Welcome to the New (2001-2002) Session

The new committee was listed in the June 2001 edition of Focus, which, together with the Minutes of the last AGM were mailed to all members at the end of May. Hopefully you are all aware that the new session starts on Tuesday 11 September and that this is also the handing in date for the 1st Quarterly Competition.

At the AGM, on becoming your new President, I mused on why I had joined the Club and what I expected out of it. I had the vague idea that I would be encouraged to get out more to take photographs and that, whether or not the photos materialised, the getting out and about would have been a good thing. It was a little disconcerting to discover that my "out and about", going around Derbyshire and Cheshire (or even further afield in the UK) seemed to be at variance with other members whose sights were set on the Continent, Chile, The Arctic and Antarctic, and of course America. How were my "Cheshire Zoo" pictures to compare with other members' "Masai Mara" photos? It was even more disconcerting to find that the 'zoo lion' didn't count for Natural History. I had to go to Africa for my lion if I wished to enter the Natural History section. Perhaps this is an argument for an "Un-natural History Section"? More likely it's an argument for fewer, or no sections. I guess photography is about spotting a good image and should be judged on this alone. And there are plenty of good images about without travelling halfway across the Globe to get them. And why should I tell the judge that my lion was in Chester Zoo? If my lion image is better than the other let the judge mark it higher, and not even ask in which country it was resident!

I also expected that by joining a club my photographs would improve, though I had no particular notion as to how this would happen. I now believe that joining the club has improved my photos, but by a process of "rubbing off from other people". I see images reminiscent of one I saw at the club and think "I can do better with this image". And occasionally it works! And I can also smugly sit back and say "Not another bl--dy Venice picture" as yet another Gondola image appears in a competition. After three years I'm becoming quite blasé about well-known international beauty spots.

But the big advantage of being in the club is the incidental knowledge one picks up; information one would not have thought of asking about. These nougats of information come out as a by-product of a presentation or talk.

But for this to work we have to have a syllabus and we have to have time to discuss and argue the point. So my big theme, if I have one, is about Communication; communication between members, and between members and committee. The club should serve members needs, but members must express opinions as to what they would like for this to work. As new syllabus secretary Sheila Edwards has embarked on a consultation exercise with members as she considers the future syllabus. I hope everyone will let Sheila know what type of evening they enjoy, and equally what puts them off.

Focus remains a vehicle for members to air their views in more depth on any relevant topic. I hope members will seize the opportunity to have their say through Focus. It can, for example, be used to float ideas (pro & con) in readiness for a possible rule change at an AGM. It is already being used to record competition results and general club events. Several members have already written articles to good effect about aspects of the club, or of judging which concerned them.

Meanwhile, Tony has worked his little socks off to get a good balanced programme for the coming session and I hope you will all come along, support the club and most of all enjoy the experience.

Bill Chadband (President, and Focus Editor)

50th Anniversary Celebration

In the June 2001 Focus it was noted that this session includes the 50th Anniversary of the Club. Noting that the 21st anniversary was celebrated by a dinner, it seems appropriate that we should do likewise for the 50th anniversary. The Anniversary is an opportunity to publicise the club and encourage new membership. Early suggestions are that present and past members should be invited; that the L&CPU should be represented; and that a guest speaker should be included. A suitable venue is required and we need to agree a suitable price that members are willing to pay. Importantly we need to fix a date for members and guests diaries. Present thinking is that a March date would be appropriate.

NCPS provide Commentary for next Mono Print Folio

Having made various ribald comments about previous commentaries, NCPS were invited to provide the comments to accompany the next Mono Print Folio. Several committee members gathered to view the folio and express views on the individual prints. Tony (well-spoken) Redford was invited to put these remarks on cassette in an attractive (un-stilted) manner. Having done so a second gathering listened to the resulting tape and made the few further comments that were deemed necessary. The whole membership will be able to judge the result on the 5th March next.

The 2001 L&CPU Annual Print & Slide Competition Results

These results appeared on the L&CPU Web site. Although NCPS did not have a concerted effort to win any club prizes, several individuals submitted prints via the Competition Secretary.

In the Monochrome Print section Sheila Edwards received a Certificate of Merit (CoM) for her image "Fog".

In the Colour Print section NCPS were listed 3rd = for the Appleby Cup. Gordon Robson received a CoM for his image "Boulangerie"

In the Natural History Prints Steph Clack received a CoM for "Pale Chanting Goshawk"

In the Creative Prints section NCPS were 4th= (with 85 Group) for the Kinetic Trophy. Dorothy Redford came an individual 2nd with "London Eye" and Sheila Edwards individual 3rd with "Spring Time". Dorothy also achieved a CoM with "Pastel Petals"

In the Slides sections the judges expressed disappointment with the Creative slides whereas they noted the Nature section had a large percentage of excellent work.

