Movement between the leagues based on last years results has now been confirmed by the committee;

Entry Level to Advanced Level Prints

Alf Greest

Mark Suckling

Glenn Smith

Cheryl Kirby

Advanced Level to Premier Level Prints

Kevin Hurdle

David Portwain

Harry Tabeart

Peter Harding

Premier Level to Advanced Level Prints

Ursula Fuller

Keith Payne

Entry Level to Advanced Level Digital Images

Russell Holman

Alan Worland

Roger Coran

Advanced Level to Premier Level Digital Images

Kevin Hurdle

Premier Level to Advanced Level Digital Images

No Movement

Nick's annual photo exhibition is now on at the South Benfleet Library, High Road, South Benfleet from today (1st Sept) until 30th September. If you can get along to have a look please do and comments always welcome.

Beyond Group's 4th National Open Exhibition. For the first time.this includes a print section, and the accepted entries (including digital projection) will be on display at Ipswich Town Hall from Tuesday 6 September to Saturday 10th September.

Opening hours are 10 am t0 4.45 pm (12.30 - 4.45 on Tuesday).

The presentation of awards will be at 2.30 p.m on Saturday 10th. Further information

A Licentiateship Assessment is to be held in East Anglia on the 18th. September next. This is a rare opportunity to see the Licentiateship panel at work and to hear the comment of the panel to each of the swubmissions. In addition, once the assessments have taken place there will be a showing of recently successful Fellowship panels. All of the assessment places have been booked but there are still Observor tickets available at a cost of £5. For anyone interested in photography and for those interested in attaining a distinction at whatever level, the day should prove to be more than worthwhile. The Royal Photographic Society very much welcomes non members of the Society to attend any of its meetings.

at

The Chamberlin Hall, Bildeston, Suffolk. IP7 7EZ

10.00a.m. for 10.30a.m. start to approximateley 4.30p.m.

Tea/Coffee included but please bring own packed lunch.

OBSERVOR PLACES AVAILABLE AT A COST OF £5 each

Please send cheque made payable to RPS East Anglia together with S.A.E. to:-

Mrs J. Hancock, FRPS., MPAGB., RPS Regional Organiser, East Anglia.,

Woodview, 24, Hadley Road, Sheringham, Norfolk. NR26 8PZ.

As part of this years Noise Arts Festival Thundersley Congregational Church are excited to reveal that they are hosting a photo competition. This article is to invite Benfleet Camera club members to participate and inform you all of the application process to take part in the competition, entrants are welcome from all schools and groups in Castle Point, and surrounding areas.

More information here

We asked for clarity about what they mean by "Pictures should be entered in printed format no larger than A4 in size" the response was - "Thank you for your interest. We would prefer the overall size to be no larger than A4, so that can be an image un mounted or an image complete with mounting at A4, So we have room to display all entries."

Ladies and Gents, Kev has a cracking photoshoot this August Bank holiday Monday with a great art nude model coming down to the studio. So if you want to have a go at art nude, it will cost you £40ph, this includes the model and studio and assistance if you need it. Happy for you to pair up and split your hour etc..but our normal shooting rules apply, only one person shooting at a time.

Photovibe Studio contact Kev at KPH Photographic.

Preview of art nude model fully clothed, well nearly!

These events are listed in the EAF Events Diary for July 2011. Click here to go to the EAF web site to get more detail from the listing in the Events Calendar.

In order to keep the club running over the summer we plan to run a small number of local outings starting or finishing at a local pub:

15th June 2011 - Meet Crooked Billet, Leigh on Sea at 19:30 (Directions) for a couple of hours photography followed by a swift pint, or two.

21st July 2011 - Meet at the RHS gardens Hyde Hall on Thursday 21st July, for one of their annual summer open evenings, starting at 7pm and finishing at 9pm. There is a £7.00 entry fee, details can be found on the RHS website (Further information): Please Note: it says Members Evening, but this is not correct the gardens are open to all.

Other dates will be added as and when arranged alternatively if you have any ideas of places you would like to visit then please contact us via the website.

Tim has a number of filters for sale at bargain prices.

Hoya 49mm Sklight Circular Filter

Hoya 55mm Skylight Circular Filter x2

Hoya 49mm Circular Polariser

Hoya 55mm Circular Polariser

Jessops 62mm Circular Polariser

£5 each for the Skylights & £10 each for the Polarisers (Tim 01268 751274)

The minutes of the 45th Annual General Meeting of the Benfleet Camera Club held on Monday 23rd May 2011 are available here

The club will be holding an exhibition of our photos at Benfleet library (High Road) throughout the month of July and at Basildon library for the month of August.

