Newsletter 2015

Newsletter Year 2015

Christmas Meal

Wednesday at the Devoncourt Hotel

We had our Christmas Meal at the Devoncourt Hotel, Exmouth which was very well organised by Mo. An excellent evening with the added bonus of a raffle where everyone won!!!!

Mo and her helpers (in particular Jenny) managed to get raffle prizes of varying shapes and sizes with the help of member donations.

It thanks to John P for taking quite a few photos and again, for a bit of fun I have made a collage - hopefully everyone who was there is included.

Happy Christmas and New Year to you All, Sheila

Next Meeting on the 6 January 2016 see you there.

The PAGB GB Cup 2016

Entry is now open between November 2015 and 17 January 2016. All details about the GB Cup can be seen on the PAGB Website. This is a big competition and the first time our club has entered. We need your best images, please let John Wickett have copies of your best ones as soon as possible as the Selection Committee will be selecting before Christmas. They will also be selecting at the same time images for the WCPF DPIC Competition to be held next February.

South Devon League Print Battle

This will be held at Newton Abbot on the 24 November between Crediton, Dawlish & Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and ourselves. We all enter 15 prints each and each Club entry is not allowed more than two images per photographer so we do have a good range of photographers representing the club. Please support your club and go along to Newton Abbot on Tuesday evening. Go here to see the images entered.

WCPF Kingswood Salver

This event took place on the 21 November at Clyst St Mary and we, the club entered our panel called Money or Your Life. Unfortunately Exeter put in their panel of a similar style and to make things worse our panel came directly after their's. The judge, Tony Worobiec FRPS spoke well of our panel and in fact said "I am finding it very difficult to decide but think the last panel had the edge. If this one had been the only one of its type then would more than likely be in for an award of some sort. As it is it will have to be one or the other that gets an award".

The actually entry for the competition was very well supported with 26 entries, the highest ever and I thought the standard and variety of entries was excellent. A very packed day with all those entries and in the afternoon Tony Worobeic gave a talk on his latest project "Abandoned on the Plains" which was images taken in Montana and Dakota of abandoned buildings and their interiors fittingly under the -sub title of "All about fragments of the Amercian Dream".

For more information a posting was made of the event by WCPF Facebook site. However you will need to request membership of this group as the WCPF have made it private. This is quick and easy to do so why not do it now.

WCPF AGM 10 October 2015

The AGM went very smoothly, it was noted though that there are a few places on the Committee, a Secretary is required urgently and they do need a Directory Secretary, Travelling Exhibition Secretary and Knightshayes and Kingswood Secretary. The AV Competition was discussed as several people have requested it to be moved to another day because the PAGB Executive meet the weekend the event was booked. The AV Associates will let members know the outcome as soon as it is resolved.

For the after session Peter Gennard EFIAP/p MFIAP gave a talk on his style of photography which involved the use of textures, layer masks and people who had some sort of different costume/makeup. A very interesting talk which was appreciated by the audience. He even gave some tips on how he does his creative portraiture.

We were reminded that the Kingswood Salver would be judged on the 21st November and as our club has entered their "Your Money or Your Life" panel it is hoped that some of EPG Members will attend.

Certificates were given to successful CPAGB applicants and Sheila Haycox was awarded the WCPF Members Exhibition Publics Favourite Image Trophy for her image Mum's Watching.

A La Ronde Exhibition 18 - 31 July

An exhibition of work from some of our members is now on display at A La Ronde. This will be there from 18th to 31st July to Please go along and view the images. A La Ronde is an interesting place to visit so you can combine the day. Below is a panorama of some of the prints hanging which Chaz kindly took.

We will be holding the A La Ronde Exhibition for next year from 30 July to 12 August.

Panorama of Exhibition of Members Work at A La Ronde July 2015

Fundamentals Day held on 31st May 2015

Last Sunday we held our first Fundamentals Day Workshop where 8 Club members were joined by 8 Mentors and spent a day around Exmouth improving their camera skills. No one was allowed to use ‘Auto’ or ‘Programme’ and the group looked at such elements as ‘The Exposure Triangle’ (aperture, shutter speed and ISO), Depth of Field and Composition. Everyone was also given the task of spelling the word ‘Exmouth’ by using objects to spell out each letter. If you have never tried this it is amazing how it improves your observation skills. So that you can see what we were all up to here is a link to some of the images taken, including the 'Exmouth Challenge'.

