Spring brings host of opportunities for Stalybridge Photographic Club

MARCH, with daffodils waving their yellow heads to welcome spring and birds beginning to lose their weary winter look and make themselves attractive to their mates, is an interesting month for photographers.

All sorts of photographic opportunities are available, such as photographing the flora and fauna of Daisy Nook Country Park on a Sunday afternoon, or a walk, camera at the ready, in Stamford Park.

Members of Stalybridge Photographic Club are no laggards in making the most of available opportunities and they have been out and about with their cameras.

Members are keen to share their images with one another and also to compare their photographic skills with other keen amateurs from neighbouring clubs and early last month were the hosts for the third round of The 2020 Cheadle Alliance Shield, a keenly fought annual photographic ‘battle’ between Bramhall Photographic Society, Stockport Photographic Society, Stalybridge PC and until recently, Hyde Photographic Society.

Stalybridge holds the shield as last year’s winner and extended their lead in this year’s competition by winning both the prints and digital projected images categories.

At a later Monday evening, a committee member led a workshop on Painting With Light when various light sources, including a pixel stick which uses LEDs to produce incredible lighting effects and patterns that can be recorded by cameras, were used. Members agreed that it was an “inspiring” evening and no doubt images produced on the night will appear in future competitions.

One disappointment was the inevitable postponement, due to the coronavirus situation, of The Photography Show, an annual trade and serious hobbiest event due to be held at the NEC, as several members had planned to make the journey to Birmingham. However, it is hoped that the event will take place later in the year and visitors can ‘splash their cash’ on photographic equipment at discounted prices.

In keeping with the club’s usual calendar, there will be no meeting on the bank holiday, however, on the agenda for April is a practical evening of macro photography.

Macro photography is about photographing objects that are very close to the lens and being able to focus on a subject close enough so that when a standard print is made, the image is life-size or larger. Typical subjects are still life, such as fruit, flowers, jewellery and small household objects. Macro photography often reveals details of the subject not visible with the naked eye.

Towards the end of April there will be a visit from representatives of Alphamarine Photography, who will be talking about their speciality, underwater photography. The last meeting of the month will be devoted to image improvement.

If you wish to expand your photographic horizons and photographic skills, whatever your photographic ability, you can go along any Monday evening to see what goes on.

Stalybridge Photographic Club meets at St. Paul’s Cricket Club, Gorse Hall Road, Dukinfield, most Mondays throughout the year, except bank holidays, from 8pm until 10pm. Membership costs £25 per year. and £3 for each meeting attended – the first three visits are free.

You can get in touch by e-mailing: contact@stalybridgephoto.org.uk or you can get a flavour of the club at www.stalybridgephoto.org.uk, or just turn up.