Battle of Middlewich 1643-Member Photos

Photo by Cliff Astles.........Royalist troops line up, ready for battle, at the Battle of Nantwich 1643

Next weekend, May Bank Holiday Weekend, will see troops line up in similar order, to re-enact the Battle for Middlewich.

I feel sure that many of our group will be out and about with their cameras taking similar photos of the action. If this is the case please, make sure you get your best photos (large Jpeg ), to the local Guardian Series of newspapers , where there is every possibility that some  of our members photos will be used by the paper.

The Guardian Newspaper Group have been very good in publishing a number of articles about the success of our group, and as they have today requested from myself some photos, I thought many of you would also wish to do this for them as well.

IF, YOU DO HAVE PHOTOS, GET THEM TO THE NEWSPAPER QUICKLY !!!!

Cliff

North Wales Photo Outing Update-Plus.

General Group Membership Update-Thursday 14^th May 2015.

North Wales Photo Outing. Sunday 17^th May-2015-Meet at 9.00 am- leave at 9.30 PROMPT!!!

    A) There is a Fun Fair on the proposed car park and meeting place, so we will now be meeting on the SALINAE Centre car park, at the same time. The SALINAE car park is opposite Middlewich Town Library, on Lewin Street. Go through the towns traffic lights on the road to Sandbach, the Library is on the right hand side, 400 yards from the traffic lights. Turn LEFT next by the small DIY Centre, the car park is on your left, and also at the rear. WE WILL ALL MEET AT THE REAR CAR PARK. 

We will then make sure we all have each driver’s mobile numbers (emergencies and  any other reason) and then commence the journey going by Nantwich Road in Middlewich, then Wrexham, to Llangollen, but calling at the first photo spot of where the Llangollen canal crosses the river called the PONT CYCLLTE Aquaduct, then through Llangollen to Betws-y-Coed for more photos, stopping on the main car park in the town.

Having had our fill of photos at Betws-y-Coed, we will go via Chapel Curig, to the Llanberris Pass. We will stop a number of times along these roads when we reach a number of photo spots indicated to me via a North Wales photographer.

As we have quite a long journey it is considered that packed lunches may be best, as we do not at this time, envisage stopping for any long time (this may change as the day progresses). A tripod will be useful, if you have one to use. It is likely there will be many stops for a quick toilet.

There are a few places still available, so anyone wanting to go on the trip needs to make arrangements by making your wish to go on the trip known on the groups FB site. People with cars will make contact via FB to fill up the places in their cars.

Bunbury Mill Photo Outing-Saturday May 30^th-2015.

     B)The photo trip to Bunbury Mill carries a minimum charge of £ 40.00 (this is a special trip, organised for group members only, on a Saturday afternoon, hence the minimum charge). Trip info can be found on the Web Site Blog Page. Member charge is £ 3.50 per person, payable on admission.

Cliff

Photo Topic Reminder for MAY 2015.

Photo by Cliff Astles-River Wheelock from the Bridge on Forge Mill Lane-Warmingham-Cheshire.

Member photos-May Group Meeting-Willowmere-Middlewich.

Reminder-TWO TOPICS for photos are CHESHIRE COUNTRYSIDE and MACHINES.

Make sure you use your own and the group FLICKR Galleries to place your photos on-line, and to make them available to be sorted and placed into a photo presentation.

The quality of Flickr for photo presentation is allowing for some GREAT member photos to be shown, and is so very much better for the group to use than just using Facebook.

Cliff

Group members working together.

Photo by Paul Macready

Photo by Paul Macready

Group members, working together to improve their photography.

One of the main objectives when initially forming the Group was for the more skilled members to offer help, and give guidance to other members, who were just, perhaps starting to use a digital camera, and wanting to get up to speed quickly. We believe we have achieved this in no short measure, with many new to photography, quickly creating photos of merit.

It was very satisfying therefore to see recently, that Paul Macready (using his excellent photos above) was helping member Donna, to also try to achieve a similar quality photo by providing photo settings and other advice, for her future use when presented with a similar photo opportunity.

