Official CVS-Cheshire East Certificate of Membership

Here is the Groups Official Membership Certificate that arrived today, for next years membership of CVS-Cheshire East.

Will now get this over  to Mel Smith our Web Page Webmaster to include somewhere on the Web Page (if she can now find room ;)

Watch this Space :)

21st Group make the local Press, yet AGAIN!

Press Article from the local Guardian Newspaper this week, 27th Feb 2015

We are being treated very well by the local Middlewich & Winsford Guardian Newspaper, with thanks to Josh, the Middlewich and Winsford Guardian Reporter.

I do provide the information when we have something worthy to report, and Josh certainly makes sure we get our nose in somewhere, even though he was not able to use any of our photos, this time around. However, with such good press I feel sure this will allow for the group to gain more members, as this never fails when we have good press relations.

NOW-How about making more of the many photos the group take when we are on outings, or even your own photos when out and about. You will see from the nice photo above by Nick Jones, and their comments, they NEED MORE FROM YOU!!!

More for the GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER.

Get your own OUT and ABOUT photos sent in to the Guardian, and they will do their level best to try and get them printed. 

Try to make sure you also tell them you are a member of the 21st Group, as this will also give us some more, much needed press, and the more press we get, means more new members.

More photos of Mid-Cheshire for use by the INDEPENDENT Free Newspaper.

You can also help the group by getting your MID-CHESHIRE photos, of anything, anywhere, on any topic, sent to myself using the group e-mail of 21stctncg@gmail.com.

They have committed to myself to run a GROUP ARTICLE each month, letting the local community know who we are, what we do in Mid-Cheshire, and why!!

ALL we have to do is to get your Mid-Cheshire photos to myself, and until the Web Page takes over this task, I will then send your photos to the Newspaper EDITOR, direct. She will then use the photos in their monthly Newspaper, which will again help the group mature and gain new members.

I have had some, BUT NEARLY ENOUGH, so get out and about with your digital camera, and get these good photos to myself !!!!

This is just a fantastic opportunity for the 21st group, so please try not to waste it :)

GOOD PHOTOS get the GROUP GOOD PRESS and NEW MEMBERS.

Cliff

21st Group Photography Instructional Outings for FREE!!

Photo by member Mr Ken Rane, provided for our member Monthly Photo Presentation.

WHAT is the purpose of Group Instructional Photo Outings?

Why, have we been arranging group meetings since the group commenced to operate in MARCH 2014?

Why, is it that we now can get some 20 members and family to attend such meetings? (plus,children as well).

Why, do group members do this for FREE?................... They do this so that you can :-

A) Meet in a relaxed and non pressure group with like minded people, with new and experienced photographers who use a whole range of differing digital cameras and with members that range from those having NO experience in photography, to being retired professional photographers. Members are helped by other more skilled and experienced member photographers, who just wish to do this for the pleasure and fun of helping others, and sharing the fantastic experience of learning.

B) Be taught how best to use their OWN CAMERA to make their own photographs, so much better.

C) To all capture the same shot, be it a flower, bird, countryside, woodlands etc after being told, how best to take that kind of shot, using their camera.

D) To also be able to ask members how best to take any other photograph, whilst out and about with the group, to gain even more experience and enjoy the creative art of photography.

Following the group photo outing we ask for members to provide 3 to 5 of their own "better" photos, that are quite small (less than 500K) in size, so we may take their photos and make this into a member photo presentation that is displayed when members arrive at the start of monthly meetings.

This is the time where they can themselves see how well their own photos came out, when compared to other member photos that were taken of  THE SAME TOPIC with the same camera settings. They will see, without asking any further questions, just how well they have done, compared to other members. 

They are also encouraged to make a note of members photographs and names, so if they wish to follow up they can contact members directly and ask questions, say on Facebook about the members photos / settings etc and ask how they can improve their own photos, buy discussing this in PRIVATE with the other member.

THIS WORKS, AND SO DO THE MONTHLY PHOTO OUTINGS!!

Make sure you find time to also come along to our now regular monthly SATURDAY afternoon outings.

Your own photography skills will come on in leaps and bounds, as it has for many of our newer members.

Just ASK that question that has been bugging you for ages, and did not who to ask :)

 Just ask around the group and they will tell how they enjoy the outings, and how their own photos have improved since taking part.

Cliff

21st Group-North Wales Coach Tour-SUNDAY 17th May 2015-Update

Photo by Cliff Astles

 

 

Just a quick update to let members know what the latest position is if considering joining the trip......  

Coach is now 70% FULL.

If you wish to go on the trip please make sure you In-Box myself on Facebook, or use the Group e-mail of 21stctncg@gmail.com to book your seats...............NOW!!