Harry puts a lot of effort into making these exhibitions a success so please support us.

The "Break A Rule" trophy competition has been introduced into the 2011/2012 season to encourage the members to think and learn about photography in a reverse way. This competition actively encourages members to submit images that have a distinct quality or element that would normally be considered as a flaw or detrimental or distracting.

Here are examples of rules that can be broken to earn additional marks:

Blurred or fuzzy subject

Key subject out of focus

Too much negative space

Centralised subject

Even number of subjects

Distracting words in the image

Limbs Cut Off

Lens Flare - shooting into the sun

Intentionally asking for prints that break a rule, will no doubt be an intriguing competition, with plenty of humour I expect. More importantly, by deliberately creating flaws the membership will learn how to avoid them. So over the summer keep a look out and snap away at those shots that the judge won't like :-) Our judge for this competition has been briefed about the intent and will give additional marks for obvious and deliberate flouting of normal image rules.

Good luck!

Notice is hereby given that the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Benfleet Camera Club will be held at St. Georges Hall, Rushbottom Lane , Benfleet , on Monday 23rd May 2011 at 8:00 pm.

AGENDA

1. Minutes of the previous AGM

2. Matters arising

3. Chairman's Report

4. Treasurer's Report and to receive the Statement of Accounts and balance sheet

5. Secretary's Report

6. Other Officers Reports (Including any changes in the competition rules) (Current Committee stand down)

7. Election of Officers and Committee for the coming year (New Committee take the stage)

8. Appointment of Auditors

9. Any Other Business (notified to the incumbent Secretary 7 days prior to the meeting)

Details of Club officers and a description of their duties are available here

The Agenda and club officer nomination form will be availble at the club meetings from the 9th April or by clicking here

The Annual Competition on the 16th May will start at 19:30 not the published time of 20:00

Will all last seasons trophy winners please return their tropies before the AGM please.

Harlow Council have recently revised the opening hours of the Civic Centre and, along with the Gibberd Gallery where the exhibition is hosted, it will now no longer be open on Saturday 14 th May.

Whilst this will not affect the opening day, the following times will now apply:

click here for further information

Reg has a Cromatek 75mm Filter system for sale including Proshade, Matte Box with 26 assorted filters and 7 lens adaptors £50 ono.

Call Reg on 01245 322209 for further information.

On Saturday the 5th March a group of us are planning to visit London for a lowlight and sunset photography afternoon along London's South Bank with its' plethora of photo opportunities.

The plan is to get the 14:10 from Benfleet (Super Saver Fare £10.10) which will give us plenty of time to walk to St Pauls, Tower Bridge or a destination close by of your own choice in time for Sunset at 17:47.

We can all meet up in a pub, coffee shop or café (to be decided) after we have finished. At the end of the day there will be a Chimping Competition for what the nominated judge decides to be the best image.

Please advise if your would like to attend by using the contact us via the website.

Mike and I have been looking at new ways for you to submit your Digital Projected image entries and have now decided to try out a new online method which is used by other local clubs.

You will need to register a user name (suggest you use your own name) and password before any enties can be sent however, this method will provide you with a permanent record of your entries and no more issues with the names and titles.

Once you have logged in just choose the competition date, Advanced/Entry level option and upload your files in the same format as usual. IMPORTANT Please add entry-1, entry-2 or entry-3 to the file names before you send them.

The current USB stick and email entry methods will also remain for the time being however, if you choose to email your entries please use the "Delivery/Read Receipt" option to ensure that they are received, if you have not received confirmation by the Sunday evening prior to the competition then contact us!

A short powerpoint explaining the new process is here

To access the new portal click here

Any questions please ask, like anything new it will become simple after the first attempt, DPI instructions will be updated in due course.................

A small group of members visited Tropical Wings in order to sharpen up their butterfly photography. Tropical Wings are always very accomodating towards photographers and despite the chill, it was a very enjoyable day. They gleaned a lot of useful tips and even one or two good shots!

Interested in attending future events then please contact us via the website

It is planned to have an informal enprint competition on Monday, 14 March 2011 at which all those attending will cast votes for their favourite or preferred display.

Club members are invited to submit up to two 20” x 16” (maximum size) card bearing between 6 and 10 enprints on a theme of their choice. The enprints should be no larger than 6” x 4”. They can be stuck on the board so there's no need to cut apertures unless you want to. The theme title can also be displayed on the front of the card. The photographer's name must be on the back.

