Morning All

Where’s the sun? answers on a postcard!

Notices:
Programme for 2026 – 2027:
Many thanks from the members who have already chatted to me!
Believe it or not we are now at the beginning of the process of compiling next year’s programme. We need to start now to ensure we get the speakers, either ‘live’ of via Zoom, that we want.
So, if any members wish to contribute any ideas for content, PLEASE get in touch as soon as possible on info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk or chat to Mike or anyone on the committee at the next couple of meetings.
Don’t forget this is your club and talks/speakers represent about 50% of the programme and if you would like a particular topic/theme/subject NOW is the time to voice your opinion! Everything considered!

Last reminder!
Image Critiquing: On 29^th October:
Don’t forget to send in those photos and all images submitted and shown will be anonymously. Deadline date: Images in by Wednesday 15^th October please! That’s next Wednesday!

Competition: L&CPU – another reminder!
It is an inter-club competition; Projected Digital Image (PDI).
Each club entry must consist of:

• 8 images per club

• No more than 2 images per individual

• The first 4 images must come from 4 different photographers

Lewis is co-ordinating our entries, so:
A maximum of 2 PDI’s per member sent to Lewis via info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk (subject ‘Club Knockout’), by Saturday 1^st November. Lewis will then choose the 8 images to be submitted by us.

‘The Alphabet’ challenge – yet another reminder!
All new members please note and please have a go!
The idea is to take photographs depicting all the letters of the alphabet.
You can take photographs of anything except actual letters! In theory, you could end up with 26 images!
So, for example, you could take a photograph of a farm/field gate and within that could be the letter ‘Z,’ or a picture of a hole in a hedge and this could be the letter ‘O.’ Having given you these 2 examples, you can’t use them now!
What you can’t do is take a photography of the Aldi sign and say that covers ‘A,’ ‘L,’ ‘D’ and ‘I’ – sorry!
This runs from now until the ‘show-and-tell’ which will be on the members evening on 19th November 2025; so, time is beginning to run out!
Please bring your images to the club meeting on a USB ‘stick’ to show your endeavours!

Message from Robin:
Robin is giving a talk on Switzerland, summer and winter.
Where: At Kirkland Memorial Hall, Churchtown.
When: Friday 7^th November starting at 7.00pm.
Cost: Tickets cost £13 pp which also includes a Hot Pot supper.
Please speak to Robin, at the Arts Centre, if you would like to attend.

Environment Cup: Our 2^nd internal competition:
The closing date for this competition is Wednesday 29^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!

Coffee duty: Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 15^th October
Michael and Angie – thank you, in advance.

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 15^th October – Our first internal club competition ‘The Events Cup.’ We have 59 entries and these will be judged by Richard Nicholson.

*Wednesday 22^nd October – Irene Amiet: 
Wildlife and Habitat: Environmental images telling stories, aiding conservation in Britian and abroad.
About Irene: She has been a photographer working for newspapers, magazines and conservation organisations since 2004, specialising in wildlife photography. She has lived and worked on three continents. Apart from photographing her local area of Lancashire’s Forest of Bowland, Irene’s work takes her frequently to the Lower Zambezi Valley and the Arctic.
She has moved away from always trying to capture her subjects as large as possible as she feels habitat and animal are intertwined in one living whole and nowadays more than ever, we need to understand that one depends on the other.
“Positive space feeds our knowledge, negative space feeds our imagination,” is one of her credos.
Irene has founded the conservation fundraising platform Wilder World in January 2025 and her first book-project, Wilder Britain, will be available for purchase in October 2025.
Over 60 UK photographers have contributed to this 184-page coffee table book coffee table book which retails at £50 with all proceeds going to re-wilding projects in the UK.

Wednesday 29^th October – Critiquing night with Stan. See above for details on sending images in to be critiqued.
I know Stan has got a small talk lined-up and he will also be showing the 20 images that were chosen for the Fylde 4-Way Battle on 12^th November.

