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To: Firstname Lastname
Your BPS Membership No:
Your BPS Membership renewal date:
Hello, Firstname |
I will be away next week, so this is the last issue of the Newsletter for 2025, the next one will be sent to you during the first week of January.
May Carol, and I thank those of you who have sent contributions throughout the year and we wish everyone at BPS a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Meetings start again after the festivities on Wednesday 7 January with a talk by John Chamberlin. This is also the closing date for Round 3 of the 2025-26 Projected Image Competition, when the Prescribed topic will be "A line from a poem". See below for full details
Pete Howell
Newsletter Editor
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Click the link to be taken to article.
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Wednesday 17 December - Christmas Social |
Next Wednesday is the Christmas Social (7.30 as usual, carriages for the last few at 9.30). It’s a ‘nibbles and natter’ evening, although if previous years are anything to go by, there’ll be a lot of food.
As usual, many of the old timers will be there, but it has been noticeable that several of the students from the Photography Course have been coming along on Wednesday evenings, so I hope they won’t miss this opportunity to meet some of the more regular members. If you’re one of the latter, please look out for newer faces and introduce yourself.
It does give people a chance to chat for more than the few minutes during the Wednesday coffee breaks, or at the end of a meeting, when the designated 'locker-up' is pointedly looking at the clock. It's also quite good if you want to pick someone's brains or just have a good old gossip.
All it will cost you is a single plate of food or biscuits/nibbles/bit of fruit/drinks – that sort of thing. Everything is shared, so there's no need to go overboard with a fully loaded cheese platter or three punnets of strawberries!
Having said that, Pete and I will be away next week – so enjoy!
Needless to say, this meeting will not be available over Zoom.
Carol
Membership Secretary
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| Date |
Speaker |
Subject |
| 24 & 31 Dec |
No Meetings |
|
|
2026 |
|
| 7 January |
Closing Date - PDI Comp R3 |
Theme: A Line from a Poem |
| 7 January |
John Chamberlin |
Thro' the Lens |
| 14 January |
Leigh Woolford |
Mostly Motor Racing |
| 21 January |
PDI Competition R3 |
|
| 28 January |
Closing Date - Print Comp R3 |
Theme: Animal(s) |
| 28 January |
Ross McKelvey |
Zoom meeting |
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Print Competition - Round 2 |
Round 2 of the 2025-26 Print Competition was held last Wednesday and was judged by Roger Matthews from Stroud. The results are shown below:
| Name |
Print title |
Award |
| CLUB |
|
|
| Urmila
Kerslake |
Fear No Shadows |
1 |
| Andrew
Harrington |
Sunday Afternoon
Dance |
2 |
| John Cato |
Kinetic Night |
3 |
| |
|
|
| INTERMEDIATE |
|
|
| Rhys Gillard |
Golden Eye |
1 |
| Ibrahim Gitteh
Massiah |
Dominika |
2 |
| Rhys Gillard |
Kawaupaka/Little Shag |
3 |
| Paul Fennell |
The Sunny Side |
HC |
| |
|
|
| PRESCRIBED |
|
|
| Simon Caplan |
Working Late At The
Garage |
1 |
| Anita
Fullerton |
Preserved Posy |
2 |
| Mike Martin |
Nautilus |
3 |
| Pam Sherren |
Ornamental Poppy |
HC |
| |
|
|
| ADVANCED |
|
|
| Joe Jancar |
Moody Burnham |
1 |
| Derwood
Pamphilon |
Gossamer |
2 |
| Joanne Searle |
Keeping In Touch |
3 |
| Carole Brown |
Glaciers Across The
Marshes |
HC |
| Simon Caplan |
Elan Valley Sunset |
HC |
| Sandie Cox |
Running Along The
Shore |
HC |
| Christine
Mallett |
Glancing Right |
HC |
| Mike Martin |
Sawfly Larva Feeding
On Barley |
HC |
| Barry Mead |
Steampunk Journey |
HC |
| Barry Mead |
The Crow |
HC |
| Derwood
Pamphilon |
Megan Awaits |
HC |
| Sue Pearmain |
Ground Squirrels
Grooming |
HC |
| Pam Sherren |
Winter Walk |
HC |
|
 |
|
First
Fear No Shadows
by
Urmila Kerslake
|
|
|
Second
Sunday Afternoon Dance
by
Andrew Harrington
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Third
Kinetic Night
by
John Cato
|
|
|
First
Golden Eye
by
Rhys Gillard
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Second
Dominika
by
Ibrahim Gitteh Massiah
|
|
|
Third
Kawaupaka, Little Shag
by
Rhys Gillard
|
|
 |
|
PRESCRIBED - Flat Lay or Tabletop
|
 |
|
First
Working Late At The Garage
by
Simon Caplan
|
|
|
Second
Preserved Posy
by
Anita Fullerton
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Third
Nautilus
by
Mike Martin
|
|
|
First
Moody Burnham
by
Joe Jancar
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Second
Gossamer
by
Derwood Pamphilon
|
|
|
Third
Keeping in Touch
by
Joanne Searle
|
|
 |
|
LEAGUE TABLE
Points: 1st = 4, 2nd= 3, 3rd = 2, HC = 1
Points awarded in the Open Prescribed section accrue in both the Prescribed and Class.
