MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
September 2024
Dear Club Members,
As we gather around the lens of a new chapter in our camera club, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on our recent Annual General Meeting held on September 30th. A heartfelt thank you to Maureen, who has stepped down as editor after six fantastic years. Your passion has truly illuminated our pages! And to Ceridwyn, who, while serving as secretary for just a year, has been a stalwart support alongside Geoff, our outgoing chairman. Geoff, your leadership will be sorely missed!
Stepping into these roles, Margaret, Coral, and I are fully aware that we have some pretty big shoes to fill. Thankfully, we know we’re not in this alone. With Derek, Jane, Jorge, and Peter always in the background to catch us, along with the invaluable support of our outgoing committee members and all of you, our amazing club members, we’re ready to embrace this challenge.
Our club has always been more than just a place to hone our photography skills; it’s a vibrant community where we share laughs, support one another, and cultivate our passion. This year, we aim to enhance our experience even further. Our meetings are always engaging, giving us a peek into the judging process, while our inspiring outings and informative workshops spark creativity. We also want to welcome more photography enthusiasts into our fold to enrich our learning journey.
For our members overseas or those frequently on the go, we’re planning online workshops from time to time and will keep on recording our meetings so that everyone can remain connected. Your fantastic suggestions for themes this coming year are setting the stage for an exciting adventure ahead.
Mark your calendars! Don’t miss our levitation workshop via Zoom on Thursday, October 10, at 19:00, the Western Cape Photographic Forum Celebration opening event at 12:00 on November 9 at the PJ Oliver Art Centre in Stellenbosch, and our Year-End Function—our grand annual prize-giving event—on November 23 at the Simon’s Town Golf Club.
Here’s to a year filled with inspiration, growth, and, of course, fun!
Warm regards,
Betzi
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
This issue may feel rather light in content as I learn the ropes, many thanks to Maureen for her copious notes! There are some changes to the format of the newsletter and the website which I’m hoping make both easy to read and navigate but I am open to suggestions and comments.
Margaret
Winners of Digital Image of the Month – September 2024
Please click on images to see titles and photographer names.
Evaluation of Digital Photography
| Title | Category | Author | Star | Score | Award | Points |
| Autumn’s Serenade | Landscape | Betzi Pierce | 3 | 12 | Gold | 3 |
| Banishing the Storm | Landscape | Betzi Pierce | 3 | 12 | Gold | 3 |
| Blueberry Bubbles | open | Margaret Silk | 2 | 11 | Gold | 3 |
| camoflage | wildlife | Lorne Sulcas | 4 | 12 | Gold | 3 |
| Camouflage in colour | Open | Maureen Miller | 3 | 9 | Silver | 2 |
| Corfe Castle | Landscape | Lynn Toms | 3 | 10 | Gold | 3 |
| Flying in | wildlife | Didi Franklin | 3 | 13 | COM | 4 |
| Forest ICM | Open | Keith Lyle | 4 | 11 | Gold | 3 |
| Gemsbok view | nature | Derek Goldman | 4 | 11 | Gold | 3 |
| Golden Beauty | Open | Ceridwyn Jamieson | 4 | 11 | Gold | 3 |
| Goonhilly Space station | Open | Lynn Toms | 3 | 8 | Silver | 2 |
| Greeting the dawn | wildlife | Didi Franklin | 3 | 11 | Gold | 3 |
| Kirstenbosch | Scape | Mike Wesson | 2 | 10 | Gold | 3 |
| Leap | sports | Peter Brandt | MB | 11 | Silver | 2 |
| Lenticular lovely | Open | Maureen Miller | 3 | 10 | Gold | 3 |
