Welcome Back Meeting
Vince and Kevin began the meeting by welcoming everyone, introducing the committee and reminding everyone that they were available to answer any questions during the break or at any other time.
Recap of the Summer
Kevin then recapped the club’s activities from summer.
In May, the group enjoyed a day trip to Brighton, where they explored street photography around North Laine, visited the Pavilion, and strolled to Palace Pier. A few members even worked on an impromptu project with a Hen Party on the pier. Afterward, they headed toward West Pier, took a short break, and made their way back to the station.
June brought the Worthing Festival, where the club hosted three smartphone challenge events. The standard of Competition entries were impressive and challenging for the panel of judges. A short video of the winners was presented. You can see all entries and the full list of winners here.
In July, the club took a brief trip to Amberley, wandering through the Wild Brooks and taking a short walk around the village before stopping for tea.
Unfortunately, the August outing to Knepp was canceled due to bad weather, but a small group still managed to photograph the Worthing Table Tennis event at Bohunt.
2024/25 Programme
Kevin emphasised the importance of members’ input for the upcoming 2024/25 programme, welcoming ideas and suggestions. The prime focus for Workshops will be on the Beginners Group, but the activities will be ones that everyone can enjoy (for example the “Victorian Ghost Photography” Workshop last season).
He outlined the core components of the programme, reminding the group that talks and competition entries are for members only.
Face-to-face meetings remain a priority, but Kevin noted that the club also facilitates remote participation via Zoom, which has allowed access to speakers and judges from across the UK.
The monthly outings were highlighted, including:
- 13 October Stag Hunt: The group had traditionally visited Petworth Park but discussed alternative venues like Richmond Park (Red Deer) or the Knepp Rewilding Project.
- 5 November Worthing Lions Fireworks: Held on a Tuesday this year, Kevin encouraged full participation, as it would take place during a club evening.
Speakers
Kevin displayed the upcoming speakers for the season. Sadly David Keep had been scheduled for January 14 to discuss underwater wildlife photography. He has retired and canceled all his talks. However, Kevin Sawford had kindly stepped in. Kevin assured members that other exciting speakers were lined up, including Andrew McCarthy, who previously spoke about photographing bats and would be presenting in person this season.
Competitions
Kevin started by highlighting that Competitions are one of the main Personal Development tools of the club, as each member receives constructive feedback on their own images and hear feedback on other’s images. Beginners receive more time and feedback, while Advanced competitors receive the least.
Kevin then reviewed the competition structure, flagging that in the Merit competitions Club Members compete within Groups—Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced.
He also reminded members of the Mix & Match competition with Southwick and Steyning on December 16. This is a fun competition where pantomime-style interaction is encouraged.
The Club will also host the Interclub Competition with Southwick Camera Club. A venue is yet to be booked, but volunteers to help on the night will be sought.
This season, a two-week gap between PDI and Print Competitions was introduced to give members more time for print preparation and mounting. Kevin directed members to the club website for all competition rules and preparation guidelines.
Prints: Why Print?
Kevin explained the significance of printing photos, noting that a printed image transforms a digital photograph into a tangible piece of art. He emphasised how prints allow for a deeper connection with the viewer and showcase the photographer’s attention to detail in areas like resolution, sharpness, and colour accuracy. He also encouraged photographers to explore various creative options, including alternative techniques like cyanotype.
Digital vs. Printed Images
Kevin outlined the differences between digital and printed images, emphasising that digital images, being backlit, appear brighter and more saturated. In contrast, prints, which rely on reflected light, tend to appear darker and calmer. He also mentioned that the viewing experience of digital images depends heavily on the viewer’s technology, which might not reflect the creator’s intentions.
Additional Information
Kevin then covered a personal topic: the myth of the “proper” camera. He explained that any camera, when used properly, could meet 80-90% of photography needs. A brief quiz followed about accessories and settings available to each Camera. Kevin also highlighted that many open areas (for example in London) are actually Private Property and if seen with a traditional camera you may be told that photography is “not allowed”. Whilst the same Security guards will happily post and take photos with Smartphone Cameras.
For editing, Kevin recommended a few free software options like Snapseed and Photopea. He reminded members to explore the editing software provided by their camera’s manufacturer. Also, if any member was looking to buy Photo editing software then talk to other members about the Pros and Cons of each option.
Smartphone Photography Tips
Kevin offered a few practical smartphone photography tips, including:
– Using volume buttons to control the shutter.
– Enabling grid lines for better composition.
– Turning the phone upside down to lower the lens closer to reflective surfaces and lower.
– Using the phone’s multiple lenses instead of digital “pinch” zoom.
– Underexposing images to preserve texture and tone.
He encouraged members to experiment with their phone’s various modes and explore apps that allow for greater control over their phone’s camera settings.
Q&A
Do we need to bring our Cameras along to Lynn Phillips Workshop?
No. It’s a Group facilitated activity, where we will be arranged into multiple Groups in the hall. Those on Zoom will be a single Group.
For those just learning how to use their Cameras, Outings are a perfect place to learn, with more experienced members on hand to help with any Photography related questions.
Will our PhotoEntry logins from last year still work this year?
Kevin will ask Howard (Competition Secretary) to clarify.
It was also flagged that it will be a few days post receipt of a completed New Membership form, before you will receive PhotoEntry login and use instructions.
Notification of Postponement / Cancellation of an Outing? Kevin tends to leave the decision to cancel an outing as late as possible. Groups.IO will be the prime method of communicating cancellation to all members, but Facebook will also be used. The issue with the latter is that its algorithms mean that some members may not see the post for several hours after it has been posted on Facebook.
A note to new members: After completing a New Membership form an invite to join Groups.IO will be sent. This needs to be “Accepted” before the member will begin to receive Club emails.