Wednesday 5^th November – Will Stead, ‘live’ at the club, Concert photography.
A presentation taking a look at how to photograph music concerts. This engaging lecture includes all aspects of concert photography, such as how to get started, who to contact, gear and settings and a large number of Will’s concert photographs.

That’s all folks, and see you on Wednesday!
Cheers

Mike

Morning All

Well, I’m glad to see the back of ‘Amy,’ though not as bad as the BBC had us believe!

Notices:

Programme for 2026 – 2027
Believe it or not we are now at the beginning of the process of compiling next year’s programme. We need to start now to ensure we get the speakers, either ‘live’ of via Zoom, that we want.
So, if any members wish to contribute any ideas, thoughts or suggestions for content, PLEASE get in touch as soon as possible on info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk or chat to Mike or anyone on the committee at the next couple of meetings.
Don’t forget this is your club and talks/speakers represent about 50% of the programme and if you would like a particular topic/theme/subject NOW is the time to voice your opinion! Everything considered!

It’s beginning to feel a lot like………. sorry!
This year, on Wednesday 17^th December, we are repeating the ‘PPP’ – Pies, Peas and Puddings Supper at only £10 pp.
We are having Hamlets pies and puddings will be a mixture of party type desserts and the full menu in a later newsletter.
Freda is now beginning to coordinating and starting to collect names! Many thanks to members who have already ‘signed-up.’
Open to all members and their respective wives/husbands/partners etc – please support the club and I’m sure there will be some kind of entertainment – our thinking caps are on! If anyone has any ideas……!

Image Critiquing: On 29^th October. Don’t forget to send in those photos
All images submitted and shown will be anonymously
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.
How to send them in:

• In an ideal world please send the original image(s) file AND your edit.
• OR if you are struggling send the original or the edited image

Deadline date: Images in by Wednesday 15^th October please!
JPEG Images can be sent to the usual email address: info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk and the subject – Image Feedback.
If you are struggling then please ask during the next meeting or phone Mike on 07340 314408.

Fees:
Just a gentle reminder folks that fees are now due, thanks very much.

Competition: L&CPU – reminder!
It is an inter-club competition; Projected Digital Image (PDI).
Each club entry must consist of:

• 8 images per club

• No more than 2 images per individual

• The first 4 images must come from 4 different photographers

And basically, at the end of the competition the winner is the club with the most points.
Lewis is co-ordinating our entries, so:
A maximum of 2 PDI’s per member sent to Lewis via info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk (subject ‘Club Knockout’), by Saturday 1^st November. Lewis will then choose the 8 images to be submitted by us.
Any questions? Chat to me or Lewis next Wednesday or email me on: info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk

Coffee duty:
Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 8^th October is Barry and Maurice – thank you, in advance.

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 8^th October – Robert Millin: ‘Confessions of a competition addict.’
Robert’s talk will focus on his journey covering 13 years and many different genres and will give us an insight into how he has set about getting various accreditations from around the world. Genres include, Sports photography, travel, nature, people and others! Lots of images, hints and tips and hopefully some laughs too.

Wednesday 15^th October – Our first internal club competition ‘The Events Cup.’ We have 59 entries and these will be judged by Richard Nicholson.

Wednesday 22^nd October – Change to the programme. Irene Amiet:
Wildlife and Habitat: Environmental images telling stories, aiding conservation in Britian and abroad.
About Irene: She has been a photographer working for newspapers, magazines and conservation organisations since 2004, specialising in wildlife photography. She has lived and worked on three continents. Apart from photographing her local area of Lancashire’s Forest of Bowland, Irene’s work takes her frequently to the Lower Zambezi Valley and the Arctic.
She has moved away from always trying to capture her subjects as large as possible as she feels habitat and animal are intertwined in one living whole and nowadays more than ever, we need to understand that one depends on the other.
“Positive space feeds our knowledge, negative space feeds our imagination,” is one of her credos.
Irene has founded the conservation fundraising platform Wilder World in January 2025 and her first book-project, Wilder Britain, will be available for purchase in October 2025.
Over 60 UK photographers have contributed to this 184-page coffee table book coffee table book which retails at £50 with all proceeds going to re-wilding projects in the UK.~

Wednesday 29^th October – Critiquing night with Stan. See above for details on sending images in to be critiqued. 
I know Stan has got a small talk lined-up and he will also be showing the 20 images that were chosen for the Fylde 4-Way Battle on 12^th November.

