Morning All

The weather we are having takes be back to a song I can only just remember! honest:
“Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, you’ll wish that summer could always be here.”
Nat King Cole in 1963!! Wow! Next rain on the horizon, according to the BBC weather app, is a week on Thursday, plenty of time to get out and about with that camera and grab that winning photo!
Talking about photos PLEASE don’t forget:
The Opening Night Competition; 3rd September.
The rules are very simple:
Best Projected Digital Image (PDI); Open, i.e. any subject, colour or monochrome.
One only PDI from any member taken in the last 12 months.
~Image sent to me (Mike) by Monday 1st September on info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk
All presented, anonymously, in a PowerPoint presentation.
On the night, each person present will vote, anonymously, on each one; maximum score of 20 points for each image, and a minimum of 12 points.
The winner is the image with the most points!
Brownie points only, though I might have a bottle of wine/chocolates for the winner.
Winner announced the following Wednesday. 10^th September.
Please take part, it’s just for a bit of fun and boasting rights!

 Notices:

Photography Workshops
Whilst we (Freda, Shelly, Robin and me) were out and about in Clitheroe on Tuesday photographing for the Events Cup we visited Knowle Top Studios and on chatting to the 2 owners they told us about a serious of workshops they are doing in September, October and November.
Below, if you are interested, are the details:

Thursday, September 18th, 7pm – 9pm
Beginners’ session – understand aperture, shutter speed and ISO and how they work together. Learn how to change settings on your camera.

Thursday, October 2nd, 7pm – 9pm
All about composition, framing and leading lines.

Thursday, October 16th, 7pm – 9pm
Wildlife photography – how to expose your image in the field, how to prepare and how to find your target species.

Thursday, November 6th 7pm – 9pm
Black and white photography in landscapes, portraits and architecture

£30 per session or £95 for all 4 sessions
 If you are interested, please get in touch via info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk so that we can co-ordinate the response and book accordingly! – Ta!

Paint Garstang ‘Plein Air Competition’ – on Saturday September 6th 2025
In case you are unaware – a brief description below.
On the day artists must sign in at Garstang Art Centre from 9am to confirm their attendance and have their blank canvas (or any medium) stamped before heading off to their chosen location. They will return to the Arts Centre with their masterpiece no later than 4pm.
Judging will take place at 4.30 pm and prizes will be awarded at 5.00pm
If you wish to go around and take photographs of the artists ‘at work’ please do so. From experience, the best time is from say 11am when they are just getting to grips with their ‘subject.’ If you need incentive, Adrian is taking part and I’m sure he will welcome you!
These images could be straightforward or a little quirky, it’s up to you! You don’t have to be there all day, just spare what time you can! It doesn’t really get going, like I said, until about 11ish.
Of course, any image could be entered into the appropriate internal competition next season!

Wednesday 3^rd September – Our opening night of the new season!
We have lots to entertain you! We have talks from: Freda on a badger ‘watch,’ Paul on ‘dog photography – agility courses and fun on the beach,’ Stan on ‘Photographing Mike Patten, Equipment available on loan to members and John Moxham’s garden and John on ‘Printing Your Photographs Using a Colour Lab.’
And, of course, the opening night competition!

Fees: 
Sorry folks but it’s that time of year! The subscriptions this year, just to remind you, are £60. Robin will be on the ‘door’ on Wednesday 3^rd September to begin collection! Or, of course, pay on-line, all details are on the website.

Calendar: 
The Art Centre calendar is now on sale at only £7.50!
Please don’t forget the net money raised goes into the Art Centre’s ‘coffers’ which helps with the running costs and really benefits us, as a club, together with other societies that use the centre.

2025/26 Battles
Stan is, as usual, coordinating our entries – thanks Stan! – and members will vote to select images for the Battles on 24^th September and they will be presented, anonymously, in a PowerPoint presentation.
On the night, each member present will vote, anonymously, on each one; maximum score of 20 points to a minimum score of 12 points.
So, Battles:
All images that scored 19 or 20 during last season’s competitions will automatically be entered for the vote.
However, any member can also enter images to be submitted to the vote.
When submitting images for the Battles please: –
Give the image a title
Do not include your competition number
Do not include the image number
Do not include any images used in previous Battle
Images to be jpeg, in sRGB colour space with a maximum image size of 1600 pixels (wide) x 1200 pixels (high), maximum file size 2 MB (if you cannot send the correct size, send the images to Stan and he will resize)
You can submit a maximum of 4 images
Send to Stan by email to: stanley.pearson@talktalk.net  
The deadline is Wednesday 10^th September 2025.
Include your name in the email
Do not send by WeTransfer
If you have any questions, just email in on: info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 20^th August – Please don’t forget folks, bring your photos, even the not so successful ones, to this next club meeting ‘cos it’s ‘Show-and-Tell’ time!