| CLUB |
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
R4 |
Total |
| John Cato |
6 |
2 |
|
|
8 |
| Andrew Harrington |
3 |
3 |
|
|
6 |
| Urmila Kerslake |
|
4 |
|
|
4 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| INTERMEDIATE |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rhys Gillard |
|
6 |
|
|
6 |
| Ibrahim Gitteh Massiah |
3 |
3 |
|
|
6 |
| John Richer |
6 |
|
|
|
6 |
| Paul Fennell |
1 |
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ADVANCED |
|
|
|
|
|
| Simon Caplan |
5 |
5 |
|
|
10 |
| Steve Field |
7 |
|
|
|
7 |
| Kevin James |
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
| Mike Martin |
2 |
3 |
|
|
5 |
| Derwood Pamphilon |
1 |
4 |
|
|
5 |
| Joe Jancar |
|
4 |
|
|
4 |
| Anita Fullerton |
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
| Barry Mead |
1 |
2 |
|
|
3 |
| Carole Brown |
1 |
1 |
|
|
2 |
| Ashwin Chauhan |
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
| Sandie Cox |
1 |
1 |
|
|
2 |
| Beryl Heaton |
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
| Christine Mallett |
1 |
2 |
|
|
2 |
| Joanne Searle |
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
| Pam Sherren |
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
| Margaret Chambers |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
| Ken Clarke |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
| Sue Pearmain |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| OPEN PRESCRIBED |
|
|
|
|
|
| Simon Caplan |
4 |
4 |
|
|
8 |
| Anita Fullerton |
|
3 |
|
|
5 |
| Mike Martin |
2 |
2 |
|
|
4 |
| Steve Field |
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
| Ashwin Chauhan |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
| Ken Clarke |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
| Pam Sherren |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
You will all be aware that we have a variety of meetings for members on select Mondays throughout the year in addition to the regular Wednesday meetings or the Monday Studio Group sessions.
NEW FOR 2026, we plan to consolidate these and make them a regular scheduled fixture. So get your diaries out and put a note on the SECOND Monday each month, 7:30pm to 9:30pm.
NOTE: dates are subject to change with any amendments being communicated via the Newsletter.
These meetings will be one of three events as per the schedule below:
- Digital Imaging Group Image Sharing Evening (in person and Zoom)
- Digital Imaging Group Practical Evenings (in person only)
- Distinction / Advisory Group (in person only).
Digital Imaging Group – Image Sharing Evening (in person at the Clubrooms and via Zoom)
These meetings are a great opportunity for all members to share images outside the competition environment. The aim of these evenings is to share knowledge, current projects, expertise, ideas and to obtain feedback and inspiration.
DIG is the perfect environment for newer and less experienced members to pick up hints and tips or receive specific feedback to improve their photography and editing skills.
Images should be shared with Rachel Domleo in the usual format (1600x1200px max) one week before the scheduled meeting to allow time to collate the presentations.
