What's On Archive - 2023
January
Wednesday 11 January - Club Night - Practical: Light Painting
Presented by: The Committee
A chance to practice long exposure photography with a variety of moving LED lights, torches and sparklers. Create a range of images from simple streaks of light to complex coloured patterns with nothing more than a tripod and a slow shutter speed.
We welcome back to the club our famous Pheonix machine built by our member Colin Neville. A motorised spinning platform that creates amazing light patterns.
If the weather is kind, we'll do the sparklers outdoors. However if it's too cold or wet, we'll move indoors without the sparklers. Bring warm clothing either way and your camera, fully charged battery, memory card and tripod. If you do not have a tripod, there will be plenty to share on the night.
The winners will be announced for our December 2022 themed project: CONCENTRATION
Venue: Thatcham Football Club @ 7.30pm
Wednesday 25 January - Club Night - AGM + Review of 2022
Presented by: The Committee
A brief AGM including Chairman’s and Treasurer’s reports and election of the Committee for 2023.
This will be followed by an update of our programme of events and projects for the coming year, an entertaining slideshow review of our photography throughout 2022 and a chance to socialise.
The winners will be announced for our January themed project: OPEN
Venue: Thatcham Football Club @ 7.30p.m.
February
Saturday 4 February - Field Trip: Light Trails
Another chance to practice long exposure photography... this time capturing the moving lights of vehicles as they pass by on the road in Newbury.
Wednesday 8 February - Club Night - Practical: Table Top Photography
An old favourite of our club, a number of tables set-up as mini studios with background boards and lights. There will be a few still-life objects and a few new, more dynamic, things to photograph.
A great exercise in lighting, composition and exposure control with experienced photographers on-hand to help those who need help to get started.
Wednesday 15 February - Field Trip: Basildon Park WalkA winter walk in the wooded parkland offers glorious seasonal colour, in a landscape that has been carefully restored by The National Trust to offer wonderful views, peaceful trails and picnic places.
Sunday 19 February - Field Trip: Snowdrops At Welford Park
A walk through the woodland gardens with snowdrops, views of the river, large open lawns and woodland paths.
Wednesday 22 February - Club Night: Guest Speaker - Trip To Antarctica
Presented by: Peter Orr ARPS peterorrphotography.com
Based in Wiltshire, Peter is interested in all aspects of photography but spends most of his time working in the Wildlife and Landscape genres. He is an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society and provides training via workshops in Adobe Lightroom and Photography. An appointed Getty Images Artist, his photos are published mainly via GETTY IMAGES.
This evening Peter will be showing photographs taken on his recent trip to Antarctica and we'll certainly be seeing plenty of penguins and sea birds. Snow is on the ground all year so to get the colour right on these birds, which are mostly black and white, is a real learning curve. An entertaining evening as well as learning different techniques.
Venue: Thatcham Football Club @ 7.30p.m.
March
Friday 3 March - Field Trip: Moor Copse Nature Reserve Walk
Large swathes of tranquil woodland surround a patchwork of meadows and pastures set in the heart of the Pang Valley in Berkshire. The River Pang meanders through the woodland providing a beautiful setting.
During winter the occasional fox or stoat may appear as they work hard to survive, with views of a landscape encrusted with sparkling winter frost and mists. Woodland flowers and meadow flowers emerge as spring warms the air and ground.
Wednesday 8 March - Club Night - Guest Speaker - Composition & Lighting
CANCELLED: Due to concerns about the weather and the safety of travelling, this meeting has been cancelled.
Saturday 11 March - Field Trip: Civil War Re-Enactment
Immerse yourself in history with a day out in the 17th Century with The Earl Rivers Regiment Muster (Members of The Sealed Knot). Discover what life was like for those who had to take up arms against their fellow countrymen. Witness soldiers training to use swords, muskets and pikes and visit some of the tradesmen and civilians who accompanied the armies. Plus Living History demonstrations inside Shaw House.
Sunday 26 March - Field Trip: Great Bedwyn Circular Walk
A circular walk taking a gentle route around Wilton Windmill, Wilton Water and Crofton Beam Engines, as well as Bedwyn Brail and the Kennet & Avon Canal.
Wednesday 29 March - Club Night - Guest Speaker - Post-production Workflow
Presented by: Ray Buckland - TPC Chairman
Ray will talk about his workflow using Lightroom to process his images. Some of the topics he will cover are:
- getting photos off the memory card onto secure storage
- different types of storage… the pros and cons of cloud storage vs hard-drives at home
- the importance of backups
- organising the photos and cataloguing them
- weeding out the ones that cannot be rescued
- basic first glance adjustments - exposure, white balance, straightening
- next level adjustments - cropping, selective edits, retouching
- the effects of editing on resolution and the aspect ratio of photos
- exporting photos
Ray will likely include a few other tips and tricks he uses as well as highlighting some of the recent enhancements to Lightroom.
Venue: Thatcham Football Club @ 7.30p.m.
April
Saturday 8 April - Field Trip: Bluebells at Bowdown Woods
A one mile wildlife walk around the woods to photograph the bluebells.
