Morning All

Humanity Cup Competition:
Many thanks to all members who managed to submit images for the above competition. I thought Daryl was a tough judge but fair which is all we can hope for! However, great commentary and positive feedback about each image which was good and I think it all proved very successful.
HUGE congratulations to Dom for his portrait image ‘Waterboy’ which Daryl named as ‘best image of the evening.’ Well done, Dom!

Notices:

L&CPU Results: Annual Club PDI Competition 2026
I’ve attached is a list of scores for the submitted images – thanks to Lewis.

Out of 39 clubs:
OPEN Section: – points awarded below: included are our Battle competitors!
1^st Southport 206 points
5 Lytham St Annes 186
9 Poulton Le Fylde 181
14 North Fylde 178
16 Lancaster 175
29 Morecambe 163
37 Garstang 152

NATURE Section:
1^st  Chorley 109
2 Poulton Le Fylde 105
10 Lytham St Annes 94
13 North Fylde 92
20 Morecambe 89
24 Lancaster 86
34 Garstang 80

OVERALL:
1^st CHORLEY 308
4 Poulton Le Fylde 286
6 Lytham St Annes 280 
14 North Fylde 270
20 Lancaster 261
27 Morecambe 252
35 Garstang 232

It’s the taking part that counts!

Message from Frank:
WW2 THEMED PHOTOSHOOT  2026
Location: Hangar 42 Spitfire Visitor Centre, Squires Gate, Blackpool FY4 2QY
Date: Friday May 29th
Morning and Afternoon sessions: 9 to 12 noon and 1 to 4pm,
£90 per session
Mike P., Paul S. and myself (Frank) are doing the above photoshoot mentioned last night.
There are 20 places and ‘four set ups’ so photographers are split into groups of five.
I thought it would be good if we could get a group of 5 GCC members together for the shoot.
Here’s the link if you’re interested. https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/spitfire-visitor-centre-blackpool-airport/ww2-themed-photoshoot-with-spitfire-aircraft-military-vehicles/e-xpegpb
If you wish to join Frank, Mike and Paul email me on info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk or ring me on 07340 314408 and I’ll organise accordingly!

Anything Goes Cup Competition: Any image on any theme.
This is our 5^th and final internal competition of the season.
Last date for entry: 18^th March – that’s this coming Wednesday!
Competition date: 15^th April

Members Presentation Evening: Early Reminder!
Wednesday 20^th May – Members Presentation Evening. Presentation of certificates and trophies.
Freda now taking bookings!This did prove very successful last year so please support the club (partners of any persuasion all welcome!).
The cost this year is £20 per member, this includes a tip to the caterers.
This is our end of season social and presentation get together with catering from ‘Betty’ and her team.
Menu: two cold meats, quiches, coleslaw and salads, rolls and butter and hot new potatoes plus a choice of 3 desserts; meringue nests, fruit salad and café Renoir. Please speak to Freda who is taking reservations.

Message from Paul Dunmall – ‘live’ speaker on 18^th March, next Wednesday! an interactive night, Titles Why do we have them?
So please, if poss, take part! We need your images!
Max of 15/20 images, this allows time for any statement to be read out, the image to be appraised and then a short discussion with the photographer/group if required.
Email them to me and I’ll include them on a PowerPoint.

Reminder 1 – Peter Frankish:
Peter raises money for a local hospice and says: “I thought you would be interested to hear that we have been invited to exhibit at the Arts Centre in July.”
I’m wondering if the Club would like to donate images for us to feature alongside our wide range of other product. The general rule of thumb is that our mainstream audience would want to put it on their wall at home! Given you are the local club we would limit other photographic content and could think of as many as say ten from yourselves.
Subject matter – Landscapes, particularly of the Lake District, but also locally and wildlife (garden birds especially) plus anything you may think suitable – but no portraits please. The basic ‘rule-of-thumb’ – any image that you would mount, frame and put up on your wall at home!
Please send to me (that’s Mike) any digital images that you may think would ‘fit-the-bill’ by Sunday 19th April. I will then send them all to Peter who will select the ones he thinks will sell, probably any number between 8 – 15. He will select them NOT me!

Reminder 2 – Calendar Images:
As already mentioned, we have been tasked, again, to produce images for the 2027 calendar!
Boundaries: Focused where possible on Garstang and immediate surroundings; however, any images considered between Lancaster in the north, Preston in the south, Blackpool in the west and Abbeystead/Bleasdale in the east. This should give us plenty of opportunity, so please start thinking and snapping!
So, this means that the scope has now widened! Please get out and about, in the fullness of time, so that we can offer a great selection to the Arts Centre committee. All images submitted will be shown and voted upon on Wednesday 13th May and the selected top 36 will be sent to the Arts Centre committee for their final selection of 12 to 14 images for the calendar.

Coffee duty this Wednesday:
Coffee and tea duty for this coming Wednesday is Tammii and Frank – many thanks in advance!

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 18^th March – Paul Dunmall, Live:
A talk titled ‘Titles: Why do we have them.’ See above!

Wednesday 25^th March – Members evening: A talk by Tim tilted ‘- “A Journey Through Six Countries of South-East Asia”

Wednesday 1^st April – Ade Gidney, ‘Live’ – Ade says “I think we agreed a talk about landscapes your members might be able to visit. So, it will be Landscapes of the North, Lake District, North Wales, Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland.
I may or may not include parts of Scotland (depends how many suitable images I have covering the other areas.) As well as showing the Landscapes I will try and include some hints and tips to get better Landscape photographs.”

Wednesday 8^th April – A talk by Rene, via zoom, titled ‘Blowing Hot and Cold.’
Rene says “This is a presentation and covers my nature photography travels in winter to Scandinavia and my spring and summer trips to Spain.
Scandinavia in winter is a very special place and I take you on a journey that covers bird and landscape photography along the Finnish-Russian border around Kuusamo and to the Varangerfjord.
Spain in spring, summer and autumn is a superb place to be for bird photography. I take you on a journey to some of the most special places in Spain where I photograph birds from hides and hydro hides.”
That’s all folks and see you Wednesday!

Mike