Digital Imaging Group – Practical Evening (in person only)
Similar to the above, these sessions are intended to share knowledge or experience with more experienced members leading practical exercises and/or demonstrations. If you think you have something to offer, or have a topic you’d like see covered, contact Rachel Domleo.
Distinctions Advisory Group (in person only)
This group offers advice to members with their priority being those who are either already on their distinctions journey or thinking about starting to obtain one or more of the many distinctions that photographic bodies offer. The most popular are:
- The Royal Photographic Society (RPS)
- Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB)
- Welsh Photographic Federation (WPF)
- Irish Photographic Federation (IPF)
Time permitting, there may be an opportunity to review images that you may be considering for entry into Salons, WCPF Members’ Exhibition or other competitions.
For further details please contact Ralph Snook, Andrew Marker or Pete McCloskey
Schedule:
|
Date
|
Meeting
|
|
January
12
|
No
Meeting
|
|
February
9
|
Digital
Imaging Group – Practical Evening
|
|
March
9
|
Distinctions
Advisory Group
|
|
April
13
|
Digital
Imaging Group – Image Sharing Evening
|
|
May
11
|
Distinctions
Advisory Group
|
|
June
8
|
Digital
Imaging Group – Image Sharing Evening
|
|
July
13
|
Digital
Imaging Group – Practical Evening
|
|
August
10
|
Digital
Imaging Group – Image Sharing Evening
|
|
September
14
|
Distinctions
Advisory Group
|
|
October
12
|
Digital
Imaging Group – Practical Evening
|
|
November
9
|
Distinctions
Advisory Group
|
|
December
14
|
Digital
Imaging Group – Image Sharing Evening
|
BONUS: Studio Group
In addition to the weekly Monday morning sessions there will be an occasional opportunity to attend a studio/practical session in the evening. These sessions will be advertised in the newsletter.
For further studio details please contact Mike Martin
Rachel Domleo
|
PDI Comp R3 - Closing Date |
The closing date for the next round of the PDI Competition is 7 January, when the prescribed topic will be A Line from a Poem. The judge is Steve Field EFIAP/b ARPS BPE3* AWPF AIPF ADPS.
To enter, you will need to first log in to your PhotoEntry account. Once you have logged in to PhotoEntry, you can upload, title and prioritise your entries for the competition. Instructions can be found by following this link: https://photoentry.uk/faq/faq.html
Prescribed Topic
A few words to aid you in producing an image to suit the prescribed topic:
You may want to use your image to illustrate the line directly. So, “Zebra crossing puddles in dips of the dark stripes” from Adrian Mitchell’s poem “Watch Your Step – I’m Drenched” may well be a picture of puddles on a zebra crossing.
Alternatively, your chosen line may invite a less literal image. “Life, what is it but a dream?” from Lewis Carroll’s “A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky” doesn’t have to include either a boat or a sunny sky.
Indeed, it’s perfectly permissible to take a line quite out of its context. As your photo title, it doesn’t have to refer to the whole poem it’s from. If, say, you use Wordsworth’s “Ne’er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!” as your title, it needn’t have anything to do with Westminster Bridge or a river. It could be used for a picture of a sweetly sleeping elephant.
Whatever you choose, when you upload your image, please title it in this format, including the poet’s name: Ne’er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep! Wordsworth.
|
Monday is the last session of 2025 and what a day it will be. We have three sessions, details below. Joe Martin (a regular) will be returning for two sessions, potentially his last for some time as he starts a new job in the new year and will no longer have any availability on Mondays, so get in whilst you can.
Monday 15 December 2025
10am – 1pm – We have two models - Leighton Williams and Abdullah Shinwari. This is a great opportunity to get some contrasting photos of people with different ethnicity. Leighton is black and Abdullah is Afghan.
Everyone welcome, no need to book. £10 per person.
2:30pm – 5pm - Joe Martin will be dressed in one of his cosplay outfits playing a mad scientist/soldier/inventor character. £25 per person. Numbers limited to a max of six. Booking essential.
6:30pm – 9pm – Joe will be in a dark outfit, playing the part of an explorer. This is a great opportunity for those members that normally work during the day to come and join in.
