Morning All

Early this week, clocks put back but still up at the usual time! Harry, our dog, insisted! No respect for the end of British Summer Time!

Notices:

4-Way Battle:
Big thanks here to Frank who ‘battled’ his way through to enter our images using a new system called Pixoroo! I believe he didn’t throw the computer out of the window, but, came close; thanks Frank for your time and patience! You’ll be ok next time!

Christmas bash at Wyrebank – bookings now being taken, don’t miss out!
Frank and I are visiting Wyrebank tomorrow, Monday, to chat to Gemma about a choice of main course and dessert. Further details will follow as soon as!

Message from Julie Holden – Calling All Camera Club Shutterbugs!
Ho, Ho, Ho! It’s that time of year again when Garstang transforms itself into a Victorian wonderland for the annual Garstang Victorian Festival!
This year’s dates are Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th December.
Julie would be ever so grateful if our wonderful Camera Club could once again venture forth with cameras at the ready to capture the festive magic.
Of course, this is a fantastic opportunity to practice your street photography skills! There are just a few minor challenges to overcome…
It’ll be dark! So, time to dust off those fast lenses, crank up the ISO and try not to mistake a Victorian gentleman for a lamppost.
People will move… rather inconveniently! Expect blurry children, fast-moving shoppers and the occasional photographer desperately trying to remember where they put the shutter-speed settings.
Food photography opportunities will be plentiful! With plenty of catering stalls serving tempting treats, you can capture some mouth-watering images. Just try not to eat the subject before you’ve photographed it!
I’ll be wandering around the festival myself, so if anyone fancies joining me for a photographic adventure (and possibly a warming snack or two), please let me know and we can arrange a suitable time.
So, charge those batteries, clear those memory cards, wrap up warm and prepare to capture some Victorian festive magic!
Remember: if your photos are a little blurry, just call it artistic movement. If they’re too dark, call it atmospheric. And if you miss the shot entirely… you were simply enjoying the Victorian experience!

SAT – Water: Challenge 2 – Splashes into Action!
This coming Wednesday – bring your images in on a USB ‘stick.’

Environment Cup: Our 2^nd internal competition:
The closing date for this competition is Wednesday 28^th October; 3 days to go!
Description of images allowed:
Landscapes, architecture, dereliction, sculptures, street art, environmental issues and transport.
Please remember – people and animals must show scale or add to, NOT focal point.
If you are a new member, or indeed an existing member and you would like any help and/or guidance PLEASE email me on  info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk or phone for a chat on 07340 314408. I’m more than happy to help!
Please also remember all images show and judged are judged anonymously; it is a great way to get appraisal, evaluation and feedback on your photographs. You will learn a lot!

Coffee duty:
Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 28^th October is Adrian plus Carmel and Mike – thank you all, in advance!

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 28^th October – Members evening: Showing of the images chosen for the Fylde 4-way ‘Battle’ plus ’Image critiquing’ by Stan and our 2^nd SAT – subject ‘Water.’

Wednesday 4^th November – Our speaker this evening is Duncan Phillips and his talk is titled ‘Black and White Photography.’~
Duncan writes: “I have over the last few years returned to the use of monochrome in my photographic images. I find fascination in the reduction of my vision into the light and dark, sunlight and shadows, textures and structure of the subject.”
Following on from Duncan’s talk will be a SAT (Show-and-Tell) based on Black and White photography – so, pay attention! Your SAT images will be due to be presented on Wednesday 27^th January 2027.
Duncan will return to give constructive feedback and useful tips!

Wednesday 11^th November – Members evening: 10 in 10 in 10: that is, 10 members, already nominated, showing 10 images and each member has 10 minutes; this is the first time we have done this – what could possibly go wrong!

Thursday 12^th November – Fylde 4-Way Battle. Just to remind all members this Battle is between Garstang, Poulton, North Fylde and Lytham. And, Nick Hilton is the judge.
The 4-way Battle is to be held at Poulton this year, starting at 7.30 in the Methodist Church Hall, Queensway, Poulton-le-Fylde, FY6 7ST.
Every member is very welcome to attend, it is free (though they may persuade you to buy a raffle ticket), and it can be quite illuminating!
It can also get quite busy so aim to get there by 7.15pm at the latest. We usually do car-sharing where we can and more details about this shortly. Parking? We use Booths Car Park, opposite the Methodist Church – handy if it’s raining!
Booths website says: Customers shopping at Booths are entitled to three hours of free parking. ANPR cameras are in operation.
The car park is free from restriction to park overnight from 8pm until 6am.
So, my interpretation is, if we park say at 7pm we should be ok!

Wednesday 18^th November – Our speaker this evening is Ashley Barnard and his talk is tilted ‘Stags and other Wildlife.’
Ash writes: The talk is primarily about how to photograph English wildlife using camouflage and the approach as well as best practices, I will be talking about various species of wildlife from owls, kingfishers, mountain hares, red deer, etc was as well as providing video and camera settings throughout the talk.
I will also bring a few prints along with me the type print here in my studio.

That’s all folks, see you Wednesday.

Mike

Morning All

A huge thank you to everyone who managed to submit images for the Events Cup – proof that we’re a talented bunch, even when life gets in the way!
Congratulations to Dom, who scooped ‘Best in Show’ with a cracking 20 points for his image ‘Between the Lines’ (attached for anyone who blinked and missed it!). Clearly, he knows how to read between the lines! Sorry!

Notices:

Message from Frank:
Please find attached the flyer produced by Wyrebank for the…..
Family Portrait Shoot scheduled for 8th November.
I’ve also attached separately in the word document a copy of the QR code that takes anyone interested to the online booking form.
Any profits made would be going into the clubs’ funds. Thanks Frank!
Possible Christmas gift? Just saying!

SAT!
The next SAT images to be presented are, of course, the Water SAT on Wednesday 28^th October.
The next SAT due, is ‘Landscapes.’ I hope you were paying attention and taking notes during Jonny Gios talk at the end of September!
‘Landscapes’ SAT’s will be shown on Wednesday 9th December.
A few thoughts on the branches of Landscape Photography which hopefully will encourage you!
You might think landscape photography is simply pointing a camera at a nice view and pressing the button. Oh, if only! It turns out that landscape photography has more branches than an overgrown oak tree.
There’s traditional landscape photography for mountains, lakes and valleys; seascapes for dramatic waves and soggy socks; and minimalist photography for those who believe that one rock, a bit of mist and half a tree are quite enough, thank you very much.
Then there’s fine-art landscape photography, where a photograph of a muddy field becomes a profound meditation on the human condition, and astrophotography, which involves photographing the Milky Way while wondering why you’re standing in a freezing field at 2 am.
We also have aerial photography, intimate landscapes (small bits of scenery having their moment in the spotlight), abstract landscapes (where even the photographer sometimes struggles to explain what the picture is), and urban and industrial landscapes, celebrating everything from city skylines to abandoned factories.
Environmental photography reminds us that the planet needs looking after, while rural and cultural landscapes record the countryside, its history and the people who have shaped it.
And that’s before we get to long exposures, panoramas, time-lapses, infrared and black-and-white photography. Apparently, simply taking a picture isn’t enough anymore; we must also find a technique that requires three filters, a tripod, a degree in physics and the patience of a saint!
Of course, the beauty of it all is that these categories happily overlap. A photograph of an abandoned quarry at night could be industrial, environmental, minimalist and fine art all at once. Very efficient – four genres for the price of one!
So next time someone asks what sort of photographer you are, don’t just say “landscape photographer”. That would be far too straightforward. Give them the full list, watch their eyes glaze over, and then explain that you’re still waiting for the light to improve.
After all, landscape photography isn’t just about capturing a view. It’s about finding your own way of seeing it – preferably before the weather changes!
So, camera at the ready? GO!

