As mentioned at the AGM we have had to revert on insisting on mounting prints for competitions. Prints can be flush mounted although you are free to window mount them if you desire, and members have offered to loan you their window mount cutter.
I’ve recently watched a video on printing your images by Mads Peter Iverson which I found helpful, and DS Colourlabs have a useful page.
The Useful info and links page on our website has been updated with more information on printing and
PhotoEntry is now available for you to upload your image to this competition, you can enter one image in the mono section and one in the colour section.
What can I enter, I hear you ask – well anything that hasn’t been entered in this competition before and since it is the first year, that is any image. This is your chance to let everyone see what you can make and it doesn’t have to be constrained to what a judge might think. It would be great if everyone entered.
The competition will be held on 7th May and everyone present will vote on the night – don’t forget to bring a pen with you! Entry will close a week before as we are aiming to send out a link so you can look at the images on-line before the meeting.
Just to let you know that the rules for the Annual Competition are on the L&CPU website Annual Individual Competition Rules | L&CPU (lcpu.org). If you are planning on entering any prints, the club needs to send all our club members together so please let David R know.
For PDI’s you can submit individually by logging onto the L&CPU portal.
It is free to enter so why not give it a try?
We are very pleased that our members wish to give talks at members evenings and to accommodate these, the mentoring session is being postponed – a new date will be confirmed.
After consideration, we have decided to move the AGM to the 23rd April. This will give us time after the AGM to deal with an items raised before we finish for the summer, and for members to pay their subs.
We are also considering changing the informal photowalk into a social event, we’ll let you know once the committee has made a decision.
If you rely on the printed programme, please make the following notes:
April 23rd – AGM/Chairman’s challenge
May 7th – Member voted Annual competition
May 21st – Photowalk or social event.
The calendar on the club website has been updated.
Battle of Nantwich – Saturday 27th Jan 2024. https://www.battleofnantwich.org
Landscape Photographer of the Year exhibition Manchester Piccadilly station – 20 January 2024 to 3 February 2024 https://www.lpoty.co.uk/exhibition
Sale PS Annual Exhibition at “Hiya” in Sale town centre. https://hiyaforhire.com It’s 3rd of Feb for 2 weeks, open daily, except that in reality it is erratic and the space may be closed or in use for another activity. However Sale PS website says the exhibition starts on 1st Feb at St Mary Magdalene Church Centre
With the New Year, you get a new calendar and our website is no exception! Unfortunately, we are no longer able to add new meetings etc to our existing calendar so we’ve moved to Google calendar. You can see the new calendar here along with instructions on how to view it on your phone/tablet or computer. The old calendar will be removed after our next meeting on 9th Jan.
I received this from the Photography Show Online, please subscribe on YouTube if you are interested.
Dear David,
I am writing to you to introduce Photography Online – a 60 minute
monthly photo magazine show hosted on YouTube. You may already be aware
of our channel, but we have taken a break from releasing output during
2023 to allow us time to record more exciting content from all over the
world.
Our relaunch show is available from Jan 7th and includes a photo
challenge around the UK, winter macro photography, a photo tour around
Namibia and a model shoot where we cross process some film to get some
funky results. We also have a week-long photo holiday to the Isle of
Skye in Scotland (worth £2000) to be won.
We then have a further 9 highly produced shows to come in 2024 which
will be released on the first Sunday of each month through to Oct. These
will include features on light painting, zoo photography, astro and
aurora, long exposure seascapes, wildlife for beginners, wide angle
photography, camera maintenance, hidden Venice, and lots more.
Photography Online is free to watch and aims to educate, inspire and
enthuse anyone with a camera to get out more often and enjoy their
photography.
If you would be so kind as to help spread the word to your camera club
members and anyone else who may be interested, then we would really
appreciate it. Our aim is to build a worldwide platform to help
photographers improve their skills and expand their knowledge.
Please feel free to visit our channel – www.YouTube.com/PhotographyOnl
Many thanks and we hope you enjoy our shows in 2024.
Kind regards,
Photography Online Team
Just a quick reminder that if you need help or information about club and activities, it is quicker to contact the appropriate person directly rather than going through the chair.
Club email addresses can be found on the contacts page.
London Camera Exchange has their inaugural POTY competition – free to enter and £12000 prize fund (in LCE vouchers). There are 14 different categories.
And thanks to Nick for sending the list below, might be worth a try. These competitions are judged by different standards than our club competitions.
Due to the great talks at last weeks meeting, we ran out of time to talk about the mentoring groups. I’ve organised the groups to the best of my ability and here is an update of where we are.
First of all thanks to everyone who signed up, we had 27 positive responses. For privacy reasons, I’m sending out details of groups by email to those who responded so keep an eye on your inbox (and spam folder).
