Afternoon All

Sorry but the newsletter is a little later than normal ‘cos I’ve been out and about!

Many thanks to all members that came to the members evening last Wednesday and taking part in the ‘Then and Now’ task and other topics!

I thought it was productive, enlightening and interesting!

A message from Maurice:

The Southport Air Show: unless you want some competitive shots and have to spend the day getting in and out of Southport plus parking fees etc. you can get a good(ish) view from the coast at St. Annes. Depending where the aircraft are housed, we’ve seen them overhead many times. The best one is Blackpool in August….and it’s free!

A message from Stan:

On Sunday 18^th September, Longridge will hold a Soap Box Derby which is a potential photographic opportunity for club members.

https://www.longridgesoapboxderby.co.uk

Additionally, I have agreed with the main sponsor to photograph the event for them and they have asked me to cover specific parts of the Derby. After giving it some thought, it would be better if we had one more photographer. I am therefore looking for a volunteer from our club to team up with me.

There will be a maximum of 30 Soap Box teams. At approximately 3-minute intervals teams will run in each of the following time slots:

10.00 to 11.30

12.30 to 14.00

15.00 to 16.30

The last time slot may be restricted to the 10 fastest Soap Box teams.

The course will consist of a start, jumps, water baths, bone-shakers, chicanes and finish. Our 2-man photographic team will be given special access to the course at certain points but will need to wear Hi Viz jackets, which I will provide, and strictly comply with the rigorous health and safety requirements.

The sponsor would like to ensure that all Soap Box teams are photographed. Hence, during the first run (10.00 to 11.30) I will photograph all Soap Box teams starting and the volunteer would photograph all Soap Box teams finishing.

For the 12.30 to 14.00 and 15.00 to 16.30 runs, the volunteer would be free to choose any part of the event from start to finish to photograph

After the event we would edit our photographs and exchange all images by Friday 23^rd September. I would then filter the combined set to eliminate duplications etc and then send to the sponsor.

Please ask members to email me if they wish to volunteer to join me and be part of the 2-man photographic team.

Please contact Stan directly; Stan’s email: stanley.pearson@talktalk.net

Possible dates for the diary:

July

Potential Photography Opportunities

9th & 10th July, Saturday and Sunday: Southport Air Show.

16th & 17th July, Saturday and Sunday: Great Ecclestone Show;

17^th July, Sunday: Events Cup outing to Holker Hall; details to follow next week.

17^th July, Sunday: The Lancaster Grand Prix (cycling) will return to Williamson Park; Women’s and men’s races over 14.5km in the countryside in the Lancaster district.

Member’s Evening

Wednesday 13^th July: very interesting things being planned – details to follow. You will need to bring your camera.

Wednesday 20^th July: hopefully, following on from the previous week!

That’s all folks

Mike and Lewis

Morning All

A reminder of various dates:

June

June 29^th – Wednesday – members evening, part 2 – following on from the ‘Then and Now’ images taken last week we will be comparing your ‘new’ image to the ‘old’ image.

Please send your ‘new’ images in so that I can have them ready for presentation.

Please, also bring any images that you ‘shot’ on the last members evening (down by the river) to show; these would have been taken on 25^th May; you can edit them ‘live’ if you haven’t already.

July

Potential Photography Opportunities

Fylde Vintage and Farm Show; Sat 2^nd – Sun 3^rd July; the Showfield, Salwick Road, Wharles, Kirkham, Lancs, PR4 3SN

Southport Air Show; 9th & 10th July 2022

Events Cup outing is on Sunday July 17^th to Holker Hall

Great Ecclestone Show; 16th & 17th July 2022

The Lancaster Grand Prix (cycling) will return to Williamson Park; Women’s and men’s races over 14.5km in the countryside in the Lancaster district. Sunday 17^th July

Member’s Evening

Wednesday 13^th July

Wednesday 20^th July

If any members have any further ideas for members evening, PLEASE let us know.

That’s all folks

Mike and Lewis

Morning All

Short and sweet today!

We hope that those who ventured to Lunt Meadows managed to take some interesting images.

Next Events Cup outing is on Sunday July 17^th to Holker Hall – more info nearer the time.

Reminder of June dates:

June 22^nd – Wednesday – members evening. Please bring your cameras ‘cos this week we are going around Garstang. Stan’s idea is ‘Then and Now’.

In a nutshell I’ll be giving out, to each member, an old image of Garstang. The idea is that you find the location and replicate the composition of the image; Latest weather info – sunny and little chance of rain.

You will then need to edit your ‘new’ image and present it on the following week, comparing it to the ‘old’ image.

Please, also bring any images that you ‘shot’ on the last members evening (down by the river) to show; you can edit them ‘live’ if you haven’t already.

June 29^th – Wednesday – members evening, part 2 – see above.

If any members have further ideas for members evening, PLEASE let us know.

That’s all folks

Mike and Lewis

Morning All

The ‘stand’ in Booths is going well with a few prospective members interested; in theory!

Dates to remember:

June 14^th – Tuesday – our third Events Cup destination at Lunt Meadows, details below.