With the move from placing group photos on Facebook, to members now  using Flickr, we can not only now see members photos in much better quality, but Flickr also provides all of the  technical information regarding photo settings for members to see for themselves, so they may use the information in order  to improve their own photo skills. A BIG step forward for the group members. 

The group continues to grow with new members and the more conversations that take place of this nature, the better and stronger the group becomes. Thanks to members like Paul, Mal Wetton, Brian Roberts, and others that help in this way, we are achieving one of our main goals with the group.

Getting members to shoot quality photos, all of the time J

Cliff

Two pictures (see wingtips) are to show what happens when you use a shutter speed of  1/640 sec. 

Heron............ slight blur at the wing tips), which does give a nice motion effect, that you may wish to have?

Seagull...........when you use a much higher shutter speed (1/2000 sec). The wing tips are quite clear, with no motion to speak of.

Bunbury Mill-Group Instructional Photo Outing.

Bunbury Water Mill-Bunbury-Cheshire

Instructional Group Photo Outing-Update

I have received formal notification for the group to visit Bunbury Mill, for a photo outing on Saturday 30th MAY 2015. 2.00 till 4 / 4.30.

This is quite an extraordinary opportunity for the group, and I have added this extra visit in MAY as I am not too sure how many can make the North Wales trip on Sunday 17th May.

Bunbury Mill is run today by a local group of volunteers, much like our group, and they are prepared to open the Mill for our group for a full afternoon at a time when they are not normally open to visitors. We will be provided with a 45/50 min’s guided tour of the Mill and shown it’s operations, with the water wheel operating as it would have when it was operational. The cost per member will be £ 3.50 each, paid when at the venue.

We would like to make this a great local photo outing, so please try to make sure you attend, as there is a minimum charge for the group of £ 40.00 for this special open day.

You will need to use flash for some of your indoor shots, as it is quite dark in many of the most interesting places. A tripod will also be useful. There is a Mill pond with ducks as well as many different spring flowers and a visitor centre. (This may not be open).

NOTE: - Access to some of the floors, as you would expect, is via some steep stairs, but has also has been made user friendly for disabled access. However, loads to see and photo anyhow, as both inside and outside is just full of history, and in my view a photo opportunity not to be missed.

Cliff

Bunbury Mill-Cheshire-Potential Visit- Saturday 30th May-2 / 4.00 pm.

Bunbury Mill-Cheshire.

Potential Instructional Group Photo Outing

Just to give advance notification to the group I have requested that they will allow for the group to visit  Bunbury Mill, for a photo outing on Saturday 30th MAY 2015. 2.00 till 4 / 4.30

I will confirm this to members as soon as they have said AOK.

This is quite an extraordinary opportunity for the group, and have added this extra visit in MAY as I am not too sure how many can make the Wales trip on Sunday 17th May.

Want to make this a GREAT local visit so please make sure you try to attend. You will need to use flash for some of your indoor shots, as it is quite dark in places. A tripod will also be useful at times. There is a Mill pond with ducks as well as flowers and a visitor centre. Cost will be £ 3.50 per person.

NOTE :- Access to some of the floors, as you would expect, is via some steep stairs. However, loads to photo anyhow, as both inside and outside is just full of history.

Cliff

North Wales-Group Photo Outing.

Photo by Cliff Astles-Llanberis Pass & Stream

North Wales Coach Tour-Sunday 17^th May 2015..........Cancelled

Due to lack of members planning to go on this Coach Tour we have had to cancel :(

Members who have paid for the trip will be re-reimbursed when next at a group meeting at the Willowmere-Middlewich.

HOWEVER..................

A number of members are still planning to go on the trip by using their own cars, and a number also have SPARE SEATS available for members who would wish to take these up!!!

It is therefore suggested that members using their own transport, but with spare seats available for other members, should make this information known to members via the Group Facebook page.

DO NOT PLACE ANY OF THE INFORMATION WHERE OTHERS CAN SEE WHAT YOU ARE PLANNING.

