Meetings

CREWE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

In November 2007 Crewe PS was sixty years young and we aim to celebrate this in fine style. Firstly, we held an exhibition at Crewe Theatre throughout September. In November we had a Club Celebratory Dinner with the President of the L&CPU in attendance. Finally all stops have been pulled out to get a glittering cavalcade of top speakers for our programme.

New members are always very welcome, you can attend three meetings before joining us; you just pay the attendance levy of £1.50 per meeting, so come along and meet us! 

  All meetings are Thursdays, 7.45pm for 8.00pm, and currently are at The Brittles (directions), except where stated.

Click on the title of each week's activity below to read more (or scroll down to read the whole of the season's programme) and very soon after each week's meeting our Chairman and Programme Secretary, John Royle CPGAB, writes a report which you'll then also be able to read by clicking on the appropriate report link.

(You'll find printable and downloadable versions of the programme on the Downloads page)

A Note About the L&CPU Portfolios

The L&CPU Portfolios are a selection of the best work from the Region for the past season. This year all the L&CPU Portfolios will be available in digital form. One of the advantages of this is that we can change our viewing programme for these portfolios. The dates given are when the actual slides or prints are available but we may add or substitute programme items on these nights. Any changes will be announced at meetings, in the CPS Email and on this website.

Ron selects topics each month to challenge your imagination and photographic skills. Last year we had some great entries – keep up the good work. You have a free choice of topics in December and May

SEPTEMBER 2007

RON SMITH’S MONTHLY TOPICS: Tops & Bottoms or Vegetable Shapes

 13^th Sept.         Open Evening

A welcome to the new season. There will be several items to get you off to a flying start.

 20^th Sept.         L & CPU Slide Y2 Folio

Clubs from the Region submitted about 1500 slides last year. This is a selection of the best plus some of the slides which were used to represent the L&CPU at the 2006 National Exhibition run by the PAGB. A quality projected slide is still the best photographic image that we normally see.

 27^th Sept.         Peter Gennard MFIAP EFIAP/p - Passionate for Platinum

You need 600 acceptances in EFIAP qualifying exhibitions to gain EFIAP Platinum – Peter has the story. That is not all; Peter is one of the most entertaining speakers on the circuit – don’t miss it!

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OCTOBER 2007

 RON SMITH’S MONTHLY TOPICS: Funny Peculiar or Funny Ha Ha

 4^th Oct.            Ron Smith - The Quest For Correct Exposure 1839 – 2007

Members will need no introduction to our own Ron Smith but for others let us say that there can be few people who possess such a treasure house of knowledge about photography. Ron’s lectures have become an annual event and definitely a highlight of the year. Interesting? Amusing? Entertaining? – certainly, and far more. One of those very special evenings.

 11^th Oct.          George Steele LRPS CPAGB - Venice, The Seeing Eye at The Brittles

George is the L&CPU Competition Secretary but tonight he will be wearing another hat! He has acted as a tour guide in Venice and will also have visited that watery treasure yet again before this talk so what better introduction could we have to one of the World’s most photogenic places?

 - Prints in for First League Print Competition -

 18^th Oct.          L&CPU Documentary Print

. . .and look out for additions to the programme tonight.

 25^th Oct.          ROBERTSHAW at CREWE

This is an Inter-Club Competition; Macclesfield, Blythe Bridge, Leek, Stoke & Crewe. The clubs act as hosts in turn and tonight we are at home. For the first time it will be a Digital Projected Image Competition!

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NOVEMBER 2007

 RON SMITH’S MONTHLY TOPICS: Black & White or Rainbow

 1^st Nov.            PRINT LEAGUE COMPETITION  No. 1

One of the exciting things about digital photography is that we are all learning and it will be great to see progression in what is submitted. The new rule of three entries (in each of colour and mono) per worker rather than four should give the judge more time to comment about each photograph.

- Slides in for First League Slide Competition -

 8^th Nov.            BATTLE with ALSAGER at CREWE

The first of our local inter-club competitions for prints and slides. The close match makes for an exciting evening and it will be fascinating to see what our good friends from Alsager have submitted.