Reminders!

Programme for 2027–2028 – Yes, It’s That Time Already!
If you have any ideas, thoughts, suggestions or burning desires for talks, speakers, topics or themes, NOW is the time to speak up! Please don’t wait until the programme is finalised and then announce, “I wish we’d had a talk about that!”
You can email your suggestions to info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk or have a chat with Mike or Ian at one of the next couple of meetings.
Remember, this is YOUR club, and talks and speakers make up around 50% of our programme. That’s half the year’s entertainment, inspiration and photographic wisdom — so you really do have a say in what we get up to!
Many thanks to those members who have already sent in their thoughts.

Other reminders! Full details in previous newsletters:

Christmas bash at Wyrebank – bookings now being taken, don’t miss out! Freda is away next Wednesday but will be ready to put your name down the Wednesday after!

SAT – Water: Challenge 2 – Splashes into Action!

Coffee duty:
Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 21^st October is Dave plus Carol and Dave – thank you all, in advance!

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 21^st October – Our speaker this evening is Phil Durkin and his talk is titled ‘A few seconds makes all the difference’ – long exposure. A Few Seconds Makes All the Difference
Phil writes: My seascape presentation, “A Few Seconds Makes All the Difference,” explores the art of seeing the world through the lens of long and extreme long exposure photography. The collection journeys mainly across the UK – from the North West Coast, along the East Coast and Humberside, to the wild beauty of the North West of Scotland and the tranquility of the Inner and Outer Hebrides before reaching into Europe with a small selection of overseas images. The presentation includes elements of minimalist photography and through this approach fleeting moments are transformed into images of stillness and surrealism. It features both colour and monochrome pictures.
Phil Dukin | DPAGB | BPE4

Wednesday 28^th October – Members evening: Showing of the images chosen for the Fylde 4-way ‘Battle’ plus ’Image critiquing’ by Stan and our 2^nd SAT – subject ‘Water.’ See above!

Wednesday 4^th November – Our speaker this evening is Duncan Phillips and his talk is titled ‘Black and White Photography.’
Duncan writes: “I have over the last few years returned to the use of monochrome in my photographic images. I find fascination in the reduction of my vision into the light and dark, sunlight and shadows, textures and structure of the subject.” See attached image.
Following on from Duncan’s talk will be a SAT (Show-and-Tell) based on Black and White photography – so, pay attention! Your SAT images will be due to be presented on Wednesday 27^th January 2027.
Duncan will return, in January, to give constructive feedback and useful tips!

Wednesday 11^th November – Members evening: 10 in 10 in 10: that is, 10 members, already nominated, showing 10 images and each member has 10 minutes; this is the first time we have done this – what could possibly go wrong!

Thursday 12^th November – Fylde 4-Way Battle. Just to remind all members this Battle is between Garstang, Poulton, North Fylde and Lytham. And, Nick Hilton is the judge. He’s usually very good especially if he gives any of our photographs 16 points or above!
The 4-way Battle is to be held at Poulton this year, starting at 7.30 in the Methodist Church Hall, Queensway, Poulton-le-Fylde, FY6 7ST.
Every member is very welcome to attend, it is free (though they may persuade you to buy a raffle ticket), and it can be quite illuminating! Interpret that word in any way you think fit!
It can also get quite busy so aim to get there by 7.15pm at the latest. We usually do car-sharing where we can and more details about this in next week’s newsletter. Parking? We use Booths Car Park, opposite the Methodist Church – handy if it’s raining! I’ll check the charge but I think it is free from 6pm.

That’s all folks, see you Wednesday.

Mike

Morning All

Notices:

Message from Susie (Freeman), last week’s speaker:
Please thank your members for the very warm reception they gave me. I enjoyed the evening.
Attached is the sheet of notes as promised for you to distribute.
Best wishes
Susie

Programme for 2027–2028 – Yes, It’s That Time Already!
Believe it or not, we’re already starting to plan next year’s programme! Yes, we know it feels as though we’ve only just got this year’s programme sorted, but these things don’t organise themselves (although we keep hoping they might!).
To secure the speakers we really want, whether they’re joining us live in person or via the wonders of Zoom, we need to get cracking sooner rather than later. The good ones tend to get booked up faster than a camera club member spotting a bargain lens!
So, if you have any ideas, thoughts, suggestions or burning desires for talks, speakers, topics or themes, NOW is the time to speak up! Please don’t wait until the programme is finalised and then announce, “I wish we’d had a talk about that!”
You can email your suggestions to info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk or have a chat with Mike or Ian at one of the next couple of meetings. They’re all ears (and no, you don’t need to bring your own microphone).
Remember, this is YOUR club, and talks and speakers make up around 50% of our programme. That’s half the year’s entertainment, inspiration and photographic wisdom — so you really do have a say in what we get up to!
No idea is too big, too small or too unusual. Wildlife, landscapes, portraits, street photography, creative techniques, something completely different – we’re open to suggestions. If you’ve ever thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could have a talk about…?”, then we want to hear from you!
So, put your thinking caps on, dust off those wish lists and let us know what you’d like to see in 2027–2028.
After all, we can’t promise to arrange a talk on photographing Bigfoot… but we won’t know unless you ask!
Get your suggestions in soon — the planning starts NOW!

Image Critiquing: On 28^th October:
Don’t forget to send in those photos!
All images submitted and shown will be anonymous.
The idea is for any club member to submit a maximum of 3 (ish) images for a constructive critique by Stan and he will guarantee that at least 1, if not 2 images, from each member, will be critiqued.

Environment Cup: Our 2^nd internal competition:
The closing date for this competition is Wednesday 28^th October; 17 days to go.

Description of images allowed:
Landscapes, architecture, dereliction, sculptures, street art, environmental issues and transport.
Please remember – people and animals must show scale or add to, NOT focal point.