USE THE FACEBOOK MESSAGING SERVICES TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS.

It is suggested that members, wishing to take up these spare seats will need to make contact with the person directly, via the Group FB page to make arrangements with the person providing the transport. It is up to individual members to make their own transport arrangements.

Suggested Plan of Action.

A)    Members with transport place their seats available info onto the 21^st Group Facebook Page.

B)     Members wanting to take up these spare seats make contact with the member using the FB messaging services to arrange to use the spare places.

C)     When the spare seats have been taken up by members, the car owners should delete their information from the Group Facebook Page (or tell me to do this for them).

D)    This way the trip will hopefully take place. One exception. We will NOT be stopping at Llangollen. Parking of cars on a SUNDAY is useless in the town, and we would never get a number of cars to be able to park close by each other.

E)     PLEASE take packed lunches / drinks as food is quite expensive in the area, and we are not planning to stop long at places, unless we are taking photos, or visiting toilets L

F)      Meet at the TOWN HALL (was Civic Hall) Middlewich at 9.00 am, Sunday 17^th May. We will be leaving as soon as all of the cars are full, or 9.30 pm latest.

Hope these new arrangements work as the group have been looking forward to the photo outing for some time.

Cliff

Middlewich Town Council-MFAB Festival-Photo Request.

Photo by Cliff Astles-Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival-Town Wharf

Middlewich Town Council Photo Request

The 21^st Century Technology and Camera Group have been approached by Middlewich Town Council  (Mr Dave Thompson-events@middlewich.org.uk) requesting that the group may wish to help them by providing photos they may take over the weekend in June, when they hold the Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival.

Photo’s requested from members could be used in future years to promote the event and when provided members should state that the photos are to be used for Press and Marketing, as deemed necessary by MTC and are free of any copyright.

This is something I would like to think that members may wish to do for the Town Council, who have in the past helped the group get started by providing financial assistance in the form of a grant last year. It is also something that members have suggested as a group photo outing previously, so it looks like our photos could be put to good use both with the Group Flickr Gallery, and by helping to promote the fantastic event and photo opportunity for the group.

Photos provided should be suitable to be used to promote the event, and can cover ALL topics, and no bigger than 5 Mb and in JPEG format. Attach your photos to an e-mail to Dave Thompson, as above, and state they are from a member of our group and are free from copyright.

Cliff

Photography Coach Tour-North Wales

Photo by Cliff Astles-Swallow Falls-Betws-y-Coed-North Wales

North Wales Photography Coach Tour-Sunday May 17th-2015

This is the last request for group members (particularly for our newer members) who would wish to attend this day out for the group, to confirm to myself they would like to go. The coach will take 38 passengers, and currently we only have 24 confirmed bookings with a number of members paying in full, for the trip.

More fuller details of the day can be found on the Web Site BLOG pages.

Who...........................21st Century Technology & Camera Group Outing.
What..........................Photography Group Coach Tour.
When.........................Sunday 17th May from Middlewich Town Hall Car Park
Times.........................Leaving at 9.00 am & arriving back between 8 and 9.00 pm.
Costs.........................Cost per person is only £15.00.

There is a toilet on board the bus and we have had prepared (by a North Wales Photographer) an itinerary for the day, with places to stop to get the best photos from the journey.

Please CONFIRM your intention to go on the trip........ASAP if you wish to join us on the trip, and also let me know of the number of seats required. Members can bring with them guests and children, costs as above.

Monies will be finally collected on the night of the group meeting on Wednesday 15th April at the Willowmere-Middlewich.

Cliff

28th March 2015.

Queens Park Crewe-Free Instructional Photo Outing.

Photo by Cliff Astles

April-Members Monthly Instructional Photo Outing

Queens Park-Crewe

Saturday 11th April-2.00 till 4.00 (ish)

Have checked out Queens Park Crewe, by visiting and believe this could be a nice local afternoon, with plenty to view and take a good selection of photos.

