Morning All

A keen easterly yesterday and today; when is going to get, at least, a little warmer! Roll on spring and warmer weather!

Notices

Message from a Mr Jack Fell

Hello, I have a couple of Cokin camera lens mounts and a few filters which I would like to pass on to any interested user. Please contact Mike/Lewis by email, initially, if anybody is interested and we’ll pass on your details to Jack. There are about a dozen individual items. Regards, Jack.

Calendar images

Reminder and important!

Images of Garstang for the 2025 calendar:

· Maximum of 5 images, per member, submitted by Sunday April 21st. These images can be historical. We really do need, if possible, all members to have a go and submit their images so that the Arts Centre committee have a great choice to choose from for the final 12.

· Images of? Well, restricted to Garstang and the town boundary. We just need to use our common sense and judgment on the extent of the boundary!

· Images to be in colour, sRGB, within or maximum of 1600 x 1200, ratio of 3:2, and landscape and please add a title. · Please send them in to info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk

· When all the images are in Mike will present them on Wednesday 24th April, 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.

If you need any help/information PLEASE just ask – it’s no problem!

Exhibition:

Exhibition – Deadline for prints has been extended to Wednesday, 13th March; These prints are ones that have NOT be given an award in any of our

competitions, and they could also be prints that for some reason you haven’t entered.

We really need about another 10 more!

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.

Events Cup.

Don’t forget to vote for your top 8 destinations from the Events destinations list that went out last week. Many thanks, though, to all who have voted so far!

Coffee morning – Saturday 16th March at the Arts Centre. We are looking for cakes etc to sell on the morning so, please contribute something edible! Please let Mike know so we can organise accordingly – ta!

Up and coming programme of events:

· March 13th – Judging of the Humanity Competition by Carol Watson DPAGB ABPE QPSA.

· March 16th – (Saturday), coffee morning hosted by us.

· March 20th – Keith Snell – ‘Live’; Shackleton & South Georgia.

· 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.

That’s all folks

Mike and Lewis

Morning All
 
Well, there we go, beaten by 3 points! (Garstang 507, Rangiora 510). Still, we lost by 10 points last year, so an improvement. 
Marilyn, from NZ, sent an email apologising for her failure on the computer, quote “I was a numpty on the screen!” she went on to say “Great images and a very close score between the 2 clubs. We were lucky to scrape in!” 
Also, many thanks to Tim for his talk on Mongolia and how to create a photo book using Lightroom; very useful!
 
Reminders
Arts Centre Calandar – images of Garstang and the immediate vicinity will be needed soon for 2025 calendar; deadline in about 7 weeks, not long!
Project: hope everyone is progressing well with their individual or team project; ready for presentation first week back – September 4th

Notices
 
Events Cup. Attached is the full list (x 12) of possible destinations for this seasons Events Cup; you will see them listed (A – L) in the left-hand column and in the right-hand column is the milage and times to the destinations.
We need to narrow down this list to 5 destinations for April, May, June, July and August.
Please vote and chose your top 8 in order of preference; we appreciate we only need 5 but by voting for your top 8 it give us a bigger range or spread of destinations.
Voting will end on Wednesday 13th March. We will then add up the scores and send out the 5 destinations chosen with dates.
It is proposed to offer 2 days for each destination; one for a weekday and one for a weekend day – but, you will be only allowed to visit on one of the days.
However, as this is a change in the ‘rules’ from previous Events Cups, we would like everyone who votes on the destinations to also vote on whether you like the idea of a choice of 2 days or stick to the 1 day only as in previous Events Cups.

Robin’s presentation March 8th – just a few tickets left; if you are interested, please speak to Robin on Wednesday. 

Coffee morning – Saturday 16th March at the Arts Centre. We are look for cakes etc to sell on the morning so, please contribute something edible! Please let Mike know so we can organise accordingly – ta! 

Exhibition – Deadline for prints is this Wednesday, 6th March; These prints are ones that have NOT be given an award in any of our competitions, and they could also be prints that for some reason you haven’t entered. 

Member’s Evening 3rd April – Show and Tell. This is to give all members a chance to show recent work, talk about their images and possibly receive constructive comments from members. 
Perhaps show images that are often very different from those entered in competitions BUT to 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.
 
Member’s Evening 24th April – would any member like to give a talk on any photographic subject – as long or short as you want.
 
