Weekly Update

Last week saw a lot of activity at CCC, partly because of a date muddle with the print group – mea culpa. Point to note, is that although we say that the special interest groups fall on a specific day of the month, in months that have 5 weeks we need to spread them out a little, e.g. the print group may move from the second to the third Tuesday of the month. As the saying goes: ‘When all else fails – read the instructions!’ or in this case the programme on the website.

This phrase also applies to the general workings of the club. We were so lucky at the first Digital Group of the season when Jeff took us on a guided tour around the website. Some longer standing members of the Club were suprised to find that they could find their own portfolio of every image they had entered into competitions over the years! Do sign in and navigate the huge wealth of information that exists on the website to help you. One of the key documents found at Documents/Published Documents is the Members’ Handbook linked here for your convenience:

Members’ Handbook can be found HERE Maybe rather than waiting for ‘all else to fail’ this is a great starting position.

The First Club and Intermediate PDI Competition last week, judged by stand in judge Mike Taylor from Gosport, was an opportunity for members to get constructive feedback on their images – it isn’t necessarily about the score (but that is great), it is about what can we improve upon. and entering competitions is a great way to do that. I know it triggered some interest, in those who have not entered to date, to do so. The Members’ Handbook will help with the process of this.

The PAGB and Print Group

Another way of improving is to attend the Print Group. Our first Print Group of the season saw Julia Wainwright talk through what you need to consider when printing and presenting your images, followed by a second half of constructive critiquing images you brought to the evening. It is in this forum that the small print competition is held. How lucky are we to have one of the selection committee to devote further time to help us with the Print Group – thank you Julia and a huge thank you to Ian Roberts, our PDI secretary, for all his help behind the scenes.

The PAGB Group is also a lesson in print and PDI critique. It is aimed at those wanting to get the many distinctions available to them other than the RPS route, in particular, the awards made by the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain. Support is also given to those who are trying to get their images into both National and International exhibitions, as accepted images will often help gain the qualifications needed. Even if you are not on this pathway it is a great group to attend to observe, again run by another of our recent selection committee members, in fact the chair, Peter Rocchiccioli. Also with Ann McDonald, John Howes, Pete Bamforth and Glyn Edmunds bringing their commentary. This expertise is why CCC has such a good reputation and does so well in external competitions. Thank you for your dedication and expertise.