NCPS were placed 8th in the list for the Birkenhead Centenary Trophy (for Natural History Slides), Steph Clack receiving a CoM for "Polar Bears".

Christine Widdall CPAGB (Oldham PS) was declared Print photographer of the year, and Ed Roper EFIAP (Wigan 10 FC) Slide photographer of the year.

Bill Chadband

L&CPU Delegates Meeting Williamson Art Gallery

On Saturday 21st July 2001 Bill Chadband, Tony and Dorothy Redford attended the Delegates meeting and the opening of the 2001 Annual Exhibition at Birkenhead. We had an hour before the meeting began to view the exhibition. Amongst the many fine images hung we noticed the following:

In the monochrome print section "Fog" by Sheila Edwards: In the colour print section "Gentoo Penquin" by Steph Clackand "Venetian Gold" & "Boulangerie" both by Gordon Robson. In the Creative Colour print section "Colour and Texture" by Tony Redford and "Venice Vision" by Dorothy Redford. In the Documentary Print section "The Ceiling, St Cuthbert Wells" & "Monument, Gloucester Cathedral" both by Gerald Hallworth; "New York Story" & "Sharp Right" both by Tony Redford; "Gentoo Penquins" & "Polar Bears" both by Dave Clack; "Elephant Seals" by Steph Clack; and "Cheetah, Masai Mara" by Gorden Robson

At the meeting, the L&CPU treasurer noted that as a result of last year's subscription increase the Union had managed without dipping into its reserves despite a 200-odd drop in membership. He had endeavoured to combat falling interest rates by use of Postal accounts and proposed use of Bonds. However to maintain current services he proposed a 10p subscription increase to £3.10p per member, with no increase in the £42 for clubs with under 15 members. This proposal was amended twice with the second amendment being carried. After the usual kerfuffle from some members about what was being agreed in the vote the treasurer's proposed increase was agreed with the rider that the Executive should determine what services club's required before asking for any future further increase.

The treasurer noted that 15% of the clubs did not pay their subscriptions promptly and some took umbrage at being reminded. The L&CPU had to pay Public Liability premiums on the due date. In future premiums would not be paid for clubs that had not responded to his requests. Some clubs thought that they had sufficient public liability insurance via the owners of the buildings they met in; but they should read the small print because this was not necessarily so. It was a condition of belonging to L&CPU that clubs had adequate insurance. Clubs were required to send proof of such insurance to the treasurer if insurance was not arranged through L&CPU.

It was reported that the J.S. Lancaster Award had gone to both David Marsh and Desmond Cooper. Citations were read out. A citation was also read out for John Smith who now joined the L&CPU Roll of Honour. John's periods as Vice-President; President, and Past President were reviewed as was his taking on Focal Points and making it the best news magazine in the Alliance, plus his recent task as L&CPU webmaster.
Under AOB Andrew McCloughlin referred to attempts to simplify the format of the Competition Rules and the apparent lack of response from the executive.

Keith Suddaby reminded delegates of the BIG DAY planned for Sunday 21st October 2001 at St Martin's College, Lancaster (The L&CPU photographic University!!!) The day starts with coffee at 10.00am and ends with tea at 4.30pm. Besides a Syllabus Secretaries Marketplace, a Print Exhibition, and Special offers (Paper, slide mounts etc) there are teach-ins/demonstrations/lectures from Prof Paul Hill, Barrie Thomas, Keith Suddaby, and A.N Other from outside the L&CPU. Cost £7.50 per head, or £15 including lunch

Bill Chadband

"Success breeds success"

- so, we should be looking to build on our results from last season. The aim must be to win all the forthcoming inter-club battles, home and away. To this end, the selection committee will be striving to collate the strongest possible combination of prints and slides for each competition, whilst abiding by their often-restrictive rules and requirements of course.

It goes without saying that the material from which we can chose directly governs our chances of success. Naturally, we like to call upon the highest scoring pictures in the quarterly competitions, but in addition, your submission of any picture, past, present or future which you think may tickle the fancy of a judge, would be much appreciated.

All picture are taken care of to the best of our ability and will be promptly returned to the owner. So please, when the call comes, have a go!

Dorothy Redford (Selection Committee Chairman)

Forthcoming Competitions

You may wish to note who will be judging the forthcoming competitions at Poynton. Up to the end of the current year 2001 they are as follows:

25th September:1st Quarterly - Brian Lomas from Oldham
16th October:15 x 15 Battle - Bob Dennis from the Wirral
27th November: 2nd Quarterly - David Hempstock from Bramhall
11th December: 3-way Battle - Robert Vince from Sandbach

Please remember that handing-in for the quarterlies is two weeks prior to the event. Prints and slides will be checked and listed and delivered to the judge in advance, Judges for the Battles have agreed to judge on the night. Handing -in for the 1st Quarterly is on the opening meeting, 11th September, as noted on the syllabus.

