September 2025 (Printer-friendly version)
4th September
| Opening Night Showcase - Phil Moorhouse LRPS A celebration of the photography of our own members. Phil presents a series of short video presentations cataloguing all of the competition winners from last season, and a chance to view the Photofolio images. |
11th September
| An Evening With... John Haines John's view on photography, including stories and ideas about the pictures. Before and after pictures from camera to the finished edit. Both will help the new photographer and seasoned photographers, alike. Deadline: First Open Projected Competition (3 images) |
18th September
| 90 Shades of Graham - Graham Walton DPAGB A welcome return for Graham, a past member of Shirley, who brings along a collection of his mono prints covering a broad spectrum of subjects. |
25th September
| First Projected Competition - Judge: Thomas Swallow CPAGB Deadline: First Prints Competition (3 prints) |
October 2025
2nd October | Motor Sport Photography - Dave Airston LRPS CPAGB David, a member of Smethwick, visits us to show some prints and tell us some stories from his time taking images of motor sport, from historic cars to Formula 1. https://smethwickps.co.uk/member-galleries/member-galleries-by-subject/pictorial/dave-airston-lrps/ |
9th October | First Print Competition - Catherine Knee LRPS |
(Saturday) 11th October | Photographic Outing to Gigrin Farm An opportunity to visit Gigrin Farm in Mid Wales to photograph the Red Kites. More details to follow. |
(Monday) 13th October | Getting Started on Processing your Images - SPS members An online workshop via Zoom to introduce basic processing of your images for competitions. |
16th October | From the Ordinary to the Extraordinary, Part 2 - Smart Shooting - Bob Brind Surch A welcome return visit for Bob, with the second part of his presentation, building on the ideas discussed in the first talk and looking at how digital shooting differs. Deadline: Natural History Competition (2 prints / 1 digital, or 1 print / 2 digitals, max 3) |
23rd October | My Photographic Journey - Lynda Haney FBPE MPAGB EFIAP Lynda talks about her photographic journey into creative work using her images showing a range of subjects including nature, people and sport. |
30th October | Natural History Competition - Judge: Monica Doshi AFIAP DPAGB BPE2* Deadline: President's Set Assignment ('Leading Lines') (3 digitals) |
November 2025
(Monday) 3rd November | Critique Evening - SPS Members A chance to share a selection of your photographs with colleagues and receive some feedback. |
6th November
| A Close Encounter with Nature - Darron Matthews FRPS EPAGB EFIAP ABPE An in-depth look at Darron’s niche subject of Macro Photography, including information about the equipment he uses, and plenty of tips! |
13th November | President's Set Assignment ('Leading Lines') - John Leighton This year's President, John Leighton, is in the hot-seat to appraise your images on the theme of 'Leading Lines'. |
20th November
| Birds, Beasts and Pelicans - Jane Roby Jane Shares some images from her recent photographic adventures Deadline: Mono Competition (2 prints / 1 digital, or 1 print / 2 digitals, max 3) |
27th November
| 2024 A Photographer's Year - Bob Moore HonFRPS HonPAGB, MPAGB and Sue Moore FRPS MPAGB FIPF A welcome return for Sue and Bob who this time will show a wide range of images taken in just one year. |
December 2025
(Monday) 1st December | Processing - A Step up from Basic - SPS Members A Zoom workshop to extend your processing skills |
4th December | Monochrome Competition - Judge: Ralph Duckett MPAGB APAGB EFIAP ABPE |
TBC | Christmas Meal - The Woodman's Rest, Union Road, Shirley, B90 3DB. 7.0 pm |
11th December | Road Less Travelled - Leigh Preston FRPS MPAGB EFIAP FIPF Images taken from all genres from Landscape, Urban abstracts, Still life, Street Photography, a themed piece on Power and a second on Liverpool, plus a few portraits etc all delivered in Leigh's distinctive laid back style. Deadline: Xmas Knockout entries |