Wednesday 27^th August – No meeting.

Wednesday 3^rd September – Our opening night of the new season! See above for details.

Wednesday 10^th September – Lee Metcalf, our first speaker of the season! Details to follow next week.

That’s all folks!

Mike

Morning All

Well, 15 of us ventured, (eventually!), to St. Annes on Wednesday evening and I can say with some confidence that we had a good time, some fun, a laugh or two and no rain but unfortunately, again, no sunset, though Robin managed somehow to conjure one up on his Canon R5! Is there nothing that R5 will not do Robin?
Thanks to all who managed to get out and about on these final 3, (of 6), summer outings which will almost certainly be repeated next summer but with different destinations, I hope!
Please don’t forget folks, bring your photos, even the not so successful ones, to the next club meeting on Wednesday 20^th August ‘cos it’s ‘Show-and-Tell’ time!

Notices:

Website
Big thanks here to Tim for his sterling work on the website which is now, we think, up to date including our new ‘Home’ page together with the ‘Chair’s choice’, (well done Lewis) – take a look!

1^st Reminder!
Opening night – September 3rd
I’m putting together some thoughts about our first meeting on 3rd September!
So, will any member who is willing to give a short talk about any photographic subject or maybe a project that they have been doing over the summer or past 12 months to please get in touch with me, as soon as. If you have any questions, just email back or ring on 07340 314 408. Many thanks.

2^nd Reminder!
Events Cup – 5^th and final destination – Downham Village and Clitheroe.
Please don’t forget: the 2 dates possible for photographs are Tuesday 12th August OR Saturday 16th August.

3^rd Reminder! 
The Opening Night Competition; 3rd September.
The rules are very simple:
Best Projected Digital Image (PDI); Open, any subject, colour or monochrome.
One only PDI from any member taken in the last 12 months.
Image sent to me (Mike) by Monday 1st September on info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk
All presented, anonymously, in a PowerPoint presentation. 
On the night, each person present will vote, anonymously, on each one; maximum score of 20 points for each image, and a minimum of 12 points.
The winner is the image with the most points!
Brownie points only, though I might have a bottle of wine/chocolates for the winner.
Winner announced the following Wednesday. 10^th September.
Please take part, it’s just for a bit of fun and boasting rights!

Up and coming programme of events:
Tuesday 12^th August – Events Cup 5^th destination, possible trip to Downham Village and Clitheroe – see above.
Wednesday 13^th August – No meeting (Committee meeting). 
Saturday 16^th August – Events Cup 5th destination, possible trip to Downham Village and Clitheroe – see above.
Wednesday 20^th August – ‘Show-and-Tell’ from the final 3 club outings.
Wednesday 27^th August – No meeting.
Wednesday 3^rd September – Our opening night of the new season! Details to follow! 

That’s all folks!

Mike

Morning All

Brockholes:
Thanks to all for making the journey down the motorway to the Brockholes Nature Reserve. 18 of us assembled there and, despite the cloudy conditions, we had no rain.
Please, don’t forget to show your photos (well the non-blurry ones!), on the ‘Show-and-Tell’ evening on 20^th August – our last meeting before the ‘season’ begins!

Notices:

Summer Outings:
Wednesday 30^th July – Club outing to Morecambe promenade; 17 miles, about 30 mins.
Car sharing? Please chat to each other via our ‘WhatsApp’ – ‘Garstang Camera Club.’ If you are not a member, just email me and I’ll get you registered – cheers.
I suggest we meet at the car park (details below) at 7pm.
Parking: MAP ATTACHED: Opposite Morecambe Sailing Club Race Office – ‘Car Park’ LA4 5HY OR if this is full, Marine Road 6 Morecambe Bay car park (no post code!), just past Morecambe Sailing Club Race Office on the right hand side.
The sun sets at 21.13
Tide times: High tide: 15.46, Low tide: 22.20
Weather: At the time of writing this the BBC weather app says ‘sunny intervals and a gentle breeze’ 19 degrees – 66 degrees in ‘old’ money!
Chances of a glorious sunset – answers on a postcard! I’m very optimistic though!!

Wednesday 6^th August – Club outing to the Brock River. This has been cancelled, sorry! Another outing destination will be in next week’s newsletter.

