annual competition.

She came second in the Nature Projected and she travelled to Wakefield to collect her award. Well done from all the club.

To Lewis, Stan and Mike: For 4 images, in total, being chosen for the ‘Lancashire Mind’ 2023 calendar.

Exhibition

We are having an exhibition at the Arts Centre from Saturday 24^th September for a month.

Big thanks here to Maurice for doing the sorting and organising. The exhibition is for all the print winners (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd plus highly commended and commended for the 2021/22 season).

We could do with 2 volunteers please to help hang the prints; Saturday 24^th 10am for about an hour – coffee/tea and cake – what more do you want! Please email in to Mike and/or Lewis.

Reminders

• The 5-Way Battle, scheduled for 10^th November (Thursday) – 15 PDI’s. Deadline for images to Stan is 28^th September, max 6 images per member to be considered for selection.stanley.pearson@talktalk.net 
• The maximum image size for the 5 Way Battle is 1600 x 1200. If any members have difficulty with correctly sizing their image, they can send them to Stan and he will resize.
• Whole-Year Project; Photograph something every week/month. Possible ideas: plants, trees, view, lake, pond, child. Show next September, but 12 max images per member.
• Events Cup – Last one; September 25^th Sunday – destination Blackpool Zoo. Details at the end of the newsletter.
• Photographic ‘social-outings’. In our last newsletter we outlined ‘Out and about’ and ‘In-House’ activities put forward by Sarah. It would be greatly appreciated if members could either email in or speak to Sarah next week indicating what they may be interested in – it’s so Sarah can put together, in October, some events that we can join in.
• Sarah has also proposed the following: Preston BMX to go on a Saturday to photograph the training sessions. Many thanks to Paul, Ian and Freda who stepped in to help Sarah.
• Events Cup: deadline for entry to this internal competition is Wednesday 28^th September

Next speaker

• Wednesday 21^st September ‘live’ in the Arts Centre presentation by Alan and Julie titled ‘Bulgaria and Beyond. Below is a quote from their website:

Discovering Nature Photography……..Bulgaria and Beyond’

Our latest adventure to find Nature images that break some of the rules and push the boundaries of Fine Art Photography with the emphasis on finding stunning competition images. We travel this time to Bulgaria and then nearer to home in the UK to the Cairngorms, Skomer, Hampshire, Mull and…. Saltee in Eire, concluding in the Kruger National Park in South Africa.

• Wednesday 28^th September: Members evening

Blackpool Zoo

• Open from 10am
• Under 60 – £19.99 – cheapest buying on-line
• Over 60’s – £17.99 – cheapest buying on-line
• Map: on-line
• Post code: FY3 8PP: take the M55 to junction 4, then follow the ‘brown elephant’ signs to the zoo. 
• We can discuss possible car sharing on Wednesday evening
• Any questions email us.

That’s all folks

Mike and Lewis

Morning All

It was Harold Wilson who said ‘A week is a long time in Politics’ and Harold Macmillan was once asked what the most troubling problem of his Prime Ministership was. ‘Events, my dear boy, events,’ was his reply.

Both of these quotes came to mind this week; how much has changed since our last newsletter; a new government, the death of Queen Elisabeth 11 and our new King, King Charles 111. 

Personally, British traditions and pageantry at their best, now and for the following week.

It was great to see so many members last Wednesday and we hope you all enjoyed the show!

Welcome also to 3 new members; Elaine, Dave and Jed.

Various announcements:

September 14^th Wednesday – The speaker is Adrian Almond, ‘live’ in the Arts Centre; Title: A photographer in Transition.

Events Cup – Last one

September 25^th Sunday – destination Blackpool Zoo

‘Battles’

Stan is coordinating, this year, the 3 ‘Battles’ for 2022/23

First, is the 5-Way Battle, scheduled for 10^th November (Thursday) – 15 ‘open’ PDI’s.  Deadline for images to Stan is 28^th September, max 6 images per member.

Second, is the new Battle with Morecambe Camera Club scheduled for Thursday 26^th January, 30 ‘open’ PDI’s (colour or mono). Deadline for images to be decided, although images already sent for the 5-way Battle will count.

Third, is the new Battle with The Rangiora Photographic Society from New Zealand scheduled for February 8^th (Wednesday) – 30 ‘open’ PDI’s (colour or mono).

Stan’s email: stanley.pearson@talktalk.net

Competitions

Members who are considering entering any of the 5 internal competitions please familiarise yourselves with the ‘new’ rule 3 as agreed at the AGM.

Also, if you are using Fine Arts in Garstang to mount your images please be aware of the deadlines for your images – all available on our website – if unsure please contact Lewis or Mike.

Events Cup

Images taken on club ‘outings’; the 7 eligible destinations are: Skippool Creek, Brock Bottoms, Lunt Meadows, Holker Hall, The 3 Sisters Race Circuit, Photograph the Painters and Blackpool Zoo.

Deadline is for entry is Wednesday 28^th September

Whole-Year Project – thanks to Rhona

This is a new project for the club – well, as far as we know. It is not a competition but an idea put forward by Rhona.

The idea is to

• Photograph something every week/month.
• Possible ideas could be: plants, trees, view, lake, pond, child.
• Show next September (2023), but 12 max images per member

Our initial thoughts; keep in local(ish) and think of something that changes over the month/season/year.

It would be really fantastic if members took part and we have a diverse and varied ‘showing’ next September. Any questions? Email or speak to Mike or Lewis. Get those thinking caps on!

Photographic ‘social-outings’.

