The Society
The Society was formed in 1947, originally for employees of Shell at the Stanlow Refinery and Thornton Research Centre in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, but is now open to anyone. In 2001, due to a change in ownership of the Shell Club (and to mirror its name change to the Whitby Sports and Social Club), the society changed its name from the “Shell Photographic Society” to the “Whitby Club Photographic Society”.
At the end of the 2011-12 season the name was changed to the “Ellesmere Port Photographic Society”. It was hoped that this would avoid confusion with the town of Whitby in Yorkshire and be a precise name which accurately pin points our location. The society meets in the President’s lounge of the Whitby Sports and Social Club, Ellesmere Port, Wirral, Cheshire. The Society has a laptop computer and digital projector - a small range of flash equipment for use on the 'portrait evenings' that are included in the programme for the season. The objectives of the Society are to promote the use and enjoyment of all aspects of 'still' photography for pleasure purposes on an amateur basis. This is achieved, mainly at the meetings by means of talks, demonstrations and competitions of various kinds. The Society enters member’s prints and digital images into the annual Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union (L&CPU) competition. Digital photography is the norm, and most if not all members have digital cameras, computers and ink-jet printers. If you would like further information please send us a message using the “Contact Us” page.
Introductory Information
1. GENERAL.
1.1 The Society.
1.2 Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union (L&CPU).
1.3 Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB).
1.4 Wirral Photographic Association (WPA) (Disbanded 2015)
2. COMPETITIONS.
2.1 Internal Competitions.
2.2 Inter-Club Competitions.
3. FACILITIES.
3.1 Studio Equipment.
3.2 Projection Equipment / Digital Photography Equipment.
4. GRADING.
4.1 Novice and Advanced workers.
1. GENERAL.
1.1 The Society.
The Society was formed in 1947 when the first meeting took place on 30th October. The inaugural chairman was Mr F Brice. The Society was originally for employees of Shell at the Stanlow Refinery and Thornton Research Centre in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, with meetings in the Shell Club, Whitby, Ellesmere Port. In 2001, Shell “sold” the Shell Club and it became the Whitby Sports and Social Club. At the same time the photographic society changed its name from the Shell Photographic Society to the Whitby Club Photographic Society.
At the end of the 2011-12 season the name was changed to the “Ellesmere Port Photographic Society”. This would avoid confusion with the town of Whitby in Yorkshire and be a precise name which accurately pin points our location.
Membership is now open to all. Members of the Ellesmere Port PS pay an annual subscription to the Society.
Meetings are held every Monday evening, at Thelwall Road Community Centre, throughout the “season” which lasts from September to the following April/May. The dates and times of the meetings together with other information are given in the Programme booklet and on the website. Informal monthly meetings / outings are held during the summer. The objectives of the society are to promote the use and enjoyment of all aspects of photography for pleasure purposes on an amateur basis. This is achieved, mainly at meetings, by means of talks, demonstrations and competitions of various kinds. This includes all aspects of digital photography. The Society is managed by a committee selected by members, comprising a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and other officers and members. A complete list is given in the Programme booklet. See our web site http://www.ellesmereportphotographicsociety.co.uk
1.2 Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union (L&CPU).
Ellesmere Port PS is a member of the Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union (L&CPU). This is an amalgam of about 100 photographic clubs in Lancashire and Cheshire. The Union has the same objectives as the clubs and is operated by a committee elected by the club representatives. A major benefit of belonging to the L&CPU is the availability of a register of members who give lectures and demonstrations or are willing to judge other member’s work via competitions etc.
The Union arranges several events and functions such as:-
The Annual Club Competition followed by an exhibition of selected prints.
The Annual Individual Competition.
An Annual Audio-Visual Competition for members specialising in this type of event.
An Annual One Day Seminar giving top class tuition or information/demonstrations of photographic subjects.
In addition – folios of Prints selected from the Annual Club / Individual Competition are put together and circulated around participating member clubs each year. This is a good way of seeing the great variety of work from members over a wide area.
See web site http://www.lcpu.org
1.3 Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB).
The L&CPU is a member of the PAGB, which amalgamates all of the unions in the British Isles. Each year the PAGB organises a Competition to which the best work selected by the area Unions / Federations is submitted. Trophies are awarded and selected photographs accepted for the PAGB exhibition are displayed at various venues throughout the country so that interested persons can see the best club photography.
1.4 Wirral Photographic Association (WPA).
Ellesmere Port PS was a member of the WPA which was formed by clubs in the Wirral to promote photographic events in the area. In 2015 there were 6 clubs in the WPA. At the end of 2015 the WPA was wound up and all remaining monies were donated to charity.