Events Cup – 5^th and final destination – Downham Village and Clitheroe.
Clitheroe – 20 miles, 44 mins
Downham Village – A further 11 miles, 8 mins
2 maps attached showing the boundary for each destination.
Please don’t forget: the 2 dates possible for photographs are Tuesday 12th August OR Saturday 16th August.
Plenty of info on each destination on the internet.

Calendar 2026:
Finally, I have, listed below, the photographs that have be chosen for the 2026 calendar. Congrats to those selected!

	Name	Image title
Front cover	Ian Taylor	Calm before the storm
January	Lewis Thompson	Early morning winters walk
February	Lewis Thompson	Dolphinholme
March	Robin Shorrock	Crocus & bumblebee
April	Elaine Addison	Cherry Trees at Calder Vale
May	Stan Pearson	Mrs Mallard and brood
June	Mike Jenner	Time to chat
July	Stan Pearson	The Brock River
August	Robin Shorrock	Judging the Charolais
September	Ian Taylor	Shepherd’s warning
October	Lewis Thompson	Abbeystead Reservoir
November	Robin Shorrock	High Street on Remembrance Day
December	Brenda Wait	Royal Oak at Christmas
Back cover	Mike Jenner	Let’s get ahead

The calendars are on sale now for £7.50.

Liverpool
One for your diary and definite consideration! Many thanks to Stan!Stan has put together a club outing to Liverpool when the planned visit will be in September on any Saturday after Saturday 6^th Sept, and when the forecast is for no rain.
There will be, in theory, 3 visits planned, below is the first visit. The other 2 will probably be in November and then in January 2026.
Please bring your mobile and please note, no tripods – not allowed in many indoor areas.
A standard lens 15-50mm (approx.) is good. A wide-angle lens would also be very useful. I have a 10-18mm that anyone can borrow – it will fit Canon DSLR, A-PSC cameras.
If you take a photograph of anyone and they object, offer to either email them the photograph or delete

Itinerary
Visit any Saturday after Saturday 6th Sept when the forecast is for no rain.
Train times:
Depart Preston    9.28  Arrive Liverpool 10.20
Depart Liverpool  16.12  Arrive Preston 16.58
Train times to be confirmed closer to departure date.
Approx durations
St Johns Beacon 5 mins
Liverpool 1 shopping centre + pipes 45 mins
Liverpool 1 underground car park   45 mins
Outside Liverpool 1 + John Lewis   30 mins
Lunch 45 mins
Inside museum of Liverpool  45 mins
Liverpool Docks area 45 mins

Total: 5 hrs approx.

Security guards inside Liverpool 1 shopping and car park may politely object to you taking photographs. So, we need to look inconspicuous. Take a small camera case. I have 3 without the words ‘Canon’ etc written on the bag and strap! Anyone can borrow. When not taking a photograph keep your camera in the bag. Split into 2 groups. Take photographs either by yourself or in pairs. If in pairs it should be preferably one male and one female.
Outside Liverpool 1 + John Lewis. Split into 2 groups
Museum of Liverpool/ Docks area. Split into 2 groups.

Up and coming programme of events:
Wednesday 30^th July – Club outing to Morecambe promenade.
Wednesday 6^th August – Club outing to be announced.
Tuesday 12^th August – Events Cup 5^th destination, possible trip to Downham Village and Clitheroe – see above
Wednesday 13^th August – No meeting (Committee meeting).
Saturday 16^th August – Events Cup 5th destination, possible trip to Downham Village and Clitheroe
Wednesday 20^th August – ‘Show-and-Tell’ from the above 3 club outings.
Wednesday 27^th August – No meeting

Phew!
That’s all folks!

Mike

Morning All
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s 4 week camera course a success!  
We couldn’t have zoomed, panned, or focused without you so, thanks for helping us keep things in frame, in focus, and (mostly) in control!
We even managed without electric power last Wednesday, though cake and water at the end sounded a bit hollow! – better than bread and water though!
For the record, out of the 20 ‘guests’ we started with only one went missing without trace!
If anyone has any reflections, thoughts or suggestions about the course please email in or chat to me, Stan, Elaine or Freda over the next few weeks; any ideas gratefully received.

Notices:
Summer Outings:
Following on from the camera course we have on:

Wednesday 23^rd July – A visit to Brockholes Nature Reserve:
Just off Junction 31 of the M6, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 OAG
Weather forecast: looking a bit ‘iffy’ at the moment, coat maybe required!
Sunset at 21.23.
Car park – open daily 6am to 9pm; The actual Nature Reserve is free but there is a charge of £5 per car.
Car sharing? Please meet at Kirkland Memorial Hall (The Avenue, Churchtown, Preston PR3 0HS) at 6pm.
We then leave at 6.05pm to arrive at Brockholes about 6.30pm – A6 road works etc permitting, of course!
As you can see from the above info the car park shuts at 9pm but that gives us a good 2 hrs 15 mins there.
However, you can park ‘outside’ the reserve – map attached, thanks Stan – and then walk into the reserve, so no possibility of getting shut in, your choice!

