The A.G.M. was well-attended and we had a lively session with plenty of
debate about the various important issues on the Agenda. A brief summary
of what was said and what was decided follows:-
Membership has risen by 75% in the past year to a current level of 32. We
will attempt to increase this to at least 40 this year. Financially the club is
in a good position, approximately £340 better off than twelve months ago.
Club Subscriptions will remain at £18 but the cost of tea/coffee and biscuits
will increase to 50p. Sponsorship of £100 has been received from 1st Graphic
Computers, but we will be able to run only one raffle this year as opposed to
four (which raised £181) last year.
The Club's Officers for the next twelve months will be:-
Chairman - Terry Goodchild
Vice-Chairman - Brian Barley
Treasurer - Pat Marr
Minutes Secretary - Pauline Barley
Publicity Officer - Mary Morris
Programme Secretary - Terry Goodchild (for the moment !)
Competition Secretary and Village Hall representative- Mary Harden
Outdoor Vists and Raffles - Sue Evans
The Committee will consist of the above plus John James and Brian Carlick.
A Special Images Selection panel (for multi-club competitions) has been
appointed to seek out suitable images, and consists of Mary Harden, John
James and Brian Carlick. (If any member has an image he/she would like to
be considered for the two multi-club competitions at any time during the
year please refer it to one the Panel members.)
Exhibition Space - hopefully even more members will exhib in our two
public exhibitions this year and although we may be able to increase the
available display area by using the Archive Centre boards in the entrance
lobby it may be necessary to restrict individual member's display areas to
less than two panels. Members will be asked to number their prints in
order of preference to ensure that the favoured prints are shown if
allocated space does have to be reduced.
Selection/Critique evenings - the Main Hall has been booked for three
additional evenings to select images for the three inter-club battles.
Much as last year except that members are asked to bring their prints
between 7pm and 7.15pm so they can be displayed for closer scrutiny
at half-time before voting takes place.
Because of increasing numbers of members both slides and prints
are restricted to two (each) per member, so a certain amount of
self-selection needs to be exercised prior to the Selection evenings !
The first Critique/Selection evening is on Friday March 27th, and we
are running this as an Open evening and inviting members of the
public to come and see the club 'in working mode' !
Multi-club competitions - whilst the feeling of the meeting was that
we should continue to enter these events a new approach is necessay
both in taking the type of shot that the judges are liable to appreciate
(and award less than the minimum mark for !) and to identify and
select such images. The Special Images Selection Panel mentioned
above will have the responsibility of seeking out these images
throughout the year, and members are being asked to re-focus their
minds on actively searching for suitable shots, and with that in mind
some members have 'signed up' to look for images in the specific
categories required by these competitions, People, Natural History,
Landscapes and Open. Whether you signed up for a particular
category or not doesn't matter, anyone (everyone?) can go out
looking for suitable images to refer to the Panel. Judges generally
look for something more than the average 'club' shot, they need
to see some input from the photogtrapher other than just pointing
and shooting, some use of the imagination and/or more than basic
photographic technique. Discussion on this led to the suggestion
(Peter Smith) that we run Workshops (see below).
Workshops - do we really understand the potential of our cameras?
Do we make use of all (or even some) of the different settings that
even the humble comapct digital camera now has? Do we think about
Depth of Field, Shutter Speed, Natural or Vivid colour, etc., etc? Or
do we leave the camera set on A or P regardless of the subject
matter? Modern digital cameras make us lazy, they are sophisticated
enough both to enable correctly-focussed and exposed shots to be
taken without much thought and to deter us from reading the lengthy
manuals properly and experimenting to find out just what the camera
can do for us. Peter Smith proposed running Workshops (as an
addition to the monthly club meetings) and Graham Garner suggested
that these should cover basic photography principles and techniques
a well as more advanced matters, such as image manipulation, etc.
The meeting seemed prepared and eager to support such sessions,
and Peter Smith, John Templeton, Stephen Cook and myself agreed
to run these sessions.
The back room has been booked for the first of these Workshops
for Friday April 17th, please make a note in your diaries.
Converting digital images to slides - plenty of passionate debate
on this subject with Sue Banyard eloquently representing the anti-
digital lobby and John Templeton taking the opposite view and
suggesting that 'constructed' slides should be allowed for both
inter-club battles and internal competitions. It was finally agreed
that (a) slides made from digital images should be allowed to compete
against 'natural' slides for selection for inter-club battles (bringing us
into line with the majority of our opponents), and (b) slides for our
internal competitions must be 'natural, slides as produced by
transparency film.
The process of producing slides from digital images can be arranged
by individual members but it is strongly recommended that the club
undertake to do this via a proven company and at a reasonable cost.