Flowers (hopefully) but certainly some nice trees, and at this time a number of wild birds both flying and water based will be very good for many of our newer members.

There is a Cafe' if wet, and plenty of places to rest, with the best access to date for wheelchairs and scooters, with ample free parking.

Plan to meet at the cafe' at 2.00 pm. Please, don't forget when you first get out of your car, set your camera to AUTO, get that shot, and practise, practise, practise. We will stop at differing spots during     the afternoon, where we can all try getting photos, when all using the same camera settings.

Group photo outings are FREE to group members, and are a good way to quickly improve your      photos, as well as meeting with other group members socially in a relaxed and informal way.               Also, this is a good place to try out landscape shots using a tripod. I will be on hand to give members advice and no doubt other more skilled members will be doing the same.

Cliff

Thursday 26th April 2015.

PS Also remember this next month's photo topics are STILL LIFE-FAMILY PETS  and of course any of your photos from CREWE PARK.

Post-March Group Meeting.

Photo by Cliff Astles............Group Meeting Venue-Willowmere-Middlewich.

March Group Meeting-Post meeting revue / update.

I would like to thank all of the members for a very good turnout for our March group meeting.

We were also very happy to see quite a number of new members, and the topics of technology and photography with member questions going down well with the whole group.

Wondering if half the attendees had deserted and gone home after the half time tea break,  I was delighted to see that the new Member Training Facility, was being fully investigated by some half of the members. Many were just checking out what we had and how to get on-board with some more specific technology and photography at a later date. 

Member Ken Rane is our Training co-coordinator for technology, photography, and photo post processing, and much, much more.

Interested ? then let Ken know of your needs and he will discuss this with you, and recommend the way ahead for each person, as each persons needs can be quite different.

Member training is available for members wanting specific 1 to 1 help, and we are also interested in running small group training ( 4 to 6 members per group). Costs are from £ 5.00 per hour for group training to £10.00 per hour if you would prefer 1 to 1.

Currently, all training will take place at the Willowmere-Middlewich on Sunday afternoons for those interested. ALL monies raised by our volunteer trainers will go directly to help the group finance's, after paying for the hire of the Willowmere.

Next group meeting at the Willowmere will be on Wednesday 15th April-7.00 to 9.30 pm. Presentation Topic is TBA at this time.

North Wales, Group Photo Outing-Sunday May 17th 2015

Photo by Cliff Astles-Llanberis Pass Stream

We now have some 27 places filled for the tour, and the bus will take 38. ........PLEASE BOOK UP NOW !!!!

A number of the members have already paid for this day out but I would like to say one FINAL TIME. The trip will go ahead should the bus be full or not :)

However, if members are not wanting to take the trip I will be forced to put the tour out to the general public to fill the places left. I would therefore make this last request for member to book seats, if they wish to go. 

After this next full week (Sunday 29th March) the trip will be then put out to the general public to ensure we have a fully paid up coach full. The group cannot afford to pay out for unused seats :(

FINAL and FULL payment in full for the trip will be required to be paid to Bab's by the end of APRIL, but preferably by the April Group Meeting on Wednesday 15th April.

I am also considering another CANAL BOAT trip along the Shropshire Union Canal, perhaps end of AUGUST / SEPTEMBER, when I hope it will be a tad warmer than the trip in Jan. If this trip is only half as good as the last one it will be one to remember :)

Cliff

March 19th 2015.

MARCH MEMBER PHOTOS.

Photo by Cliff Astles-                  DAFFODIL with 48 HOURS before being in FULL BLOOM

A bit like the 21st Group Member Photos to myself,  to add into the MARCH Member Meeting Photo Presentation.

Members now have only 48 hours to get photos to myself for :-

A)      SPRING FLOWERS

B)      MARBURY PARK

C)     SUNRISE & SUNSET

We already have a great photo presentation for MARCH, but there are some members who have not had the time yet to get their photos to myself, so this is quick last time reminder.

REMEMBER all of your photos HELP others to IMPROVE their photography by comparison with your photos.