Events Cup:
Reminder!
The last Events Cup destination is Downham Village and Clitheroe, 31 miles – 52 minutes. The 2 visits are on Tuesday 12^th August OR Saturday 16^th August.
Details for this destination will be in a future newsletter.

Challenges:
Just another reminder!
Alphabet challenge – On-going throughout the summer/autumn; here we are looking for, in theory, 26 images representing the letters of the alphabet. You may get some from the above club outings!

Very early notice:

The Opening Night Competition; 3rd September.
Best Projected Digital Image (PDI); Open, any subject, colour or monochrome.
One only PDI from any member taken in the last 12 months.
Image sent to me (Mike) by Monday 1st September on info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk
All presented, anonymously, in a PowerPoint presentation.
On the night, each person present will vote, anonymously, on each one; maximum score of 20 points for each image, and a minimum of 12 points.
The winner is the image with the most points!
Brownie points only though I might have a bottle of wine/chocolates for the winner.
Winner announced the following Wednesday. 10^th September.

Up and coming programme of events:
Wednesday 23^rd July – Club outing to Brockholes Nature Reserve.

Wednesday 30^th July – Club outing to Morecambe promenade.

Wednesday 6^th August – Club outing to the Brock River.

Tuesday 12^th August – Events Cup 5^th destination, possible trip to Downham Village and Clitheroe – see above

Wednesday 13^th August – No meeting (Committee meeting). 

Saturday 16^th August – Events Cup 5th destination, possible trip to Downham Village and Clitheroe

Wednesday 20^th August – ‘Show-and-Tell’ from the above 3 club outings.

That’s all folks!

Mike

Morning All

Well, another good turnout for the camera course, week 3 of 4.
A quick count would suggest we had 40 people at the Arts Centre, roughly 50/50 – members to guests. And, I think a good and successful time was had by all!
Big thanks to Stan for his 3^rd (of three) talks, to Edith for her all action heroics down by the river and to Paul, his daughter and to Amber for equally important all-action stunts!
Edith is very keen to view any images! So, Stan asks if anyone has photographs of her PLEASE forward them to him directly to stanley.pearson@talktalk.net cheers.
If you didn’t manage to get to Wednesday’s meeting/Camera Course, you are very welcome and come and help our guests!
For the last week, this Wednesday, we have ‘A Basic introduction to editing software with demonstrations using Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, and an overview of camera equipment.’
We also have 4 maybe 5 models for portrait photography. Also, I think it would be a good idea to experiment with some monochrome photography; just a thought!
Reminder – we start at the earlier time of 7pm!

Notices:
Attached is a poster for the: PAGB Inter-Federation Print Exhibition.
Dates and times are on the attached.

Summer Outings:
Following on from the camera course the next 3 outings are:

Wednesday 23^rd July – Brockholes Nature Reserve

Wednesday 30^th July – Morecambe Promenade

Wednesday 6^th August – Brock River.

For the Brockholes Nature Reserve I’ll put details in next week’s newsletter.

Up and coming programme of events:

Sunday 13^th July – Events Cup 4^th destination, possible trip to RHS Garden Bridgewater.

Wednesday July 16^th – Camera Course, – ‘Your camera, Learn it, Love it’ Our 4^th and final week of 4 that we are running. 

Wednesday 23^rd July – Club outing to Brockholes Nature Reserve.

Wednesday 3oth July – Club outing to Morecambe promenade.

That’s all folks!

Mike

Morning All

A great turnout for the first week of our Camera Course and many thanks to all members who helped out and assisted our ‘guests.’ I thought it went really well and there was a great ‘social’ atmosphere, generated by all who were there so thanks! And, the weather held up!
I had a lot of great feedback when they were leaving and had a phone call from one on Thursday morning giving good feedback!
Well, we had 15 in all, but of course, the ‘proof of the pudding’ will be how many return on Wednesday!
If you didn’t manage to get to Wednesday’s meeting/Camera Course, you are very welcome and come and help our guests!
Reminder – we start at the earlier time of 7pm!

