JAN-FEB

MONTHLY CHALLENGE – Winter

The theme for the January and February challenge is ‘Winter’.

Whether it’s iconic robins on your bird feeder, Christmas lights or a beautiful frosty morning, winter has plenty to offer the photographer. Wrap up warm, get your camera out and capture what this winter means to you!

We will review your images from this theme at Silverstone on 19th February.

Pyers Tucker on Hummingbirds, Wildlife Stories and Managing his Photos

Pyers Tucker will show us photos from a recent visit to Costa Rica, including stunning images of hummingbirds and will explain how they were taken.
2024 was a busy year for Pyers and he will also explain his process for managing his photos and editing, taking advantage of Lightroom Mobile and fellow Adobe products and go through a few illustrated wildlife stories.

GB Cup Competition Selection

TDPS will again be entering the GB Cup, a national competition open to all clubs affiliated to the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain. This is your chance to see how your images measure up against the best in the country!

Details of the selection process will be emailed to members ahead of the evening.

Mick Mansfield – Aviation Photography

Mick Mansfield is an experienced aviation photographer and a member of Bury St Edmunds Photographic Society.

In this Zoom presentation he will explain how he goes about photographing aircraft in different environments: museums, nightshoots, static, going in close and coping with changing weather .

He will also show a variety of airshow images and what equipment he uses.

Rob Bonfield – Butterflies, Dragonflies; and Sri Lankan Wildlife

Rob is a widely-travelled and experienced photographer. A member of Woking Photographic Society, his presentation this evening will be in two parts:

– Firstly he will show us his images of butterflies and dragonflies and explain how he goes about photographing them.

– In the second half he will transport us to Wilpattu National Park in Sri Lanka, showcasing the wildlife to be found there.

Review of bi-monthly challenge: Winter

Bring along your images on the subject of ‘Winter’ for an enjoyable evening of review and critique at Silverstone.

Maximum ten images, on a memory stick.

Jonathan Vaines – “The Little Print Show”

This talk comes with artistic approach to photography, stepping out of the club mainstream. Along with individual images we see motivational benefits of working with Projects, Sets and Groups of image . Most of my images are created using “in camera” techniques and the focus of the evening is about “Thinking Inside The Box”. The talk is primarily a print talk but presented via PowerPoint with 60 prints to display.

About Jonathan Vaines

Jonathan has owned a camera since 2012. His newfound hobby soon turned into a significant part of his life, a part he believes helps maintain a healthy wellbeing and provides a creative release. He has had many successful image acknowledgements and is a London Salon medal winner.

He is the EAF Judges’ Secretary and has previously been Regional Organiser for the RPS in East Anglia. Now retired, he teaches Photoshop in both group and one to one session via video conferencing along with face-to-face camera craft sessions. He is an Educator for the Royal Photographic Society and runs processing workshops for them as well as international clubs that span North America.

He is an A panel circuit judge, a sponsored lecturer of Paper Spectrum, Partner of Wex Photo Video, Jessops, Cartridge Monkey and DxO (the makers of the NIK Collection).

Keith Millard – “Image Creation – Inspired by the Impressionists”

Keith is inspired by the paintings of Turner, The French Impressionists Movement including Monet and has adopted their impressionistic style in his photographic images. He will talk about his influences and explain how he goes about creating his own images, which have been very successful in competitions.

Keith is a member of Milton Keynes City Photographic Society.

Image Review – “Colour or Mono – Which is Better?”

This evening we will be exploring whether images are best processed as a colour image or as a monochrome image. Bring along a selection of images – each one to be processed in both colour and monochrome.

Image Review – “Selection evening for Olney Head to Head Competition”

This evening we will be selecting our best 20 images to be entered into our annual friendly competition with Olney Camera Club.

Andy Sands – “Secret Britain”

A natural history talk covering British subjects that are more secretive in nature. Birds, Mammals, Insects, Fungi & Slime moulds, Andy will cover a range of habitats and species.

Andy has a particular interest in macro photography of bees and insects, fungi and slime moulds, woodland and wading birds. He has had his work published in magazines in the UK and internationally, including in National Geographic.

AGM – “ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING”

This is your opportunity to reflect on the past year, give your feedback and to elect a new committee.

After the formal business of the meeting we will review the successful GB Cup images from other clubs – both for the simple pleasure of seeing great images, but also to try to learn how to improve our own photography.

OLNEY COMPETITION

This year Towcester is hosting our annual competition against Olney Camera Club. Come along and enjoy a great selection of images submitted by both clubs!

MEMBERS OUTING TO CAMPBELL PARK, MILTON KEYNES

Campbell Park in Milton Keynes offers plenty to interest the photographer, from modernist sculptures at the western end to the Grand Union canal and the Gyosei art trail at the lower, eastern end.

Details will be sent to members nearer the date.

Osprey Hide – Rutland Water

We have managed to arrange exclusive access to a 6-person hide near Rutland Water for the evening of Friday 20th June, with the aim of photographing ospreys as they swoop down to catch fish.

Although this event is fully booked, contact secretary@towcesterphoto.co.uk to put your name on a reserve list.

MEMBERS OUTING

This evening will be a walk along the Blisworth arm of the Grand Union canal. Details will be emailed to members.

Image Review – “Best of British Summer Images”

Bring along a selection of images (no more than six please) that you have taken over the summer and would like to share with club members. Landscapes, sport, nature, all are welcome – it’s up to you!

Member Presentation – Photographing Butterflies

This evening Kevin Adams will explain his approach to photographing butterflies and dragonflies, illustrated with some of his competition-winning images.

Versatility challenge – Rot and Decay

Autumn has arrived so it’s time to take your camera out and photograph anything that could be termed ‘Rot and Decay’: maybe rotten apples, tired paintwork on a door or car, it’s up to you! Bring along your photos this evening and we will review them.

Kevin Pigney – “Passion for Scapes”

Landscapes, seascapes and long exposure: in this talk Kevin not only shows images but goes in to detail on how they were captured, including using filters, bracketing exposures and long exposure techniques.

Badby Challenge – Image selection

This is an additional Zoom meeting to select just 8 images to be entered in the Badby Challenge competition. Details of how to submit your images for consideration will be emailed to members.

Jubilee Cup – Leighton Buzzard

Leighton Buzzard Photographic Club (“LBPC”) are hosting the annual Jubilee Cup print competition and our members have been invited to enter. The competition itself is this evening. LBPC meet at Greenleas School, Derwent Rd, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 2AB from 7.30 pm for an 8 pm start.

Image selection

This evening we will be selecting the images which we will be sharing with Northampton Natural History Society when we meet with them on 26th November.

Steve Magennis – “Photographing garden birds”

Steve specialises in photographing dogs and wildlife. In this evening’s talk he will show how he goes about photographing garden birds.

Image Review with Northampton Natural History Society

This evening we will meeting with Northampton Natural History Society and doing a shared critique of each other’s best images.

The meeting will be hosted by NNHS at their meeting room in Northampton.

Pre-Christmas meet-up and Image Review

Bring along your favourite photos of 2025 to show, and enjoy Christmas nibbles and drinks in this, our last meeting of the year!