Groups – some changes for the new season

With two group leaders standing down at the end of last season, and following our membership survey, we have been looking at what we can provide in the new season. Thank you again to Sarah Nichol and Paul Adams for all they have put into the groups to date. We are delighted that Chris Worsley has stepped forward and is leading a team to prepare a programme for the Camera Craft Group which will continue in a magazine style. Julia Wainwright and Jeff Owen will lead the other group which is focused on the image including post processing, presentation and critique. Our thanks go to Lorna who continues to lead the RPS group ad Peter who leads the PAGB – see below. The club levies a small attendance fee to cover costs (currently £3 for members, £5 for non-members). Unless noted otherwise in the text below, all of these meetings are held between 7:30pm and 9:30pm at Tangmere Village Centre, but if you are able to help set up from 7.15 then you would be very welcome. Please NOTE that September 2025 has some variations to the below – see the Programme and the Group pages for meeting dates and other details, including contact emails. We will continue to have a programme of photo walks kindly put together by David Pritchard.

The Contacts for the Special Interest Groups are as follows:

Group	Contact	When
PAGB	Peter Rocchiccioli	1st Monday of the month
Image and Presentation	Julia Wainwright and Jeff Owen	2nd Tuesday of the month
RPS	Lorna Brown	3rd Tuesday of the month
Camera Craft	Chris Worsley	4th Tuesday of the month
Multimedia	Jeff Owen	Dates will be advised
Portraiture	Jan Davis & Andy Dulson	Dates will be advised
Photo Walks	David Pritchard	Dates will be advised

• The PAGB Group

The PAGB Distinctions group has been set up to help people work towards the many distinctions available to them through the PAGB and FIAP distinctions route. The group encourages members to strive to achieve the very high standard of photography required to achieve these distinctions. We will also look at work for people who are trying to enter images into both National and International Photographic Salons and encourage members to enter these competitions, because acceptances in these Salons will often help gain the FIAP distinctions. We meet at 7.00pm on the first Monday of the month unless it is a bank holiday, in which case the meeting is moved to an alternative date.

• The Image and Presentation Group

The Image and Presentation Group helps members to improve the quality of their image through mutual encouragement and constructive feedback. The group also looks at sharing digital skills, imaging problem solving and hints and tips. We encourage members to enter competitions and the exhibitions as a way of improving their photography and this group will help members with printing and thinking about mounts and how to panel. Whether you take your photos with the latest high spec mirrorless camera or using a mobile phone, which many members do, this group will help you with the image you produce. This is for photographers at all levels but particularly helpful for newer photographers.

• The RPS Distinctions Group

The group helps those who wish to try for Licentiate (LRPS), Associate (ARPS) and Fellow (FRPS) distinctions. This year, Lorna Brown will be leading the group while special advice will still be available from our own FRPS members, who have experience of the RPS Distinction Panels, and it is also open to and attracts photographers from outside the Club.

The Licentiate requires a good demonstration of sound photographic skills – such as differential focus, close up and wide-angle compositions, portraiture, nature or landscape, and different shutter speed use.  These must all be presented with excellent technical skills (no over-sharpening for instance) in ten images presented as a cohesive ‘panel’, that is, the images complement each other, none look out of place and together they make a whole.

Associate and Fellowship levels demand excellent photographic techniques shown via 15 (ARPS) or 20/21 (FRPS) images that as well as sitting together in a panel are united by a theme, demonstrate creative ability and personal style and are and backed up by a ‘statement of intent’ that sets out what the photographer aims to show.

•  The Camera Craft Group

Camera Craft is the group which will help you with the taking of the photograph, basic camera craft, equipment, and how to develop creativity in your image making, through practical sessions and discussion groups. It will also introduce you to the Photo walks programme. From time to time members offer to lead a photo walk – a social gathering of members who explore a specific location. It’s a great opportunity to learn from others, share ideas, and improve photography skills in a supportive environment.

• Multimedia Group

This group is there to help people wanting to produce books, audio visual (AV) or wanting to experiment with video.

If you have (potential) collections of images and are looking at interesting ways of presenting them, then books and AV may be for you. Many documentary photographers find these mediums an attractive way to present their work, and more and more are using video clips within AV to enhance the story telling. The group tries to balance the need to pick up technologies required with the basic editing and composition required to produce good books and audio visuals.

• The Portrait Group

Portraiture requires skill and experience and this group aims to give its participants the opportunity to learn through working with others in a studio-like setting or on location. The club relies on borrowing studio lights and using participants flash guns depending on the situation. The group does not have regular meetings but meets ad hoc when opportunities arise for people photography.  In particular regular photo shoots at Chichester College Hair and Beauty and Barbers dept as well at events in the city such as Remembrance Day,  St Pancras Wheelbarrow walk.  Also there are opportunities to contribute to St Wilfrid’s Hospice’s  Bubble Rush, Moonlight Walk and other events.