All those attending will be given a voting sheet and will be asked to mark each panel out of five. Participants can, of course, vote for their own !

This is a fun event that involves everybody so it is hoped that you will all join in and enjoy the evening. An example of how your panel might look, using 6” x 4” prints, is shown below.

2 x Bowens 800E Monolight reflectors £100. Contact Paul 01268 795169

Please note that Keith (webmaster) will be collecting the images for the next DPI competition to be held on the 7th February.

Remember, if you choose to email your entries please use the "Delivery/Read Receipt" option to ensure that they are received, if you have not received confirmation by the Sunday evening prior to the competition then phone, my telephone number is in the programme!

If a person 'actively objects' to having their picture taken in a public place then photographers should not publish that image, the privacy watchdog has warned.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) was responding to an enquiry by Amateur Photographer after the watchdog said it has been contacted by people concerned over photos taken without permission and posted on the internet.

Further information click here

Do you have any digital images which have done well in the club competition? Yes, then please contact either Nick or Keith so we can arrange for them to be sent in and entered into this competition. Prepare using the same guidelines as our own digital projected image competion please. Subjects:

1 Landscape/Seascape

230-Jan-2012tudy

4 Off-Beat

5 Still Life/Tabletop

6 Street Scene

7 Portraits (Not Children)

8 Action

9 Architecture

10 Flower Study

Any questions please contact Keith via the website

Before I go through the agro of eBay I thought it worth asking club members. Anyone want a 2.8 70-200 Sigma APO HSM (Nikon fit) or a 2.8 17-55 Nikon lense. Both are in top condition with all extra bits you get with the lense brand new.

Both these cost around £900 new, near £400 second hand for the 70-200 and £500 for the 17-55

Kevin Hurdle

Any questions please contact Kev via the website

NOW ALL SOLD!!

Russell Holman would like to say a big thank you to BCC and those who sponsored his cycle ride to Paris.

A BIG THANK YOU

Kev has organised some more studio sessions at a photo studio in Raweth with a professional model. Three dates are currently avalaible, cost approx, £20 per session. Please advise Kev Hurdle if you are interested in attending.

Any questions please contact us via the website

Following last years results the revised DPI and Printed league members were announced by Nick on Monday. These are now available on the website by clicking here.

Any questions please contact us via the website

Please note that Keith (webmaster) will be collecting the images for the next DPI competition to be held on the 20th September. Please bring your images along on a memory stick by the 13th or send them to the entries email address in the instructions by the 18th at the very latest.

Any problems please contact me via the website

"Last of our Benfleet Camera Club lighting workshop outings for this summer took us to a double location with three models. The basic idea was to shoot models wearing dresses in difficult indoor locations. The venues included a working pub (which happened to be closed at the time) and an ex-firestation in Rochford. These were low ceiling , close, comfy locations to shoot and we used a variation of natural ambient light with reflectors to full on indoor flash. The results will be in the galleries and show that the attendees dealt with the challenges it threw at us."

Any ideas for future events? Please contact us via the website.

This seasons competition rules have been updated and are now published on the website.

Please see Rules, Forms and Guidelines

The club will be holding an exhibition of our photos at Benfleet libary (High Road) throughout the month of November. More details to follow.

Nick will be holding a personal exhibition of his work at Benfleet libary (High Road) next month. Please make sure you go along and support him.

Sunday 8th August and the Benfleet Camera Club members were out in the sun at a boatyard with two lovely young ladies. This shoot was aimed at commercial glamour topless on location. Typically the type of shot you would see on page 3. The location shoots have grown in popularity over the summer, todays turnout was 14 photographers. We split into two teams called Port and Starboard. An unofficial competition ensued. As usual each photographer took it in turns, benefiting from one to one time with both models and using the other photographers to hold reflectors and the like. A superb day out.

If we have wet your appetite and you wish to join us at a future event either with a model or at another location then please contact us via the website with your ideas.

I have just published a new photo gallery and notice that a number of the images have been here for sometime so maybe its about time we updated them. I have seen some excellent images in the competitions and it would certainly help me if you would add some of them to the club gallery.

Images need to be 600x400px, 72dpi, sRGB and saved as .jpg please.

If you have some images for me then please use the contact us via the website and I will tell you how to send them.

On the 13th July a group of us attended another one of Kev's excellent outdoor photo shoots. This time with cowboy Jez. The weather gave us a cloudy sky so we had to rely on a wireless flash set up. The lighting bitch did a good job and a good time was had by all. Photos to follow...