(Please note, the date of the 2nd Quarterly is Tuesday 27th November - NOT 28th! as wrongly printed in syllabus)

Tony Redford (Competition Secretary)

Visit to the Lowry (Salford Quays)

Eight club members assembled to view the Denis Thorpe exhibition at the Lowry on Thursday 14th June. Having inspected the monochrome Denis Thorpe Show we also viewed the three other collections of photographic hangings.

Denis's pictures were as good as we have come to expect of him. Some of the other hangings were more perplexing, however, appearing to break many of the rules we have come to support over the years. For example over-dark prints; prints with large areas of blank (off-white) sky; prints with no centre of interest; and prints where the "rule of thirds" has apparently been abolished. Were we missing something, or have we been brainwashed by our present generation of judges into not appreciating new forms of the photographic art?
After the visit, with a steady drizzle and overcast skies, it was appropriate to seek food and six of us moved on to Harry Ramsden's.

The young lad who served us had some difficulty in coping with six orders, and though the tea came quickly we felt that Harry had had to send out for some of the fish. When it eventually came the food was good and plentiful; so much so that prior boasts by some members of the party as to how much treacle toffee pudding they could eat vapourized when it came to the test.

The Committee Meeting held Wed 15th August 2001

The treasurer reported that the AGM proposals had all been acted upon. A "Club Account" with the Vernon BS would give us better interest rates than our Halifax account whilst keeping the TSB account would retain all our cheque book facilities.

Colin Pickles noted that in December 1997 the minutes recorded that ' the Club Committee to select the judges ' for the Rosalind Bramley Trophy (for Monochrome Prints). For that first year the committee had selected Frank Hutchinson as judge, knowing that Frank did not have an entry to the competition that year. This cleared up the confusion as to the committee's role.

The Club Social programme was reviewed. It was agreed that the evening get-togethers on alternate Tuesdays, following the AGM (until the end of June) should continue, with several different leaders/ contacts. The low turn-out on some Tuesdays was not a problem so long as those who did turn up enjoyed the evening. Meeting at a pub would ease the waiting time! Noting the success of the day visit to the Lakes, and the Paris trip it was agreed that we should sound members out about future trips; an autumn trip to the Lakes (day or two day?) and a trip to Bruges during April next (but avoiding Easter!) Colin agreed to put up notices on the club board asking for names of people wishing to support these (or other) ventures. Joyce drew our attention to an advertised walk across Morecombe Bay, for charity (about £7, including train fare) which would provide interesting photographic opportunities, but involve the active members in a seven or eight mile walk.

Frank reported on our involvement in the Poynton show. Though there would be only horses as large animals, and no grand Parade, the show continued.

A request for help in producing a large Photographic montage to celebrate the opening of the new Church Hall at St George's Poynton, was given long consideration. We understood that St George's wanted a large picture-like display at the entrance recording the opening events and including the church centrally. It needed good initial images, a suitable combination/montage of these and the production of a final 1.5mx1m (approx) display. Though an exciting and challenging project we could not assemble a team, prior to our new session, to undertake the several stages of tasks involved, and the committee was concerned about accepting the task and then not being able to fulfil the (presently vague) expectations.

More consideration was given to the proposed 50th Anniversary dinner. The urgency of finding a venue and setting a date (inter-related) was emphasised, as was the need to keep costs to members down.

Gordon Robson noted that he had written to 58 clubs regarding our Annual Exhibiton competitions. It was agreed that for this session the exhibition literature should include reference to the 50th Anniversary.

It was noted that our storage cupboard at the Civic Centre has been moved, following their need to provide more office space. Dave Sharp was thanked for single-handedly doing our move for us.

Brian Turnbull arrived at the meeting with a brand-new Print Display box using the new tubes. It is a sturdy box, ready assembled, and as such will be easier to use on the night. It passed its committee test with flying colours, and our grateful thanks go to Brian for constructing the new box.

It was agreed that entrance forms for the (1st ) Quarterly competition should be sent out with the August mailing. Agreed also that we send out to members a copy of the A4 sheet advertising the club, for members to use where-ever they saw the opportunity.

Frank's Millipede

It appears that Frank is having trouble with the pet millipede he recently acquired. Now that his fitness regime is paying off and he can row for miles in his bedroom, Frank wanted to take his pet for a walk. Several times Frank opened the box and said "Come on, we're going for a walk" Eventually, exasperated, Frank went off by himself, returning about an hour later. He had just made himself a cup of tea when the Millipede appeared saying "O.K. That's got my boots on, I'm now ready"