Notices:
Events Cup:
Our 4^th destination is to:
RHS Garden Bridgewater, Monday 7th OR Sunday 13^th July and it’s 40 miles and takes about 55 mins.
Price? RHS members go free, otherwise it is £14.50 per person for the day.
Opening hours? 10am – 6pm, Monday and Sunday.
Going by car? RHS Bridgewater is located off Leigh Road (A572), Worsley, Salford and for Sat Nav users the postcode is M28 2LJ. Car parking is free.
I’m going on Sunday so will have 2 seats available; if you are thinking of going on Monday, I would suggest you chat to other similarly minded members on Wednesday to organise car sharing, just a thought!

Summer Outings:
The first 3 summer outings have now finished and we are proposing 3 more later on in the summer, these dates and destinations are:

Wednesday 23^rd July – Brockholes Nature Reserve

Wednesday 30^th July – Morecambe Promenade

5^th August, a Tuesday – Preston Docks. This outing has been cancelled, for several reasons, but we are thinking of re-scheduling it sometime in December, possibly between Christmas and the New Year! It will help walk off all that turkey and mince pies!

Wednesday 6^th August – Brock River. We’ll park at Barton Grange and Stan will guide the group and show them the best places to take photographs.

For all the above 3 outings I’ll put further details in the newsletters nearer the time.

Smardale Gill Nature Reserve:
In case you missed it, Robin, Shelly and I are going to Smardale Gill Nature Reserve tomorrow (Monday) for the day. We are leaving at 8.30am and will be back mid to late afternoon. It’s free but a donation (£5) is recommended!
If you want to join us, PLEASE contact me ASAP or by tea time today, Sunday!
It’s about 50 miles and will take just over an hour to get there and the weather looks great!
About – from the website:
Smardale Nature Reserve comprises three separate nature reserves that collectively occupy a 8km/5mile section of the disused railway line that once ran from Tebay to Darlington.
Stunning scenery provides a backdrop to this wonderfully varied nature reserve that stretches from Newbiggin-on-Lune almost as far as Kirkby Stephen.
The species-rich grassland attracts a variety of pollinating insects and the industrial archaeology of the railway line adds constant interest.
The steep wooded slopes of Smardale Gill and the enclosed cuttings along the Waitby Link and Waitby Greenriggs contrast with the views of open rolling countryside experienced along the route.

Wildlife highlights
Smardale Gill is one of the only two sites in England that’s home to the Scotch argus butterfly. The tiny northern brown argus can also be seen here
Discover a range of unusual plants: bloody crane’s-bill, rock-rose, horseshoe vetch, frog, fragrant and greater butterfly orchid can all be seen in the grassland
Redstart and pied flycatcher can be seen in summer, whilst green woodpecker, treecreeper, raven and sparrowhawk are resident year round
In spring – bluebells, primrose and early purple orchid.
In summer – orchids, bird’s eye primrose, melancholy thistle, bloody cranesbill and butterflies. In summer, bird species include redstart, wood warbler and pied flycatcher whilst buzzard, treecreeper and sparrowhawk may be seen all year round.
In autumn – find fellwort, devil’s bit scabious, scotch argus butterflies. Later in autumn and through the winter flocks of birds such as goldfinch, field fare and redwing feeding on the berries.
At any time look out for red squirrels and roe deer or explore the archaeology and geology.
In spring you will find bluebells, primroses, wild garlic and many fern species on the woodland floor. Many of the trees are multi stemmed, evidence that coppicing has occurred in the past.
Limestone grassland
The grassland, which has colonised the railway cuttings and embankments, is also very rich in species due to the underlying limestone rock. Unusual plants to look for here include bloody cranesbill, fragrant and butterfly orchid.
Smardale Gill is one of only two sites in England where the Scotch argus butterfly can be seen. Other butterflies include dark green fritillary, common blue, northern brown argus and dingy skipper.

Holiday:
I’m away on a short hols from Thursday, 3^rd July and back Tuesday 8^th July. I’ll keep my eye on the emails but contact Freda if anything requires immediate attention – ta!

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday July 2^nd – Camera Course, – ‘Your camera, Learn it, Love it’ Our 2^nd week of 4 that we are running.

Monday July 7^th – Events Cup 4^th destination, possible trip to RHS Garden Bridgewater.

Wednesday July 9^th – Camera Course, – ‘Your camera, Learn it, Love it’ Our 3^rd week of 4 that we are running.

Sunday 13^th July – Events Cup 4^th destination, possible trip to RHS Garden Bridgewater.

Wednesday July 16^th – Camera Course, – ‘Your camera, Learn it, Love it’ Our 4^th and final week of 4 that we are running. 

Wednesday 23^rd July – Club outing to Brockholes Nature Reserve.

That’s all folks!

Mike