Have fun and hope you enjoy the mentoring. We will discuss how this goes after Easter and can change how these operate. If you would like to be the mentoring co-ordinator going forward send an email to chair@wilmlsowphotoclub.org.uk
That’s all for now
David
At last week’s meeting, we calibrated our projector to give accurate colours. We used the club’s X-Rite ColorMunki which is works on Windows 10 and 11. The packaging says it works on Mac OS 10 and above. Datacolor also make a similar device.
From X-Rite’s website we did this because “Our eyes are very adaptive and influenced by many factors. If you work on an un-calibrated monitor, you can’t trust the colors you see on-screen. You need a display colorimeter to create an ICC profile to render accurate color for the best reproduction on-screen. ICC profiles are used to achieve color consistency between different devices, such as monitor to printer match.”
To answer questions raised whilst we did this, the calibration is for the projector however the results are saved on the club laptop. For your images to look the same at home and at the club, you should calibrate your display at home, and you can use the clubs ColorMunki to do this. Note that there may still be difference due to brightness especially as you may view your images at home in different ambient light.
For more information, have a look at the X-Rite website or the Datacolor website
David
Last week, there was an enthusiastic reception to setting up mentoring groups as part of our activities. I’m now working on a form for those (the majority who were present) to sign-up. We are also looking at the program for meetings when we can hold mentoring sessions.
For those who weren’t at the meeting, here’s some background information.
If so, then mentoring may be for you.
This to enhance your skills – not necessarily for competitions
Look out for the email and WhatsApp message so you can sign up to participate.
David
With just over 2 weeks before the start of next season, the discount for early payment of subs ends on 22nd August so act quickly if you want the lower price of £80. The price from 23rd August will be £85.
Details of the programme is now on the club website at Calendar | Wilmslow Photography Club (wilmslowphotoclub.org.uk) so you can see what to expect for next year.
As we now meet at the Conservative Club, there’s a map on the website. As you go along Water Lane in Wilmslow, turn into Grove Avenue opposite Preston’s jewellers and then follow the road round. Eventually you will come to the Conservative Club.
Although most of the parking spaces have reserved signs on them, this is only during the daytime, you can park in any space in the evening. There is also plenty of parking on the road in the evening.
Finally, you can get a drink at the bar either before, during or after our meetings and you can take your drink into the meeting room upstairs.
As sending email updates continues to be an issue for many members, I’ve put the bulk of my recent email here as well.
If you haven’t received the email, please check your spam folder.
Please use the web contact form if you want to be sent the payment details to join the club.
Next season
Since May, the committee and several club members have been working on getting everything in place for the new season. This starts on Tuesday 5th September 2023 at Wilmslow Conservative Club, 15 Grove Avenue, Wilmslow SK9 5EG. There is a link to a map on the club website under the interested in joining us section.
The programme up until Christmas is on the website as well. Michael is still working on the remainder or the year, and it will be published as soon as the final speaker or two is confirmed.
The club website also has details of our constitution and privacy policy
Register now for £5 off
We have set the subscription for next year at £85 however if you pay online before August 22nd, it will only cost £80. Remember this is for the whole season and we don’t charge a weekly fee.
Publicity
For those of you who post on Instagram, the club is now has an account. Please tag the club whenever possible as this will help with publicity for our club. There are link to the account and the facebook page at the end of this email.
Although there wasn’t a huge number of people at the Wilmslow Show, we have attracted potential new members, and there have also been enquires via the website. If you’re one of the potential new members, don’t forget that you can come along to a few meetings before joining to see what we offer.
We also added to the club funds at the show by the sale of cards kindly donated by Kathy H, and after the show, I sold three images of Wilmslow to someone who stopped at the stand.
We now have our regular newsletter thanks to Dave R, if you have any info/articles of interest, images you want to share to him either directly or by using the contact form on the website. Due to the newsletter, you will see fewer emails from me and they will generally be shorter in the future.
Take care and enjoy your photography
David
Although this is on the website for the new club, it is the last post I’ll do as chair of WGPS. Why am I hearing a lone trumpeter as this point (the last post)? The new club swings into action after 24th May.
Wilmslow Show
We have a stand at the show on 3rd July to let the world (well Wilmslow anyway) know that the Wilmslow Photography Club exists and is preparing for its first season.
North Cheshire Challenge
Our new club has entered the North Cheshire Challenge. I hope we can share the zoom details so you can watch the judging on 3rd June at 8pm which is by Terry Donnelly. If not, we’ll let you know how we get on.