More details (for members only)
Wednesday 12 April - Discovery Centre Photo Selection & Critique
Presented by: The Committee
Many of our members have submitted photos of wildlife taken at or near the Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre. This evening we will review the photos by wildlife category to select the best images of each species to be included in our permanent display at the Discovery Centre. As we review the photos anonymously we will discuss the merits of each and make constructive suggestions how to improve them further.
Venue: Thatcham Football Club @ 7.30p.m.
Wednesday 19 April - Field Trip: Bluebells and Sunset
This leisurely walk around Sulham Woods has been timed to coincide with the sunset to provide plenty of beautiful photo opportunities.
More details (for members only)
Wednesday 26 April - Landscape with Clouds
Presented by: Chris Hutchinson
Why do people find one bit of landscape more interesting than another? Some people travel 1000's of miles just to photograph particular landscapes. This talk tries to explain simply the few things that make one landscape different from another and how changes in the atmosphere and clouds affects our view of landscapes.
Chris took his first photograph of a steam train in Barking, Essex - in 1959. Since then, he has travelled the world taking photos and has organised walking holidays in the mountains and other regions of Europe. He has been a member of Yateley Camera Club in Hampshire since the mid 1980s and has exhibited his photography across Hampshire and Surrey.
Venue: Thatcham Football Club @ 7.30p.m.
Saturday 8 April - Field Trip: Bluebells at Bowdown Woods
A one mile wildlife walk around the woods to photograph the bluebells.
More details (for members only)
Wednesday 12 April - Discovery Centre Photo Selection & Critique
Presented by: The Committee
Many of our members have submitted photos of wildlife taken at or near the Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre. This evening we will review the photos by wildlife category to select the best images of each species to be included in our permanent display at the Discovery Centre. As we review the photos anonymously we will discuss the merits of each and make constructive suggestions how to improve them further.
Venue: Thatcham Football Club @ 7.30p.m.
Wednesday 19 April - Field Trip: Bluebells and Sunset
This leisurely walk around Sulham Woods has been timed to coincide with the sunset to provide plenty of beautiful photo opportunities.
More details (for members only)
Wednesday 26 April - Landscape with Clouds
Presented by: Chris Hutchinson
Why do people find one bit of landscape more interesting than another? Some people travel 1000's of miles just to photograph particular landscapes. This talk tries to explain simply the few things that make one landscape different from another and how changes in the atmosphere and clouds affects our view of landscapes.
Chris took his first photograph of a steam train in Barking, Essex - in 1959. Since then, he has travelled the world taking photos and has organised walking holidays in the mountains and other regions of Europe. He has been a member of Yateley Camera Club in Hampshire since the mid 1980s and has exhibited his photography across Hampshire and Surrey.
Venue: Thatcham Football Club @ 7.30p.m.
May
Wednesday 10 May - Travelogue Presentations
Presented by: Club Members
The committee has invited four members to each give a 20min presentation about their recent trips. Expect anecdotes, tips and tricks, but above all... expect some stunning photos.
Venue: Thatcham Football Club @ 7.30p.m.
Sunday 14 May - Field Trip: Aircraft at Popham Airfield
An opportunity to watch and photograph aircraft landing and taking off at Popham near Winchester
More details (for members only)
Wednesday 31 May - An Introduction To Sports Photography
Presented by: Michael Berksley ARPS, ASISEP, ASISLP michaelberkeleyphoto.uk
Based near Salisbury, Wiltshire, Michael's main speciality is sport, but he also does a lot of music photography. The talk is about how to get started in sports photography and provides examples of what works and what doesn’t. Michael's aim is to enthuse listeners to want to have a go themselves, and for them to feel that they have sufficient knowledge to capture some really good images.
During the first half of the talk, he will cover some general principles using Football, Cricket and Basketball as examples. The second half is a bit more ‘free form’, with photography covering a varied range of sports.
Venue: Thatcham Football Club @ 7.30p.m.
Wednesday 10 May - Travelogue Presentations
Presented by: Club Members
The committee has invited four members to each give a 20min presentation about their recent trips. Expect anecdotes, tips and tricks, but above all... expect some stunning photos.
Venue: Thatcham Football Club @ 7.30p.m.
Sunday 14 May - Field Trip: Aircraft at Popham Airfield
An opportunity to watch and photograph aircraft landing and taking off at Popham near Winchester
More details (for members only)
Wednesday 31 May - An Introduction To Sports Photography
Presented by: Michael Berksley ARPS, ASISEP, ASISLP michaelberkeleyphoto.uk
Based near Salisbury, Wiltshire, Michael's main speciality is sport, but he also does a lot of music photography. The talk is about how to get started in sports photography and provides examples of what works and what doesn’t. Michael's aim is to enthuse listeners to want to have a go themselves, and for them to feel that they have sufficient knowledge to capture some really good images.
During the first half of the talk, he will cover some general principles using Football, Cricket and Basketball as examples. The second half is a bit more ‘free form’, with photography covering a varied range of sports.
Venue: Thatcham Football Club @ 7.30p.m.