Hello to everyone. By the time you read this , our ’21-’22 season will have come to an end and on reflection , it has been quite successful. Although we lost a few members, their spaces have been filled with new members and to those , we bid a warm welcome and hope that they have enjoyed their time with us. We have had two well attended coffee mornings along with the first of our two exhibitions, the next one will be in September. We will also have had our Annual Presentation Evening when the awards , which are still under wraps as I write this, will have been given out.
I will give a reminder of two of our Summer Outings yet to come. The first one is on Tuesday June 14th. and is to Lunt Meadows. July’s outing is on Sunday 17th. when we visit Holker Hall so mark these down in your diary.
My apologies for such a brief report but we are now into the closed season but I will continue to write each month with information regarding progress on the Summer Outings.
I have to announce the sad news that one of our long standing members, Ken Harrison has passed away. Ken was a life member of our club with a long service record of working on the committee, acting as treasurer and club chairman. Ken was a keen wildlife photographer who travelled extensively to follow his area of interest. He was a regular volunteer at Leighton Moss Reserve and always willing to advise others, and pass on his wide knowledge base. He will be sadly missed. RIP Ken.
We are now at the end of our ’21-’22 session. Our last club meeting will be on May 4th when George Franks will present Flash Photography. The following week ,we hold our AGM hoping that as many as possible of the membership will attend. The week following this is our Annual Presentation Evening in which our Guest of Honour, the Mayor of Garstang, Cllr. Alec Allan will present the awards. The deadline for applications for this event is/was May 1st. and so …….! It should be a splendid evening and I hope it will be well supported.
I can now list the destinations and dates of our Events Cup Details for “22-’23. These are outings from which images taken on the days (midnight to midnight ) can be entered into our competitions next year. It is not necessary to attend every outing.
The list is as follows : Sat. April 23rd. SKIPPOOL CREEK
Thurs. May 19th BROCK BOTTOMS
Tue. June 14th LUNT MEADOWS
Sun. July 17th HOLKER HALL
Sat. or Sun. Aug 13th /14th THREE SISTERS RACE CIRCUIT
Sat. Sept 10th KENDAL
Sun Sept 25th BLACKPOOL ZOO
A good and varied selection of venues; let’s hope the weather is kind to us. These reports will continue throughout the “closed season” although there will not be as much to report.
We wish you all a good summer and hope that the bug— covid reads this .
Located about ten miles north of Preston and on the very western edge of the Forest of Bowland. The picnic site and nature trail (sometimes mistakenly called ‘Brock Bottoms’) is a beauty spot along the river.
There is a reasonably sized car park, perhaps space for around 20 cars, but it can get busy.
Much of the river is very shallow and if you head off along the paths you eventually come to the mill ruins. Built around 1790 the site housed about 20 cottages for the workers at the cotton spinning mill. It eventually fell into ruins around the 1930’s but in its heyday, it had a dance room and café! Not open now!
There are some longer walks from the car park. You could follow the river downstream, which meanders to the west, and head towards Lancaster Canal. Or if you follow the river upstream it makes for an interesting walk in a north-easterly direction, taking in Boggy Wood and Snape Rake Lane. You can then come back over Beacon Fell, making it an enjoyable 7.5-mile ramble; if you are that keen!
So, the parameters are ‘walking distance from the car park’.
• May 14th: Coffee morning at The Arts Centre; come along and have a brew, a piece of cake and a chat!
• May 18th: Presentation Evening
• May 19th: Second Events Cup outing: Brock Bottoms
• May 25th: Software editing/photographic chit-chat/bring your camera! Add to the agenda – converse with Mike or Lewis to add to the ideas; any thoughts welcome!
AGM
We have attached 3 items for your perusal; please read and inwardly digest!
AGM minutes from last year
Financial overview and recommendations from Robin; 3 docs
AGM agenda for this year
Coffee morning
Please come along and support the club. we are in great need of something edible to sell. All donations very gratefully received!
Presentation evening
Many thanks to all the members who have booked a seat! We have 32 places reserved – great support, it is really appreciated. Don’t forget 7pm arrival and the meal served at 7.15. Raffle: donations please!
Second Events Cup
Details will be sent out in the next newsletter
Software editing/photographic chit-chat
Stan has promised another ‘short’ presentation – that has to be an incentive to come along!