Project group
Last Thursday evening saw the final meeting of the WGPS Project Group. Six club members produced a variety of interesting images before we got the heave ho from the Caretaker! All is not lost though as we plan to continue the group when the new WPC forms in September. As yet I have no dates…. but I do have some themes to photograph for those who wish to join in.
As usual we have no judges. Any questions/comments please get in touch with Bill S.
Summer projects
As advertised in our first club newsletter, the projects to keep you busy, alongside the project group, are “Repetition” and “Nostalgia”. We will review these images in September. I’ll confirm the details once the programme is finalised.
Your favourite photo
This is another challenge – what is the favourite photograph you’ve ever taken? Get your thinking caps on, and scan any old prints or negatives if that’s the medium your favourite is on! When we review this, we’d also like to see your favourite images that has inspired you – think about why you took up this great hobby, or what changed the direction you took, or anything else that inspires you!
Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition
Did you know that you could take a trip to Rheged, near Penrith between 26th May and 3rd September to view this exhibition. More details are shown here. It is also going to other places Where to see the exhibition | Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk)
We had Three members John O’Brien, David Higton and David Royle, enter into the L&CPU Individual Competition with varying success. David Royle having successfully attained a score of 13 or above on two images which means they will be accepted into the L&CPU exhibition. David Higton narrowly missed out with one of his images scoring 12.
Congratulations to David Royle on his success. Here are his successful images, Walking the Dog and Three Sail Out
Wilmslow town council are looking for around 12 photographs that represent what is good about Wilmslow. This could be nice buildings, green spaces or recreational areas. Please submit your images here
If you are in Manchester or Liverpool, these photography exhibitions may be worth looking at.
A few highlights from my recent email
Competition 5
Unfortunately, the judge for Competition 5 has had to cancel. Due to the short notice, and that this was a print competition we have had to move Competition 5 to April 26th. The good news is that we’ve extended the closing date for entries till March 29th. If you’ve already entered, sit back and relax unles you want to change your entry.
On Feb 15th, we’ll now hold an informal club competition with the usual knockout format. There’s a space on PhotoEntry in the single competition category for you to upload 3 entries.
The images should be new images but you can use them in the future for normal club competitions. Look forward to seeing your images from as many members as possible.
Competition 6
This is still on March 15th, and yes I know it’s before comp 5, but we’ve had another judge change so this is now on Zoom! Themes and deadlines are unchanged!
For logistical reasons, the interclub competition is cancelled. So rather than being on Zoom, we will meeting in the small hall for a members’ evening.
WGPS Project Group.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 20th October at 7.30pm in the Small Hall. The short notice is because the Guild is closed the following week for Half Term.
The chosen subjects are Silhouettes and Lines.
You can enter either or both sections with a total maximum of 10 images only please.
If you wish to show/discuss any other images (or photographic issues) bring them along and we can present them if we have time.
File sizes are not critical but smaller ( e.g. standard 1600 x 1200pixels) work better.
Future meeting dates are November 24th and December 8th.
Any suggestions/ideas are always welcome.
Bill
WGPS Project Group.
The first meeting since pre Covid will take place on Thursday 6th October at 7.30pm in the Small Hall.
Anyone who is a member of the Photographic Club is welcome to attend. The aim of the group is to develop an individuals photographic skills by discussing images and other photographic issues in a friendly and non competitive atmosphere. This is partly achieved by setting photographic challenges which are decided within the group, the results then being shown at the next meeting.
Two different challenges are normally chosen and to start us off the I have selected the first subject of “Together”’. (maximum 5 images please)
For the second part bring along up to five recent images on any subject that you wish to show or discuss. All the images need to be on a USB memory stick. Sizing is not critical for this group but smaller files are preferred.
It would help if we had a volunteer to operate the computer during these meetings.
The hall has been booked for meetings on the following dates, Oct 20th, Nov 24th, Dec 8th.
Any questions or suggestions, please contact Bill
I’ll update the rest of this post with a summary of the AGM soon however the themes for next season are below.
Congratulation to David R for his winning image ‘Colours of the City’ in the Chairman’s challenge. Also to Steve S for 2nd place with ‘Flip’, and to Monica and John for joint 3rd.
Date for your diary – Opening evening 14th September 7:30pm at The Guild for Lifelong learning. We are thinking of having an evening photowalk on 7th September in Altrincham – more details to follow.
The competition & themes for next season are as follows – dates to be follow.
| Comp | Part 1 | Part 2 |
| 1 (DPI) | Open Mono | Water |
| 2 (Print) | Open Colour | Perspective |
| 3 (DPI) | Open Mono | ‘Scapes (Land/Sea/City) |
| 4 (DPI) | Open Colour | Low light |
| 5 (Print) | Open Mono | Wildlife |
| 6 (DPI) | Open Colour | Blur |