Sarah has very kindly offered to ‘head-up’ this newish undertaking. The whole idea is to organise various outings over the season where members can meet up at different locations (organised by Sarah) to socialise, and chat about all thing’s photography – this may include cameras, lenses, filters, getting things in focus, HDR etc! It is not a competition much more of a get-together.

Possible locations for GCC Social Events:

Out and About

Blackpool Fireworks: Oct 1, 15, 28

Some pre-event coaching/advice on settings

Leighton Moss Bearded Tits Oct/Nov tba, probably Monday or Wednesday with a short talk from a speaker about the birds, habitat, lifecycle etc.

Lancaster Castle/Priory

Tours £8 – exhibits?

Helmshore Mill Museum, Rossendale – Fri, Sat, Sun £4

Mary’s Shell and/or the Fleetwood wrecks

Winter Fare/Markets Wyresdale Hall Late Nov/early Dec

Canal walk

Deer Rut I am investigating Tatton Park, Dunham Massey, Lyme Park and Levens Hall. Guided walks are available or use public rights of way.

Liverpool Sailing Club

Hovercraft. Other activities in area; bird reserve, airport, sailing/water access

New member Alan Yates has offered to help with contacts for this.

Agriculture Shows

Car/vintage vehicle Rallies

Craft/Christmas Fayres

Sports Events : Horses, cycling, rugby, BMX, etc.

In House – any member willing to present?

Macro

Lighting

Gadgets: Show ‘n Tell

In Camera Motion

Depth of Field and Focus Stacking

Long Exposure [and filters]

Time Lapse

Stop Motion

However!

Sarah would like volunteers to help her with the above; this is very important and it would really help Sarah.

If you can help, in any way, please contact Sarah on: sarah-keast@hotmail.com

Message from Sheila Tearle who organised the plein air event last Saturday

Hello Mike, Lewis and members of the camera club.

Just want to say a big ‘thank you’ for taking part in the plein air event

last Saturday and for adding to the buzz and feel-good factor in the town.

It was a wonderful day with both artists and visitors commenting how friendly people were; for many it was their first visit to Garstang.

I have invited the artists to submit their ‘plein air’ paintings to our Open Competition/Exhibition in January when the wider public will be able to see the completed works of art which will be for sale.

I understand you will also be having an exhibition of photographs and if you let me know when that will be I will let the artists know – I’m

sure, they will be interested to see images – perhaps of themselves – on the day.

Many thanks again.

With Best Wishes

Sheila

Any members who took photographs last Saturday and, if they are printing them, perhaps we could offer them to Sheila to add to the exhibition in January. Any thoughts please contact Mike or Lewis.

That’s all folks, see you all on Wednesday for our first ‘live’ presentation!

Mike and Lewis

PS A gentle reminder that fees are due – sorry!

Morning All

Paint Garstang was a great success yesterday, well done to the Arts Centre for the idea. I think there were 26 painters dotted around Garstang and the immediate area – I know, I manage 16000 steps trying to find and photograph them and, the rain kept off! Images? Well one or two I’m pleased with but it’s something I’ve never done before but will be ready next year.

If you managed to get around yesterday, please send in a sample of your images either via email or by Wetransfer; I would like to show them on Wednesday. Many thanks to those who have already done so.

Don’t forget, any image taken at yesterday’s ‘Photographing the Painters’ can be entered into the Events Cup.

We had a good day at Oaklands Summer Fete last Bank Holiday Monday; Many thanks to Freda and Maurice for their time and efforts, and the rain kept off as well. Potential members? We had 3 almost definite and 2 very possible! Of course, the proof of the pudding……! which takes me onto:

Sept 7^th Wednesday

Our first club meeting of the ‘season’. We will be welcoming you all back to the regular club get-togethers and, hopefully, welcoming some new members.

Programme for the evening:

Introduction, announcements and notices; Images from ‘Photograph the Painters’, a talk by Sarah – ‘My Journey into Photography’; a talk by Stan – ‘Back-to-basics’ How a digital camera works: Break for tea/coffee including cakes! – show and tell – Olympus camera by Lewis, show and tell – Canon camera by Mike, small presentation of Trophies to members not present at the Presentation Evening and a showing of a collection of last season’s images, chosen by Lewis, not including winners!

A reminder of further September dates:

Sept 10^th Sat and Sept 11^th Sun – Lancashire Game and Country Festival at Woodacre Farm – PR3 1BN.

September 14^th Wednesday – The speaker is Adrian Almond, ‘live’ in the Arts Centre; Title: A photographer in Transition.

September 21^st Wednesday – The speakers are Alan and Julie Walker ‘live’ in the Arts Centre; Title: Bulgaria and Beyond.

September 25^th Saturday – Events Cup destination – Last one: Blackpool Zoo; details to follow shortly.

September 28^th Wednesday – members evening.

Finally – it’s that time of year folks! Subscriptions (sorry) are due; just to remind you the fees for this year are £52 which includes the £25 paid to the Arts Centre.

You can pay by bank transfer BACS (details on the website – under ‘Information’ and then click on ‘Membership form’ and the account number and sort code are there) or by cash or by cheque payable to Garstang Camera Club.

A reminder – you will also be members of L&CPU and PAGB. (Regional and National Camera Club Federations because membership fees are included in your subscription to Garstang Camera Club).

Don’t forget that you can “opt out” from receiving the Garstang Camera Club newsletter. If you wish to “opt out” please inform the Club Chairmen or Club Secretary via email.

Attached is a further announcement from The Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union.

That’s all folks and we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday!

Mike and Lewis