If you are a new member, or indeed an existing member and you would like any help and/or guidance PLEASE ask at the next meeting or email me on  info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk or phone for a chat on 07340 314408. I’m more than happy to help!
Please also remember all images show and judged are judged anonymously; it is a great way to get appraisal, evaluation and feedback on your photographs. You will learn a lot!

Reminder! Water: Challenge 2 – Splashes into Action!
The brief is delightfully simple: show us photographs containing water.
As before, there are no rules. This is a challenge, not a tax return. Use images from years ago, images taken yesterday, or images captured five minutes before the meeting while frantically spraying the garden hose at a flowerpot.
Use whatever equipment you fancy: DSLR, mirrorless, compact camera, phone, tablet, nautical telescope, or any other image-capturing contraption you happen to own.
The main aim is simply to encourage you, the members, to get out and about, enjoy taking photographs, and perhaps even remember where you left your camera since the last challenge.
So, grab your camera, iPhone, wellies if necessary, and go in search of something wet.
Thoughts!
This challenge is WATER — that well‑known substance responsible for rain, tea, and 97% of British small talk. Your mission, should you choose to accept it (and you do, because we need entries), is to produce an image that contains water in any form, state, mood, or level of chaos.

To help you along, here are some highly professional suggestions!

• Actual water — Rivers, lakes, puddles, or that suspicious drip under your kitchen sink.
• Water behaving badly — Waves crashing, taps leaking, sprinklers attacking innocent passers-by.
• Water pretending to be something else — Mist, fog, steam, or the condensation on your glasses when you walk into Booths.
• Water in domestic captivity — Kettles boiling, washing-up bubbles, or the bath plughole (for the truly avant-garde).
• Water in emotional turmoil — Tears, sweat, or the rain that arrives precisely when you’ve just set up your tripod.
• Water in unexpected places — Dew on a spiderweb, droplets on a car bonnet, or the pint you accidentally knocked over at the Royal Oak.

Please remember: You do not need to get soaked for this challenge. You do not need to submerge your camera. You do not need to recreate the Titanic. But if you do, please film it horizontally.
Time is beginning to get short! Entries to be shown on Wednesday 28^th October

Coffee duty:
Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 14^th October is Ian and Bob – thank you gentlemen, in advance!

Up and coming programme of events:
Wednesday 14^th October – Our first internal club competition ‘The Events Cup.’ This will be judged by Carol Watson. We have 50 images to be judged.
‘Cos we will have some spare time……….!
NEW: Adrian (Harlen), one of our new members, has very kindly offered to give a talk after our coffee/tea break and this talk will be titled ‘Composition.’ Many thanks to Adrian for stepping in at short notice!

Wednesday 21^st October – Our speaker this evening is Phil Durkin and his talk is titled ‘A few seconds makes all the difference’ – long exposure. A Few Seconds Makes All the Difference
Phil writes: My seascape presentation, “A Few Seconds Makes All the Difference,” explores the art of seeing the world through the lens of long and extreme long exposure photography. The collection journeys mainly across the UK – from the North West Coast, along the East Coast and Humberside, to the wild beauty of the North West of Scotland and the tranquility of the Inner and Outer Hebrides before reaching into Europe with a small selection of overseas images. The presentation includes elements of minimalist photography and through this approach fleeting moments are transformed into images of stillness and surrealism. It features both colour and monochrome pictures.
Phil Dukin | DPAGB | BPE4

Wednesday 28^th October – Members evening: Showing of the images chosen for the Fylde 4-way ‘Battle’ plus ’Image critiquing’ by Stan and our 2^nd SAT – subject ‘Water.’ See above!

Wednesday 4^th November – Our speaker this evening is Duncan Phillips and his talk is titled ‘Black and White Photography.’ Further details will follow next week

That’s all folks, see you Wednesday.

Mike 

Morning All

Just to reminder you all I’m away from today and back on Thursday evening. Freda has very kindly agreed to step in so I’m sure everything will run very smoothly!
If you need to contact Freda please use: info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk

Notices:

Coffee morning:
Big thank you to Elaine, Freda, Rhona and Robin for raising £109 at the coffee morning on Saturday for the clubs’ coffers – every little helps!

Sale of photography gear:
As you will no doubt remember we have been selling, via Tim’s friend Nigel, various photographic gear to members. The sale has now finished and all items remaining have been disposed of.
The grand total towards the club’s funds is a magnificent £1314.80.
Tim’s friend Nigel was very touched by the card and letter Robin sent, on behalf of us all, thanking him for his wonderful generosity.
The money is now in our bank account earning a little interest until we decide how to spend it!

SORRY! It’s Beginning to Feel a Lot Like… Christmas!
Yes, I know. It’s only just appeared on the horizon and already someone has mentioned the “C” word. My apologies. Normal service will resume after a brief outbreak of festive enthusiasm.
Nevertheless, please make a note in your diary:
Wednesday 16th December is our annual Christmas Social Evening.
In previous years we’ve successfully squeezed ourselves into the Arts Centre and catered for ourselves.
However, thanks to the club’s continued growth (currently a magnificent 54 members and counting), we’ve reached the point where fitting everyone in would require either advanced origami techniques or a breach of several health and safety regulations.
So, after much deliberation and with thanks to Frank, we’ve secured a larger venue:
Wyrebank, Garstang
The cost will be £20 per person, with full details appearing in the newsletter over the next couple of weeks.
The ‘Christmas Bash’ is open to all members and their long-suffering wives, husbands, partners and significant others. We’d love as many people as possible to come along and support the club.
As for entertainment… well, watch this space. Our thinking caps are firmly on, although at the time of writing the ideas range from “quite good” to “possibly requiring legal advice”. If anyone has any brilliant suggestions, we’d love to hear them.
To reserve your place, payment will be required in full.
Please speak to Freda before all the best seats are taken (or before we spend the money on mince pies).
We look forward to seeing you there for an evening of food, festive cheer, questionable cracker jokes and, if tradition is anything to go by, at least one conversation about cameras lasting longer than the meal itself.

Jonny Gios: Our speaker last Wednesday:
Attached is a Weather & Photography Planning Guide
Six essential apps and websites for planning better landscape, wildlife, mountain and astrophotography shoots.
He also mentioned a possible trip to Blea Tarn.
Jonny wrote – March or April would be great for Blea Tarn and then maybe I can judge and award top 3?
This location is really accessible but it would mean an early start for some.
Just an idea!
This is something to think about in the new year.

You can ‘follow’ Jonny on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky or on his website – Jonny Gios Photography
http://www.jgios.com

Coffee duty:
Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 30^th September is Lewis and Elaine – thank you both, in advance!

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 7^th October – This evening speaker is Susie Freeman and the topic is ‘The Magic of Colour.’
Susie writes:
“The Magic of Colour: A lively exploration of the science of colour and how colour influences our perception of photographic images. Through discussion and examples the aim of this talk is to help to: – Increase your awareness of colour. – Help you to see potential shots in a slightly different way. And, most importantly, attempt to assist in the quest to capture that perfect image…  ”

Wednesday 14^th October – Our first internal club competition ‘The Events Cup.’ This will be judged by Carol Watson.

