38 20 July 2019I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.ukI subscribe 0330 333 1113©
GEOFFELDRED©
KEN
FARGEWhenwastheclubfounded?
Theclubwasfoundedin 1966byten
like-mindedpeoplewhometin a backroom
of a professionalphotographer’sshop.Whatdoesyourcluboffernewmembers?
Weaimtoprovideanenvironmentwhere
photographerswillbeinspiredtosharetheir
workandbeencouragedtoenhancetheir
skills.Wedothisbya combinationof talks
andcompetitions,anda monthlymembers’
nightwitha practicaltheme.Wealsohavea
Facebookgroupwherememberscanseek
advice,shareideasandparticipatein a weekly
themedfunphotochallenge.Duringthe
summer,werunregularphotographic
socialnightsoftenendingupin a pub.Describea typicalclubmeeting.
Wemeetfortwohoursona Mondaynight
from September to May. These meetings area mixof internalcompetitions,(printandPDI),
judgedbyaccreditedexternaljudgesand
photographythemedtalksbyexternal
speakers.Theinternalcompetitionsoffer
membersa chancetodisplaytheirworkand
togetconstructivecritiquefromthejudgeon
whatin theiropinionworksordoesn’twork
in theimage.Enteringcompetitionsis not
compulsoryandsomemembersjustenjoy
seeingothermembers’images.Thereis always
a buzzin thehallforthe 30 minutespriorto
thestartof theeveningasmembersgrabthe
chancetosocialisewithoneanother,andit is
oftenhardtogetthelastgroupof members
toleaveat theendof theevening.Doyouinviteguestspeakers?
Weworkhardtoprovidea diversemixof
speakerswhoaregenerallyexternaltothe
clubwiththeoccasionalmember-ledtalk.
GavinHoeyis a clubfavourite,andthechoice
of externalspeakersaimstoinformandhelp
inspireourmemberstoexplore and improve
theirphotographyfurther.Whatarethemostpopularphotographic
genresamongyourmembers?
Ourmostpopulargenresof photographyare
nature,portraiture,landscapesandaction.Domemberscompetein competitions?
Severalmembersentertheirimagesinto
BritishPhotographicExhibitionsandother
competitions.Wealsohaveseveralmembers
whohaveearnedphotographic distinctions
withthePAGBandRPS.Howmanymembersdoyouhave?
Wecurrentlyhave 70 members,withcapacity
for more. We offer prospective members twoThesociableBenfleetCameraClubishappytowelcome more membersClub
Join
theYOUR PICTURES IN PRINTsessionsfreeof chargesotheycanexperience
whatit’slikeona ‘trybeforeyoubuy’basis.Areanyresidentialtripsoroutingsplanned?
Theclubhasrunannualoutingssince1990.
PlacesvisitedhaveincludedWhitby,South
Wales,theLakeDistrict,Bristolaswellas
France,Belgium,HollandandGermany.This
yearwewillbereturningtoSouthWales.In
addition,werunadhocdaysout.Lastyearwe
wenttoBrightonandChathamDockyardas
wellasthesummereveningmeetups.Doyouhaveanyfunnystoriesabouttheclub?
Ononeof thecoachtripstotheLakeDistrict,
therearof ourcoachbecamegroundedwith
thewheelsheldofftheroadduetoa camber.
Despitemembers’besteffortstoliftthecoach
theywerestuckfor2.5hoursandthepolice
hadtoclosetheroad.Tomakemattersworse
it waspouringwithrainandeveryonewas
soaked;theywereeventuallyrescued but
bythentheyhadmisseddinner.Whataretheclub’sgoalsforthefuture?
Ourgoalis simpleandthatis toprovidea club
thatphotographerswillwanttobepartof.Our
committeecontinuallyreassesseswhatworks
wellandhowtoinnovate.Throughouttheyear
weoffertalks,competitions,practicalnights,
socialmeetupsanda Facebookgroupfor
members’discussionsandimagesharing.
Althoughtheinternetcanprovide
photographerswiththemeansof sharingtheir
imagesandtherearephotographicmeet-up
groups,wefeelthat a camera club can offer
thisandmore.1 GreenbackedHeron
FishingbyKenFarge
Alovelyandclassic
wildlifestudythathas
beencomposedsimply,
yet effectively.2 RunnyHoneyby
GeoffEldredThebold
coloursandshapesgive
thisshota graphicquality
whichreallymakes it leap
from the page.Wanttoseeyourclubfeaturedonthesepages?Drop
us a line for more information at [email protected]12