Many club members visited RSPB Radipole on Saturday 16th March 2024.  Even though the weather wasn't too kind to us all those who attended enjoyed the opportunity to explore the reserve, and many captured some amazing images. The day was rounded off with a gathering in the coffee shop where an hour or two was passed with friends.  What better to do on a wet day in March.  Thank you to Elizabeth Jubb for organising the day.  Photos taken can be viewed on the Photoshoot Gallery page. It is planned to run a zoom meeting in the next couple of weeks to display the best images that were taken on the day.  Details to follow.

On Tuesday 9th April we welcomed our Guest speaker Jeanette (Jet) Lenden.  It was lovely to see 50 people in the hall to enjoy an excellent evening.  Jet started by introducing herself, and went on to explain how she now runs a successful business instructing others how to make the most from the camera in their pocket or handbag - their smartphone.

Jet treated us all to a display of her images taken with her smartphone, and challenged us to open our minds to the use of this form of photography.  She made it very clear that the smartphone is not a replacement for our DSLR/Mirrorless cameras, but that it should be seen as complementary. All present were amazed by just what was achievable through the use of a smartphone and left the hall with their smartphone cameras properly set up, and full of enthusiasm to test out what they had learned the next time they decided on taking some images.

The following morning saw 13 keen photographers meet up with Jet outside of Sherborne Abbey on what was a very wet morning.  As a group they went to Pageant Gardens where Jet offered further instruction in Smartphone Photography.  Everyone agreed this was a fantastic morning and many left with some images that they were proud of.  Some of these images can be seen in the Photoshoot Gallery

For more information about Jet visit https://www.jetblacksquares.com

On the Tuesday 26th March we held our annual Macro and Close up Competition.

This was a fantastic evening with 25 digital images and 7 prints on display.  Our judge Alan Denison gave a thorough critique on each image before deciding on the winning images. 

RESULTS: -

The winner of the digital image category was Mark Tatchell with his image "Six-Spot Burnet Emerges from Puparium".

The winner of the printed image category was Elizabeth Jubb with her image of a Blue Thistle.

Congratulations to them both and to all those who were also recognised during the evening.  Full details of placings and winning images from the competitions can be located within our Competition/Winning Images section.