Up and coming programme of events:
March 6th – Paul Slater, ‘live’: Soul to Soul – Creative photography.
I’ve always been fascinated with photography and cameras. When I was young, I saved up for my first Canon film camera a Canon Pellix. Since then, I have various cameras and during the days of film I used to process my own mono shots. However, I took a break from serious photography for around 20 years whilst working on my career. I returned to it a few years ago and focussed on Street and Creative photography, mainly because of its interaction with people. I like the challenge of today’s digital environment, where the pace of change is rapid. Digital photography presents the photographer with challenges like never before. Today the photographer can spend as much time in post processing as he or she does in achieving a good shot. But it’s a choice you can make, take it or leave it. I enjoy time behind the camera and in post processing in equal measure. 
March 6th – Prints for the exhibition.
March 13th – Judging of the Humanity Competition by Carol Watson DPAGB ABPE QPSA.
March 16th – (Saturday), coffee morning hosted by us.
March 20th – Keith Snell – ‘Live’; Shackleton & South Georgia.
March 20th – Anything Goes Competition – last date for entry.
March 27th – No meeting – Committee meeting.

That’s all folks
 
Mike and Lewis

Morning All
 
Many thanks to Lee for an excellent presentation on ‘Planning Landscape Photography’ last Wednesday; we have had quite a few members commenting only positive ‘noises’ about it! Perhaps we can rebook him for 25/2026 – next seasons programme (2024/25) is nearly complete!
 
Notices
 
Tea and coffee for this Wednesday, 28th, is Claire and Michael – thanks in advance!
 
From Robin – 
A Picture Show with Hotpot Supper 
THE SOUTHERN CAUCASUS 
On Friday 8th March 2024 
Starts with Hotpot at 7.00pm 
In Kirkland & Catterall Memorial Hall 
Junction of A6 & A586 Churchtown, Garstang 
All Proceeds to St Helen’s Church 
Tickets £12 Further Details 
Under 16s £7                       Robin Shorrock 01995 602238 
 
April Exhibition: this exhibition of prints is open to all members who wish to submit prints to be shown in the Arts Centre. 
Deadline for prints is Wednesday 6th March although you can bring them in on any Wednesday. 
The ‘hanging’ of the prints will be on Saturday 6th April and the exhibition will be open from Tuesday 9th April until Thursday 2nd May. 
Maurice is co-ordinating all of this and he has asked that all prints have on the back your name and a title.

 
Coffee morning – Our next fund-raising coffee morning is on Saturday 16th March at the Arts Centre. We are look for cakes etc to sell on the morning so, please contribute something edible! Please let Mike know so we can organise accordingly – ta!
 
Outing 
We’ve been in touch with Lee following Wednesday’s talk and we are firming up our ‘shoot’ at Media City, Manchester. 
So, provisional dates are: Tuesday 9th or Thursday 11th April or Tuesday 16th or Thursday 18th April. 
Sunset on the above dates is approximately 8pm; so, we would arrange to get there at 7.15 – 7.30 and probably leave about 9pm/9.15pm – however, it’s weather dependant! 
Parking is fine and safe and I would envisage we would go in car sharing ‘mode’ and it takes about an hour. 
Numbers? 8 – 10 members and the cost will be £10 per person. 
Anyway, watch this space and we will keep everyone up to date.
 
Anything Goes Competition 
Last competition of the season! Hand in date for prints and DPI’s is Wednesday 20th March.

 
Up and coming programme of events. 
February 28th – Battle competition v Rangiora Photographic Society via Zoom, in the Arts Centre, using AV. Plus, Tim’s talk on “His recent trip to Mongolia and also a slot about making photo books in Lightroom”.
March 6th – Paul Slater, ‘live’: Soul to Soul – Creative photography.
March 13th – Judging of the Humanity Competition by Carol Watson DPAGB ABPE QPSA
March 16th – (Saturday), coffee morning hosted by us.
March 20th – Keith Snell – ‘Live’; Shackleton & South Georgia
March 20th – Anything Goes Competition – last date for entry

That’s all folks
 
Mike and Lewis

Morning All
 
Notices
 
A Picture Show with Hotpot Supper
 
THE SOUTHERN CAUCASUS – Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia
 
On Friday 8th March 2024
 
All Proceeds to St Helen’s Church  
 
Tea and coffee for this Wednesday, 21st, is Dave and Tim – thanks!
 
April Exhibition: this exhibition of prints is open to all members who wish to submit prints to be shown in the Arts Centre.
 
