Club News

The fourth competition of the year took place on 6 March; the images being on any subject. The judge was Paul O’Toole of Littlehampton Camera Club and well known to Storrington Camera Club. Known for his sense of humour, as well as his extensive knowledge of photography, Paul kept us entertained whilst reviewing our photographs.  

Paul chose his favourite images and then a number of Highly Commended and Commended images. He was particularly impressed by the variety and quality of the entries. He gave us many expert tips during the course of the evening. 

Intent on travelling in retirement Mike Cullis, an award winning photographer, sought advice on the one place to visit. It appears that the Falkland Islands was this place. It offered a different experience, was a special place and presented the opportunity to create an audio/visual presentation where the accompanying music would reflect the character of the wildlife portrayed. Just getting there was a challenge. The RAF flight from Brize Norton was not the most salubrious of travel experiences. Guest accommodation on the islands was limited and resources, including water, were scarce.

Peter Merry, a photographer from Guildford retired during the pandemic and, when he was able to travel embarked with his wife on a journey around Europe on an inter-rail pass for 30 days visiting 10 countries and 13 cities. As a consequence we could have been treated/subjected to an evening of holiday snaps, but Peter was into projects and determined on an objective to take 20 photographs that would stand the test of time and remain meaningful for many years. The route was planned with the Inter-Rail app.

The third competition of the year took place on 23rd January. The judge was Paul Graber ARPS, a former chairman of Guildford Photographic Society. Paul was making a return visit, having judged for us before.

Paul chose his favourite images and then a number of Highly Commended and Commended images. He was particularly impressed by the variety and quality of the entries. He gave us many expert tips as he went through our images.

Judge’s favourite images of the evening

The judge’s favourites were:

Wildlife photography can be demanding enough at the best of times but doing it with flash is a task that is not for the faint hearted. Wendy Ball, a local photographer from Steyning Camera Club explained its fascination and the journey she took to master its techniques and trials. She began a few years ago with no experience and little understanding and sought assistance from others to begin to learn the requirements and techniques.

Richard Sharman ARPS finds joy in nature by studying and photographing its behaviour and actions. He does not totally eschew the portrait, but whilst illustrating the photographic beauty of some images he pointed out the absence of action. He contrasted a sedge warbler clinging to a reed with a pair of kingfishers sitting on a bank exchanging a fish. He watched for five minutes whilst the male tantalised the female with a fish until he finally surrendered it.

The second competition of the year took place on 28th November. The judge was Ken Scott, known to all for training judges and being president of Steyning Camera Club. Ken is very keen for photographers to demonstrate Expressive Quality in their images – something he would be looking for as he reviewed our images.

Ken chose his favourite images and then a number of Highly Commended and Commended images. He was particularly impressed by the variety and quality of the entries.

Judge’s favourite images of the evening:

The judge’s favourites were:

The first competition of the year took place on 17th October. The judge was Richard Sharman ARPS, from Steyning Camera Club. One of Richard’s specialities is wildlife. He started off with an explanation of what he was looking for in a good image – something different which makes him ‘feel’ the image or creates an atmosphere.

Richard chose his favourite images and then a number of Highly Commended and Commended images. He was particularly impressed by the variety and quality of the entries. 

Judge’s favourite images of the evening:

The first members' meeting of the year delivered four very different presentations that showed that photography is not just a technical craft but an exercise in thought, judgement and questioning. Photographers think about what they and why they do it.

The start of the new season saw an eclectic mix of activities beginning with the customary parade of members eager to show the directions their photography went during the Summer period. The next meeting was a talk by Hugh Gilbert, a seasoned photographer, whose career began as an assistant to a fashion photographer in the Kings Road, in Chelsea. From there he moved on to photographing the work of a colony of artists in studios in St Katherine's Dock, opposite the Tower of London.