Letter of thanks from RSPB

Club members and guests at our Christmas dinner donated £138 to support the RSPB reserves that suffered so much damage in the storms a few weeks ago.  This amount was matched by Naturediet Pet Foods Ltd so a total of £270 was donated. We have just received this letter of thanks from Dr Mike Clarke, RSPB Chief Executive.

Let's hope the habitats and the wildlife make a good recovery.

Tuesday 3rd December - Focus On ... Getting Creative

We had 37 entries in our Focus On … Getting Creative session.  It should have been 39 because Tim Leonard sent in two images which unfortunately I managed to overlook and we didn’t get to see them last night.  I’ve included them here so we finally get to see them - sorry Tim.

We saw imaginative results achieved in a variety of ways.  I know several people have learnt a little more about PS Elements and other editing software while working on their images.  Congratulations to Heather whose two images 'Twist & Turn' and 'Petals' were voted 1st and 2nd favourite images on the night.  And well done Caroline in 3rd place with 'Inner World'.  These and a few other favourites can be seen here.

Andy Caws

Twist And Turn by Heather Ryder

Petals by Heather Ryder

Inner World by Caroline Tillett

Popeye by Andy Caws

What! by John Ward

My Best Friend by Jan Murphy

Swirling by Sarah Pymer

It's All In The Eyes by Caroline Tillett

Wingbeats by Robin Orrow

City Silhouette by Diana Daniels

Ghostly Mallards by Tom Thurston

Fun On The Rope Swing by Tim Leonard

Give Me A Kiss by Tim Leonard

Tuesday 26 November - Digital Competition Round 1

Many thanks to all club members who submitted images in the first round of our digital competition.  We had 75 images for our judge Andy Wilson to critique and score.  It was an Open competition so any subject matter was allowed and we saw a huge range of topics and some excellent images.  Well done to all those whose images were awarded scores of 19 and 20 - their images can be seen below.

ARCHES by Di Daniels

BURNHAM WINDMILL by Roy Scrivener

BELLE ISLE  KINGS CROSS by John Mills

BLEAK HARVEST by Jan Murphy

BUMBLE BEES by John Jensen

CEILING LINES by John Ward

ENCHANTED FOREST by Martyn Anderson

HOMEWARD BOUND by Di Jackson

OUCH by Robin Orrow

PARASOL MUSHROOM by Geoff Lingwood

TAKING IN THE SUNSHINE by Martin Ryder

SUNKEN DREAMS by Martyn Anderson

SPOOKY CITY by Sue Baldwin

PROUD AS A PEACOCK by Margaret Herbert

TWIN PIERS by Keith Mountford

UNDER THE BRIDGE by Andy Lowe

Sunday 3rd November - Fireworks & Motor Racing

We made an impressive sight as all nine of us lined up on the top of the bank with cameras and tripods at the ready.  The best action came when the Bangers were on the track - plenty of huge impacts creating sparks and smoke and parts of vehicles flying through the air.  Nobody seemed to know who had won any of the races but it didn’t seem to matter! 

It was a freezing night with a wicked wind but at least it wasn’t raining or foggy so we were relieved when the firework display was finally underway.  Billed as a “Massive Firework Display” we had to be quick to get our shots in as it had almost finished before we had a chance to try different settings!

Hope you enjoy the images we managed to capture. 

By Jim McConnell

By Jim McConnell

By Roy Scrivener

By Andy Caws

By Jim McConnell

By Sarah Pymer

By Andy Caws

By Sarah Pymer

By Di Jackson

By Di Jackson

By Di Jackson

By Roy Scrivener

Tuesday 22 October - Print Competition Round 1

Thanks to the judge Alan Sarsby there was a lively atmosphere for the first round of our print competition.  66 prints were on display on our splendid new display boards (thank you, Robin, for all the hours you spent constructing them).

Starting with the Club Class entries, Alan assessed the strengths and weaknesses of each print, offered suggestions and awarded a score.  His constructive comments will help us all improve our images.  The top scoring prints can be seen below. 

Electric Chair by Martyn Anderson

Crash Bang Wallop by John Bunning

Get Yer Teeth Cleaned by John Bunning

Watercolour by Mark Clayton

Buttermere by Mark Clayton

Sign Language by Suzi Senior

All Hallows Eve by Roy Scrivener

Clock Tower by Sarah Pymer

Bikes by Francesca Shearcroft

Autumnal Affection by Caroline Tillett

Loaves, Fishes and The 5000 by Di jackson

Monster In The Mist by John Ward

Room For One More by Caroline Tillett

Supermarine Spitfire Mk XI by Margaret Herbert

Tulips by Diana Daniels