I have just finished working on a new photo gallery which, I will add to the website in due course. I notice that a number of the images have been here for sometime and 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.

A sneak preview of the gallery is here

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