These prints are ones that have NOT be given an award in any of our competitions, and they could also be prints that for some reason you haven’t entered. Please bring in your prints ‘cos we need about 60 to fill the walls in the Arts Centre! 
Deadline for prints is Wednesday 6th March although you can bring them in on any Wednesday. 
The ‘hanging’ of the prints will be on Saturday 6th April and the exhibition will be open from Tuesday 9th April until Thursday 2nd May. 
Maurice is co-ordinating all of this and he has asked that all prints have on the back your name and a title.
 
Coffee morning – Our next fund-raising coffee morning is on Saturday 16th March at the Arts Centre. We are looking for cakes etc to sell on the morning so, please contribute something edible! Please let Mike know so we can organise accordingly – ta!
 
Members evening – Our next members evening is on Wednesday 3rd April. We appreciate this is a few weeks away but we are beginning to organise and are therefore open to any suggestions/thoughts/ideas that anyone has for the evening. Please email in or speak to Mike or Lewis over the next couple of meetings – many thanks.
 
Garstang Fine Art – Sharon’s opening times have now changed; she is now closed on Mondays and Wednesday mornings. She is also on holiday from Saturday 2nd March for 7 days. This info is given just in case you use her for mounting prints etc.  
 
Up and coming programme of events.
 
February 21st – Lee Metcalf, ‘live’; ‘Planning Landscape Photography’.
February 28th – Battle competition v Rangiora Photographic Society via Zoom, in the Arts Centre, using AV. Plus, Tim’s talk on “His recent trip to Mongolia and also a slot about making photo books in Lightroom”.
March 6th – Paul Slater, ‘live’: Soul to Soul – Creative photography.
March 13th – Judging of the Humanity Competition by Carol Watson DPAGB ABPE QPSA
March 16th – (Saturday), coffee morning hosted by us.
March 20th – Keith Snell – ‘Live’; Shackleton & South Georgia 
 
That’s all folks
 
Mike and Lewis

Morning All
 
Pea-souper here this morning, I’m positive there could be a photograph, but not sure!
 
Thanks to Sue Clark, last Wednesday, for her talk on ‘Composition Rules and Myths,’ – as I said an explosion of information, and I hope you are all now familiar with Fibonacci sequence; Image included – questions on a postcard!

 
Notices 
Humanity Competition: last date for entry, DPI’s and prints – 14th February, that’s next week!
 
Tea and coffee for this Wednesday is Freda and Elaine – thanks!
 
April Exhibition: this exhibition of prints is open to all members who wish to submit prints to be shown in the Arts Centre. 
These prints are ones that have NOT be given an award in any of our competitions, and they could also be prints that for some reason you haven’t entered. Please bring in your prints ‘cos we need about 60 to fill the walls in the Arts Centre! 
Deadline for prints is Wednesday 6th March although you can bring them in on any Wednesday. 
The ‘hanging’ of the prints will be on Saturday 6th April and the exhibition will be open from Tuesday 9th April until Thursday 2nd May. 
Maurice is co-ordinating all of this and he has asked that all prints have on the back your name and a title.  
 
Anne Marie Whitehead, Secretary: It has been decided to hold another Summer Celebration of Art and Music starting on 17th July and culminating with the third ‘Plein Air’ competition on Saturday 7th September 2024. Any ideas or suggestions will be gratefully received. 
If you recall the ‘Plein Air’ competition concerns artists who are invited to paint various scenes in Garstang, of their choice, on a particular day from 9am – 4pm and are then judged on the day. The camera club will be invited to take photographs of this competition; further details nearer the time! 
 
Up and coming programme of events.
 
February 14th – Graham Dean (Morecambe Camera Club), ‘live’ in the Arts Centre; “Why”.
February 21st – Lee Metcalf, ‘live’; ‘Planning Landscape Photography’.
February 28th – Battle competition v Rangiora Photographic Society via Zoom using AV. Plus Tim’s talk on “His recent trip to Mongolia and also a slot about making photo books in Lightroom”.
March 6th – Paul Slater, ‘live’: Soul to Soul – Creative photography.
March 13th – Judging of the Humanity Competition, ‘live’, by Carol Watson DPAGB ABPE QPSA
  
That’s all folks 
Mike and Lewis

Afternoon All
 
A definite hint of spring in the air and slightly warmer – time to dust off that camera and get out, no excuses!
 
A big thank you to Rhona and Tim for putting the Environment Competition winners on Facebook and on the Club’s website respectively; all looks great!
 
Notices
 
Humanity Competition: last date for entry, DPI’s and prints – 14th February, 9 days’ time!
 
Tea and coffee for this Wednesday is Freda and Brenda – thanks!
 
