Federation of Camera Clubs – Top Shot
Details of the 2024 Top Shot were released yesterday.
Print Sections: Colour, Monochrome and Nature
Digital Sections: Colour, Monochrome, Nature, Australian Landscape, Drone and Creative
Website: https://topshot.myphotoclub.com.au/
Deadline: 19th May, 2024.
by Debbie Sutton, April 10, 2024
MCC – APRIL UPDATE
It is hard to believe that it is April already! Here are a few reminders to help you through April.
Zoom Presentation Photographing Architecture – Jacqui Dean
The August set subject is Architecture. To support members in developing their skills and knowledge a number of activities are planned in the program, starting with this session.
Jacqui will be presenting via Zoom. As discussed on Tuesday night members can attend the club where there will be an opportunity view the Zoom session and contribute to the discussion or you can log in from home.
The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83824941781
Jacqui’s work is very elegant, members who may wish to preview it online – http://deanphotographics.com.au/
This is Australia Club Challenge – Closes Tuesday 9th April
This is a digital image challenge to support the MCC entry in the Australian Photographic Society Challenge Cup. Entries are done on the website in the usual way.
This is a standalone competition so ALL images eligible, regardless of results in monthly competitions. The only exceptions are images that have entered by the club in previous APS Australian Cups.
Full details on the homepage of the website.
Awards:
The best image in each section will be recognised.
There will be three Highly Commended Certificates in each section.
The This is Australia Club Challenge Cup will be awarded to the member with the highest combined score across the sections.
MCC Annual General Meeting
This important meeting will be held on Tuesday 30th April at 7.00pm in the Kurri Kurri Bowling Club. A notice of meeting and a full set of meeting papers will be sent to members this week.
Club Excursion – Tuesday 23rd April
This month Petro has organised for a visit to the Shot Exhibition, State Library of NSW.
Shot delves into the Library’s extraordinary collection of two million images and delivers a visual feast of 400 captivating moments — many displayed for the first time — with nearly every photographic format and every year between 1845 and 2022 represented.
The exhibition features Australia’s oldest photograph, the earliest examples of colour photography, iconic works by some of our most acclaimed photographers and contemporary images and commentary by over 30 living photographers.
On display for the first time are 25 large glass plate negatives from the Holtermann collection which form an astonishing 9-metre panorama of Sydney in 1875.
Travel details:
Petro will be on the all-stations train that departs Hamilton at 6.45am and (Cardiff at 6.58am) arriving at Central at 9.29. Members will then need to catch a train to Martin Place and walk up to Macquarie Street to the State Library.
For members finding alternative options the key idea is to meet at the State Library at 10.00am. I suggest at the intersection of Hunter and Macquarie Streets, on the side of the library.
How to Judge Architectural Photographs (FCC Photographic Judges Channel)
This is an in-depth presentation that delves deeply into this genre of photography.
Timothy Moon, photographer, photography judge and recently retired architect, talks about how to judge architectural photographs. He suggests judges need to ask whether the photo merely a picture of building, or whether it communicates the experience of being in the building, the visual or emotional impact of the space, or abstract values such as stability and permanence?” Tim also discusses the technical qualities needed for a high-quality architectural image, and how to provide positive feedback to photographers. This presentation was given to photographic judges in the NSW Federation of Camera Clubs (FCC) on 12 October 2023.
Mat Cutters
The club now has two mat cutters which are available for loan. One we purchased from a member and the other was kindly donated by Rob Oyston. Thanks for your generosity, Rob.
The cutters are numbered #1 and #2 and there is a loan tracking sheet in the storage cupboard.
If you need assistance, please ask Mick or Debbie – there are many members in the club with experience and a willingness to help.
Monitor Calibration Devices
The club has a number of colour calibration devices available for members to hire. Please see Brad or Debbie. To assist with purchasing new devices when required, a small fee of $5.00 is charged.
by Debbie Sutton, April 5, 2024
This is Australia Club Challenge
Deadline for entries: 9th April, 2024
Presentation: 14th May, 2024
This is a digital image challenge to support the club’s entry in the Australian Photographic Society Challenge Cup.