Wednesday 21^st October – Our speaker this evening is Phil Durkin and his talk is titled ‘A few seconds makes all the difference’ – long exposure. A Few Seconds Makes All the Difference
Phil writes: My seascape presentation, “A Few Seconds Makes All the Difference,” explores the art of seeing the world through the lens of long and extreme long exposure photography. The collection journeys mainly across the UK – from the North West Coast, along the East Coast and Humberside, to the wild beauty of the North West of Scotland and the tranquility of the Inner and Outer Hebrides before reaching into Europe with a small selection of overseas images. The presentation includes elements of minimalist photography and through this approach fleeting moments are transformed into images of stillness and surrealism. It features both colour and monochrome pictures.
Phil Dukin | DPAGB | BPE4

Wednesday 28^th October – Members evening: Showing of the images chosen for the Fylde 4-way ‘Battle’ plus ’Image critiquing’ by Stan and our 2^nd SAT – subject ‘Water.’

That’s all folks

Mike

Morning All

A huge thank you to everyone who bravely battled their way through all 83 images and cast their scores. At times it may have felt less like a photography club evening and more like sitting a GCSE exam in Advanced Picture Appreciation, but I think it proved to be a very worthwhile exercise!
The annual Fylde “Battle” is set to take place on Thursday 12th November in Poulton, but before then, Stan will reveal the 20 chosen images on Wednesday 28th October.
Many thanks also to everyone who found the time, enthusiasm, and in some cases sheer courage, to submit their SATs featuring Red and/or yellow images taken on mobile phones. The variety on show was excellent, demonstrating once again that it’s the photographer, not the phone/camera, that matters. I look forward to seeing a few more adventurous souls dipping their toes into the next challenge featuring Water. Full details lurk below.
Last, but certainly not least, a big thank you to Bob for his AV presentation, ‘Garstang by Night.’ It was a splendid watch and, unlike some late-night excursions, required no waterproofs, torch, or emergency flask of tea.
For anyone who missed it, nodded off at an unfortunate moment, or simply wants to enjoy it again, I’ve included the link :https://drive.google.com/file/d/11kaKSxsVpTSDCjehlp2Oi41JXpVMoYU-/view?usp=drive_web

Notices:

Message from Robin: John Earnshaw of Sale Photographic Society says:
I’m making contact because I thought you may be interested in a free session being hosted by Sale Photographic Society, on the use of Snapseed Image Editing Software on smart phones.  It will help you get the most out of your phone images.
Snapseed is a free software package which can be downloaded to your phone and used to edit photos.
It can also be downloaded to laptops and desktops.
The session is free of charge on Saturday 10th October, Coppice Avenue Library from 11.00am to 12.00pm.
Full details are on the flyer attached.

Water: Challenge 2 – Splashes into Action!
Following the overwhelming success (or at least survival) of the Red and/or Yellow Challenge, we now dive headfirst into our next photographic adventure: Water:
The brief is delightfully simple: show us photographs containing water. Oceans, puddles, raindrops, rivers, lakes, fountains, wet dogs, damp sandwiches… if water is involved, you’re probably on the right track.
There is a deeper dive in ‘thoughts’ below.
As before, there are no rules. This is a challenge, not a tax return. Use images from years ago, images taken yesterday, or images captured five minutes before the meeting while frantically spraying the garden hose at a flowerpot.
Use whatever equipment you fancy: DSLR, mirrorless, compact camera, phone, tablet, nautical telescope, or any other image-capturing contraption you happen to own.
The main aim is simply to encourage you, the members, to get out and about, enjoy taking photographs, and perhaps even remember where you left your camera since the last challenge.
So, grab your camera, iPhone, wellies if necessary, and go in search of something wet.
Remember: without water, we’d all be discussing drought photography!
Thoughts!
This challenge is WATER — that well‑known substance responsible for rain, tea, and 97% of British small talk. Your mission, should you choose to accept it (and you do, because we need entries), is to produce an image that contains water in any form, state, mood, or level of chaos.
To help you along, here are some highly professional suggestions!

• Actual water — Rivers, lakes, puddles, or that suspicious drip under your kitchen sink.
• Water behaving badly — Waves crashing, taps leaking, sprinklers attacking innocent passers-by.
• Water pretending to be something else — Mist, fog, steam, or the condensation on your glasses when you walk into Booths.
• Water in domestic captivity — Kettles boiling, washing-up bubbles, or the bath plughole (for the truly avant-garde).
• Water in emotional turmoil — Tears, sweat, or the rain that arrives precisely when you’ve just set up your tripod.
• Water in unexpected places — Dew on a spiderweb, droplets on a car bonnet, or the pint you accidentally knocked over at the Royal Oak.

Please remember: You do not need to get soaked for this challenge. You do not need to submerge your camera. You do not need to recreate the Titanic. But if you do, please film it horizontally.
Plenty of time – well, at the moment! Entries to be shown on Wednesday 28^th October.

Attention, cake enthusiasts and caffeine dependents!
The Camera Club is running a coffee morning at the Arts Centre on Saturday 3rd October, perfectly aligned with our print exhibition and possibly some Plein Air pictures.
We expect a crowd, so we need cakes, traybakes, biscuits, or anything that doesn’t require a risk assessment. Cakes of all shapes, sizes, and levels of structural integrity considered.
Please let Mike know what you’re bringing so he can pretend he’s in control of the situation.
Cheers. Ta muchly!

Message from Stan: Image Critiquing – 28th October
This is a little reminder/push to all members to take part in the critique of members’ photos by our one and only, Stan.
All images will be shown anonymously, so no one will know who submitted what – except Mike; each member may submit up to 3 images and send them, to Mike, using info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk and Stan guarantees he’ll critique at least one, and probably/maybe two!
If you’re struggling, confused, panicking, or simply allergic to file‑handling, ask at the next meeting or phone Mike on 07340 314408. He will help, honest!

Message from Kate Simkins: GCAM: Garstang Community Arts Magazine:
We’re putting together our first issue, Made in Garstang, and I’d love to involve members of the Camera Club.
We’re particularly interested in photographs of arts and cultural events happening in and around Garstang, creative people at work, performances, exhibitions, workshops, community groups and strong images of the town itself.
We’d also love to hear from members who might occasionally enjoy photographing a local event or feature for the magazine, as well as anyone with existing work they think would suit GCAM.
There’s absolutely no expectation that anyone has to take on assignments. The idea is simply to create a pool of local photographers who might like to contribute when something catches their interest.
If you are interested in the above from Kate, please email her directly on hello@storykeepers.org.uk

Early reminder about our 2^nd internal competition: The Environment Cup:
Description of images: Landscapes, architecture, dereliction, sculptures, street art, environmental issues and transport.
People and animals must show scale or add to; not focal point.
If you are thinking of submitting prints they need to be ‘mounted.’ And, if you are using ‘Fine Arts’ in Garstang for this, Sharon has requested that your prints are passed to her by 7^th October.
Last date for competition entries is Wednesday 28^th October.