Members need to identify suitable images (bearing in mind that not
every image is shown to its best effect projected onto a large screen)
and let the club arrange for the conversion. For the Rose Bowl
Selection evening it will mean bringing your images along to the
March 6th club evening, on a floppy disc or CD, together with the
conversion charge of £1.60 per image, we will then send all the images
away together (to save multiple postage charges) and the slides
produced will then belong to the author for use in any way they wish
(except internal competitions of course !).
Capital expenditure - it was decided not to go down the road of
digital projection this year so no great capital expenditure is
anticipated.
Website - a few CDs of members' images were handed in to Peter
Smith for inclusion on the new website, but more are needed if the
website is to be truly representative of the club's membership.
Discussion took place about the content of the website, everyone
agreed that an attractive Home Page that was up-dated on a regular
basis (at least once a month) was essential, and that quality of
material and presentation was more important than quantity. Peter
will get to work armed with the additional material provided and will
advise members before the website goes public, when there will be
an opportunity for further input from the memebrship.
The 2009 programme - only briefly discussed as members paying
their 2009 subscription received a copy of the Programme !
It was good to welcome two new members, Cyril Seaber and
Graham West. We wish you welcome, and hope you enjoy your
photography with the club.
It was also good to see Allan Hall back amongst us after some
ill-health over Christmas. Valerie Chandler also made the meeting
despite an arm sling which she claims is the result of a sporting
injury - not your shutter-clicking arm we hope Valerie !
Club meeting, March 6th - 'Barge Sailing - a religion' - an
illustrated presentation by Phil Chatfield, LRPS.
Phil is a barge sailing expert and fanatic as well as being an fine
photographer and amusing lecturer so we should be in for a good
evening. Arthur Griffiths has been on one of Phil's barge sailing
experiences and Phil comes highly recommended !
Don't forget to bring along to the meeting any digital images you
want converting to slides, plus your cheque books (although cash
is also welcome!) if you have yet to renew your subscription. At
£18 for fifteen meetings, plus the new Workshops and Sue's many
outdoor trips, no-one can say you don't get value for your money
at Wickham Market Photo Club ! Also any CDs with images for the
website of course.
Sue Evans Wedding Photography - Sue has started a wedding
and special events photography business and has a very good
assistant in Brian Carlick ! Visit her website,
sue-evansphotography.co.uk when next on-line.
Good luck with that Sue !
Spring Challenge - I hope everyone is thinking about images for
the Spring Challenge (less than 3 months away now!) with the
subject 'Fashion'. Anyone with ideas for that theme that they
don't intend to use please let me know !
Enjoy your photographic year, let's make it a real good one !
Terry
debate about the various important issues on the Agenda. A brief summary
of what was said and what was decided follows:-
Membership has risen by 75% in the past year to a current level of 32. We
will attempt to increase this to at least 40 this year. Financially the club is
in a good position, approximately £340 better off than twelve months ago.
Club Subscriptions will remain at £18 but the cost of tea/coffee and biscuits
will increase to 50p. Sponsorship of £100 has been received from 1st Graphic
Computers, but we will be able to run only one raffle this year as opposed to
four (which raised £181) last year.
The Club's Officers for the next twelve months will be:-
Chairman - Terry Goodchild
Vice-Chairman - Brian Barley
Treasurer - Pat Marr
Minutes Secretary - Pauline Barley
Publicity Officer - Mary Morris
Programme Secretary - Terry Goodchild (for the moment !)
Competition Secretary and Village Hall representative- Mary Harden
Outdoor Vists and Raffles - Sue Evans
The Committee will consist of the above plus John James and Brian Carlick.
A Special Images Selection panel (for multi-club competitions) has been
appointed to seek out suitable images, and consists of Mary Harden, John
James and Brian Carlick. (If any member has an image he/she would like to
be considered for the two multi-club competitions at any time during the
year please refer it to one the Panel members.)
Exhibition Space - hopefully even more members will exhib in our two
public exhibitions this year and although we may be able to increase the
available display area by using the Archive Centre boards in the entrance
lobby it may be necessary to restrict individual member's display areas to
less than two panels. Members will be asked to number their prints in
order of preference to ensure that the favoured prints are shown if
allocated space does have to be reduced.
Selection/Critique evenings - the Main Hall has been booked for three
additional evenings to select images for the three inter-club battles.
Much as last year except that members are asked to bring their prints
between 7pm and 7.15pm so they can be displayed for closer scrutiny
at half-time before voting takes place.
Because of increasing numbers of members both slides and prints
are restricted to two (each) per member, so a certain amount of
self-selection needs to be exercised prior to the Selection evenings !
The first Critique/Selection evening is on Friday March 27th, and we
are running this as an Open evening and inviting members of the
public to come and see the club 'in working mode' !