Cliff

Member photos for the MARCH 18th Group Presentation.

Photo by Cliff Astles-Marbury Park and Lake.

Photos-Member Monthly Meeting-Wednesday 18th March

Following the again, well attended, "Instructional Photo Outing" to Marbury Park last weekend, I have put out this Blog as a reminder note for members that the cut-off date for photos to be e-mailed (21stctncg@gmail.com) to myself, for inclusion in the members monthly photo presentation, is.......SATURDAY 14th MARCH by 10.00 pm.

A number of members have already placed their photos from Marbury onto the Group Facebook page, and this is great to see so many good photos from our afternoon out. Plus a few taken going to and from Marbury ;)..... No names mentioned, no pack-drill, so they say ;) Getting your photos to me early will allow us to have sufficient time to collate all the photos into a MS PowerPoint presentation. 

More photos enable members to compare their own photos, to those taken of the same topic by other members. This I believe is a good aid for all members to see what progress they are making with their own photography

I ONLY need to have 3 to 5 of your photos from EACH of the below sections, around 500 K in size.

Photos Required.

A)    SUNRISE / SUNSETS.

B)    SPRING Flowers.

C)    Photos from the visit to Marbury Park this last weekend.

Please let me have your photo contributions early, so I don't have to rush getting the final photos into the presentation.

Thanks

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

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.

We NEED YOUR Photos-Group Photo Presentation-Feb Meeting.

Barbara Astles, Getting to grip's with a Blue Eagle? at Peckforton Castle-Instructional Photo Outing

Member Update-Member Photo Presentation for FEB 18th Group Meeting

Members, the CUT-OFF date and time for photos from our photo trip to Peckforton Castle is fast approaching, so please make sure you find time to process your own selection of 10 photos, no bigger than 500K in file size, so we can have a good presentation of these wonderful Bird of Prey at the next group meeting. Some of the shots provided by members this time are quite STUNNING, so need more :)

CUT-OFF DATE IS SATURDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2015, BY 10.00 PM.

I already have a large number of member photos, but we can still have more!!

Topic for this months photos is still "GHOST" pictures from around Cheshire, plus Peckforton, and of course any of your own photos of our local feathered friends.

Cliff

Things are developing!

 Nice sequence of shots of the Indian ( Hawk ?) Owl coming in the get his chicken leg from Barbara.

Update for Members of the 21st Century Technology & Camera Group that were out Saturday 7th February, at Peckforton Castle testing out their new found skills with their cameras. 

I am still POST Processing shots taken at Peckforton Castle, and will be using PICASA3 (FREE!!!) for the JPEGS, and Lightroom 4 for the RAW images. This will be a great test to use both photo post processing software packages and then compare a few of the end results. 

Still "Horses for Courses" as I have found out over the many years I have been taking photographs, both paid and up-paid for the post processed photos.

So still a very long way to go today and into next week, with my post processing, but with the quality of the Birds of Prey close up images, using my latest 50 mm Prime Lens, I will this time really enjoy the post processing, for a change :)

Have just completed the sequence above using PICASA3 (first) with the JPEG images and these are not too bad for JPEGS. I quite like this sequence of photos, so have placed these up for others in the group to view. More later.

I am now looking forward to completing the same shots using Lightroom 4 with some of the better close up images, as no doubt using Lightroom SHOULD / will make my better images, a "tad" better than using PICASA3.

A REALLY enjoyable day out for all the group, and a tad cold at the top of Peckforton Hills, but good for the soul and our members photography experience.

Quite funny, to see that the Wives of Cheshire, or is it Cheshire Wives, also enjoy the Castle and setting, on Monday night. 

But I bet they paid a small fortune to spend time at Peckforton, but nicer for the Group as we got it FREE :)

Member Update following PECKFORTON CASTLE. Group Photo Outing-Saturday 7th February 2015.

Photo by Mal Wetton-GHOST IMAGES for FEB 2015 member photo presentation.