Coffee duty:
Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 30^th September is Frank and Mike – thank you gentlemen, in advance!

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 30^th September – A talk by Jonny Gios on Landscape Photography, centred on the Lake District.
Jonny writes: My talk, ‘Landscapes, centred on the Lake District’, is a personal look at the landscapes that have inspired me as a photographer, from the iconic mountains and lakes to the quieter, more intimate details that can easily be overlooked. I’ll share images, stories and a few thoughts on light, weather, composition and what makes a landscape photograph really connect with the viewer.

Wednesday 7^th October – This evening speaker is Susie Freeman and the topic is ‘The Magic of Colour.’
Susie writes:
“The Magic of Colour: A lively exploration of the science of colour and how colour influences our perception of photographic images. Through discussion and examples the aim of this talk is to help to: – Increase your awareness of colour. – Help you to see potential shots in a slightly different way. And, most importantly, attempt to assist in the quest to capture that perfect image…  ”

Wednesday 14^th October – Our first internal club competition ‘The Events Cup.’ This will be judged by Carol Watson.

Wednesday 21^st October – Our speaker this evening is Phil Durkin and his talk is titled ‘A few seconds makes all the difference’ – long exposure. A Few Seconds Makes All the Difference
Phil writes: My seascape presentation, “A Few Seconds Makes All the Difference,” explores the art of seeing the world through the lens of long and extreme long exposure photography. The collection journeys mainly across the UK – from the North West Coast, along the East Coast and Humberside, to the wild beauty of the North West of Scotland and the tranquility of the Inner and Outer Hebrides before reaching into Europe with a small selection of overseas images.
The presentation includes elements of minimalist photography and through this approach fleeting moments are transformed into images of stillness and surrealism. It features both colour and monochrome pictures.
Phil Dukin | DPAGB | BPE4

Well, that’s all folks and see you Wednesday!

Mike

Morning All

Last Wednesday:
Many thanks to Dom, giving us an update on the survey results to date, and to Tim for his highly entertaining talk on his family tree and the photographic practical joke.

Opening Night Competition: Results:
The winner was Tim with ‘Coppersmith.’ Congratulations Tim!
2^nd was Robin with ‘Goshawk on prey.’
3^rd was Phil with ‘Not so ugly duckling.’
4^th was Lewis with ‘Four-spotted chaser.’~
5^th was Freda with ‘Marys Shell.’
Many thanks to all members who entered and to all those who voted!
Similar next September!

Exhibition: Hanging Team in Action:
The annual ritual known as “The Hanging” took place at the Arts Centre in preparation for our September Print Exhibition.
Operations Commander Maurice took charge of planning and resource allocation, ensuring that sufficient tools, steps, scissors, fixings, spirit levels, encouragement and reassurance were available to sustain the workforce throughout the mission.
The elite hanging squad of Robin, Ellaine, Freda and Adrian then set about the formidable task of turning piles of mounted prints into a coherent exhibition. Through a combination of teamwork, experience, careful measurement and occasional standing back to say “a bit left… no, your other left”, the walls were soon transformed into a splendid display of members’ work.
Despite the challenges presented by nails, hooks, heights and artistic perfectionism, the team completed the task with admirable efficiency. We are delighted to report that the exhibition was successfully hung, the pictures are straight (subject to individual interpretation), and all participants survived to tell the tale.

Notices:

Garstang Camera Club Skills Survey:
Last time in the newsletter! 
Our club survey:
It is mostly ticky boxes, just 5 mins of your time, honest!
Many thanks to the 38 members who have filled it in and pressed that ‘submit’ button!
If you haven’t so far….
The aim is simple: it will help us plan talks, workshops and outings that people actually want, discover the hidden talent in the club, and maybe match members who’d like a bit of help with those who are happy to share their experience.
There are no wrong answers. Please complete: just click on:
https://forms.gle/7S8suxaAoadmmQGW7
At the end of the form just press submit!
Thank you it is really appreciated!

Message from Frank.
Trip to a family run, Photography Business in Otterbourne, Hampshire called Otterbourne Hides!
Here’s a link to their website, https://www.petewhieldonphotography.co.uk/
Frank has informed me that the trip planned for next month is NOW FULL
Will he run another? Possibly! But thanks Frank for your organisation!

Message from Allan Cameron:
My name is Alan Cameron and I’m Chairman of Poulton Photographic Society. Will you please pass this on to members of your club.
I will be leading a Royal Photographic Society (RPS) walk on 23rd October. Please see the flyer attached. You’d be very welcome to join me. It’s free for RPS members and £10 for non-members including an online talk first, then the walk and a follow-up session. I also intend to produce an on-line zine of participants’ images.
Thanks, Alan

Advance notice:
Attention, cake enthusiasts and caffeine dependents!
The Camera Club is running a coffee morning at the Arts Centre on Saturday 3rd October, perfectly aligned with our print exhibition and possibly some Plein Air pictures in the ‘coffee room’ – assuming the artists didn’t blow away, melt, or abandon their easels in frustration.
We expect a crowd, so we need cakes, traybakes, biscuits, or anything that doesn’t require a risk assessment. Cakes of all shapes, sizes, and levels of structural integrity considered. If it’s edible, we’ll sell it. If it’s questionably edible, we’ll still sell it – we’re not proud.
Please let Mike know what you’re bringing so he can pretend he’s in control of the situation.
Cheers. Ta muchly!

Message from Stan: Image Critiquing – 28th October
This is a little reminder/push to all members to take part in the critique of members’ photos by our one and only Stan.
All the details were in last week’s newsletter and if you have lost that script to the ether just email me on info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk and I’ll send you all the details.
All images will be shown anonymously, so no one will know who submitted what – except Mike; each member may submit up to 3 images. Stan guarantees he’ll critique at least one, and probably/maybe two!
If you’re struggling, confused, panicking, or simply allergic to file‑handling, ask at the next meeting or phone Mike on 07340 314408. He will help, honest!

Coffee duty:
Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 23^rd September is Sian and Ann – thank you ladies, in advance!

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 23^rd September – Members evening; members will be invited to vote on the ‘Battle’ images needed for the 3 ‘Battles’ this season.
Stan will introduce the ‘Battle’ concept and all the images will be shown as a slide show then one by one to vote on. Stan will coordinate the results which will be presented during a subsequent meeting.
Following the voting, and the coffee break, members are invited to SAT the first challenge this season which is ‘Red and/or yellow images taken by mobile phones or iPad only, digital no prints – no cameras!

