President’s Welcome 2021/22
President’s Welcome 2021/21
Welcome to the Winchester Photographic Society 2021-2022 season.
It is both an honour and a privilege to be your President for the rest of this season, a role which, when I first joined WPS six years ago, I never imagined I would undertake! Through the friendship and encouragement of fellow members I have enjoyed helping the Society, in a variety of roles.
You will have read the Newsflash which explains why I have suddenly assumed this role and hence the need for me to write this ‘newer’ President’s welcome message.
We continue to live in a hesitant and unresolved world still, which has impacted the Society more than anyone could have imagined.
But your Committee has risen to the challenge, and I can’t thank our previous President, Trevor Morecraft enough for his vision and stewardship through the past season.
Trevor’s technical abilities, along with those of our Digisec, Steven Cooper, and deputy John Greenwood have helped overcome many challenges, allowing us to have Hybrid online meetings, for those unable/unwilling to attend in person.
After a few weeks into the season these are working well.
Further challenges will keep the Committee busy because of the transfer of the Discovery Centre to the Hampshire Cultural Trust, resulting in investment in the building.
The planned closure of our current meeting venue, the Performance Space, from mid-November to end of February will necessitate a temporary relocation.
We have been offered ‘accommodation’ in the Hampshire Record Office Cinema, which is a great replacement, with much better air conditioning!
This has resulted in changes to the published Programme in the Members Handbook (p28-31), which, like all printed documents, is now out of date.
Please do regularly check the WPS Website Calendar, and WebCollect Calendars at WPS MainProgramme for forthcoming changes which, of course, will be published in our weekly email Newsletter.
So, this season will be one of more change; we have already embraced a new membership system, WebCollect, thanks to our new Treasurer and Membership Sec, Dr.Lilian Hobbs.
This has given the Society extra benefits of online booking for all events, in a Covid safe way.
We also continue to use PhotoEntry more, not only for submitting images to Competitions, and for the Special Interest Groups (SIGs), but in other ways as well.
We have truly stepped into a Contactless and Online world for the safe and efficient operation of the Society.
Our programme is very diverse, with outstanding Lectures and Presentations, not to mention our print and PDI competitions. I believe these new systems will enhance the Society and will enable us to continue to offer one of the best seasons any ‘camera club’ can.
For members, new and old, the Society offers not only weekly meetings in person on Tuesdays, as well as Beginners and Improvers Groups, a Projects Group, a Distinctions Group and other SIGs.
Training and Workshops are offered, with some at subsidised rates along with ‘lead’ Photo Walks, both locally and in London.
Also, we have a Mentorship Programme, where any member can ask for one-to-one help with any aspect of photography, don’t be afraid to ask, whatever your level.
And finally, we are proud to organise two exhibitions each year, The Annual Exhibition (aka Annual Print Exhibition) and the Digital Winchester National Exhibition, more details of all the Society has to offer is in the Handbook.
My theme for this season is ‘Time to take Pictures’.
By that I mean not only allowing yourself time to use your camera but also time to consider all aspects of creating a good composition.
Having taken the ‘Time to take Pictures’ I would encourage you to use our wonderful website as well as our closed Facebook page, where members can post images, and ask for constructive comments.
If any member has any query, please do not hesitate to contact me, if I don’t know the answer, then I’ll know someone in the Society who does!
Regards,
Tony
Tony Large
President Winchester Photographic Society