That’s all folks, and see you on Wednesday!
Cheers

Mike

Morning All

Well, I’m very pleased to say that we had a very busy coffee morning yesterday at the Arts Centre!
Robin has reported that the coffee morning took £192.90, less 25% to Arts Centre of £48.23, giving £144.67 to club funds, + £10 donation.
So that’s a total of £154.67. Wow, record receipts, I think!
Many thanks to Robin, Sue and Rhona for their sterling work in looking after our customers, to those members who supplied the goodies, to the many members who managed to spare some time to visit and buy some of the produce and a big thanks to Maurice for his publicity and promotional skills.

Notices:
Fees:
Just a gentle reminder folks that fees are now due, thanks very much.

Message from Adrian:
The Art group are running a trip to Townley Hall in Burnley. This could be a great photo opportunity ‘cos very close by is the Queen’s Mill Textile Mill with a working steam engine. Cost is £25pp and £5.50 is the entry fee for Townley Hall if you wish to go in. If you are interested, please speak to Adrian at the next meeting or email him on: adrianwhitaker@btinternet.com

Competition: L&CPU – reminder!
All details were in last week’s newsletter.
It is an inter-club competition; Projected Digital Image (PDI).
Each club entry must consist of:
• 8 images per club
• No more than 2 images per individual
• The first 4 images must come from 4 different photographers
And basically, at the end of the competition the winner is the club with the most points.
Lewis is co-ordinating our entries, so:
A maximum of 2 PDI’s per member sent to Lewis via info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk (subject ‘Club Knockout’), by Saturday 1^st November. Lewis will then choose the 8 images to be submitted by us.
Any questions? Chat to me or Lewis next Wednesday or email me on: info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk

Coffee duty:
Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 1^st October is Dave and Paul – thank you, in advance.

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 1^st October – Colin Balls: Sri Lanka by rail’. Colin writes: “Sri Lanka by rail is a tour of Sri Lanka on a special steam train stopping off at various places of interest. The journey goes onto a car trip to Yarla National Park with plenty of wildlife. The presentation is a video movie.

Wednesday 8^th October – Robert Millin: ‘Confessions of a competition addict.’ 
Robert’s talk will focus on his journey covering 13 years and many different genres and will give us an insight into how Robert has set about getting various accreditations from around the world.

Wednesday 15^th October – Our first internal club competition ‘The Events Cup.’ We have 59 entries and these will be judged by Richard Nicholson.

*Wednesday 22^nd October – Change to the programme. Unfortunately, Sean Conboy has had to cancel so we have managed to secure the services of Irene Amiet: 
Wildlife and Habitat: Environmental images telling stories, aiding conservation in Britian and abroad.
About Irene: She has been a photographer working for newspapers, magazines and conservation organisations since 2004, specialising in wildlife photography. She has lived and worked on three continents. Apart from photographing her local area of Lancashire’s Forest of Bowland, Irene’s work takes her frequently to the Lower Zambezi Valley and the Arctic.
She has moved away from always trying to capture her subjects as large as possible as she feels habitat and animal are intertwined in one living whole and nowadays more than ever, we need to understand that one depends on the other.
“Positive space feeds our knowledge, negative space feeds our imagination,” is one of her credos.
Irene has founded the conservation fundraising platform Wilder World in January 2025 and her first book-project, Wilder Britain, will be available for purchase in October 2025.
Over 60 UK photographers have contributed to this 184-page coffee table book coffee table book which retails at £50 with all proceeds going to re-wilding projects in the UK.

