First meeting of the 2025-2026 season a Blooming success
Our first meeting of the season was a great success with everyone who attended fully involved in the practical evening. The theme was photographing flowers using continuous lighting.
Various stands were placed around the room with different floral subjects to be photographed by our members. With cameras set to manual it was an ideal learning opportunity with plenty of people on hand to offer help and advice. Shutterspeed, Aperture (F stop) and ISO (sensor sensitivity) - all determining the exposure - were critical along with depth of field (determined by lens aperture, proximity to subject and focal length).
Selection of focal point, manual focus / auto focus S or C, exposure metering, positioning of the light relative to the subject and framing the subject were all to be considered and acted on. There was plenty to think about for all photographers no matter how experienced.
Our very great thanks to Adie and all the team who contributed to a very successful evening by bringing lights, flowers, smoke machine, backgrounds and knowledge.
Our next evening is a talk by Mary Braddock, LRPS, on Finland & Norway - Lands of the Northern Lights, Wednesday September 17th.
Our meetings are held at Wincanton Memorial Hall in the Meeting room, to the left of the main entrance, for a 7.30pm start and 9.30pm finish. If you haven't been before just turn up. You will be warmly welcomed. We cater for all levels of expertise. You can come along and see what we are about without commitment. Meetings are every 2 weeks. Do check our Programme (link in the menu at the top of this page) to see what we have planned so far.
On Wednesday October 8th 2025 Paul will be giving a Wildlife Photography talk at Caryford Community Hall, Maggs Lane, Castle Cary, BA7 7JJ. Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm start. Advanced tickets available from Bailey Hill Bookshop.
Countryfile Calendar Competition and Nature Photography special
Today's episode (Sunday August 31st 2025) of Countryfile on BBC1 featured the wonderful scenery around Bolton Abbey, the Priory and river Wharfe. Final selections of the images for the annual Countryfile photographic competition were made by judges John Craven, Hamza Yassin and Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock. Also featured were the Yorkshire brothers who pioneered Nature Photography.
If you missed the programme then you can watch it on iPlayer by clicking on the following link: Countryfile Bolton Abbey
More local photographic events to visit
FotoFest at Bath Spa University - Sunday, September 7th, 9.30am - 5.00pm
Fotospeed are bringing us their photographic show, Foto Fest, once again. The location has moved from one university to another but still in the Bath area.
There are 4 major speakers: Joe Cornish (Landscape), Rachel Bigsby (Wildlife esp. Sea birds), Simon Baxter (Landscape esp. Woodland), and Alex Nail (Landscape esp. Mountains).
As well as speakers there is a trade show with representatives from various companies and show offers, including London Camera Exchange which will be offering part-exchange deals.
Location is Bath Spa University Campus, Newton St Loe, Bath, BA2 9BN.
The Society of Photographers - Somerset Roadshow - Tuesday September 16th 9.30am - 3.30pm
The Societies of Photographers are hosting their Somerset Roadshow at the Webbington Hotel, BS26 2 HU, near Axbridge. The show takes place on Tuesday September 16th 9.30am - 3.30pm and is free to attend.
There are trade stands from Nikon, Canon and others plus three key workshops delivered by
Luke Davis (Social Media), Raj Kepar (Hard and Soft Light for weddings and portraits), Gary Hill (Ultimate B&W Portraits.
An Audience with Joe Cornish
Our friends at Mid Somerset Camera Club are staging an event to celebrate their 50th year as a club. They are hosting the renowned landscape photographer, Joe Cornish, on Tuesday November 18th at Strode Theatre, Street, Somerset. This event will be open to the general public at a cost of £15 per person with doors opening at 6.30pm for a 7.30pm start. If you haven't heard about Joe then do look him up in the YouTube Vlogger links on our website to get a taste of what this photographer, based in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, is all about.
Wincanton Camera Club Print Exhibition Now Open
Our annual print competition is now open for the public to view in Wincanton Library. Do drop in and have a look. Admission is free and there is a good selection of prints to view. You can even vote for your favourite photograph.
The exhibtion opens on August 16th and runs until September 6th 2025. Images courtesy of Roger Lush
WeTransfer and change to terms you need to know about
In this age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) we need to understand that data has real value. Convenience can come at a cost and there really is no such thing as a free lunch! Some of you may have used the application WeTransfer.com in the past. It was very useful for sending files, in our case photos, to others such as clients and you could use the free version at no cost. That's what free means right? Well no more. WeTransfer are changing their terms of use from August 8th 2025 and will be giving themselves the right, without acknowledgement or payment, to use your files to train AI systems and promote their own business interests as they see fit. This could mean that your images might be re-generated and / or reproduced without you receiving any compensation or acknowledgement as the author of the original images. Please read WeTransfer.com's terms of use carefully before you consider using them after August 8th.
Click on the following link to read a helpful article about this issue from
The Society of Photographers
Slideshow of images which scored the maximum 20 last season
Black and white springer by Brian Stubbs
Winter Walk Burton Bradstock by Meyrick Griffith-Jones
Umbrellas by Alan Brain
Sophie by Lachlan Fraser
Red Spillage by Brian Stubbs
Goldfinch by Paul Dyer
Red Rider by Brian Stubbs
Wing Flapper by Amanda Checkley
Teal in flight by Paul Dyer
Morning Coffee by David Foster
Graffitti by Adie Ray
Shaggy Cocker by Brian Stubbs
Hand-off by Brian Stubbs
Reed Bunting by Paul Dyer
Patient Springer by Brian Stubbs
PAGB 2024 PDI Championship Finals
Video slide show, with music, of the top 10 clubs in the UK and their entries. Cast your mind back to February 2nd when we entered the WCPF Club championships. The top two clubs in the PDI and Print competitions were put forward to compete in the PAGB UK inter-club championships. This video is provided by Adrian Lines of the PAGB. An exhibition of the prints is being staged at The Old Schoolhouse, Churchbridge, Oldbury, B69 2AS, on Sunday July 20th, 1pm - 4pm. Admission is free.
Annual print exhibition in Wincanton Library
The exhibtion opens on August 16th and runs until September 6th 2025. Make sure you get your prints to David or Roger by August 6th. All prints should be mounted and the mounts must not exceed 400mm x 300mm. Each member may submit up to 2 prints.
Club meet up in Yeovil
On Wednesday July 16th 2025 club members are meeting up in Yeovil for a photo walk around the town. Meet at Yeovil Bus Station at 7pm.
End of Season but photography goes on
On Wednesday May 28th we had our club AGM, the last meeting of our season. Our officials submitted their reports and our committee for next season were voted in. Results of our competitions were reported - congratulations to all involved in some very close contests.
However, this is not the end of our club activities. Watch out for arranged get-togethers over the Summer. We also have the Library Exhibtion coming up in August.