Up and coming programme of events.
 
February 7th – Susan Clark LRPS CPAGB AWPF, Composition rules and Myths, delivered via Zoom.
February 14th – Graham Dean (Morecambe Camera Cluib), ‘live’ in the Arts Centre; “Why”.
February 21st – Lee Metcalf, ‘live’; ‘Planning Landscape Photography’.
February 28th – Battle competition v Rangiora Photographic Society via Zoom using AV. Plus Tim’s talk on “His recent trip to Mongolia and also a bit about making photo books in Lightroom”.
 
That’s all folks, short and sweet today!
 
Mike and Lewis

Morning All
 
A big thankyou to all members who managed to enter our 3rd internal competition, The Environment Cup.
 
And, well done to all who managed to gain a commended award through to 1st place.
 
Attached are the winners and commended entries for your perusal.
 
Finally, well done to Stan for being judged ‘The best in show’ with Lytham Jetty.
 
It’s safe to say that we all appreciated Lee’s very helpful and informative comments and they made for a great entertaining and very interesting evening.
 
Notices
As you will see next week, we have Richard Davis on a variety of topics in mostly Monochrome style. Richard has very kindly sent some images as a ‘taster’ – see attached.
Lee Metcalf. After the judging last Wednesday, we had a chat to Lee about leading another of his ‘Camera Walks.’ (The last one, if you remember, was in Lancaster). Lee is ‘well-up’ to run another one or even two! The initial thoughts were Manchester and more specially ‘Media City.’ Lee knows where to park – it has its own car park – and is very safe. Also, provisionally, 8 – 10 members, would be the sort of numbers going and he was thinking around mid-March. Lee is, however, away on a workshop in Scotland between 6th Feb and 10th Feb, so the idea can be firmed up after that.

Up and coming programme of events. 
January 31st – Richard Davis, ‘live’ in the Arts Centre; A variety of topics in mostly Monochrome style.
February 7th – Susan Clark LRPS CPAGB AWPF, Composition rules and Myths, delivered via Zoom.
February 14th – Graham Dean (Morecambe Camera Cluib), ‘live’ in the Arts Centre; “Why”.
February 21st – Lee Metcalf, ‘live’; ‘Planning Landscape Photography’.
February 28th – Battle competition v Rangiora Photographic Society via Zoom using AV. Plus Tim’s talk on “His recent trip to Mongolia and also a bit about making photo books in Lightroom”.

That’s all folks
 
Mike and Lewis

Afternoon All
 
Well, from minus 7.5° to plus 9°, the vagrancies of the English weather, eh? 
So, did anyone manage to take any photographs of Garstang in the ‘chiller’ of last week ready for the calendar? Answers on a postcard!
 
Notices
 
Humanity Competition: 
People in all environments, activities and emotions. People or people-related connections must be the focal point. More than one person may be included. 
Prints: If you are using Sharon (Garstang Fine Arts) for mounting, last date to her by 31.01.24. 
Last date for entry, both prints and DPI’s is Wednesday 14th February.
 
Up and coming programme of events.
 
January 24th – Environment Competition judged ‘live’ in the Arts Centre by Lee Metcalf.
January 31st – Richard Davis, ‘live’ in the Arts Centre; A variety of topics in mostly Monochrome style.
February 7th – Susan Clark LRPS CPAGB AWPF, Composition rules and Myths, delivered via Zoom.
February 14th – Graham Dean (Morecambe Camera Cluib), ‘live’ in the Arts Centre; “Why”.
February 21st – Lee Metcalf, ‘live’; ‘Planning Landscape Photography’.
February 28th – Battle competition v Rangiora Photographic Society via Zoom using AV, also, Tim’s talk on “Mongolia plus a bit about making photo books in Lightroom”.

That’s all folks
 
Mike and Lewis

Morning All
 
Many thanks to all those who managed to get to the Arts Centre or tuned-in via zoom for the 3 way battle on Wednesday evening. We thought that the judge, overall, was fair but quite tough! Though we didn’t agree with all her scores and comments – it’s all so subjective.
 
Our best 2 images were:
 
Male Chaffinch feeding juvenile 19 points; well done John
Bottle Nose Dolphin 19 points; well done Lewis
Final Scores:

J36 – 336 Points

Garstang – 326 Points
 
Morecambe – 318 Points
 
So, very close!
 
We’ve attached a comparison score sheet, from Stan, highlighting the various scores the images have been awarded over the 2 battles together with the committee score.
 
Stan comments:
 
I have highlighted in red the biggest differences.
 