Sections:
- This is Australia – Landscapes
- This is Australia – People and Places
- This is Australia – Life in Australia
- This is Australia – Birds and Animals
Image requirements:
- Members may enter a maximum of eight (8) images across the four sections.
- Images must be taken in Australia or any of Australia’s territories.
- Entries must be a single image as captured by the camera.
- Images must not be ‘composite images’ that combine subjects or elements from different scenes – replacing a background or sky, for example.
- HDR, focus stacking etc that has been performed in camera is permissible.
- Images entered in previous Australian Cup competitions will not be accepted.
- Images may be colour or monochrome.
- This is a special club challenge that does not contribute to the annual club point score. Members may enter any of their images, including those that have been awarded in club in previous years.
Image specifications
Size: 1920px by 1200px
File size: Maximum 2mb
Horizontal: Images must be 1920px wide and let the height take care of itself as long as it does not exceed 1200px.
Vertical: Images must be 1200px in height.
Square: Images must be 1200px by 1200px.
Awards:
The best image in each section will be recognised.
There will be three Highly Commended Certificates in each section.
The This is Australia Club Challenge Cup will be awarded to the member with the highest combined score across the sections.
by Debbie Sutton, April 4, 2024
Results for competitions in April – Set Subject: Nature
There were 14 entries that were rated the highest by our judge(s).
Members can view all images and comment on them by following this link
View / Comment entries in April – Set Subject: Nature
click here to see a pdf catalog of all competition results
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Down n Out Nancy Morley – 13 Open Colour Large Print 
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Too close to the edge Debbie Sutton – 13 Open Mono Large Print 
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Wildebeest with attachment Peter Ryan – 13 Digital Theme 
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The wild thing Peter Ryan – 12 Open Colour Large Print 
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Trouble at the crossing Peter Ryan – 12 Digital Theme 
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Theres Food There Somewhere Nancy Morley – 12 Digital All Rounder – Monochrome 
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Crossing the Mara River Peter Ryan – 11 Open Mono Large Print 
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Morning Breakfast Christine Regan – 11 Digital Theme 
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Gotcha Terry Bradley – 11 Digital All Rounder – Monochrome 
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Pulling the mud Brad Le Brocque – 10 Open Colour Large Print 
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Blue moth for Lunch Brad Le Brocque – 10 Digital Theme 
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Bringing a Skink home Brad Le Brocque – 10 Digital Theme 
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Angry Giraffe Julie Rathbone – 10 Digital Theme 
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Morning Feed David Henderson – 10 Digital Theme 
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by Petro Holowinskyj, April 3, 2024
What is colour? Presentation with Chris Munce
Meeting – 12th March – PLEASE BRING A PEN OR PENCIL
This will be the beginning of the theme for 2024 : Colour. The presentations, workshops and competitions throughout the year will help us all to better understand colour and how to optimise its use in our photography.
This week Chris Munce, who is a recognised artist, will present a workshop titled What is colour?. Chris will explore the underlying theory of colour and how it is effectively used in art and photography.
by Debbie Sutton, March 11, 2024
Results for competitions in March – Open
There were 12 entries that were rated the highest by our judge(s).
Members can view all images and comment on them by following this link
View / Comment entries in March – Open
click here to see a pdf catalog of all competition results
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On point with Mum Peter Ryan – 13 Open Colour Large Print 
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Kobi B BW Grahame Smith – 12 Open Mono Large Print 
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Holly in the Flowers Julie Rathbone – 12 Digital Open 
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Showing Off Sharron Leppien – 12 Digital All Rounder – Photo Travel 
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Resting Pelican Mick Lynch – 11 Open Colour Large Print 
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Circ de Sinistre Simon Markatcheff – 11 Open Mono Large Print 
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Too Close! Peter Ryan – 11 Digital Open 
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Neist Point Isle of Skye Grahame Smith – 11 Digital All Rounder – Photo Travel 
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Outback Celestial Extravaganza Allison Hayes – 10 Open Colour Large Print 
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George Mick Lynch – 10 Open Mono Large Print 
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Low Tide Paul Fuller – 10 Digital Open 
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A vivid Opera House Jennifer Muscat – 10 Digital All Rounder – Photo Travel 
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by Petro Holowinskyj, March 6, 2024
MCC – March update
Meeting – 12th March
This will be the beginning of the theme for 2024 : Colour. The presentations, workshops and competitions throughout the year will help us all to better understand colour and how to optimise its use in our photography.