2. COMPETITIONS.
Detailed information on Competitions is given in a document “Competition Rules”. However, brief details are given below.
2.1 Internal Competitions.
Competitions are held during the season for Monochrome Prints and Projected Digital Images, Colour Prints and Projected Digital Images and Nature Prints and Projected Digital Images. In addition, several "Set Subject" competitions are also held. Some of the competitions have a separate "Novice" section.
Entries are handed in about two weeks in advance of the actual competition evening. This allows the judge (normally from the L&CPU) time to consider the entries at leisure.
On the competition evening the judge is a guest at the club where he/she comments on the entries and gives each entry a score in the range 12 to 20.
Members benefit from the constructive and helpful criticism and comments of the guest judge who is an experienced photographer.
2.2 Inter-Club Competitions.
The Society engages in inter-club competitions for prints and projected digital images against other local clubs. The dates and venues of inter-club events are given in the Programme booklet. The entries are chosen by the Competition Secretary (with the help of other committee members) from prints and digital images retained from Internal Competitions.
The Society also organises the "Marsden Cup" competition. Local clubs are invited to enter a panel of 6 digital images with a theme selected by the entering club. The winning club receives the Marsden Cup Trophy.
3. FACILITIES.
3.1 Studio Equipment.
The Society owns two flash lights and a backcloth for “Studio” photography. During the season two “Portrait Evenings” are usually included in the programme (see Programme booklet). On these evenings members are given help if required to arrange lighting for portrait photography. Private sessions using the club equipment can be arranged.
3.2 Projection Equipment / Digital Photography Equipment
The Society owns a laptop, digital projector and a screen. These are used on club evenings, but can be used privately by members by arrangement. The Society also owns loud-speakers for use on club evenings for Audio- Visual (AV) shows.
4. GRADING.
4.1 Novice and Advanced workers.
The Society recognises the difficulties experienced by some members in competing against experienced photographers. Accordingly members are graded into Novice and Advanced workers.
Most competitions have a section for Novice workers. All other competitions are “Open” competitions for both Novice and Advanced workers. Novice workers receive additional points (toward promotion to Advanced worker) if they achieve an award in an Open competition.
Promotion from Novice to Advanced worker is either by a points system, details of which are given in the “Competition Rules”, or by recommendation of the committee.
At the end of the 2011-12 season the name was changed to the “Ellesmere Port Photographic Society”. It was hoped that this would avoid confusion with the town of Whitby in Yorkshire and be a precise name which accurately pin points our location. The society meets in the President’s lounge of the Whitby Sports and Social Club, Ellesmere Port, Wirral, Cheshire. The Society has a laptop computer and digital projector - a small range of flash equipment for use on the 'portrait evenings' that are included in the programme for the season. The objectives of the Society are to promote the use and enjoyment of all aspects of 'still' photography for pleasure purposes on an amateur basis. This is achieved, mainly at the meetings by means of talks, demonstrations and competitions of various kinds. The Society enters member’s prints and digital images into the annual Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union (L&CPU) competition. Digital photography is the norm, and most if not all members have digital cameras, computers and ink-jet printers. If you would like further information please send us a message using the “Contact Us” page.
Introductory Information
1. GENERAL.
1.1 The Society.
1.2 Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union (L&CPU).
1.3 Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB).
1.4 Wirral Photographic Association (WPA) (Disbanded 2015)
2. COMPETITIONS.
2.1 Internal Competitions.
2.2 Inter-Club Competitions.
3. FACILITIES.
3.1 Studio Equipment.
3.2 Projection Equipment / Digital Photography Equipment.
4. GRADING.
4.1 Novice and Advanced workers.
1. GENERAL.
1.1 The Society.
The Society was formed in 1947 when the first meeting took place on 30th October. The inaugural chairman was Mr F Brice. The Society was originally for employees of Shell at the Stanlow Refinery and Thornton Research Centre in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, with meetings in the Shell Club, Whitby, Ellesmere Port. In 2001, Shell “sold” the Shell Club and it became the Whitby Sports and Social Club. At the same time the photographic society changed its name from the Shell Photographic Society to the Whitby Club Photographic Society.
At the end of the 2011-12 season the name was changed to the “Ellesmere Port Photographic Society”. This would avoid confusion with the town of Whitby in Yorkshire and be a precise name which accurately pin points our location.