Wednesday 30^th September – A talk by Jonny Gios on Landscape Photography, centred on the Lake District.
Jonny writes: My talk, ‘Landscapes, centred on the Lake District’, is a personal look at the landscapes that have inspired me as a photographer, from the iconic mountains and lakes to the quieter, more intimate details that can easily be overlooked. I’ll share images, stories and a few thoughts on light, weather, composition and what makes a landscape photograph really connect with the viewer.

Wednesday 7^th October – This evening speaker is Susie Freeman and the topic is ‘The Magic of Colour.’
Susie writes:
“The Magic of Colour: A lively exploration of the science of colour and how colour influences our perception of photographic images. Through discussion and examples the aim of this talk is to help to: – Increase your awareness of colour. – Help you to see potential shots in a slightly different way. And, most importantly, attempt to assist in the quest to capture that perfect image…  ”

Wednesday 14^th October – Our first internal club competition ‘The Events Cup.’ This will be judged by Carol Watson.

That’s all folks and see you Wednesday!

Mike

Morning All

Garstang Camera Club Skills Survey
Our club survey:~
It is mostly ticky boxes, just 5 mins of your time, honest!
Many thanks to the 30 members who have filled it in and pressed that ‘submit’ button!
If you haven’t so far….
The aim is simple: it will help us plan talks, workshops and outings that people actually want, discover the hidden talent in the club, and maybe match members who’d like a bit of help with those who are happy to share their experience.
There are no wrong answers. Please complete: just click on:
https://forms.gle/7S8suxaAoadmmQGW7
At the end of the form just press submit!
Thank you it is really appreciated!

Notices:

From Tim: Sale of donated camera kit
Many thanks to all those members who have purchased one or several pieces of the camera kit kindly donated by Tim’s friend. So far, we have raised £855 for the club’s funds! Wow!
At last week’s meeting a number of members said they would like to buy further items – the attached table shows who you are and the kit you said you were interested in. Tim will bring along these items to this week’s meeting. Please could those buying these items either bring cash on Wednesday or transfer their payment to the Club’s bank account prior to the meeting. All proceeds from this sale are going to the club’s funds.

Bank details for BACS
Account Name: Garstang Camera Club
Sort Code: 20-55-41
Account Number: 90896284

The attached list also includes those items that did not sell last week. If anyone is interested in any of these, please let Tim know (timflesher@btinternet.com) and he will also bring them along to this week’s meeting for you. After this we will look to sell any remaining items through an online camera kit site.

Message from Stan: Image Critiquing – 28th October:
On Wednesday 28th October, our very own Stan — photographer, sage, and man who has seen more images than the average hard drive — has kindly offered to critique members’ photos. The theme is “Open”, meaning you can submit anything you’ve taken recently: colour, monochrome, or that experimental shot you took when you accidentally pressed the shutter while sneezing.
This is your chance to have your images analysed and receive constructive criticism from Stan, who has enough photographic experience to fill several walls at the Arts Centre. Having your work critiqued by him is an excellent learning opportunity… and possibly a character‑building one.
All images will be shown anonymously, so no one will know who submitted what – except Mike, who will know everything but promises to keep your secrets safer than his camera batteries.
📸 Submitting Your Masterpieces:
Each member may submit up to 3 images. Stan guarantees he’ll critique at least one, and probably two, unless you send him something truly baffling, in which case he may need a lie‑down.
📤 How to Send Them:
In an ideal world (the one where we all remember to charge our cameras), please send:
The original file AND your edit,
OR, if life is being life, just send whichever version you can find.
Deadline: Sunday 4th October or send them as soon as you can find them; earlier the better; Stan sometimes needs time to think!
JPEGs: Email to info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk with subject line: Image Critique. 
RAW files: Send via WeTransfer to the same email and subject line as above.
USB stick: Also acceptable, provided it arrives by the deadline and isn’t disguised as a novelty keyring.
All images will be viewed by Mike only, then passed to Stan anonymously as “Member 1”, “Member 2”, etc. No names, no clues, no identifying marks — unless you’ve watermarked it with your face.
If you’re struggling, confused, panicking, or simply allergic to file‑handling, ask at the next meeting or phone Mike on 07340 314408. He will help. He may sigh, but he will help.

Message from Robin – our treasurer!
During our recent committee meeting I suggested transferring some club funds (not all) to a savings account so it may be possible for these funds to accrue some interest.
So, I have transferred £3,000 to a Barclays account. It won’t amass a huge fortune but ‘Every little helps! To quote a famous grocer!

Advance notice:
Attention, cake enthusiasts and caffeine dependents!
The Camera Club is running a coffee morning at the Arts Centre on Saturday 3rd October, perfectly aligned with our print exhibition and possibly some Plein Air pictures — assuming the artists didn’t blow away, melt, or abandon their easels in frustration.
We expect a crowd, so we need cakes, traybakes, biscuits, or anything that doesn’t require a risk assessment. Cakes of all shapes, sizes, and levels of structural integrity considered. If it’s edible, we’ll sell it. If it’s questionably edible, we’ll still sell it – we’re not proud.
Please let Mike know what you’re bringing so he can pretend he’s in control of the situation.
Cheers. Ta muchly!

Events Cup:
A reminder! The last date for entry, digital images and prints, is Wednesday 16^th September – 3 days!

Coffee duty:
Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 16^th September is Claire and Anita – thank you ladies, in advance!

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 16^th September – This evening’s speaker is Ian Brodie with a talk titled, Local Damselflies and Dragonflies: Ian writes: A look at the colourful and exotic insects which have been around since the age of the dinosaurs!
Ian’s talk will be followed, after the break, by: A short talk from Tim titled – “Family History – a Photographic Practical Joke”.
Plus, of course, the Opening Night Competition result!

Wednesday 23^rd September – Members evening; members will be invited to vote on the ‘Battle’ images needed for the 3 ‘Battles’ this season.
Stan will introduce the ‘Battle’ concept and all the images will be shown as a slide show then one by one to vote on. Stan will coordinate the results which will be presented during a subsequent meeting.
Following the voting, and the coffee break, members are invited to SAT the first challenge this season which is ‘Red and/or yellow images taken by mobile phones or iPad only, digital no prints – no cameras!

Wednesday 30^th September – A talk by Jonny Gios on Landscape Photography, centred on the Lake District.
Jonny writes: My talk, ‘Landscapes, centred on the Lake District’, is a personal look at the landscapes that have inspired me as a photographer, from the iconic mountains and lakes to the quieter, more intimate details that can easily be overlooked. I’ll share images, stories and a few thoughts on light, weather, composition and what makes a landscape photograph really connect with the viewer.

Wednesday 7^th October – This evening speaker is Susie Freeman and the topic is ‘The Magic of Colour.’ Further details to follow.