| Mighty Thirst | Wildlife | Kate Graham | 1 | 9 | Gold | 3 |
| Morning Visit | Wildlife | Kate Graham | 1 | 10 | Gold | 3 |
| Munch Time | Open | Geoff Jamieson | 4 | 11 | Gold | 3 |
| Orange Breasted Sunbird | nature | geora zadok | 1 | 11 | COM | 4 |
| Overflowing | Still Life | Geoff Jamieson | 4 | 11 | Gold | 3 |
| Overhead smash | Sport | Keith Lyle | 4 | 12 | Gold | 3 |
| Perched | Open | Ceridwyn Jamieson | 4 | 10 | Silver | 2 |
| Shapes | open | Mike Wesson | 2 | 7 | Silver | 2 |
| Sniffing the dawn | Open | Peter Franklin | 3 | 11 | Gold | 3 |
| st paul’s reflection | open | geora zadok | 1 | 10 | Gold | 3 |
| stealth | wildlife | Lorne Sulcas | 4 | 11 | Gold | 3 |
| Tankwa Falls | landscape | Derek Goldman | 4 | 11 | Gold | 3 |
| Tasty Daisy | wildlife | Margaret Silk | 2 | 10 | Gold | 3 |
| The hole | open | Peter Brandt | MB | 12 | Gold | 3 |
| The hunter | Wildlife | Peter Franklin | 3 | 12 | Gold | 3 |
| To Big to Swallow | Nature | Johan Kloppers | MB | 13 | COM | 4 |
| Train Wheels | Multiple Exposures | Johan Kloppers | MB | 11 | Silver | 2 |
Winners of Theme Image of the Month – September 2024
Please click on images to see titles and photographer names.
Evaluation of Theme Photography
| Title | Category | Author | Star | Score | Award | Points |
| A new beginning | Theme | Lynn Toms | 3 | 10 | Gold | 3 |
| Beginnings | Theme | Peter Franklin | 3 | 9 | Silver | 2 |
| Emergent lettuce | Theme | marielouise cardwell | 2 | 8 | Silver | 2 |
| Gentle Awakening | Theme | Betzi Pierce | 3 | 8 | Silver | 2 |
| Malleable | Theme | Kate Graham | 1 | 9 | Gold | 3 |
| Miracle of life | Theme | Didi Franklin | 3 | 9 | Silver | 2 |
| nascent ape | Theme | Lorne Sulcas | 4 | 10 | Silver | 2 |
| Nascent rainstorm | Theme | Mike Wesson | 2 | 7 | Silver | 2 |
| Nascent springtime | Theme | Maureen Miller | 3 | 9 | Silver | 2 |
| Newborn Bracken | Theme | Derek Goldman | 4 | 11 | Gold | 3 |
| Reaching from beyond | Theme | Peter Brandt | MB | 11 | Silver | 2 |
| Ready to bloom | Theme | Geoff Jamieson | 4 | 9 | Silver | 2 |
| Ready to Pop | Theme | MargaretSilk | 2 | 10 | Gold | 3 |
| Scilla Peruviana | Theme | Ceridwyn Jamieson | 4 | 11 | Gold | 3 |
Salons
Salon dates for the following year are available from the PSSA website under the tab Salon Calendar and Results for the Year Ending June 2024 or from www.photovaultonline.com
All the brochures containing details are available on both the PSSA and Photovault websites.
Please see our record-keeping page for information on how to submit your salon acceptances to our club records.
October Theme – Levitation
Peter Brandt has prepared a special Zoom session for Thursday 10th October with examples of the various types of shots, set ups, examples and considerations. Including useful Tips and tricks. Plus processing in Lightroom, and the removal of elements and compositing in Photoshop. Further details will be sent on the Strictly Photographic Whatsapp group.
The due date for submissions for theme, and your digital images, is midnight Sunday 21st October.
Click here to view our themes and outings for 2024.
Membership fees 2024/25
A small increase in the membership fees has been agreed. Ordinary membership is now R450, and R360 for an additional family. These fees are effective 1 October 2024.
End of Year dinner and Prize giving
Coral has arranged for our annual get together at the Simonstown Country Club on the 23rd November for an amazing R220 per person! Coral will be looking for confirmation of attendance via Whatsapp including the deposit required and deadlines for booking and paying. Please don’t leave her hanging – rather respond promptly so she can make all the necessary requirements in good time.