That’s all folks, and see you on Wednesday!
Cheers

Mike

Morning All

Today this newsletter is wholly created by Artificial intelligence!
Well, I thought I might try, but no, it couldn’t compose it – yet!
But, reading between the ‘lines’ of Susie’s talk on Wednesday, this may not be far away; but in the meantime, you’ll have to put up with me!
All the prints are ‘up’ in the Arts Centre – huge thanks to Maurice (who is away but ‘set us up’ with all the prints, extremely well organised!), Elaine, Freda, Lewis and Robin.

Notices:

Competition: L&CPU
I’ve attached a copy of the Annual Club Knockout Competition organised by the Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union (L&CPU).
It is, I hope, fairly self-explanatory but the crux is:
It is an inter-club competition; Projected Digital Image (PDI).
Each club entry must consist of:

• 8 images per club

• No more than 2 images per individual

• The first 4 images must come from 4 different photographers

And basically, at the end of the competition the winner is the club with the most points.
Lewis is co-ordinating our entries, so:
A maximum of 2 PDI’s per member sent to Lewis via info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk (subject ‘Club Knockout’), by Saturday 1^st November. Lewis will then choose the 8 images to be submitted by us.
If you have any questions chat to Lewis or me at our Wednesday meetings.

Image Critiquing: 29^th October
Don’t forget to send in those photos – all info in last week’s newsletter!
All images submitted and shown will be anonymously
How to send them in:
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.
How to send them in:

• In an ideal world please send the original image(s) file AND your edit.
• OR if you are struggling send the original or the edited image

Deadline date: Images in by Wednesday 15^th October.
JPEG Images can be sent to the usual email address: info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk and the subject – Image Feedback.
If you are struggling then please ask during the next few meetings or phone Mike on 07340 314408.

Message from Michael:
Just wanted to pass these on, from one of our new members, Anita, who captured AF1 this week.
Cracking shoots too. See attached and can you guess where Anita was?

Message from Daryl Giles – Lytham St Annes PS
Charlie Waite is visiting us on Thursday 30th October, at our usual meeting room, Well Church Hall, St Albans Road, St Annes, FY8 1UZ
Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30 start.
I can offer you 10 places at £5 each if any of your members are interested.
Ideally, I need to know their names by the end of September so if you could send me the list by 1st October, I’d be grateful.
For those not familiar with Charlie, he is a world renowned landscape photographer, the founder of Light and Land and a very entertaining speaker.

Daryl Giles
If you are interested and wish to book a place, please email ASAP on info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk and I will pass your name onto Daryl. Obviously, if the demand is there it will be the first 10 that get a place!

Coffee Morning
Please don’t forget! The camera club is hosting a coffee morning, in the Arts Centre, on Saturday 27th September.
As usual, we are looking for cakes etc to sell on the morning, it’s going to be busy, so, please get baking/cooking and contribute something edible and let Mike know so we can organise accordingly.
Many thanks to those who have contacted me so far – ta!

Message from Salina Somalya
Salina is Yasmin’s mother. Yasmin was one of our ‘guests’ on the 4 week Camera Course we ran during the summer months.
She says: ‘Yasmin was wondering if she would be able to view any of the photos taken of her on the last day’ – that was the portrait session and images were taken in the Art Centre courtyard and maybe down by the river.
If you took any images that you would like to share of Yasmin, please forward them on to me at info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk and I will forward them on to Salina – cheers!
I have had some images from members but please send me more if you have them!