That’s all folks,

Mike

Morning All

Well, that was a remarkably busy evening — almost standing room only!
Welcome back to all our returning members, our shiny new recruits from the last couple of weeks, and the brave guests who turned up to find out what on earth we actually do on a club night. I sincerely hope we met expectations, or at the very least didn’t lower them too dramatically.
Deep gratitude to Stan, Dom and Bob for their talks. Each one was delivered with the poise of someone who absolutely didn’t finish preparing five minutes before speaking.
And thank you to everyone who voted in the Opening Night Competition. The results will be announced on Weds 16th, assuming the counting team has recovered from the emotional strain of tallying numbers and no one demanding a recount!
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to Freda and Rhona for those dangerously delicious homemade cakes. Truly magnificent. Next week we return to biscuits, which feels a bit like following a Michelin‑star meal with a packet of Rich Teas, but hey-ho, here we are.

Paint Garstang – En Plein Air :
Garstang began Saturday under the faint smell of linseed oil and the sight of folding easels appearing in places they had not been the previous evening. This indicated that the annual Plein Air Painting Competition had arrived. 24 artists turned up, each equipped with brushes, canvas bags, and hats that defied both logic and meteorology and some very interesting umbrellas.
The town spent the day quietly absorbing an influx of colour and earnest concentration. Artists positioned themselves across cobbles, fields, and any location not already occupied by livestock. Locals observed with a mixture of interest and mild confusion as painters squinted at buildings, held their thumbs in the air for reasons known only to them, and attempted to negotiate with the sun, which refused to remain still.
By late afternoon, the artists transported their completed work to Garstang Arts Centre. This was done with great care, presumably to avoid any accidental contact with a rival’s canvas. The procession was orderly, if slightly tense.
Musical accompaniment was provided in the courtyard by ukulele band Buzz Cadillac and the Lightning Rods, whose name continues to be genuine. Front man Andy Stuart led a performance that resulted in toe tapping and hip swaying at a level considered moderate but noticeable.
I can report that Garstang remained intact throughout the event.
The weather read the script and stayed fair for the competition, just, and I managed to get a few photos of most of the artists including an outlier, our own Maddy, using charcoal on canvas, representing the beautiful architectural engineering of the Wyre Aqueduct was, I judged, magnificent!
The afternoon concluded with a prize ceremony heroically steered by Sheila Tearle of the Arts Centre, who kept the proceedings moving forward with momentum throughout.
The judge faced the deeply unenviable task of choosing a winner; nevertheless, he praised the overall standard, and then presented first, second and third certificates, followed by six boxes of chocolate distributed to artists described as “nearly there.”
Anyone who took photos and wants to share them please send them to me and I’ll forward them on to whomever.

Notices:

Before last week’s talks began, I went through the internal competitions for this ‘season’ with various dates and also a list of ‘challenges’ that are part of the programme. These 2 documents are attached.
I would like to emphasis that competitions and challenges are not compulsory!
However, I would like to say that in the competition ‘world’, when shown, the judge can provide very useful constructive feedback, mostly, and images are entered anonymously; only the Competition Secretary knows and Lewis displays the highest discretion!
As for challenges, again they can be entered anonymously and only the highest bribe will force me not to divulge the author! No, Lewis taught me everything! 

Reminder: First Show and Tell (SAT): Challenge 1
If you have had the opportunity to look at the programme you will see, dotted throughout, are various SAT’s (Show and Tells).
On Wednesday 23^rd September, amongst other things, we have our first SAT, ‘Colour.
The idea here is to show digital images (no prints) that contain either the colour red OR yellow or red and yellow.
However, the images MUST be taken on a phone or on an iPad.
There are 3 ways to show your images:
Put them on a USB ‘stick’ and I’ll put them up on the screen and you can chat about them, at the front of the room; perhaps you may want to say, where, why and any editing.
Put them on a USB ‘stick’ and I’ll put them up on the screen and you can chat about them, from your seat; again, perhaps you may want to say, where, why and any editing.
Or, send them to me on info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk and I’ll put them on a PowerPoint presentation and show them anonymously and the members can chat about them.
How many can I show I hear you ask – as many as you want, with reason – please don’t show 40+!
Please have a go – there are few of these throughout the ‘season’ and we are a very friendly bunch!

Second SAT – Water: Introduction to challenge 2
As with the above challenge 1 the idea here is to show images that contain ‘Water.’
Thoughts!
This challenge is WATER — that well‑known substance responsible for rain, tea, and 97% of British small talk. Your mission, should you choose to accept it (and you do, because we need entries), is to produce an image that contains water in any form, state, mood, or level of chaos.
To help you along, here are some highly professional suggestions!

• Actual water — Rivers, lakes, puddles, or that suspicious drip under your kitchen sink.
• Water behaving badly — Waves crashing, taps leaking, sprinklers attacking innocent passers-by.
• Water pretending to be something else — Mist, fog, steam, or the condensation on your glasses when you walk into Booths.
• Water in domestic captivity — Kettles boiling, washing-up bubbles, or the bath plughole (for the truly avant-garde).
• Water in emotional turmoil — Tears, sweat, or the rain that arrives precisely when you’ve just set up your tripod.
• Water in unexpected places — Dew on a spiderweb, droplets on a car bonnet, or the pint you accidentally knocked over at the Royal Oak.

Please remember: You do not need to get soaked for this challenge. You do not need to submerge your camera. You do not need to recreate the Titanic. But if you do, please film it horizontally.
Plenty of time – well, at the moment! Entries to be shown on Wednesday 28^th October.

Message from Tim: Sale of donated camera Kit
Many thanks to all those members at last week’s meeting who said they would like to buy one or several pieces of the camera kit kindly donated by Tim’s friend. In a number of cases several members wanted to buy the same piece of kit. For these, Tim’s wife has drawn names out of a hat to determine who the buyer of each item should be. The table attached shows who the successful members are and, for the kit where only one member wants to buy it, who this is.
Tim will bring along all the sold items to this week’s meeting. Please could those members who have said they want to buy the items, either bring cash on Wednesday or transfer their payment to the Club’s bank account prior to the meeting. All proceeds from this sale are going to the club’s funds.

Bank details for BACS
Account Name: Garstang Camera Club
Sort Code: 20-55-41
Account Number: 90896284

The attached list also includes those items that did not sell last week. 
If anyone is interested in any of these, please let Tim know (timflesher@btinternet.com) and he will also bring them along to this week’s meeting for you.

Message from Dom:
Attached is the PDF version of the portrait photography slides I talked about on Wednesday.
Garstang Camera Club Skills Survey

Our club survey:
It is mostly ticky boxes, just 5 mins of your time, honest!
The aim is simple: it will help us plan talks, workshops and outings that people actually want, discover the hidden talent in the club, and maybe match members who’d like a bit of help with those who are happy to share their experience.
There are no wrong answers. Please complete: just click on: https://forms.gle/7S8suxaAoadmmQGW7
At the end of the form just press submit!
Thank you it is really appreciated!