If we have wet your appetite and you wish to join us at a future event either with a model or at another location then please contact us via the website with your ideas.

I have mislaid my quick release camera plate from my tripod and am looking to buy a new tripod as mine is now obsolete. Has anyone just purchased a new one and looking to sell their old one? If so, please contact Janet Neville on 07790274385

The home secretary today announced the suspension of the broad stop and search powers found in section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 This allowed the blanket stop & search of people and vehicles without any suspicion and is discredited.

We are looking for one or two volunteers to take over the role of print competition secretary next season. Role involves collecting prints, adding labels, setting out for the judge and collating scores.

Please contact us via the website if you would like more information.

On the 15th of June a group of 11 of us attended an outdoor photoshoot arranged by Kev at Hilltop Farm with two models Gina and Samphyre. We were split into two groups "The Olympus Trippers" and the "Box Brownies" and set the challenge to work together as a team in order to produce the best photo of the evening, as judged by the farm owner Mo.

The light was fabulous that evening which we enhanced with reflectors to reduce the shadows and produce a nice golden skin tone. As the light faded we used flash alongside the reflectors. The winning team were the Olympus Trippers with a shot of Gina which, Mo like the evening glow. Pictures are now in the Photo Gallery.... A big thanks to Kev for organising such a great night and to the 11 enthusiastic club members for taking part.

If we have wet your appetite and you wish to join us at a future event either with a model or at another location then please contact us via the website with your ideas.

In support of the above charity, local taxi drivers plan to take local sick, disabled and needy children to Southend on Wednesday 4th August.

They have asked if any club members would be willing to take photographs at various locations during that day.

They are leaving Roots Hall car park at 0900 hrs., arriving at the Rendezvous Casino car park (Kursaal) at 0930 hrs. The children will be taken bowling, to the pier and to Adventure Island. They will depart the seafront at 1530 hrs. and will be taken to Garons Park for a disco.

Obviously, the charity would appreciate copies of any photographs taken for their website/general publicity.

If anyone is able to assist they should contact Brian Houssart MBE, the charity president, on 01702 524749, who will arrange to issue them with an official badged Hi Vis jacket for use during the day.

Further information about the charity can be found on their website:

Brief: submit a photograph on the theme "The light of the world" along with a statement saying "What light means to me". The photographs will be displayed at St Saviours church, 33 Kings Road, Westcliff in October.

Full details here

Between 27th Sept and 10th October, Eastgate Shopping Centre in Basildon will be hosting a Photography competition to help raise money for Havens Hospices, which incorporates Fairhavens Hospice and Little Havens Children's Hospice.

All entries will be hung for public viewing, more information contact Ron Poulter here

Our annual exhibition will once again take place at the Holy Family Church Hall in Benfleet where you will have an opportunity to view a selection of our members work and find out more about the club. Please feel free to come along.

Opening Times:

19th June - 10:00 - 17:00

20th June - 14:00 - 17:00

Tea and Coffee will be served

Holy Family Church Hall, 661 High Road, Benfleet, Essex. SS7 5SF Get Directions..........

All 2009/2010 League and Trophy results are now published.

Please note that in accordance with the rules only your top 8 scores will count towards the final total this year.

Congratulations to the winners and to all those who took part.

Russell Holman is taking part in the London to Paris bike ride this autumn in aid of Alzheimers Research. The ride will start on 2/9/10 and take 3 days. He will meet all of his own expenses so everything donated will go straight to charity. If anyone would like to donate they can do so on line via this website http://www.sponsor-me.org/russellholman

Some members have asked me to add a "For Sale and Wanted" page for members to advertise, give away or request photographic equipment.

If you have any adverts you would like to place on the club website then please contact me using the "contact us" form and I will start this off.

Webmaster/committee discretion on items for sale is final

**Reminder**

Don't forget to bring along your prints and slides as Monday 26th April is the last date for entries to the Annual Competition!

BCC summer school, 20:00 - 22:00 St Georges small hall. Members £1.50 visitors £3 subject to space

31st May - The Digital camera, its controls and settings

8th June - The safe approach to image processing

14th June - Colour control

22nd June - Monochrome conversion

27th July - RAW processing

more information

Congratulations to the winners:

1st - Graffiti by Harry Tabeart LRPS, CPAGB

2nd - Flea Market by Russell Holman

3rd - Birds of Luangna Valley by Peter Harding

4th - Cars by D J Portwain

Start thinking about preparing an Enprint Panel for next years competition now.

If you regularly enter our digital projected image competitions then you need to read this!!

