Upcoming Opportunities!!

 I have so much to say...

..or as Dave W might put it, "She can 'narf talk, that Mel." :-)

I was so pleased with the way the meeting went on Wednesday, particularly the sort of discussion that was going on and the feedback from the audience was very welcome. It is so important for the group to be exactly that, a group! People with an interest to get more out of their photography and technology, who want to work together to help each other do exactly that.

  As a relief from all of my chatter, there were a couple of tutorials and practicals aimed at helping you get ready for the next photo outing and hone your 'camera settings' skills. Mal has very kindly written a few comments about the evening which can be found here. (Links to the two tutorials are also available on this page too.) The practical activities are something that I feel we should do more of and your feedback seemed to indicate that you agree with this which is great.

  During the evening I mentioned a lot of outings and opportunities that were coming up for the group. The next outing which Dave is currently arranging, should be an opportunity to photograph radio controlled models. Date to be announced ASAP.

  There is also the potential of going down Woods Mine at Alderley Edge. Alan and I went down there a couple of weeks ago (sans camera so can only provide a couple of phone shots I'm afraid) but there were a couple of interesting 'waterfalls' where the copper deposits have left beautiful green and blue trails on the rocks and a large cavern where we can do some light painting.
When I mentioned this the interest was good so I will now go ahead and start making arrangements. I am suggesting the afternoon of Saturday 14th November as the first Saturday in the month (which we usually do) will clash with fireworks events. The price is £6 a head and I will need the money when you put your name down for the event. I will start collecting from confirmation of the date. This outing, as indeed any other, will also be made available to Middlewich Photographers. Money will be refunded if the club has to cancel the event due to lack of interest. If somebody doesn't turn up then the fee will usually be forfeited depending on circumstances. Certainly any cost to the group will have to be deducted. Myself or Kyla will also investigate the chance of a warm fire and snacks in the Wizard afterwards.

  On the subject of light painting, I believe that Bill Armsden is going to do a local walk about in Middlewich one night in the autumn with the intention of doing some lightpainting so when I find out a date I will let you know. I know that everyone who went last year had a great time and loved their photos afterwards.

In December, we will be looking at 'light on skin' at Willowmere Meeting and our outing will be the Christmas meal.

The final opportunity is that Ian Hill Smith has invited any member of the group to consider showing their photos for sale in his Artspace. Phil Tomlinson kindly gave us more information on this and has a service where you can get your photos printed for this purpose (and other forms of display). I suggest that he is one of your first ports of call if you want to check your image is of the right technical quality to print. (How about a blog on it Phil? - hint, hint :-) )

Like I said, lots of opportunities, lots of chatter!
Mel

North Wales Group Photo Outing-Post Visit-Report.

Betws-y-Coed-From the rocks under the bridge, as river Llugwy passes under the road.

Another most enjoyable trip was undertaken by members of the group on Sunday 17^th May, and in spite of the rather cloudy start and the odd spot of rain as we went over the Llanberis Pass, it was a good photography day, being cloudy, but nice and clear for most of the time.

We managed to take a number of photography stops starting at the aquaduct at Pontcysyllte, the waterfalls on the river Conway, and Betws-y-Coed, to a late afternoon stop at the small stream along the Llanberis Pass.

With the rain now beginning to be a problem for clear photos, and being early evening time, we decided to call it a day stopping at the lake in Llanberis for a few last minute shots, as the weather had improved sufficiently to get shots of the lake and back along the Llanberis Pass.

Great to see members getting together and having a good time, whilst being able to gain even more experience, photographing differing places of interest. A selection of photos by members taking part can be seen on the group Facebook page, and also very many more on the group FLICKR account link, on the web page:-(www.watch-it-and-c.co.uk) .

What a big difference in quality of shot and perspective is now being shown by members of the group, with some member shots, I would consider,  surely good enough to go into photo magazines. The group is obviously making a big difference to our members’ photography and understanding of their cameras. Great to see, and it can only get better.

The next group photo outing will take place at BUNBURY MILL, on Saturday afternoon 30^th May, from 2.00 till 4.00 pm. ( £3.50 entrance fee, payable on entrance, parking free). Make sure you make this next photo outing day, so that you can gain even more experience using your own camera, with a group of sociable, like-minded members.

Cliff

Member photos-Marketing & Press.

Winter Sunrise-Over the old ICI Lime Beds-Middlewich-Cheshire.

Group use of member photos for Marketing and Press.

It is now some time since we asked group members for their permission for the group to use any of their photos submitted for use in order to create marketing and press interest. With the recent move to Flickr by the group to better display photos, I thought it was worth mentioning again.

We would obviously wish to continue to use member photos, but ONLY if members have no objection to them being used in this way. Therefore, would members not wishing for their photos to be used, please let me know via e-mail, so I do not make any mistakes.

The group has been able to gain many more members by using photos in this way, and we will continue to use them in the future.  Additionally, it is in the group’s future interest to gain more members and I would like to think that members will continue to send photos to any of the local papers, as they continue to request local photos to be submitted to them, where a mention of the group would not go amiss.

Cliff

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 Water Powered Mill-Photo Outing Opportunity

Bunbury-Working-Water Powered-Corn Mill

Previously recommended by Brian Roberts, I was today in the vicinity of Bunbury Mill, Bunbury-Cheshire, and finding it open, went to investigate the potential of using this excellent working Mill, for an instructional photo outing for the group.

Meeting with one of the volunteers I explained what we would wish to do as a group, and he was very keen to help us out, and gave myself a quick look around to view the potential.

He was prepared to open the Mill for the group to visit on a Saturday afternoon (they are not normally open on a Saturday afternoon), when we have made the proper arrangements with them. It would only cost £ 3.50 per person for a 45 / 50 mins official guided tour of the Mill, and after that time we could then spend all afternoon taking whatever photos we wished.

There is also a visitor centre, that serves tea / coffee and a cake etc, but that would be extra. However, there are NO parking fees, and is just up from a set of staircase locks, also at Bunbury, on the Shropshire Union Canal, which we could visit after the Mill tour, should the weather be kind to us. It will only take some 20 / 30 mins for most of the group to travel to Bunbury, so looks to be a good place to visit.

Additionally, as it is 90% inside for photos, even if the weather is not too good, we could still do most of the photography, as well as seeing some very important Cheshire countryside history brought back to life, in a very striking and personal way, as the volunteers do dress up in clothes of the era, and for a short while you feel as though you are back in the 1800’s. What a place to take some great photos, so would hope for a good number of members to take up this opportunity to take some excellent historical photos.

Cliff

Queens Park Crewe-Instructional Photo Outing

Photo by Cliff Astles-Sunrise along Warmingham Lane-Middlewich

Instructional Photo Outing-Queens Park-Crewe-Cheshire

Just a reminder for members that the next Group Photo Outing will be taking place TOMORROW!!

Meeting at the Cafe' at the centre of Queens Park, for 2.00 pm, so we may then proceed around the park to get some more shots for inclusion in the Members Group Photo Presentation, next Wednesday 15th April.

Looks like the weather will also be kind to us, yet again, with forecast of some rain in the morning to make for clear photos, and loads of sunshine during the afternoon. Are we lucky or not? :)

Looking forward to seeing you all again, and the day looks to be a tad warmer than when at Marbury Park.

There will be a number of skilled members on hand to help our newer members get the best photos, using their own cameras, and answering your questions on photography and technology.

Cliff Astles