This week Chris Munce, who is a recognised artist, will present a workshop titled What is colour?. Chris will explore the underlying theory of colour and how it is effectively used in art and photography.
Meeting – 19th March
This presentation will build on the work commenced last week by Chris Munce. Bill Chambers will draw on his medical background as a paramedic and his experience as a photographer and judge to help us better understand how the eye works, how it perceives colour and how we can use this knowledge to improve our photography.
PSA Inter Club – Round 3
Members are reminded that the final round for the PSA club closes at the end of this month. Neville will draw on images that have been entered in previous competitions to select those to represent the club. However, if you have new images that you’ve not presented at Club, please put them in the portal, under the members tab on the website.
We are currently running first in nature so need some ‘cracking’ nature shots to take out this section – just putting it out there!
Day group excursion for March – 26th March
This month the excursion will explore Newcastle. The meeting point is the old Newcastle railway station at 9 am. All members are most welcome to attend.
Reminder – This is Australia cup challenge
This is a new initiative for our Club. It is a digital image challenge to support the club’s entry in the Australian Photographic Society Challenge Cup.
Sections:
- This is Australia – Landscapes
- This is Australia – People and Places
- This is Australia – Life in Australia
- This is Australia – Birds and Animals
Closing date is the 9th of April.
The full details are on the front page of the website – just scroll down!
by Debbie Sutton, March 6, 2024
MCC Excursion – 27th February, 2024
The excursion for this month is to the Hunter Valley Wildlife Park. All members are most welcome to attend.
Address: Lomas Lane, Nulkaba, 2325.
Meet in the car park at 9.00am.
by Debbie Sutton, February 20, 2024
Membership Renewal Reminder
Good afternoon members
Many thanks to those of you who have already renewed. For the remainder who haven’t done so yet, this is a reminder for you to do so before the next competition night on the 5th March. Please advise me when you have, as I’m updating our membership and financial records.
This is also a reminder for members to update the bank details to the new account of Commonwealth bank. BSB 062-805 ACCT 1048 4948.
Thank you for your understanding.
Regards
Jennifer – Membership secretary
by Jennifer Muscat, February 20, 2024
Wollombi Exhibition
Our exhibition is quickly approaching. Below are some of the final details.
Venue: The Old Fire Shed Wollombi. This gallery is about 20m from the General Store, before the museum on the right, on the way to the Wollombi Tavern.
Prints: Prints must be mounted on matt board and have a removable label on the back with details of the print, author and price. A template is in the Member’s Documents section of the website.
Delivering prints: Prints can either be brought to camera club at the Maitland Showground tomorrow night or brought to the gallery on Friday morning. I’m also happy for members to drop them to me at home if this helps.
Setting Up: Set up will be on Friday 16th February starting at 11.00am. Like most things many hands make light work. So please feel welcome to come along and lend a hand.
Staffing: Hours 10am- 4 pm for 17/18, 24/25 February
Sales: EFT only
Packaging for sales will be available at the exhibition.
Pack Down: Packing up will be on the last Sunday of the exhibition, 25th February, from about 3.30pm.
Promotion: the exhibition has been promoted at/on:
- Hunter Valley Wine Country events;
https://www.winecountry.com.au/events/upcoming-events/category/22-general-events
- Dan Repacholi’s website –Federal Member for the Hunter
see the latest Hunter Electorate news and events (mailchi.mp) - ABC Radio Newcastle
- Performing Arts Centre Cessnock
- Muswellbrook Art Gallery
- Wollombi shopping/tourist area
- Vineyards
- All local high schools have been invited to promote to photography students
by Debbie Sutton, February 12, 2024