 15^th Nov.        Open Evening

Irene Froy's Landscape & Mood talk has been moved to the 27th March so instead we will be holding a member's Open Evening.  On the agenda will be MOUNTING PRINTS, at least one EXHIBITION and various other bits and pieces, including something on the exciting new NATIONAL COMPETITION proposed by the PAGB.

 - Digital Files in for Jim Harrison Trophy Competition -

 22^nd Nov.         SLIDE LEAGUE COMPETITION No. 1

Our second season with only two Slide League Competitions. The number of entries you can make in a year is still the same since we increased the limit to 6 per competitor.

 29^th Nov.          60^th Anniversary Dinner

The L&CPU prints intended for tonight may be viewed during our Celebration Dinner at the Crewe Arms hotel. Then again, they may not (we’ll have the CD anyway!). The president of the L&CPU, Gordon Jenkins will be our Guest of Honour and a great time will be had by all.

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DECEMBER 2007

 RON SMITH’S MONTHLY TOPICS: Free Choice

 6^th Dec.            The 3^rd Jim Harrison Digital Image Competition

 This will be our 4^th annual digital projected image competition. Now firmly established in our calendar this event celebrates the life of our much-loved centenarian member Jim Harrison who died in 2006.  Hopefully Jim’s daughter Jean will be there to present the Trophy.

 13^th Dec.          Open Evening

Our own Stella Rew-Dixon will lead a portrait referesher – bring your cameras. Plus more – details later.

 - Prints in for Second League Print Competition -

20/12/2007        CHRISTMAS   - No Meeting

27/12/2007        NEW YEAR – No Meeting

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JANUARY 2008

 RON SMITH’S MONTHLY TOPICS Solitude or Crowded

 3^rd Jan.            PRINT LEAGUE COMPETITION No. 2 at The Brittles

  With a reduction in the number of entries allowed the judge should have more time to comment on each picture.

 - Slides in for Second League Slide Competition -

  10^th Jan.          Phil & Gwen Charnock FRPSs EFIAPs - Creatively Digital

Phil & Gwen are two of the most successful photographers in the Region. Members of World Champions Wigan 10 their speciality is creative photography and we have seen many examples of their work in the various portfolios. Tonight they will reveal one or two of their secrets, so don’t miss this.

 16^th Jan         BATTLE with WHITCHURCH and WINSFORD at WINSFORD

A three-cornered Battle means more images to admire. Mid-Cheshire (Winsford) are the hosts this evening.  DIRECTIONS

 17^th Jan.          L & CPU Mono Print Portfolio

Monochrome gets straight to the heart of things and tonight we can see the best mono images from the Region.

 24^th Jan.          SLIDE LEAGUE COMPETITION No. 2

 Many say interest in slides is declining but we had a great entry last year and certainly I’ve been snapping my way through the last dozen rolls of Velvia. Still unbeaten in image detail and highly demanding of the photographer’s skills of capture – enjoy them now before the waves of digital erode this last chemical beachhead!  The judge is Sigrun Tollerton and we have just under 50 slides, which she will judge on the night. The Slide League is a very close run competition with very few marks separating the top few workers. Slide entries are in decline in most clubs so we are doing well to have such an exciting field.

 31^st Jan.           BEBINGTON Salon of Photography at Hough Hall

Presented by Bob Dennis APAGB CPAGB BPE2* and John Dougherty APAGB. This is one of the National Slide Competitions and attracts well over one thousand five hundred entries – tonight we see the best images.

- Prints in for Third League Print Competition -

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FEBRUARY 2008

RON SMITH’S MONTHLY TOPICS: Portraits – Environmental or Animal

 7^th Feb.            OPEN EVENING

 Folios, Tutorials, Demonstrations. Details later.

 14^th Feb.          NCPS Inter-Club Competitions

 The North Cheshire Photographic Society has been presenting these excellent inter-club competitions for a number of years. The organization and quality of entry is second to none. Competitions take place on the Wednesday (Prints) & Thursday (Slide KO) nights at the Civic Hall in Poynton and we do not hold a meeting this week so that all who want to can attend.

 21^st Feb.           PRINT LEAGUE COMPETITION No. 3

More pictorial gems from members’ minds and machines. The Judge is Frank Hutchinson LRPS of North Cheshire PS.

