AGM

This week we held our annual AGM. The meeting was well attended with over 22 members present.

During the meeting the Photographer of the year winners was announced with the winner being Aamir Sabzwari. He was presented his trophy by competition secretary David Hardy and Chair Vincent Verzijl.

Following the break Michael Hilton Gave a fantastic talk on his trip to the Shetland Isles and why it is not one of the hot spot destinations. As michael explained It's not the easiest place to get to. During the talk Michael presented some of the amazing images he had captured from dramatic landscapes to some of the local wildlife.

Mark Gilligan

Our guest speaker next week is Mark gilligan. Below is a brief Bio on Mark.

 “Mark Gilligan is cited as one of the countries foremost full time professional landscape photographers and teachers.An official Ambassador for LEE FILTERS, he is one of only a distinct few across the world to be awarded the status of ‘LEE Master’ of which he is rightly proud. An accredited, award-winning member of the British Institute of Professional Photography,  Mark was made a Fellow by them because of his specialist and original Landscape Photography in the Lake District and Eryri (Snowdonia). A features writer for many magazines, his work regularly appears in the national  walking and photography publications. His bespoke, popular Landscape Photography Workshops and courses in the Lake District and  Eryri (Snowdonia) are fully endorsed by LEE filters and he regularly undertakes them for photographers from across the globe.  He also works on his own portfolio with projects that include a life long undertaking at the Dinorwig Quarry in Eryri (Snowdonia). Mark didn’t just take still images over those years but also produced a directed many films for the Home Office that were used both internally and externally for public consumption. Trained at the BBC, he and his team are the proud recipients of several national and international video awards.After he retired from the Home Office, he said he wouldn’t go back to programme making but he did get on the camera from ‘the other side’ and presented a film on behalf of Fujifilm about the XF8-16mm lens. However, time has a habit of changing things and in the autumn of 2025, he decided to start making his own programmes and they can be seen on his ‘MovingStills' channel via YouTube. A renowned speaker on the ‘talks circuit’ he delivers his presentations right the way across the UK. Not just to clubs and societies but also presenting at The Photography Show on behalf of several of  companies who support him. He has also been a guest on many stands, as well as being  ‘just him’ on the bigger stages. Better known for his landscape work, Mark has delivered commercial shoots for all different types of photographic requests. This has seen him undertake commissions for commercial airlines, international holiday companies, hotel chains, jewellers, high-end watch manufacturers, restaurants, the motor industry and sport. He is very proud to also be supported in his work by BENRO, SHIMODA UK, BERGHAUS, BenQ and PACER POLES.”

People's Choice Competition

17th May is the people's choice competition.

You can enter the competition via PhotoEntry portal.

There are two sections in PhotoEntry.

• Open Mono.
• Open Colour.

You will be limited to two entries per section.

The closing date for entries is Friday the 15th May.

For any clarifications please see David Hardy.

Manchester jazz festival

Women in Jazz Photography: Her Frame. Her Sound.

15 – 24 May 2026

Explore an exhibition of iconic jazz photographs captured by women – as part of manchester jazz festival 2026

Bringing together inspirational women from across the globe, the award-winning organisation Women in Jazz Media presents an exclusive photography exhibition spotlighting women jazz photographers.

Celebrating women working in jazz behind and in front of the camera, the exhibition showcases inspirational moments in jazz captured by some of the remarkable women leading the way in jazz photography.

Women in Jazz Photography: Her Frame. Her Sound features award-winning photographers Monika S Jakubowksa, Vuyo Giba, Tatiana Gorilovsky, Enid Farber and Kasia Ociepa. Exhibiting photographs of legends such as Geri Allen, Abbey Lincoln, Alice Coltrane and Nina Simone, and contemporary artists such as Lakecia Benjamin, Nubya Garcia and Brandee Younger, this is the first exhibition of its kind.

The exhibition launched in April 2025 at London’s award-winning Karamel Club, going on to visit the Black Mountain Jazz Festival in Abergavenny, and continues to the Highworth Jazz Festival in June.

manchester jazz festival takes place from 15 to 24 May 2026. Explore the latest line-up here.

Date 15 – 24 May 2026

Venue The Social, Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester M3 4JQ

Times Tuesdays to Sundays, 10am – 10pm*

*With a venue like ours, every night is different. Make sure to check our opening hours ahead of your visit to get the most up to date times. See opening hours here.

Free to attend – no booking required