Feel free to bring old charts, maps, globes or any other accessories if you want. £25 per person. Numbers limited to a max of six. Booking essential.
**if you are interested in both sessions with Joe, please state your first choice as you’ll be added as a reserve for the second choice, allowing the maximum number of members the opportunity to get involved **
Monday 5 January 2026
10am – 1pm - This will be an opportunity for members to showcase any images you want to share from any of the Studio sessions in 2025. Email copies to Mike Martin or bring on a USB stick on the day. It’s also an opportunity to discuss what members want from these sessions going forward so come along and support it.
Mike Martin
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Congratulation to Derwood Pamphilon for gaining an acceptance into the Masters of Print with his “Yellow Dress”. For the rest of us mere mortals, we’ll have to keep our fingers crossed for inclusion in the Salon de Refuse if there is one this year or try again next year.
|
PSA - Projected Images - Round 1 Results |
When we reported these recently there were two categories that were still awaiting judging: the Mono and Nature PDI. The results in both were rather disappointing; as a club of our stature, we should be able to select the best work from across our membership, if anyone has any images you’d like to offer up for selection (they don’t have to have been entered into club competitions) please email copies to Mike_Martin@blueyonder.co.uk
Notwithstanding the disappointing results overall, congratulations are due to Dave Farnan with a photo taken at the Monday Studio Group. His image “Bagel Baker” received an HM award - Well done.
|
Amateur Photographer of the Year - Round 9 |
 |
|
ROUND 9 - URBAN LIFE
Round 9 of the APOY competition is now open for entry, the subject this round is Urban Life.
The closing date is 5 January.
Why not enter an image, its entirely free using the entry code APOY98977399
Go to https://amateurphotographer.com/apoy/ for full details. |
|
NEW to this section, why not download the latest edition of FIAP News - click HERE
Download Issue 393 PAGB eNews HERE
Download Issue 124 of Photography News HERE.
|
79th National Open Exhibition
Closing: 2 January 2026
4 PDI Sections
Open Colour
Open Mono
Nature
Scapes
3 Print Sections
Open Colour
Open Mono
Nature
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Closing: 1 February 2026
3 PDI Sections
Open Colour
Open Mono
Nature
3 Print Sections
Open Colour
Open Mono
Nature
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80th Bristol Salon 2026
https://bristolsalon.co.uk/
Closing - 1 February
3 PDI Sections:
Open Colour
Monochrome
Nature
3 Print Sections:
Open Colour
Monochrome
Nature
Entry is free to BPS members*
* Not available to distance members, temporary members or photography course members.
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Closing - 1 February
5 PDI Sections:
Open Colour
Monochrome
Nature
Creative
Scapes
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Salon acceptances: Contrary to popular belief, I do not possess psychic powers and need you to tell me if you've had successes. If you want to blow your own trumpet (or someone else's), then this is the place to do it. Please let me know and I'll include details in a future issue.
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If you have any photographic items for sale, drop me a line and I'll include them in the next newsletter. Please make sure that you provide contact details, price and full description of the sale items (pictures always help).
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IMPORTANT: Personal Detail Changes |
Please don't forget that if you change your
address (home or email), or gain additional photographic distinctions,
it would be appreciated if you could let the Membership Secretary know
so that she can keep her records up to date, this will also ensure that
you continue to receive your newsletters - please email all changes to membership@bristolphoto.org.uk.
The distinctions we have on record are those
shown at the top of this newsletter, please remember, if you don't tell
us we can't possibly know!
DO NOT REPLY TO THE NEWSLETTER. |
For those of you who aren't sure what MPAGB, EFIAP/s and many more such
seemingly random collections of letters mean, just click here to see the list.
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Missed a Copy of the Newsletter?
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To view past editions of this Newsletter, please click on the following link and then select the date(s) you are looking for - BPS Newsletter Archive |
BPS Website - Members' Portal "Log in" |
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To enter the Members' Portal of the BPS website you will need the following:
Username - Your Membership Number
Password - Created by you
If you have any problems getting into the Members' Portal, please contact Matt by email:
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Bristol Photographic Society,
Unit 13, Montpelier Central, Station Rd, Bristol, BS6 5EE
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