18th December | Christmas Knockout - Judge: The Audience A fun evening where, each round, two images are projected at random, and the Audience chooses their favourite by voting 'left' or 'right'. Round-by-round, we whittle down the entries to the final few, concluding with our favourite photograph of the night. Deadline: Straight-out-of-Camera (3 digital images) |
January 2026
8th January
| Straight out of the Camera Competition - Judge: Bob Goode DPAGB EFIAP/g ARPS The only rule for this one is that your image comes straight out of the camera. No manipulation in anyway, with the exception of resizing and adding a key-line. Deadline: Travel Competition (2 prints / 1 digital, or 1 print / 2 digitals, max 3) |
(Monday) 12th January | Critique Evening - SPS Members Another chance to share your images via Zoom and receive some constructive feedback from colleagues. |
15th January | Urban Night Photography - Alistair How LRPS This talk focuses on everything from cityscapes in Docklands to car parks in Leeds. In addition to static photography the capture of moving light from things like cars, trains and people will also be included. Composition techniques, equipment and lighting will all be covered to provide insights and examples of successful night photography. |
22nd January | Travel Competition - Judge: Paul Hassell FRPS MPAGB FBPE FIPF Deadline: Panels Competition (up to 2 print panels, and 2 digital panels) |
29th January | It's a Small World - Barbie Lindsay MPAGB FBPE EFIAP/s AWPF Barbie will be zooming in from Ipswich, showing her passion for macro photography, and the insect world in particular. |
February 2026
(Monday) 2nd February | Processing Images - SPS Members A Zoom workshop to help develop your skills. |
5th February | Panels Competition - Judge: Colin Walls CPAGB AIPF ARPS Panels of 3 or 4 images, in print and digital formats. Deadline: Landscape Competition (2 prints / 1 digital, or 1 print / 2 digitals, max 3) |
(Monday) 9th February | Six Societies Interclub Competition Hosted by Droitwich Camera Club |
12th February | Kathmandu, Dhaka Shipyards and Street Photography - Charles Ashton MPAGB FRPS EFIAP/p BPE5* Dr Charles Ashton documents an insight into the lives of people in Nepal & Bangladesh seen through the lens of his camera. |
19th February | Landscapes Competition - Judge: Steve Clifford CPAGB EFIAP BPE3* |
26th February | Member's Evening - Tim Hutchin BPE2* 'Cowboys and Aliens and Goblins - Day and Night in the US South West'. An evening with our very own Tim Hutchin. Deadline: Annual Print Competition (3 prints) |
March 2026
2nd March | Critique Evening - SPS Members |
5th March | Bring 'Six Prints' Competition - Judge: The Audience A fun evening where members each bring along six prints, to be judged by a panel of our own members. Two from each panel go through to the final where we select our favourite image of the night. |
12th March
| Annual Prints Competition - Judge: David Lowe DPAGB ARPS Deadline: Annual Digital Competition (3 images) |
(Friday) 13th March | North Warwickshire Plaque Interclub Hosted by South Birmingham Photographic Society |
19th March | Landscapes of the British Isles - Guy Edwardes Around 140 inspirational images with continuous commentary explaining the techniques used to capture them, both in the field and in post-processing. The presentation is all about tips and advice so hopefully you will be inspired to experiment for yourself. |
26th March | Annual Digital Competition - Judge: Peter Gennard MFIAP EFIAP/d3 The finale to our formal competition season, with 3 digital images, any subject, any theme, any genre. Deadline: Creative Competition (3 images) & AV Competition (1 AV) |
April 2026
2nd April | Maundy Thursday No meeting in the Hall. |
9th April | Creative Competition / AV Competition - Judge: The Audience Our final 'fun' competitions of the year, where members get creative and the best AV of the night is awarded the prestigious David Venables Trophy. |
10th April | Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony - Fulford Heath Golf Club |
16th April
| President's Evening - John Leighton This year's President, John, presents an evening of his own photography. |
23rd April | Annual General Meeting Followed by an opportunity to view the MCPF Travelling Portfolio. |
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