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9th SEPTEMBER 2026

Season starter:  Peer Review

This year we will take a sharper look at preparing images for competition.  Working in small groups we will review images designed for competition entry ... a sort of dry run.  Everyone is asked to bring TWO unmounted prints sized for 'open' print competition (up to A3 sized paper).  In addition send in ONE dpi designed for entry to one of the competition themes.

Note: this activity IS suitable for new or prospective members - anyone new is encouraged to submit photos but it is not essential - it will be a rewarding introduction to the club and our members.

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23rd SEPTEMBER

Speaker: Brad Carr

​Brad is a photographic artist, essayist & poet.  He has a unique and very mindful way of approaching photography.  Tonight he will tackle the difficulties of trying to make sense of what is often the chaotic challenge of woodland photography

 

7th OCTOBER

Competition No.1         Subject theme - LETTERS.   And, open prints

Real or perceived letters, correspondence, signs, or words, the aim is to make letters the focal point of your image. It could be an S-shaped path, a distinctive sign, or someone reading a letter. This is an opportunity to tell a story, convey emotion, or make us laugh.  

Judge: Mike Warrender

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21st OCTOBER

Skills Workshop:

We will be bringing out an array of props, subjects and lighting and presenting you with a selection of challenges.  The 'focus' will be on close-up and or macro work: subject movement; fine art style depictions of leaves or flower head; textures (specifically with black and white presentation); and maybe some sci-fi micro landscapes thrown in.

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4th NOVEMBER

Speaker: Nigel Ball

The Night Sky

Nigel has already worked closely with us at the club and on outdoor activities covering small creatures.  Now he turns his attention to the huge night sky.  As a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society for his services to Astrophotography Nigel is well renowned for his expertise in both astro and night time 'landscapes' photography.

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18th NOVEMBER

Club Competition No.2     Subject theme - Repetition /Pattern      And, open prints

Repetition and pattern can encompass tiny or enormous subjects. Think about the patterns on feathers, leaves or skin, or at the other extreme the windows of a tall building or street cobbles. There are repeating patterns on bookshelves, architectural features, fabric,
furniture, and so on. Try going in close to fill the frame, or consider breaking the pattern to create interest and drama.

​Life may appear pretty random at times, but if we look closely we are bombarded with patterns and repetitive shapes.  They appear in the natural and man made world and they can be presented within that context or in more abstract ways.

Judge: tbd

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2nd DECEMBER

Night Shoot  In order to feed the desire both for night shooting and outdoor activity we are taking this opportunity to take the club out into Shrewsbury for an evening of seasonal night photography.  Meeting plans nearer the time but we are likely to meet in Church Stretton c. 18.30hrs (for car sharing) and at a location in Shrewsbury for 19.00hrs.  Tripods essential.

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​16th DECEMBER

Christmas Social. 

This is our 'Bring and Share' festive buffet-fest.  There will be some short presentations by selected members and a fun quiz.

 

​                  CHRISTMAS PAUSE

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 6th JANUARY 2027

​Club Competition No.3        Subject theme- Black and White.   And, open prints

​The key to a compelling black and white image is that by stripping away the distraction of colour it forces the viewer to focus on shape, texture, and tone. Consider contrast in your image to show light and shadow with clear whites and true blacks, well-defined shapes
or interesting textures.  Your camera may have the option to visualise/display scenes in black and white, but shooting in colour, then converting, gives plenty of flexibility in managing how the tones are processed.

Judge: Mike Sharples

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 20 JANUARY

Workshop - Mastering Subject Placement

​There are many decisions that can be made in choosing the best way to locate your subject in the frame.  This learning workshop will consider some of the theory behind subject placement: middle; thirds (or golden ratio); eccentric.  There will some group tasks or activity involving composing/cropping actual print images.

 

 3rd FEBRUARY

Members Gallery  

Once again we invite members to showcase a selection of their favourite work.  Using FOUR mounted prints you will be able to present your own mini gallery.  Each gallery will be presented, in turn, by the author.  The prints should be mounted uniformly on 500 x 400mm (or 400 x 300mm) mount-board, and ideally represent a collected body of work.

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 17th FEBRUARY

Speaker:  Steve Dawes

Costa Rica 

​Last season Steve treated us to a wonderful African adventure, including tracking down the elusive black leopard of Laikipia.  This time we can look forward with some anticipation to his exploits in colourful Costa Rica.​

 

3rd MARCH

​Club Competition No.4         Subject theme: Decay        And, open prints

​There can be beauty in a faded flower or autumn leaf, love in a treasured but worn-out toy, or a comment about waste in an abandoned object. Peeling paint, rust, cracks and splinters may reflect neglect or simply the effect of passing time. Think about how composition and light can turn a decaying object into an engaging image

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 17th MARCH

Critique and Reflection:​ A presentation about the nature of 'judging' and 'critique' .   

We will consider the judges role in competition photography and have our own critical look at the outcomes of our own competitions.  With some practical reflection on what our judges were expecting or suggesting we will try to reimagine some of the images that were critiqued and demonstrate suggestions offered for improvement.  We will also discuss examples where the judges arty or subjective criticisms didn't always resonate with the audience.

 

 31st March

Speaker: Charlotte Bellamy

​Charlotte is an artist who uses Fine Art and Abstract Photography to showcase her love for the beauty of nature. She draws inspiration from the changing seasons and weather patterns then combines a solid technical grounding to produce work that is more fluid and artistic.  Examples of her work could be seen at the town's recent art festival

 

 14th APRIL

AGM - the usual business matters, quickly followed with a viewing of the best of the Shropshire Inter Club competition.

 

28th APRIL

Club Competition No.5         Subject theme: THREE OF A KIND and, open prints

​Three of a kind could depict variations in size, colour, shape or texture of a trio of subjects or three views of a single subject. Composition, lighting and background will be important in making your subjects stand out. You have the choice of presenting three of a kind in a single image or as a triptych. A triptypch is three separate images displayed side by sde, usually in portrait or square orientation, that work together as either a set or sequence (ideally the images should be in harmony in terms of tone and appearance).​

 

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 12th MAY

Club Awards/Review of the Year

Highlights from the season and annual awards with our customary social buffet.

 

 

 

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