The Events Cup
A reminder! The last date for entry, digital images and prints, is Wednesday 16^th September. If anyone wants a hand with their digital images – basically getting them on to a USB stick correctly please just email me on info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk – I’m more than happy to help.

Coffee duty:
Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 9^th September is Phil and Freda – thank you!

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 9^th September – Our first speaker of the season – Gordon Watson, ‘live’ at the Arts Centre; talk titled ‘Coast.’
Gordon writes: The UK coastline is extraordinarily diverse, from dramatic cliffs and windswept headlands to secluded beaches, harbours and estuaries. In this talk, we will take a photographic journey around the UK, exploring how geology and history have shaped the landscapes that we see today, and how the opportunities for landscape photography change as we travel around the coastline.

Wednesday 16^th September – This evening’s speaker is Ian Brodie with a talk titled, Local Damselflies and Dragonflies: Ian is a former member of the club as those more mature members will, I’m sure, remember. Ian’s talk will be followed by:
A short talk from Tim titled – “Family History – a Photographic Practical Joke”.
Plus, of course, the Opening Night Competition result!

Wednesday 23^rd September – Members evening; members will be invited to vote on the ‘Battle’ images needed for the 3 ‘Battles’ this season.
Stan will introduce the ‘Battle’ concept and all the images will be shown as a slide show then one by one to vote on. Stan will coordinate the results which will be presented during a subsequent club meeting.
Following the voting, and the coffee break, members are invited to SAT the first challenge this season which is ‘Red and/or yellow images taken by mobile phones or iPad only, digital no prints – no cameras! See above – challenge 1

Wednesday 30^th September – A talk by Jonny Gios on Landscape Photography, centred on the Lake District. More information to follow.

That’s all folks,

Mike

Morning All

Another few days of ‘summer’ coming up but nights seem to be getting chillier! Plenty of butterflies out at the moment, 5 varieties in the garden at the moment.

Notices:

Competition Secretary:
As you may be aware Lewis has been competition secretary for many years – I think 2026 – 2027 will be his 46^th year!
Following on from the recent committee meeting, last Wednesday, it was decided to split this role into 2 parts, namely, Internal and External Comp Sec. This will make the role far more manageable and mean that 2 members can help each other out at times of holidays, sickness etc.
Lewis feels now would be a good time to hand the ‘baton’ on, so to speak, but would be willing to continue in either role, if necessary, but not both. So, would any member like to take on either role?
For the internal comp sec this would be a great opportunity to operate alongside Lewis for 2026/27 season ready to take over in 2027/28 – full training will be given
For the external comp sec this would again be working with Lewis with the view to ‘taking over’ in 2027/28.
If you are interested in either role, please contact Mike on info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk or phone Lewis on 07790 960905 and we could then have a chat to give you more info and decide how to progress! Cheers.

Message from Tim:

Camera equipment:
A close friend of Tim’s has generously said that he would like to donate quite a bit of camera kit – much of it current Canon lenses – in very good condition, to the club. We plan to use the kit to allow the club to raise funds from some relatively modest donations for the kit.
A comprehensive list of the kit is attached. As you will see there is a description of each piece of kit, the condition it is in, a suggested ‘price/donation’ and some notes pertaining to the kit. Tim & I believe the prices asked are all very good value compared to the typical second-hand prices for the items.
Tim’s friend has said that he hopes it can benefit members starting out in photography and/or those that might not be able to access this type of kit.
No items will be for sale before the first meeting so that as many people get a chance to see the list and decide whether they are interested.
Tim is then happy to bring along all the kit on the 2nd Sept, (our first actual meeting) so that members can see it all and buy those items that they wish. If we have several interested in the same item, Tim suggests we have a draw to select the member who should get it.
In the case of the cameras and lenses, it seems reasonable to allow members a short time to try out their ‘purchase’; payment would be taken ‘upfront’ and a week would be allowed to try it out and to return the item for a full refund if they weren’t happy with it.
So, if you are keen on one, or more, items please bring along the payment, in cash, on 2^nd September as you will be able to take it away at the end of the evening.
Huge thanks here to Tim and his friend for this very generous gesture which will help with members’ photography and the club’ s coffers!

Reminder! Opening night competition!
Only ONE PDI from any member taken in the last 12 months.
Image sent to me (Mike) by Tuesday 1st September, midnight to info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk Many thanks to those members who have already submitted an image.
Please take part, it’s just for a bit of fun!

Message from Stan:
We will be entering the 3 ‘Battles’ with other clubs during the 26/27 season.
Members will select the images for the Garstang entries by voting on Wednesday, 23/09/26.
The images used for the voting will be those that scored 20 or 19 in last season’s internal competitions. Members may submit additional images to be used in the voting. When submitting images for the ‘Battles’ please: 
Send to Stan by email: stanley.pearson@talktalk.net.
Give the image a title.
Do not include any images used in the previous ‘Battles.’
Maximum image size of 1600 pixels (wide) x 1200 pixels (high); (if you cannot send the correct size, send the images to Stan and he will resize).
Submit a maximum of 4 images.
Latest date for submission is Sunday 30th August.
Any questions? If so just email in on info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk

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 2^nd September to begin collection! Or, of course, pay on-line.
Bank details for BACS
Account Name: Garstang Camera Club
Sort Code: 20-55-41
Account Number: 90896284
Many thanks.

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 26^th August – Show and tell evening; images from Sunderland Point, Crook O’Lune. PLUS, any other images you have taken and wish to show. Please bring your images in on a USB ‘stick.’ Also, other news relating to the club.

Wednesday 2^nd September – Our opening night of the new season:
Amongst other ‘things’, we will have Mike – various notices and announcements including introduction of the Committee Members and a reminder of the R and Rs for our 5 Internal Competitions.
Then, a talk by Stan on Llandudno, followed by a talk by Dom on Portrait Photography. During the coffee/tea break (with homemade cakes from Rhona and Freda, worth coming to the meeting just for these!) a table of photographic items for sale, brought in by Tim, for you to peruse!
Following the break, Bob is giving a talk on the recent eclipse and finally The Opening Night competition; images shown in a slideshow format and then individually for all to vote on.

Wednesday 9^th September – Our first speaker of the season – Gordon Watson, ‘live’ at the Arts Centre; talk titled ‘Coast.’
Gordon writes: The UK coastline is extraordinarily diverse, from dramatic cliffs and windswept headlands to secluded beaches, harbours and estuaries. In this talk, we will take a photographic journey around the UK, exploring how geology and history have shaped the landscapes that we see today, and how the opportunities for landscape photography change as we travel around the coastline.

Wednesday 16^th September –This evening’s speaker is Ian Brodie with a talk titled, Local Damselflies and Dragonflies: Ian is a former member of the club as those more mature members will, I’m sure, remember.
Ian’s talk will be followed by a short talk from Tim.

That’s all folks,

Mike