Cliff

MARCH 2015-Member Photo Presentation-Early Reminder

Photo by Cliff Astles
Taken this morning 22/02/15 at about 7.30 am.

Just thought I would put this up as a nice sunny morning photo reminder, for those that were not lucky enough to get up and about before the RAIN, HAIL, SNOW & RAIN finally came to Cheshire, and probably to spoil most peoples day :(

Having decided to have this months topic of  SUNRISE and SUNSETS I then added another topic of SPRING FLOWERS.

Therefore, for the doubters for getting any photos with sunshine or any kind, I thought this would show other members that there is a sun out there. There are ALSO many Crocus, Snowdrops, and in fact many other Spring Flowers around to get that SPECIAL shot for our member presentations.

PLEASE, get your photos to me fairly quickly (less than 500 K in size, please) as when we have many HUNDREDS, as we did last month, it does take a little time to get these sorted, and placed with members names into a MS PowerPoint Presentation.

This one was POST Processed using PICASA3 from Google, which I do rate highly as quick and easy way to improve your photos, with Photo Post Processing Software, and to add any special effects ( Photo boarders on this one only) as below. ...............Photo by Cliff Astles.

NEW-North Wales Group Photo Tour-Sunday 17th May 2015.

Group "Instructional Photo Outing" with family, friends & Guests

Sunday MAY 17th 2015 from Middlewich at 9.00am-return to Middlewich, about 8.00 / 9.00 pm

One of the best photography days out from our Mid-Cheshire homes is a FULL days visit to North Wales.

It is just a wonderful day out for all of the family, with some fantastic photo opportunities, no matter what you like to shoot, as you can see from photos above, and Andy Boardmans one of the lake at Llanberris, looking back to the Llanberris Pass.

It can ALL be done quite easily with our very own group organised coach tour, using one of our local Coach Tour operators. It is a long day out, stopping on the outward journey at the many local beauty spots, taking lunch (or take your own packed lunch which makes better use of the time).

From Middlewich at say 9.00 am, and then making our way to Llangollen, but stopping at the Pontcysyllte Aquaduct, just before Llangollen from a short stop for photos. Then Llangollen for an hours photos, on to Betws-y-Coed, for similar short stop for photos, water falls passing through the town etc.

Proceed to Chapel Gurig and along the road to Llanberris Pass, my photo of the rocks / stream running along the Llanberris Pass, turning round at Llanberris Lake, Andy Boardmans photo above, and head back to Middlewich, via the same route, or perhaps head back towards the A55 at Conway Castle ( NOT STOPPING on return leg as it will be TOO LATE), and back via the A55 to Chester & Middlewich.

This would be a GREAT GROUP SHORT WORLD TOUR of North Wales, with like minded people all wanting to have a good friendly fun & family day out, and taking of a "few" photos, so we may look back and remember the trip for many years.

With now confirmed prices of £ 15.00 for Adults and £ 7.50 for children, this must be one of the cheapest ways to get in some much needed photography experience in just one day, with HELP from group members to ensure we all get some GREAT photos.

Please e-mail your booking needs for adults and children via the group e-mail at 21stctncg@gmail.com.

I will be looking at taking a booked seat deposit of 50% of the total per booking (non returnable when I have reserved the coach). PLEASE let me know how many seats adult and children you require to be booked, ASAP, as more than 30% of the total available have already been reserved.

The full cost of the trip will required to be paid to myself or Barbara, NO LATER, than the end of April, and will be collected (as we did the Canal Boat trip) at monthly meetings (cheque to pay 21st Century Technology & Camera Group).

If you need my address then please message me on fb.

People that had previously said YES wish to go, also need to re-confirm to me, as the original list was ONLY to judge provisional interest. The trip is now ON for REAL, so make sure you let me know SOON how many seats you wish to book

THE BUS DOES HAVE AN ONBOARD TOILET...................YES!!!!

Thanks for your continuing interest.

Cliff Astles

Photo by Cliff Astles-Llanberris Pass-Photo is quite a large file. BUT, if you manage to get a copy from the photo try and BLOW it up quite big, and search for the THREE lady "rock climbers". I thought they were the feathered kind, but my binoculars told me a different story. Answers in my In-Box Please.

Let's get your photos on our site!

The photos underneath the main photo on the Website's Home Page are just quickly used stock photos from the web provider's (WIX) library.

We would like all of the photos on the website to be created by members of the group.

With that in mind we would like for members to provide for the Web Page a selection of still life photos that represent the following themes (links), as below.

Upcoming events

 

Previous events

 

Assignments

 

News

 

Welcome

Please, let us have these as soon as possible so we can incorporate YOUR photos in the next update that is done by Melody.

These can be sent direct to Melody Smith, using the Group Facebook Page.

Thanks

Cliff