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A club that encourages its members in all aspects of photography
When was the club founded?
The club was formed in 1948. The club is affiliated to the Kent County Photographic Association (KCPA) and the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB).
What does the club offer to new members?
Prospective members are made to feel welcome and we offer a comprehensive annual club programme that includes competitions, talks, members’ evenings, practical nights and social events. New members are encouraged to participate in the club’s events and to suggest topics they would like included in the programme. A prospective club member can attend three meetings free before committing.
Describe a typical club meeting?
We meet weekly on Tuesday evenings from
September to early June. Our meetings run from 8-10pm with a break for refreshments. The chairman announces the activity for the evening with a look ahead to the coming weeks and if we have a guest speaker or judge, they are introduced to the members. During the refreshment break, members have the opportunity to chat about photography and their current interests. At the close of the evening, guest speakers can take questions from the membership before receiving a formal thank you.
Do you invite guest speakers?
Yes, we have speakers from the KCPA list, additionally those on recommendation from other clubs based within the radius of the M25. We have had lectures on a range of topics from trekking in the Himalayas, astrophotography and photography on safari. Club members also have the opportunity to present evenings on their own photographic interests and techniques.
Do members participate in regional or national competitions?
We participate in two KCPA major annual competitions: Projected Digital Image (PDI) in the spring and prints in the autumn. We were runners-up in the KCPA PDI competition held in February 2020 and will be proudly representing Kent at the PAGB InterFederation championships in July 2020. A number of our members also participate individually in national competitions.
How many members do you have?
We currently have 28 members having seen an encouraging rise in membership this season. Our newest members come with a wide range of photographic backgrounds.
Are there any residential trips or outings planned?
A key part of our annual programme is the Spring Rally, a challenge where our members take images of ten subjects at a selected location on a pre-arranged date. In addition there are visits to major photographic exhibitions. There are also a number of studio sessions arranged to develop our portraiture skills. During our summer recess we have three evening and three Sunday activities to keep the photographic juices flowing. The images from these events form part of our internal competition programme.
Do you have any funny stories about the club?
Members can find portrait photography with a model very intimidating if they have never done it before. To lighten the mood of practical sessions, the chairman is known to don amusing attire, thereby offering alternative subject matter. This provides the opportunity to pick up hints and tips in a less pressured environment prior to photographing the real deal.
What are the club’s goals for the future?
We are always looking at ways to broaden our programme to accommodate the diverse interests of members. We are keen to encourage more members to enter competitions as this is seen as a key way to improve our photography and then to go on to achieve RPS and PAGB accreditations. We welcome any new photographers to our club, which has the reputation of being a friendly and enjoyable place to be.