Membership is now open to all. Members of the Ellesmere Port PS pay an annual subscription to the Society.
Meetings are held every Monday evening, at Thelwall Road Community Centre, throughout the “season” which lasts from September to the following April/May. The dates and times of the meetings together with other information are given in the Programme booklet and on the website. Informal monthly meetings / outings are held during the summer. The objectives of the society are to promote the use and enjoyment of all aspects of photography for pleasure purposes on an amateur basis. This is achieved, mainly at meetings, by means of talks, demonstrations and competitions of various kinds. This includes all aspects of digital photography. The Society is managed by a committee selected by members, comprising a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and other officers and members. A complete list is given in the Programme booklet. See our web site http://www.ellesmereportphotographicsociety.co.uk
1.2 Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union (L&CPU).
Ellesmere Port PS is a member of the Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union (L&CPU). This is an amalgam of about 100 photographic clubs in Lancashire and Cheshire. The Union has the same objectives as the clubs and is operated by a committee elected by the club representatives. A major benefit of belonging to the L&CPU is the availability of a register of members who give lectures and demonstrations or are willing to judge other member’s work via competitions etc.
The Union arranges several events and functions such as:-
The Annual Club Competition followed by an exhibition of selected prints.
The Annual Individual Competition.
An Annual Audio-Visual Competition for members specialising in this type of event.
An Annual One Day Seminar giving top class tuition or information/demonstrations of photographic subjects.
In addition – folios of Prints selected from the Annual Club / Individual Competition are put together and circulated around participating member clubs each year. This is a good way of seeing the great variety of work from members over a wide area.
See web site http://www.lcpu.org
1.3 Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB).
The L&CPU is a member of the PAGB, which amalgamates all of the unions in the British Isles. Each year the PAGB organises a Competition to which the best work selected by the area Unions / Federations is submitted. Trophies are awarded and selected photographs accepted for the PAGB exhibition are displayed at various venues throughout the country so that interested persons can see the best club photography.
1.4 Wirral Photographic Association (WPA).
Ellesmere Port PS was a member of the WPA which was formed by clubs in the Wirral to promote photographic events in the area. In 2015 there were 6 clubs in the WPA. At the end of 2015 the WPA was wound up and all remaining monies were donated to charity.
2. COMPETITIONS.
Detailed information on Competitions is given in a document “Competition Rules”. However, brief details are given below.
2.1 Internal Competitions.
Competitions are held during the season for Monochrome Prints and Projected Digital Images, Colour Prints and Projected Digital Images and Nature Prints and Projected Digital Images. In addition, several "Set Subject" competitions are also held. Some of the competitions have a separate "Novice" section.
Entries are handed in about two weeks in advance of the actual competition evening. This allows the judge (normally from the L&CPU) time to consider the entries at leisure.
On the competition evening the judge is a guest at the club where he/she comments on the entries and gives each entry a score in the range 12 to 20.
Members benefit from the constructive and helpful criticism and comments of the guest judge who is an experienced photographer.
2.2 Inter-Club Competitions.
The Society engages in inter-club competitions for prints and projected digital images against other local clubs. The dates and venues of inter-club events are given in the Programme booklet. The entries are chosen by the Competition Secretary (with the help of other committee members) from prints and digital images retained from Internal Competitions.
The Society also organises the "Marsden Cup" competition. Local clubs are invited to enter a panel of 6 digital images with a theme selected by the entering club. The winning club receives the Marsden Cup Trophy.
3. FACILITIES.
3.1 Studio Equipment.
The Society owns two flash lights and a backcloth for “Studio” photography. During the season two “Portrait Evenings” are usually included in the programme (see Programme booklet). On these evenings members are given help if required to arrange lighting for portrait photography. Private sessions using the club equipment can be arranged.
3.2 Projection Equipment / Digital Photography Equipment
The Society owns a laptop, digital projector and a screen. These are used on club evenings, but can be used privately by members by arrangement. The Society also owns loud-speakers for use on club evenings for Audio- Visual (AV) shows.
4. GRADING.
4.1 Novice and Advanced workers.
The Society recognises the difficulties experienced by some members in competing against experienced photographers. Accordingly members are graded into Novice and Advanced workers.
Most competitions have a section for Novice workers. All other competitions are “Open” competitions for both Novice and Advanced workers. Novice workers receive additional points (toward promotion to Advanced worker) if they achieve an award in an Open competition.
Promotion from Novice to Advanced worker is either by a points system, details of which are given in the “Competition Rules”, or by recommendation of the committee.