Incompatability issues have been identified between certain versions of Windows 7, Windows Vista and XP. As the club laptop runs on XP this has resulted in missing properties data from some Digital Projected images. If you have experienced this issue then Mike has suggested that you use the Film Free Projection software to add these properties before exporting the final images to your USB memory stick. A trial version of this software is available direct from the EAF website or by clicking on the following link. Film Free Projection

If you regularly enter our print competitions then you need to read this!!

For the remainder of this season, we would like to trial a slightly different arrangement for delivery of your prints and competition entry forms. Full details

It is planned to have an informal enprint competition on Monday, 15 March 2010 at which all those attending will cast votes for their favourite or preferred display.

Club members are invited to submit up to two 20” x 16” (maximum size) card bearing between 6 and 10 enprints on a theme of their choice. The enprints should be no larger than 6” x 4”. They can be stuck on the board so there's no need to cut apertures unless you want to. The theme title can also be displayed on the front of the card. The photographer's name must be on the back.

All those attending will be given a voting sheet and will be asked to mark each panel out of five. Participants can, of course, vote for their own !

This is a fun event that involves everybody so it is hoped that you will all join in and enjoy the evening. An example of how your panel might look, using 6” x 4” prints, is shown below.

Nikon Fit Kenko Afd 2x Teleconverter retail around £140, asking £40. Contact Kev Hurdle via email: kev at kphphotographic.co.uk (replace at with@) or use the contact us form on this site

We need slides for the Pegasus competition this coming Tuesday and it requires at least 30 to cover all categories; Harry is providing some and I would ask if any of you have any slides worth putting in please bring them Monday evening.

The categories are:

Landscape/Seascape

Natural History (NOT flora)

Child Study (need these)

Off Beat (need these)

Still Life (need these)

Street Scene (need these)

Portrait (NOT Children)

Action (need these)

Architecture

Flower Study

As we are now getting depleted on the slide front as less people are doing them we just need to get what we can for the competition.

Can you make a note to look at when the external competitions are please. If you have any Internal Prints or Digital Projected Images which have scored 9, 10, Highly Commended or Best Image then please let Nick or Tim have a copy for selection.

On Thursday 11th February their is an Inter-Club Digital Projected image competition and we need your images now. Please bring them along on Monday.

Subject to support from members we are looking at the possibility of arranging a club outing or photo shoot next year and a few ideas have already been suggested, full details and dates still to be decided:

1) Day out to Aldeburgh to experience the photo opportunities that this lovely seaside resort can offer. Coach trip from Benfleet followed by a pub lunch or fish and chips by the sea.

2) It is never advisable to approach a nightime photoshoot alone so why not join a group of us and enjoy the experience of taking night time shots at either a local or London venue, have a go at light trails, the sky at dusk etc.

3) What about a visit to a professional photo studio with models to work on your portrait skills?

Prices and dates will be published depending on demand, or if you have any other ideas please contact us via the website stating your preference, speak to Nick or a member of the committee.

The Metropolitan Police have published an article on this subject on their website entitled Photography Advice It states inter alia (a) Members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop them filming or photographing incidents or police personnel, and (b) Officers do not have the power to delete digital images or destroy film at any point during a search. It is suggested that you read it and carry a printed copy in your camera bag.

Mike has issued revised guidance notes for preparing your images for Digital Projected image competitions. These notes are designed to assist and clarify the requirements for preparing and submitting images for the forthcoming seasons digital projected image competitions.

This year the projection software will be utilising sRGB colour space to present the images. This is a change from last year but brings our projection method in line with the majority of camera clubs and exhibitions. If you normally work within the Adobe RGB (1998) colour space you should ensure that your competition files are converted to sRGB colour space when you save them. This includes any of last years images that you intend to enter into the annual competition on the 21st September. more information

Essex Police has launched a photography competition to find photos of locations in Essex to use on its website.

It is looking for great photos of places in Essex to make sure its website www.essex.police.uk reflects the county it serves. So Essex Police is challenging amateur and professional photographers of all ages to send in their photographs that illustrate what Essex means to them.

A new website has been designed and published in time for the 2009/2010 programme. Tell us if you like it, don't like it or if anything doesn't work and what you would like to see included in the future: (some competition links won't work until we have some new season results)

BCC summer school, 20:00 - 22:00 St Georges small hall. Members £1.50 visitors £3 subject to space

21st May - The Digital camera, its controls and settings

11th June - The safe approach to image processing

18th June - Colour control

2nd July - Monochrome conversion

3rd Sept - RAW processing

more information