Print Exhibition
April’s print exhibition came down this Friday so thoughts now turn to the next exhibition starting in September. This exhibition is for all prints (colour and monochrome) of winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd), highly commended and commended.
PLEASE bring them in this Wednesday, 11th May, so that Maurice can begin to organise the display in good time; he promises to look after them!
PLEASE pick up any of your prints that were shown in April’s ‘show’. Many thanks.
We will send out a list of all print winners shortly – so there is no excuse!
May 4th: Live in the Arts Centre; Paul Williamson will give a digital slide presentation on “The Islands of the Caribbean”.
May 11th: AGM
May 14th: Coffee morning at The Arts Centre; come along and have a brew, a piece of cake and a chat!
May 18th: Presentation Evening; places still available – speak to Mike or Freda – please support the club! The absolute last chance to reserve a place will be this Wednesday, 4th May
May 19th: Second Events Cup outing: Brock Bottoms
May 25th: Software editing/photographic chit-chat/bring your camera! Add to the agenda – converse with Mike to add to the ideas; any thoughts welcome!
Raffle:
During the Presentation Evening on Wednesday 18th we will be having a raffle; any donations very gratefully received! Please bring along contributions on the AGM meeting or on the evening itself – many thanks!
Zoom invite:
Lewis Thompson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Garstang Camera Club. Islands of the Caribbean with Paul Williamson Time: May 4, 2022 07:00 PM London
Thanks to all who made it to Skippool Creek yesterday – windy? Almost blowing a gale! C’est la vie! At least it didn’t rain.
The next Events Cup date is May 19th at Brock Bottoms.
A reminder of future dates for the diary:
April 27th: Software editing session; please bring along some, preferably RAW, images to process. Bracketing shots?
May 4th: NEW – Live in the Arts Centre; Paul Williamson will give a digital slide presentation on “The Islands of the Caribbean”. Huge thanks to John for being extremely proactive in finding a replacement speaker!
May 11th: AGM
May 14th: Coffee morning
May 18th: Presentation Evening; places still available – speak to Mike or Freda – please support the club!
Light stands and light
A lady very kindly donated 7 light stands and they are like new.
HPUSN B5 Collapsible 210cm Light Stand 6.9ft Metal Portable Foldable Tripod 5 section Boom Arm for Studio Flash Light Load 3KG
Plus: A Blackbezt Luxpando P120D – see image
Blackbezt Luxpando P120D bi-colour studio LED video light
90W output, 3000K-6000K colour temperature; and a soft box.
If you want to know more: go to Youtube; BlackBezt P120DT Bi-Colour LED Light Review: Is This $700 Light Worth It? By Eric Rossi. All fully explained.Cost today is $500!
These items are available to all members to borrow; just let us know.
What a cracking weekend, so far, and I’ve been privileged to see 4 ‘local’ hares; far too quick, however, for a photograph!
A reminder of some up-and-coming dates:
April 20th. Steve Proctor, presentation entitled “Talk to Me”.
April 23rd The first Events Cup outing to Skippool Creek – see below
April 27th. Software editing session; please bring along some, preferably RAW, images to process. Bracketing?
May 4th George Franks, presentation on ‘Flash Photography’
May 11th AGM
May 14th Coffee morning
May 18th Presentation Evening; places still available.
Details
Arrive at 7.00pm for the meal at 7.15pm
Menu: Ham, Turkey and vegetarian quiches; Green salad, tomato salad, eggs, coleslaw and hot potatoes.
Desserts: Choice of Meringue Pavlova – Raspberry, Coffee Renoir or Fresh Fruit Salad; all with pouring cream.
Quiz and a raffle; any raffle prizes to donate? Most welcome!
Garstang mayor will be joining us and has promised to ‘do’ the presentations.
All for the princely sum of just £12 per member. If you wish to bring a guest that will be great.
Please book your tickets either via the usual email address or speak to Freda, Mike or Lewis at the next meeting on Wednesday. All reservations will be on a first come first booked basis ‘cos the Arts Centre will only hold so many.
Deadline will be the 1st May ‘cos we will have to notify the caterers.
By the way, no washing up – all sorted! Also, bring your own drinks.
They are donating £30,000 to 3 small animal welfare charities, one for cats, one for dogs and one for all rescue animals.