Photo Cliff Astles-Any photos of our feathered friends for the Feb 2015 member photo presentation

Photo Cliff Astles- Any photos from Peckforton-Birds either STATIC or FLYING.

Following an extremely good afternoon at Peckforton Castle, Cheshire, members have already provided to me probably the best response to date,  for member photos from a photo day out.

Have now completed the first part of the Group Members Photo Presentation for the Group Monthly evening of WEDNESDAY 18th FEBRUARY, BUT still have PLENTY of ROOM for MORE PHOTOS. Please get these to me ASAP.

NEXT Saturday evening being the CUT OFF time for photos to me, so I have time to include them into the presentation, without ANY pressure to complete :(

TOPIC REMINDER for FEB :- GHOST pictures, as per the sample below. Peckforton Castle photos, plus if you did not manage to make the day out, ANY you have of our FEATHERED FRIENDS, birds from anywhere, land, lakes, gardens etc

Still LOADS of space left in the MS PowerPoint Presentation for more photos,  just as long as you keep photos sent to myself 500K in size, or less. 250 K size is OK as well.

Why do we have this kind of photo display at meetings, with peoples names against their photos ?

We have had this from the beginning of the group and is intended for members to view their own photos, from either group outings, or the group topic for the month. By doing this members can compare their own photos with other member photos and see just how well they are progressing, when the Monthly Topic is the same for all. Also, when out on photo outings, we are also looking to get the same kind of shots, without it being a COMPETITION.

e.g. At Peckforton we were looking for photos of STATIC BIRDS, plus BIRDS FLYING. The subject was the same BIRDS, but the camera settings were different for the two different "poses".

BUT, apart from individual photos which members also wish to take, we were ALL looking at taking the same photos, with the same or very similar camera settings. That is the teaching / training aspect of our photo outings.

Our group is all about members learning how best to use their own cameras, and at the same time getting FREE help from other members to improve as well, along with the technology for all other aspects of placing photos onto the Internet, of which there is a lot to learn.

With the NEW Web Page Gallery Photos (when Melody has completed her work on the Member Gallery Photo Albums), it is being planned that you will be able to run your computer mouse OVER each photo, and see the members camera settings for each photo, when provided by the member. You can then use this technical camera info to try out the same camera settings with your own camera, to hopefully get the same results, and improve your own photos, in your own time.

ie NO PRESSURE from ANYONE :) Just enjoy your photography, whilst taking many more photos as you do so and you will improve, very quickly.

IF in doubt about any aspect of photography (until the Web Page Forum is available) you can either place your question onto the groups Facebook Page, or send a message to MAL WETTON or myself with the requested info, and we will try and answer any query as quickly as possible.

REMEMBER Questions NOT ASKED can NEVER be answered :) :) :)

Cliff Astles

Group Visit to Peckforton Castle-Cheshire- Birds of Prey Photo Outing.

WOW-WOW-WOW.... What a truly FANTASTIC way to spend a Saturday afternoon with the 21st Century Technology & Camera Group. 

We had some 20 people turn up for quite a chilly afternoon at PECKFORTON CASTLE (well it is quite high above the Cheshire plain wink emoticon).
I took some 350 photos, yet to be properly viewed and post processed, but I have NEVER EVER had the opportunity to be up close and personal with birds that normally live in the wilds, in various parts of the world. Must be one of the BEST PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES for camera lovers EVER.
The bird handler was most experienced, very knowledgeable and made it very easy for Barbara to enjoy her outing with wild birds that she has waited for, for a very long time.
The GROUP will no doubt be going to this wonderful place for photos at any time, but with the BIRDS.JUST WONDERFUL and so real.
Here are a few of the ones I took for others to enjoy, and I now look forward to seeing the TOP TEN of all the members who took time out to have just ANOTHER GREAT DAY OUT with the 21st Group smile emoticon smile emoticon smile emoticon
Thanks to everyone that turned up, and hope you have now thawed out smile emoticon

Looks like SUNDAY is now BIRDS of PREY Processing Day :) :) :)

Cliff