 28^th Feb.          L&CPU Y1 Slide Portfolio

Best slides from the 99 clubs of the L&CPU.

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- Prints in for Annual Print Competition -

MARCH 2008

RON SMITH’S MONTHLY TOPICS: Feet or Disdain

 6^th March  John & Margaret Sixsmith AFIAP ARPS BPE5* - Close Encounters

 Margaret & husband John are leading natural history photographers whose images have won many awards. The title refers to the fact that one needs to get close to your quarry to get the shots – nothing to do with any extra-terrestrials! In one half of the evening we will see their work and in the other we will discover the techniques used.

Last year a book was published of Margaret’s pictures of Hilbre Island and no doubt she will have copies available, I can recommend it.

 Wednesday 12^th March  Battle with SANDBACH @ SANDBACH

Tonight we can find out what Sandbach PS have been producing this season. The Library is easy to find as it faces the COMMON in Sandbach. It starts at 8pm but get there for 7.30.  .

 13^th March        ANNUAL PRINT COMPETITION

That time already! How will the best prints of the year fare when they meet each other in the Annual Arena?  Judge is Alan Towse. There are about 80 prints.

-         Digital Files in for Digital Knock-Out Competition –

- Slides in for Slide Annual Competition -

 20^th March        David Foster- Tuscany

Beautiful landscapes, beautiful buildings and beautiful Art. Could there be a destination any more likely to delight the eye?

 27^th March        Irene Froy FRPS EFIAP HonPAGB BPE 4* - Landscape & Mood

Irene’s pictures have a unique gentle charm. She ranks with her friend Margaret Salisbury in being a captivating speaker. Irene is sponsored by Permajet and will provide information about which papers have been used in making her pictures – but this is not a sales pitch. Essential!  (This talk has been moved from the 15th November 2007).

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APRIL 2008

 RON SMITH’S MONTHLY TOPICS: Rough or Smooth

 3^rd April           ANNUAL SLIDE COMPETITION

The best slides of the year put to trial. Will another stunning natural history slide win? A landscape? Or, will one of our quirkier creations tickle the judges fancy?

 Tuesday 8^th April - Battle NANTWICH @ NANTWICH

A chance to see what our friends and rivals from that little village down the road have been up to.

 10^th April          DIGITAL KNOCK OUT

Members submit digital images before the competition and they are projected in pairs. The members vote for the best image of the pair and on we go until we have just the winners remaining. Just a bit of fun, but a chance to try out your new creations. (Moved from the 27th March)

 17^th April          SLIDE KNOCKOUT

Those little plastic framed wonders battle it out and tremble in fear of a thumbs down from the spectators. Trial your new stuff or dust off the old for this evening of magic lantern fun. Bring slides on the night.

 24^th April          AGM & Prize Evening

AGM and Prize Evening!!

Tuesday 29^th      5-TOWNS – NANTWICH

The “Five Towns” (Alan Challinor) Cup is for monochrome prints only and it has lived through the conversion to digital to maintain its status as our most prestigious local event. See the very best imagery from ourselves, Nantwich, Sandbach, Whitchurch and Alsager.

The hosts this year are Nantwich CC  and the event will be in the Civic Hall, Nantwich.

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MAY 2008

RON SMITH’S MONTHLY TOPICS: Free Choice

 1^st May             Dianne Owen

Dianne has recently been making her mark with some of the most imaginative photographic creations I have ever seen! I was absolutely delighted when she agreed to come and speak to us. Put aside any negative concepts of “creative” images, Dianne weaves the elements of her pictures into something with a gentle elegance and beauty which is quite outstanding.

 8^th May             A Celebration of The CPS Season

A chance to see some of the best 2008 images again and see what is in store for the 2008-9 season. There will be refreshments and a chance to natter.  In the first half we will have our Review Of The Year and see our full entry of Prints, Slides and DPIs. We will have our FIVE TOWNS entry on display.  A special feature will be a chance to see ALL THE FIVE TOWNS images. I am very grateful indeed to Andrew Charlesworth of Nantwich CC for letting me have his DPIs of all 50 images, so we will all have a chance to see them. This competition is in a class of its own and we must keep it going.
 

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