Entry is via the website, for both images and videos. Closing date is 1st July 2022
The winning photo entry receives £2000 cash, plus a trophy and they get to choose a charity to donate £5000. The winning video entry receives £1000 cash and all category winners will receive a fabulous goodie bag!
There are 7 categories – Dog, Cat, Horse, All Other Animals, Pets who look like someone famous or owners, Video and Junior (16 or under)
Entry fee – £1.95 for 1 entry, £5 for 5 and £10 for 15 entries.
Sorry, but the Zoom invite for Wednesday will follow in a later email
For hundreds of years Skippool Creek was a major trading port, along with Wardleys Creek at the other side of the river Wyre. It was in constant use by sea going vessels from the end of the Medieval period, well before the 1600’s.
Goods arrived here from all around the world. Traders plied their goods further inland at Poulton, with goods unloaded at Skippool.
It had been the location of a small port for Poulton for centuries. But in 1590 it began to grow. Brothers William and James Blackburne, along with William Jenkinson – all from Thistleton – began landing their trade goods of flax and tallow from Russia.
Round the World Trade
Once a bustling port, ships arriving from as far away as Russia, Barbados and North America would unload their cargoes. Timber came from across the Atlantic, sugar and tobacco from the Americas and tallow from Russia. Flax arrived here, imported from Ireland and the Baltic. Stone was imported from the Lake District, along with other cargos of imported wine, rum, sugar, cotton and tobacco.
1806-08 records show limestone and oats being imported from Ulverston, and coal which arrived via Preston. By return, salt and locally made cheese was exported to other coastal ports via Skippool. Regular markets were being held in nearby Poulton by the 18th century.
After Marton Moss was drained from 1731, the river inlet at Skippool was widened and deepened. With the banks strengthened it provided better wharfage.
Tides Times and Depth
Skippool Creek
Tides
Times
Depth
High tide
04.57
7.4m
Low tide
11.20
1.8m
High tide
17.41
7.0m
Low tide
23.54
2.4m
Sun rise: 05.52
Sun set: 20.29
The nearest postcode to Skippool Creek to use with Satnav is FY5 5LF – which is Wyre Road.
Turn off the A585 at the River Wyre pub at Skippool Road, and head as if to Thornton.
Not very many yards along the road, turn right onto Wyre Road, before you reach the Thornton Lodge pub. Be careful, it’s very narrow at the beginning.
Wyre Road follows the creeks and widens out slightly.
There is a free car park a little further along where you can leave your car to explore on foot. The car park can hold about 20 cars.
I will probably be going there for mid-morning so I suggest that if you are there, we could socialise and have a sandwich get together in the car park.
April 13th. “Wildlife – Sea shore to mountain top” a talk by Peter Smith
April 20th. Steve Proctor, presentation entitled “Talk to Me”.
April 27th. Software editing session; please bring along some, preferably RAW, images to process.
Events Cup
Aide-memoire!
The first Events Cup destination is on Saturday 23rd April at Skippool Creek; 2 weeks yesterday! Details will be sent out nearer the date, but this is just to make sure you don’t forget!
Exhibition
67 images carefully assembled on the walls of the Arts Centre on Friday. Big thanks to all involved, especially Maurice, and completed in 45 minutes.
Obviously, you can view on club evenings but if you can’t wait the Arts centre is open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Presentation evening – May 18th
Please support the club and book your place with Freda, Mike or Lewis. Details were sent out last week and repeated on Wednesday’s club night, but, if you have forgotten or lost the specifics just ask or email in – no problem!
Garstang Agricultural Show
Garstang show this year is on Saturday 6th August and the club will be having a stand on the day. If you are visiting the show please pop in and have a chat!
Zoom invite for those who can’t attend next week:
Lewis Thompson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Garstang Camera Club. Wildlife-Seashore to mountain top with Peter Smith Time: Apr 13, 2022 07:00 PM London
Coffee morning: A very busy morning at the Arts Centre on Saturday so a huge thank you to everyone who managed to supply some very edible edibles, helped out in the café and popped in to spend some dosh! We took, by the way, £137.70; after a small deduction to the Arts Centre; this money goes straight into our coffers! Robin looked pleased!
So, thank you, (in no particular order), to Elaine, Brenda, Terry, Robin, Maurice, Stan, Sue, Rhona, Barry, Jenny, Michael and Freda. This is what we call a team effort! If we’ve missed anyone out – many apologies. Also, it was really nice to see Lucienne, as sprightly as ever and Vernon and his wife making a visit to Garstang! Even Bob Sapey popped in!