June 22^nd – Wednesday – members evening. Please bring your cameras ‘cos this week we are going around Garstang. Stan’s idea is ‘Then and Now’. In a nutshell I’ll be giving out, to each member, an old image of Garstang. The idea is that you find the location and replicate the composition of the image; if it’s raining, bring a coat! You will then need to edit your ‘new’ image and present it on the following week, comparing it to the ‘old’ image.

Please, also bring any images that you ‘shot’ on the last members evening (down by the river) to show; you can edit them ‘live’ if you haven’t already.

June 29^th – Wednesday – members evening, part 2 – see above.

If nay members have further ideas for members evening, PLEASE let us know.

Events Cup

Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve,
Lunt Road
Lunt Village

Near Maghull

Merseyside

L29 8YA

Journey: Via M6 and M58 56 min (44.9 miles)

Size

77 hectares

Parking information

Free car park. Donations welcome. Opening hours are 9:30am – 5:00pm. Vehicles left in the car park outside of opening hours will be locked in.

Walking trails

A number of paths run around the reserve. These are unsurfaced and can be rough underfoot, with a number of narrow kissing gates, so aren’t suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters. They are in the process of upgrading the access network so that wheelchair-users and those with limited ability can enjoy the site

Access

Visitors can access the site outside car park opening hours but will need to park in the layby opposite the entrance gate and walk onto the site from there. If the gate is locked visitors are requested not to park in surrounding lanes to access the reserve. Please do not park in front of the gate as 24-hour access is required for emergency and other large vehicles.

Lots more information on Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve website.

Lewis and I are both on holiday so obviously won’t be there. If any members wish to car share or meet up at lunchtime, please arrange between yourselves. Have a nice time!

That’s all folks

Mike and Lewis

Morning All

I hope you are all enjoying the ‘Platinum Jubilee’ and various events and the associated weather! In fairness it has kept relatively dry and warmish though not sure about today!

Potential Photography Opportunities

Carrying on from last week’s newsletter, more possible events have been identified including:

The 2022 Lancaster Grand Prix

The Lancaster Grand Prix will return to Williamson Park on Sunday 17th July.

This year we have added a women’s race which will be run in the morning with the men’s event following in the afternoon.

Both races will start and finish at Williamson Park and take place over a 14.5km circuit through the beautiful countryside of the Lancaster district.

The women’s event will start at 9am and take place over six laps, with the men’s event taking place over 10 laps starting at 2pm.

I took some images from this race last year with varying degrees of success – most deleted! They do move fast!

The ‘profile’ of this race has been raised considerably from last year and I believe it will be ‘live’ on Youtube. The organisers are hopeful Sky will cover next year.

From Greg: Thanks!

Appleby Horse Fair starts Thursday 9 June 2022

RAF Cosford Air show Sunday 12th June 2022 near Stafford
Although slightly outside our local area I thought this show worth a mention for several reasons:
1. It’s the only RAF Air show left in the UK + Jubilee event.
2. Apart from the flying display this & Hendon form the official RAF museum sites with rare exhibits like TSR2, V bombers etc – much bigger site (custom designed) than you might think and well worth a day out any time of year.
3 The show also has very strong ground exhibits, including their Vintage Village manned by “in costume” personnel, period vehicles, jeeps, trucks etc Good atmosphere.

Blackpool Dog Show Inskip Friday, Saturday and Sunday 24th, 25th & 26th June 2022

Fylde Vintage and Farm Show – Sat 2^nd – Sun 3^rd July; the Showfield, Salwick Road, Wharles, Kirkham, Lancs, PR4 3SN

Southport Air Show, 9th & 10th July 2022

Great Ecclestone Show 16th & 17th July 2022

Blackpool Air show 2022 Dates: 13th & 14th August 2022

So, if you see anything interesting, please email in!

That’s all folks

Mike and Lewis

Good Afternoon

A warm and sunny day, at last; too nice to be inside!

First of all: Just in case you no longer wish to receive the newsletters please just email to (info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk) and let us know – sorry no unsubscribe!

Many thanks to all members who managed to attend the recent software and editing session on Wednesday 25^th May. Judged, we thought, to be a success.

These ‘get-togethers’ will now be called Members Evenings. As discussed, Lewis and I would like the members to come up with an itinerary/agenda for these ‘evenings’; many thanks to those members who have already emailed in with their thoughts and suggestions! These will mainly be around skills and techniques and, where possible, going out with cameras! If you couldn’t make the last evening but would like to contribute some ideas, please email in using info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk.

Further members evenings have been ‘pencilled’ in for:
June 22^nd and June 29^th

July 13^th and July 20^th

August 10^th and August 17^th

Arts Centre at 7.30pm

One of the ideas discussed last Wednesday was a way of notifying members of any events they may wish to attend for photographic reasons! So, if you have any suggestions email them in and I’ll include them in the newsletter. Tim will also open a new page on our website and add them periodically to the website – probably monthly. This new page will have a link from the Information page. This will then ‘build-up’ a historical list of events throughout the year, so we could re-visit in 2023.