It’s beginning to feel a lot like………. sorry!
I think Christmas began in Aldi on September 7th; there is so much ‘stuff’ on the shelves, including mince pies, that they have hardly any room for their Easter Eggs!
This year, on Wednesday 17^th December, we are repeating the ‘PPP’ – Pies, Peas and Puddings Supper at only £10 pp.
We are having Hamlets pies and puddings will be a mixture of party type desserts and the full menu in a later newsletter.
Freda is now beginning to coordinating and beginning to collect names! Open to all members and their respective wives/husbands/partners etc – please support the club and I’m sure there will be some kind of entertainment – our thinking caps are on! If anyone has an idea……!
Also, we will need, please, some prizes for the raffle – any donations will be very gratefully received!

Coffee duty:
Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 17^th September is Shelly and Lewis – thank you, in advance.

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 24^th September – Members Evening: a talk by one of our members, John, on colour photos from 1950s-1970s. John says “I collect old Kodachrome slides and scan them to get an insight into social history.” 
This talk is a follow-up on a previous presentation from John, last August (2024), and it proved to be very interesting! Make a note in your diary!
Plus: we will be voting on the images to be submitted for the 3 ‘Battles’ in 2025/26. Thanks here to Stan for organising and co-ordinating the images.

Wednesday 1^st October – Colin Balls: Sri Lanka by rail’. Colin writes: “Sri Lanka by rail is a tour of Sri Lanka on a special steam train stopping off at various places of interest. The journey goes onto a car trip to Yarla National Park with plenty of wildlife. The presentation is a video movie.

Wednesday 8^th October – Robert Millin: ‘Confessions of a competition addict.’ More details to follow next week.

Wednesday 15^th October – Our first internal club competition ‘The Events Cup.’ This will be judged by Richard Nicholson.

That’s all folks, and see you on Wednesday!

Mike

Morning All

This morning, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all our new members ‘on-board,’ thanks for joining our club and if you have any questions, please either email me or ring me, it’s no problem!

Notices:

Image Critiquing: 29^th October
On our members evening, Wednesday October 29^th, Stan has very kindly offered to look at and comment on any members images.
Theme = ‘Open;’ that is, any image (colour or monochrome) taken recently if poss.
This will give members the opportunity to have their images analysed, and constructive criticism given.
Stan is a very experienced photographer and member of our club and by having your images analysed by him this will prove to be an excellent learning process!
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.
How to send them in:

• In an ideal world please send the original image(s) in the form of a RAW file AND your edit.
• OR if you are struggling send in as a JPEG file AND your edit, that will be fine.
• OR just send the original photo as taken.

Deadline date: Images in by Wednesday 15^th October.
JPEG Images can be sent to the usual email address: info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk and the subject –Image Feedback.
RAW files must be sent in via Wetransfer to the above email address. Or bring them in on a USB ‘stick.’
These images will be ‘seen’ by Mike only and will then be sent to Stan anonymously – no name given just ‘member 1′, member 2 etc.
If you are struggling then please ask during the next few meetings or phone Mike on 07340 314408.

Advance notice!
The camera club is hosting a coffee morning, in the Arts Centre, on Saturday 27th September. This will coincide with our print exhibition, a slide show of our latest digital images and, the ‘Plein Air Competition.’ So, lots going on!
As usual, we are looking for cakes etc to sell on the morning, it’s going to be busy, so, please get baking/cooking and contribute something edible and let Mike know so we can organise accordingly – ta!

Events Cup:
A reminder! The last date for entry, digital images and prints, is this Wednesday 17th September.

Message from Adrian:
The Art group are running a trip to Townley Hall in Burnley. This could be a great photo opportunity ‘cos very close by is the Queen’s Mill Textile Mill with a working steam engine. Cost is £25pp. If you are interested, please speak to Adrian at the next meeting – ta.

Message from Salina Somalya
Salina is Yasmin’s mother. Yasmin was one of our ‘guests’ on the 4 week Camera Course we ran during the summer months.
She says: ‘Yasmin was wondering if she would be able to view any of the photos taken of her on the last day’ – that was the portrait session and images were taken in the Art Centre courtyard and maybe down by the river.
If you took any images that you would like to share of Yasmin, please forward them on to me at info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk and I will forward them on to Salina – cheers!