Humanity Competition. Many thanks, also, to all members who managed to enter prints and digital images into the competition to be judged. We thought that Carol Watson did an excellent job spending time on each photograph and giving her thoughts, her positives and her constructive criticism to them all. Attached are the full results for you to look at.
And, a big well done to Tim for not only winning 2 of the 4 sections (digital monochrome and digital colour) but his image – Spinning with Grandma – winning the overall prize – ‘best in show’! Congratulations Tim! Attached to this newsletter is an image from our club member Ted – from South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. He says: In preparation for the talk on the 20th of March … “Shackleton & South Georgia” a picture from Grytviken July 2023…Thanks Ted, so glad you are still receiving and reading the newsletters!
Notices
Events Cup.
Thanks to all members who have voted for the top 8 destinations; if you haven’t cast your selection yet, there is still time – but only just.
Member’s Evening 3rd April – Show and Tell.
Please take part, this is a great opportunity for everyone to take part and a great chance to show recent work, talk about their images and possibly receive constructive comments from members.
· Perhaps show any images or maybe those that are often very different from those entered in competitions.
· Include those that went wrong or you weren’t happy about and why, or just didn’t work out!
· Number of images: as many, within reason, as you want to show.
· Open theme, colour and/or mono.
Calendar images
Following on from last weeks newsletter, and from various discussions, the deadline of April 21st has now been extended to Sunday May 5th.
· When all the images are in Mike will present them on Wednesday 8th May (that’s also AGM evening), in a random order, with no names, and all members present will have a chance to vote.
· Each image can be scored out of a maximum of 20.
· The top 36 will be sent to the Arts Centre committee and they will pick the 12 they want for the 2025 calendar.
Lancashire & Cheshire Photographic Union
Attached is the Annual Individuals Competition 2024 for Saturday 18th May & Sunday 19th May.
A full rules & guidelines for both competitions will follow but the attached is a summary of key dates.
When the rules appear, we will send them out. Any questions? Speak to Mike or Lewis on Wednesday.
Up and coming programme of events:
· March 20th – Keith Snell PhD EFIAP MPSA LRPS* – ‘Live’; Shackleton & South Georgia. Featuring landscape and wildlife photography during an expedition to South Georgia and Antarctica, following Shackleton’s renowned journey.
· March 20th – Anything Goes Competition – last date for entry.
· March 27th – No meeting – Committee meeting.
· April 3rd – Members evening – various announcements and discussions plus show and tell; see above.
Another sunny and warm day; the garden beckons and the camera is looking at me!
Make the most of it as the weather appears to go downhill mid-week onwards; Oh, the ups and downs of our climate!
A reminder of some up-and-coming dates:
March 30th. Beginners ‘software editing’ session. Looking at Lightroom again and/or some Photoshop tools or you could bring in some images (preferably RAW), to be processed or process them yourself!
April 6th. 3 presentations: First by Stan on “My Journey to Sports Photography”; second by Mike on “Aurora HDR” and third by Lewis – “Wildlife in South Africa”. All unmissable!
April 9th. Camera club exhibition begins!
April 13th. “Wildlife – Sea shore to mountain top” a talk by Peter Smith
April 20th. Steve Proctor, presentation entitled “Talk to Me”.
(L&CPU) Annual Individual Print & Projected Image Competition 7th and 8th May
Online Entry opens Saturday 19th March
Online Entry closes Saturday 23rd April
PDI: (Projected Digital Images); there are two categories in this section:
Open (which includes colour and monochrome) x 8
Nature x 4
PDI’s
Image files must be in sRGB colour space, jpg format and at maximum quality. This includes monochrome images.
The image dimensions should be 1600 pixels (horizontal) x 1200 pixels (vertical) and a file size of up to 2mb.
Individual authors can upload their own entry.
Rules and regulations were attached last week; quite happy to re-send if you have lost them!
As mentioned last week, John has decided to step down as Programme Secretary after 5 years and step down from the committee.
John will be more than happy to pass on all the relevant information at the appropriate time.
So, volunteers please for John’s role and for the committee!
Please don’t forget, we need new blood for the committee; if you feel you could contribute in any way, you will be made most welcome! Just get in touch if you want via email or phone – it’s no problem!
Garstang Camera Club 