This "Exmouth" image was taken by Trevor Keenan

Mini Exhibitions of Members Work

Images from 16 Club members were exhibited at the Rethink Centre during Festival Week in conjunction with Exmouth Ceramic Group. The members of the public who visited the exhibition were very complimentary about our images. Images from Jenny, Derrick, Alison, Gill, Roger and myself were exhibited in the Pop Up Shop next door to the surf shop on the sea front during the second half of the Festival Week. The images were very well received with the following comments in the Visitors Book:

'The Lone Surfer reminds me of the good old days'
‘Some thought provoking scenes'
'The portraits of these extremely interesting individuals will cling to my thoughts whilst devouring my fish and chips. Well done photographers'
‘Excellent, more, more, more please’

Devon Clubs' Print and Digital Battle

This year we hosted the Devon Clubs' Battle which was held on the 16 May at Clyst St Mary Village Hall and I must say the Committee did a sterling job, everything ran smoothly, like clock work. So much work went into it getting the equipment orgranised, raffle, Fotospeed, Judge, tea/coffees/cakes, lunch, I could go on.

Thanks must go to Chris Marsham from the WCPF who got the screen, sound system and projector operational. Fotospeed attended on the day and they set up in the corner of the hall; I think they did quite a bit of business. Mo was overseeing to make sure that everything was going to plan, hiding away on occasions consulting with the judge and writing out certificates. Jenny organised the beverages and cakes which were supplied by members of EPG, what would we do without our members support. Trevor compared the occasion and made a very good job at that.

I am more than pleased with the results and I felt the Judge, Colin Searle was an excellent judge who understood how to judge panels. We came 3rd in the Print Panels and 1st for our Digital entry, also Derrick Holliday got the Trophy for the best Digital image overall. So well done the photographers who took part. So all in all a good result for Exmouth.

Please go to Devon Clubs' Battle 2015 for pictures of the day, awards, score sheets for dpi and print panels and other information - Sheila Haycox, Webmaster

Now a note from Mo Martin which is also directed to the Clubs that took part. Well it’s over and I would like to thank you all for your support and kind words during and after the event. The standard of images was superb and I believe Colin Searle was an excellent choice of judge – doing well as a Club always helps!! The day was a wonderful advert for the standard of photography in the region and I hope you will give your full support next year to Exeter Camera Club.

Mo Martin, Secretary

A well deserved celebration in the pub after

WCPF Members Exhibition Awards to two of our members

At the Presentation and Awards evening on the 17th April John and Sheila were congratulated for their Gold Medals at the WCPF Members Exhibition. John Perriam for his Print in the Open section called Homeward Bound and Sheila Haycox for her Print in the Nature section called Snatched. Since then John and Sheila have been presented with their Gold Medals and Certificates and images were taken by Mehran Ellis to celebrate this event.

Sheila & John receiving their WCPF trophies for the Members Exhibition

Our Whitby and surrounding area holiday

A very successful trip was had by all; congeniality, plenty of photography, brilliant house (with a hot tub!!!) great food, good weather most of the time. What more could we ask for. And, as you can see plenty to drink!!!

Friday 17th April Meeting Our Last of the Season

Presentation of Awards

This year the AGM and Presentations were split so we were able to do them during the first half of the meeting held on 17th April. Trevor then proceeded to award the trophies but unfortunately John Wickett who had two was not present; he received his for the Mono Monthly and Digital Monthly Competitions, nor was Christine Chittock who was the winner of the Set Subject. Trevor however was delighted to award to Sheila Haycox her four trophies for all three Panel Competitions and the Monthly Colour Print Competition. Trevor was able to proudly show the two trophies the Club won for the Horseshoe Trophy and South Devon League Battle.

The next award was the Chairmans Shield, Trevor was delighted to present this to Jenny Baker as he felt she had done a great deal for the club during the past season and more importantly Jenny had improved her own photography which resulted in her getting her LRPS. Jenny was absolutely stunned but delighted to received the Shield. All photos are below.

40th Anniversary for Club Member

This is the 40th year that John Perriam has been a member of Exmouth Photo Group and the occasion was marked by Mo Martin presenting John with an Engraved Glass plus the drink to go with it and a certificate. Trevor then proceeded to produce an Anniversary Cake made by Jenny Baker and there was a cutting the cake ceremony with our President Peter Dawon and John. John was absolutely delighted by all the fuss, pictures below.