Coffee duty:
Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 17^th September is Frank and Ian – thank you, in advance, gentlemen!

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 17^th September – Sue Freeman: Artificial Intelligence; the latest overview. 
Artificial Intelligence is a hot and controversial subject at the moment. In this presentation I give a simple overview of where recent technological advances have been made in AI and how this impacts on us as photographers now, and could do in the future. 

Wednesday 24^th September – Members Evening: a talk by one of our members, John, on colour photos from 1950s-1970s. John says “I collect old Kodachrome slides and scan them to get an insight into social history.” 
This talk is a follow-up on a previous presentation from John, last August (2024), and it proved to be very interesting! Make a note in your diary!
Plus: we will be voting on the images to be submitted for the 3 ‘Battles’ in 2025/26. Thanks here to Stan for organising and co-ordinating the images.

Wednesday 1^st October – Colin Balls: Sri Lanka by rail’. Colin writes: “Sri Lanka by rail is a tour of Sri Lanka on a special steam train stopping off at various places of interest. The journey goes onto a car trip to Yarla National Park with plenty of wildlife. The presentation is a video movie.

Wednesday 8^th October – Robert Millin: ‘Confessions of a competition addict.’ More details to follow next week.

That’s all folks, and see you on Wednesday!

Mike

Afternoon All

I think our opening night proved to be a success thanks to the 4 talks! So big thank you to Freda (Badgers), Paul (dog agility), Stan (Mike photos, equipment for loan/sale and John’s Garden) and John (printing).
Also, thanks to all 19 members who submitted an image each to the Opening Night Competition! The results, as they say, are in and the winner will be revealed during next Wednesday’s meeting!

Plein Air Painting Competition
Garstang woke up to the smell of linseed oil, wild ambition, and a suspicious number of folding easels on Saturday, as the annual Plein Air Painting Competition descended upon our cobbled streets and sheep/cow-studded fields. Over 30 artists from around the area arrived, brushes in hand and egos neatly packed in canvas bags.
Garstang was awash with colour, creativity, and questionable hat choices as more than 30 artists descended on the town for the fourth annual “Paint Garstang” event and many locals watched in awe (and occasionally confusion) as painters captured everything from the town centre to Greenhalgh Castle, via the river Wyre.
Artists spent the day thoughtfully squinting at buildings, holding their thumbs in the air for mysterious reasons, and attempting to avoid painting directly into the sun. Once complete, they marched their masterpieces to Garstang Arts Centre, resisting the urge to “accidentally” smudge each other’s work on the way.
Adding to the creative chaos, ukulele band Buzz Cadillac and the Lightning Rods (yes, really) provided courtyard entertainment. Front man Andy Stuart led the musical charge with a set that had toes tapping and hips swaying.
Judge Hazel Booth had the unenviable task of picking a winner, but praised the high standard of entries, even the one that looked suspiciously like a sandwich. The event was rounded off with a prize ceremony hosted by Sheila Tearle of the Arts Centre, who heroically kept things moving despite one attendee loudly claiming their painting had been robbed of a prize and was, in fact, “better than Monet.”
Taking the top prize — for the second time running — was the unstoppable Lori Shaw, whose stunning depiction of Garstang’s old Town Hall and Market House reminded judges what good perspective actually looks like. Rumours of her using magical paintbrushes remain unconfirmed.
The weather stayed fair for the competition and I managed to get a few photos of most of the artists except for a few outliers though I’m sure they were visited by others! I was accompanied for a very short period by no other than Andy Stuart, of ‘hare’ and musicality fame, who proceeded to take a photo of me photographing an artist – I returned the ‘favour’ later!
I did here that Frank and Mike (Pattern) were also out-and-about but accidentally evaded them!
Anyone who took photos and wants to share them please send them to me and I’ll forward them on to whomever.