For example: The bottle Nosed Dolphin scored 14 at the 4 Way and 19 at Morecambe/J36
 
The GCC committee score was generally in-between the two judges.
 
Thanks Stan!
 
Up and coming programme of events.
 
January 17th – Andy Stewart, ‘live’ in the Arts Centre; A Wildlife Presentation on Brown hares and kingfishers, equipment and fieldcraft. Simply called Hares today Kingfishers tomorrow
January 24th – Environment Competition judged ‘live’ in the Arts Centre by Lee Metcalf.
January 31st – Richard Davis, ‘live’ in the Arts Centre; A variety of topics in mostly Monochrome style.

That’s all folks
 
Mike and Lewis

Afternoon All
 
The first newsletter for 2024!
 
Well, the wet weather appears to be behind us, at least for a while, and looking at the news the North-West seems to have come off lightly.
 
Anyway, sunny and dry days ahead, but with frosts; photo opportunities?
 
A really cracking talk last Wednesday from Justin Mimms, (thanks Michael), with some stunning landscape photographs – particularly the ‘Diamond Beach in Iceland; the glittering icebergs scattered across its shore like a field of diamonds.
 
Notices
 
Projects
 
Just a gentle reminder about the 2 projects we are currently running:
 
Images of Garstang needed for the 2025 calendar – the camera club has been tasked to provide the images to be on the calendar: Images to be in colour, sRGB, within or maximum of 1600 x 1200, ratio of roughly 3:2, and landscape; Deadline around late April.
We appreciate it may feel a long way away, but time flies! If there is a wintery feel about Garstang over the next few days, this may provide an opportunity for photographs!
 
Each member to develop a photographic ‘theme’ over the next few months and present their ‘findings’ – good, bad or ugly (what went right and what didn’t!), – at the first meeting in 2024 which will be on September 4th.
 
One thought could be that you team up with another member and work together and produce a joint project – only an idea.
 
 
Possible themes/ideas/suggestions – usage of a tripod and/or handheld:
 
Getting to grips with your camera; shooting on automatic, then aperture priority, then shutter speed priority, then even on manual, collecting examples as you go along. Experimenting with depth of field, focus and exposure compensation.
Flowers/Forest/Woodland – perhaps, woodland scenes (Bluebells) and detailed shots.
Water and reflective photography – canals, rivers, sea, puddles!
Food
Landscapes and seascapes – possibly to include sun rises and sets
Weather, storms, clouds, rainbows
Travel
Macro
Monochrome
Cityscapes/Urban life
Architecture
Sports
Nature and wildlife
Minimalistic
Mobile only images
These are just a few ideas; you may, of course, develop you own theme or combine some together, your choice!
 
Events Cup
 
We are beginning to think about the Events Cup destinations – where does the time go?
 
Last year we had 5 destinations – one for each of the following months – April, May, June, July and August; they were – Kendal, Cleveleys, Gresgarth Gardens, Brockholes and Garstang Show.
 
So, if anyone has any suggestions on where we could go this year, please email in or chat to us at the next meeting; that would be most appreciated!
 
Programme 24/25
 
The camera club programme for 2024/2025 is coming along nicely. We have some really interesting speakers already ‘lined-up’ and, so far, 2 projects highlighted for all members!
 
However, we would like to invite any member to do a presentation on the ‘members evenings,’ which we still, at the moment, have empty: either full length (that’s a whole meeting), half a meeting (approx. 45/50 minutes), or a ‘cameo’ talk, say of 15 mins. All these talks on a topic of your choice. It could be a travel log or images that you are experimenting on or a set of photographs that you are very pleased with or whatever – your choice.
 
If you need help, setting it up, just ask ‘cos I’m sure we can help plan it and help produce it.
 
 
Up and coming programme of events.
 
January 10th – 3 way ‘Battle’ between Garstang, Morecambe and J36; Judge: Erica Oram CPAGB AFIAP BPE3, delivered via Zoom.
January 17th – Andrew Stewart, ‘live’ in the Arts Centre; Wildlife Presentation.
January 24th – Environment Competition judged ‘live’ in the Arts Centre by Lee Metcalf.
January 31st – Richard Davis, ‘live’ in the Arts Centre; A variety of topics in mostly Monochrome style.

As you can see the 3 way battle, next Wednesday, is via zoom; as this is a social evening, as well as a competition, we would like as many to attend a possible. However, if anyone can’t join us in person, please email in for the zoom link details.
 
That’s all folks
 
Mike and Lewis