So, from Maurice: This Sunday, 29^th May, Preston Caribbean Carnival, from 12 noon. The route will begin at Moor Park, down Deepdale Road, towards the city centre, left into Meadow Street, St Paul’s Road, Sedgewick Street, and return to the park via North Road and the Garstang Road entrance. And it’s free!

From Greg:

Cartmel Races – https://cartmel-racecourse.co.uk/whats-on/

Stock car Club – http://www.wartonscc.co.uk/

Steam Fair – https://www.steamheritage.co.uk/steam-rallies-and-events/region/north-west

World Fireworks Championship Blackpool – https://www.visitblackpool.com/things-to-do/events/world-fireworks-championship-blackpool/

Gresgarth Hall: Garden created by Lady Arabella Lennox-Boyd and winner of Historic Houses Garden of the Year: Judges’ Choice Award 2020.

Caton, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA2 9NB

Open February to November on the second Sunday of the month. it’s a great place for various aspects of photography from landscapes to macro with seasonal interest throughout the year.

Greg says: it’s worth making the point that what we’re after are events with “photo opportunities” they’ve spotted as distinct from events we might be going to – if you catch my meaning. For example, the steam events I spotted were on roadside bill boards. I might not go but another member might be interested.

So…. “Keep your eyes open for events that might be of interest to the membership.”

Thanks Greg!

Attached to this newsletter are 3 items:

• A reminder of the new competition rules
• The new ‘season’ programme for 2022/23
• The Competition Table for 2022/23

All these 3 are also on our website – many thanks here to Tim. Check out the new ‘screen image’, the Chairmen’s choice of Stan’s image.

New competition rules: these apply to rule 3 and rule 4 as discussed at the AGM. They are, we think, self-explanatory but if in doubt just be in touch.

The new ‘season’ programme: as you will see this is from September 7^th through to May 17^th 2023. Amongst these dates there are many interesting presentations/talks, the judging of competitions, ‘Battles’ (new one from New Zealand – we are now international!) and 8 members evenings and 3 workshops. Many thanks again to John for putting this together. Just to remind everyone John has retires from the committee so we are still looking for a Programme Secretary – training and lots of help will be given so don’t be shy to apply!  

The Competition Table: again, we think self-explanatory, but email if you have any questions. Please note: Last dates for entry. If you are thinking of entering any prints and you are considering using Garstang Fine Arts for mounting them, please be aware that Sharon (from Fine Arts) needs 2 weeks’ notice. So, for example, if you are entering a print for The Environment Cup, last date for entry is 9th November, so the print will need to be with Sharon by Wednesday 26^th October. (I’m sure if you are a couple of days late, she will make every effort to complete the task).

However please note! EVENTS CUP. The last destination is Blackpool Zoo on September 25^th. PRINTS from Blackpool Zoo; Unless you print your own image(s) and mount them yourself, it will be too late to take them to Sharon for the ‘last entry’ of 28^th September.

Mounting cost: I’ve been to chat with Sharon about the price. As with everything, all prices have increased! Prices for a 40 x 50 mount will be £6.50 and a mount for a 40 x 40 will be £5.85; these prices reflect a 11% rise (just for the club). so, not too bad, considering! Anyway, it’s the best I could do!

Message from John:

I made contact with Pat Hansell last week as it was Bill’s anniversary.

She has asked me to dispose of a few more items of kit.

There is a Nisi Filter box containing a 10 stop ND filter and frame.

An LED light that can be attached to a camera by the hot shoe and another Portable Multifunctional LED Light.

If anyone is interested, please contact me by email. Thanks. john@johnmoxham.co.uk

Well, that’s all folks and don’t forget email in with any ideas.

Cheers

Mike and Lewis

Morning All

Lewis and I thought Wednesday’s presentation evening went really well; great company, cracking food (no washing up!), and a very smooth presentation of the certificates, trophies and plate.

A big thanks to all who made the evening ‘happen’ and to all members who managed to participate – 30 in all.

Sue sent a thankyou note to the mayor (on behalf of the club) and we got a lovely reply:

‘Thank you so much for a great evening with the Camera Club. You all made me feel so welcome. Would you please pass my thanks on to Mike and Lewis.

It was a pleasure being involved and I feel as if I know Stan and John so well having given them so many awards. It was also great to see Barry and Marlene looking so well. As I mentioned I have known them both for it must be getting on for 30 years.

It’s evenings like yours that become highlights of the mayor’s year.’

Brock Bottom, Thursday, was a lovely day; I hope you all got the images you deserved! I managed a couple, though not sure they are winners!

Wednesday 25^th May: software editing, photography chit chat and bring your camera. We’ll also organise some dates throughout the summer for further sessions.

Just a reminder we are still looking for a ‘Programme secretary’ and a first-reserve competition secretary. Training, as they say, will be given!

If you are interested or want a chat about these roles, just email in or ring and chat to Lewis or I, it’s no problem, honest!

It just remains for Lewis and I to say many thanks to you all for supporting the club throughout the year, enjoy the ‘closed season’ and we are already looking forward to the first Wednesday in September – the 7^th.

That’s all folks

Mike and Lewis