Club Changes and Publicity

Ann Owens visited the club this evening as she felt that Exmouth members had done so well this season, distinctions to Jenny Baker, Derrick Holliday and John Wickett and to cap it all John Perriam and Sheila both got Gold Medals in the WCPF Exhibition plus other awards. So as such a small club she felt we deserved to have a piece in the WCPF Newsletter. Ann said she could also put into the Newsletter the fact that our meetings have now changed to Wednesday evenings. She then proceeded to take a group photo which I have put below.

Chairmans Challenge

At our last meeting of the season during the second half Steve Currie made a visit all the way from Scotland to judge the Chairmans Challenge. As Past Chairman he had set a Challenge for members; we had to produce digital images based on Earth, Fire, Wind and Water. He wanted to see all four elements which could be a panel, montage or individual images so it was up to the members how to interpret the theme. . The members did very well in producing a variety of work and I think everyone was surprised how imaginative everyone was. Steve did well in judging the work and decided on 3 Winners and 3 Highly Commended sets which are below. John Perriam gained 1st place and also had a H/C. 2nd was Sheila Haycox and 3rd was Christine Chittock. John Wickett and Gill Stocker had the other H/C's. Steve presented John with a cup. It was a very enjoyable second half and great to see Steve again.

All in all a very good end to the season.

South Devon League Battle

We have now completed our battle with Newton Abbot, Crediton, Dawlish & Teignmouth, the final part being the Digital Projected Images which was hosted by Crediton. John Tilsley was the judge for the evening and he made an excellent job.

We were in the lead after the Print Battle last December so were on tender hooks for the evening. We were beaten by Newton Abbot by 3 points in this section but we didn't think we could lose as we were so far ahead from the print battle. We did hold our own though, John Perriam got second place for his Homeward Bound and Derrick Holliday was awarded third place for his image called The Look. As predicted we won overall for the Battle getting 452 points with Newton Abbot scoring 417, Dawlish & Teignmouth 413 and Crediton 372.

Well done Exmouth and to all that participated. Full information on both competition and all the images can be viewed in the Club Images Section by clicking here.

Horseshoe Trophy

I am very happy to report another Exmouth Photo Group success ........ we are still the holders of the Horseshoe Trophy. Not only did we achieve a clean sweep of 1st places in the Digital section but John Perriam's image MG Flying up Simms Hill was awarded Best PDI. We did well in the Print Section with two 1st's and two 2nd's with Sheila Haycox being awarded the Best Print Overall with her image called Snatched. Please see this link for all images and more information on the event.

Congratulations to everyone who had images chosen. The 14 members of the Club who attended the event saw some excellent images, heard a very experienced and knowledgeable judge, were treated to an very good buffet (I even won 2 bottles of wine in the raffle!) and came way with big smiles on their faces after our excellent triumph.

Breaking News....... The Club will be meeting Wednesday evenings from September 2015.

The Committee discussed the possibility of altering our club evenings from a Friday to Wednesday evening. Although it has been more than 45 years meeting on a Friday it was felt that times are changing; people wishing to go away weekends and out on Friday nights with friends and family stopped prospective people joining the club. After consultation with members the general concensus was we should meet on a Wednesday evening. Programme for the next season will be published in due course as Gill will now have to prepare all the speakers and events for this new day.

WCPF Digital Projected Image Competition

At yesterdays DPIC Competition at Exeter Corn Exchange we achieved our highest result since I have been at the Club and came a very creditable 7th out of 47 Clubs entered. Well done to the members who had images chosen but special mention must go to:

John P who achieved 14 points for his image ‘Homeward Bound’ and was awarded a Medal for the 2nd Place overall image.
Sheila who achieved a maximum 15 points for her image ‘Snatched’ and was awarded a Judges Ribbon

Please go to this link for more information on the competition with images and results.

Mo.

Another New Year

We have had a good mixture in our programme so far with Paul Palin and his Before and After Group, another Digital and Discussion evening at the Rethink Centre which is very popular and a good way of getting to grips with software programmes. Our Set Subject competition was well entered so much so that only one set of images from members was judged as the entry was high. Another members Projects Evening from Deirdere Jennings, Jean and Ernie King; they are always popular and work from members is very much encouraged. Our Critique Evening lead by John P went well as did our Photoshop Circus. Congraulations also to Jenny Baker for getting her LRPS.