Notices:

Advance notice!
The camera club is hosting a coffee morning, in the Arts Centre, on Saturday 27th September. This will coincide with our print exhibition, a slide show of our latest digital images and, I think, the ‘Plein Air Competition’ (see above). So, lots going on!
As usual, we are looking for cakes etc to sell on the morning, it’s going to be busy, so, please contribute something edible and let Mike know so we can organise accordingly – ta!

Events Cup:
A reminder! The last date for entry, digital images and prints, is Wednesday 17th September – 10 days!

Liverpool trip:
As mentioned at last Wednesday’s meeting this expedition will now be planned for the latter part of October; further details will be forthcoming in a later newsletter.

LAST CALL! – Knowle Top Studios, workshops:
Below, if you are interested, are the details. Freda is co-ordinating this and she will book accordingly early next week!
Car sharing can be organised!

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

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

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

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

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

Coffee duty:
Coffee/tea duty for Wednesday 10^th September is Mike and Stan – thank you gentlemen!

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday 10^th September – Lee Metcalf, all the way from Galgate!
Lee says, “Tonight I’m going to chat about my landscape images I’ve taken for my Fotovue book, ‘Explore and discover the North West,’ which still hasn’t gone to print!! – and why I took them. Plus, various landscape images, I took, in the Lake District and on recent trips to Harris and Lewis and to the Uist’s in Scotland.

Wednesday 17^th September – Sue Freeman: Artificial Intelligence; the latest overview. 
Artificial Intelligence is a hot and controversial subject at the moment. In this presentation I give a simple overview of where recent technological advances have been made in AI and how this impacts on us as photographers now, and could do in the future. 

Wednesday 24^th September – Members Evening: a talk by one of our members, John, on colour photos from 1950s-1970s.
John says “I collect old Kodachrome slides and scan them to get an insight into social history.” 
This talk is a follow-up on a previous presentation from John, last August (2024), and it proved to be very interesting! Make a note in your diary!
Plus: we will be voting on the images to be submitted for the 3 ‘Battles’ in 2025/26. Thanks here to Stan for organising and co-ordinating the images.

Wednesday 1^st October – Colin Balls: Sri Lanka by rail, details to follow.

That’s all folks, and see you on Wednesday!

Mike

Morning All

Autumn begins tomorrow – where does the time go eh? And it’ll soon be C………! Aghhhhhhhhhhhh!
Does anyone want any damsons, free! We have a huge crop waiting to be picked in our garden so please come along and help yourselves – they do make great jam especially with sloe gin added!

Notices:

The Opening Night Competition; 3rd September
The rules are very simple:
Best Projected Digital Image (PDI); Open, any subject, colour or monochrome.
One only PDI from any member taken in the last 12 months.
Image sent to me (Mike) by mid-night Monday 1st September on info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk
All presented, anonymously, in a PowerPoint presentation.

 2025/26 Battles
All details in previous newsletters. Basic submission below!
All images that scored 19 or 20 during last season’s competitions will automatically be entered for the vote.
However, any member can also enter images to be submitted to the vote.
You can submit a maximum of 4 images
Send to Stan by email to: stanley.pearson@talktalk.net  
The deadline is Wednesday 10^th September 2025.

Up and coming programme of events:

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

Saturday 6^th September – Paint Garstang ‘Plein Air Competition.’
If you wish to go around and take photographs of the artists ‘at work’ please do so. From experience, the best time is from say 11am when they are just getting to grips with their ‘subject.’ If you need incentive, Adrian is taking part, plus many more, and I’m sure he will welcome you! If you go to the Arts Centre, they will have a map of Garstang indicating where all the artists will be so you can find them! The weather, at the moment, doesn’t look too bad though it might bring a new meaning to water colours!
These images could be straightforward or a little quirky, it’s up to you! You don’t have to be there all day, just spare what time you can! It doesn’t really get going, like I said, until about 11ish.
They will return to the Arts Centre with their masterpiece no later than 4pm and judging will take place at 4.30 pm and prizes will be awarded at 5.00pm.
Of course, any image could be entered into the appropriate internal competition next season!
I will collate any images and send them on to the appropriate person; so, if you take any send them to me ASAP and I will send them on, cheers.