Multi-club competitions - whilst the feeling of the meeting was that
we should continue to enter these events a new approach is necessay
both in taking the type of shot that the judges are liable to appreciate
(and award less than the minimum mark for !) and to identify and
select such images. The Special Images Selection Panel mentioned
above will have the responsibility of seeking out these images
throughout the year, and members are being asked to re-focus their
minds on actively searching for suitable shots, and with that in mind
some members have 'signed up' to look for images in the specific
categories required by these competitions, People, Natural History,
Landscapes and Open. Whether you signed up for a particular
category or not doesn't matter, anyone (everyone?) can go out
looking for suitable images to refer to the Panel. Judges generally
look for something more than the average 'club' shot, they need
to see some input from the photogtrapher other than just pointing
and shooting, some use of the imagination and/or more than basic
photographic technique. Discussion on this led to the suggestion
(Peter Smith) that we run Workshops (see below).
Workshops - do we really understand the potential of our cameras?
Do we make use of all (or even some) of the different settings that
even the humble comapct digital camera now has? Do we think about
Depth of Field, Shutter Speed, Natural or Vivid colour, etc., etc? Or
do we leave the camera set on A or P regardless of the subject
matter? Modern digital cameras make us lazy, they are sophisticated
enough both to enable correctly-focussed and exposed shots to be
taken without much thought and to deter us from reading the lengthy
manuals properly and experimenting to find out just what the camera
can do for us. Peter Smith proposed running Workshops (as an
addition to the monthly club meetings) and Graham Garner suggested
that these should cover basic photography principles and techniques
a well as more advanced matters, such as image manipulation, etc.
The meeting seemed prepared and eager to support such sessions,
and Peter Smith, John Templeton, Stephen Cook and myself agreed
to run these sessions.
The back room has been booked for the first of these Workshops
for Friday April 17th, please make a note in your diaries.
Converting digital images to slides - plenty of passionate debate
on this subject with Sue Banyard eloquently representing the anti-
digital lobby and John Templeton taking the opposite view and
suggesting that 'constructed' slides should be allowed for both
inter-club battles and internal competitions. It was finally agreed
that (a) slides made from digital images should be allowed to compete
against 'natural' slides for selection for inter-club battles (bringing us
into line with the majority of our opponents), and (b) slides for our
internal competitions must be 'natural, slides as produced by
transparency film.
The process of producing slides from digital images can be arranged
by individual members but it is strongly recommended that the club
undertake to do this via a proven company and at a reasonable cost.
Members need to identify suitable images (bearing in mind that not
every image is shown to its best effect projected onto a large screen)
and let the club arrange for the conversion. For the Rose Bowl
Selection evening it will mean bringing your images along to the
March 6th club evening, on a floppy disc or CD, together with the
conversion charge of £1.60 per image, we will then send all the images
away together (to save multiple postage charges) and the slides
produced will then belong to the author for use in any way they wish
(except internal competitions of course !).
Capital expenditure - it was decided not to go down the road of
digital projection this year so no great capital expenditure is
anticipated.
Website - a few CDs of members' images were handed in to Peter
Smith for inclusion on the new website, but more are needed if the
website is to be truly representative of the club's membership.
Discussion took place about the content of the website, everyone
agreed that an attractive Home Page that was up-dated on a regular
basis (at least once a month) was essential, and that quality of
material and presentation was more important than quantity. Peter
will get to work armed with the additional material provided and will
advise members before the website goes public, when there will be
an opportunity for further input from the memebrship.
The 2009 programme - only briefly discussed as members paying
their 2009 subscription received a copy of the Programme !
It was good to welcome two new members, Cyril Seaber and
Graham West. We wish you welcome, and hope you enjoy your
photography with the club.
It was also good to see Allan Hall back amongst us after some
ill-health over Christmas. Valerie Chandler also made the meeting
despite an arm sling which she claims is the result of a sporting
injury - not your shutter-clicking arm we hope Valerie !
Club meeting, March 6th - 'Barge Sailing - a religion' - an
illustrated presentation by Phil Chatfield, LRPS.
Phil is a barge sailing expert and fanatic as well as being an fine
photographer and amusing lecturer so we should be in for a good
evening. Arthur Griffiths has been on one of Phil's barge sailing
experiences and Phil comes highly recommended !
Don't forget to bring along to the meeting any digital images you
want converting to slides, plus your cheque books (although cash
is also welcome!) if you have yet to renew your subscription. At
£18 for fifteen meetings, plus the new Workshops and Sue's many
outdoor trips, no-one can say you don't get value for your money
at Wickham Market Photo Club ! Also any CDs with images for the
website of course.
Sue Evans Wedding Photography - Sue has started a wedding
and special events photography business and has a very good
assistant in Brian Carlick ! Visit her website,
sue-evansphotography.co.uk when next on-line.
Good luck with that Sue !
Spring Challenge - I hope everyone is thinking about images for
the Spring Challenge (less than 3 months away now!) with the
subject 'Fashion'. Anyone with ideas for that theme that they
don't intend to use please let me know !
Enjoy your photographic year, let's make it a real good one !
Terry
AGM