Wednesday 10^th September – Lee Metcalf, our first speaker of the season:
Lee says, “Tonight I’m going to chat about my landscape images I’ve taken for my Fotovue book, ‘Explore and discover the North West,’ which still hasn’t gone to print!! – and why I took them. Plus, various landscape images, I took, in the Lake District and on recent trips to Harris and Lewis and to the Uist’s in Scotland.

Wednesday 17^th September – Sue Freeman: Artificial Intelligence; the latest overview.
Artificial Intelligence is a hot and controversial subject at the moment. In this presentation I give a simple overview of where recent technological advances have been made in AI and how this impacts on us as photographers now, and could do in the future. 

Wednesday 24^th September – Members Evening: a talk by one of our members, John, on colour photos from 1950s-1970s.
John says “I collect old Kodachrome slides and scan them to get an insight into social history.” 
This talk is a follow-up on a previous presentation from John, last August (2024), and it proved to be very interesting! Make a note in your diary!
Plus: we will be voting on the images to be submitted for the 3 ‘Battles’ in 2025/26. Thanks here to Stan for organising and co-ordinating the images.

That’s all folks, and see you on Wednesday!

Mike

Morning All

Notices:

The Opening Night Competition; 3rd September.
The rules are very simple:
Best Projected Digital Image (PDI); Open, any subject, colour or monochrome.
 One only PDI from any member taken in the last 12 months.
Image sent to me (Mike) by Monday 1st September on info@garstangcameraclub.co.uk
All presented, anonymously, in a PowerPoint presentation.

Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union:
Three L&CPU Events – One Action-Packed Day!
Information on the upcoming L&CPU competition. All the available info on the attached.

Longridge Soap Box Derby, Sunday 14th September
Stan is photographing the morning events from approx. 9.30am – 12.30pm, however, is any member available to photograph the afternoon session from approx. 1pm until 4.30pm?
If so, please get in touch with Stan on stanley.pearson@talktalk.net – thanks!

Message from Stan: Photo of Sarah:
Sarah (who was one of our ‘guests’ on the summer camera course and who had those ‘Red Shoes,’) wants a large print of the attached photo. Please could the member who took it send the original to Stan on stanley.pearson@talktalk.net Thanks!

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

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

2025/26 Battles
All details in previous newsletters. Basic submission below!
All images that scored 19 or 20 during last season’s competitions will automatically be entered for the vote.
However, any member can also enter images to be submitted to the vote.
You can submit a maximum of 4 images
Send to Stan by email to: stanley.pearson@talktalk.net  
The deadline is Wednesday 10^th September 2025.

Up and coming programme of events:
Wednesday 27^th August – No meeting.

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

Wednesday 10^th September – Lee Metcalf, our first speaker of the season: 
Lee says, “Tonight I’m going to chat about my landscape images I’ve taken for my Fotovue book, ‘Explore and discover the North West,’ which still hasn’t gone to print!! – and why I took them. Plus, various landscape images, I took, in the Lake District and on recent trips to Harris and Lewis and to the Uist’s in Scotland.

Wednesday 17^th September – Sue Freeman: Artificial Intelligence; the latest overview. 
Artificial Intelligence is a hot and controversial subject at the moment. In this presentation I give a simple overview of where recent technological advances have been made in AI and how this impacts on us as photographers now, and could do in the future.

That’s all folks!

Mike

Morning All

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

 Notices:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Up and coming programme of events:

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

Wednesday 27^th August – No meeting.

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

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

That’s all folks!

Mike

Morning All

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

Notices:

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

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

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

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

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

That’s all folks!

Mike