Sharp Focus September 2026

From the Chair

From the Chair …

If there was ever any doubt that Fish Hoek Photographic Society is going places, our AGM on Monday, 28 September certainly put that to rest!
The evening was more than the usual business of minutes, reports and numbers. It was an opportunity to pause, look back over the past year and realise just how much FHPS has grown, achieved and evolved. And, quite frankly, there was plenty to celebrate!
Membership has grown from 31 to 41 photographers in just one year. A wonderful indication that FHPS continues to attract people who want to learn, create, share and simply enjoy photography with like-minded people. And the growth isn’t only numerical. Participation has increased, image submissions are strong, outings and workshops are well supported, and our WhatsApp group has become a lively space for sharing images, ideas, tips and encouragement.
Then there’s the photographic progress. Half of our members are now sitting at four stars and above, while the other half are between one and three stars – a pretty impressive reflection of how far our collective skills have come. FHPS has moved beyond its former “junior club” status and is increasingly making its presence felt across the Western Cape.
We’ve also had a wonderfully busy year of learning. Six workshops, covering everything from macro, abstract and landscape photography to food photography, printing, salon submissions and composites, gave members plenty of opportunities to stretch themselves and try something new.
And then there were the – Simon’s Town, Kalk Bay, street photography, light painting, moon photography, landscapes, astro and birding. Some involved serious photographic intent; others probably involved just as much laughter! Either way, they brought members together, encouraged experimentation and reminded us that sometimes the best learning happens when we’re simply out there with a camera in our hands.
Our achievements beyond the club have been equally encouraging. At the Western Cape Photographic Forum Mini Congress in Tulbagh, FHPS placed fourth out of 13 clubs in the Interclub Competition and fourth in the Western Cape for salon acceptances. Members are also increasingly participating in PSSA salons and progressing through the star-rating system, while Peter Brandt’s panel being accepted for the Chennai Photo Biennale was a wonderful taste of international recognition.
And we shouldn’t overlook one of the things that makes FHPS rather special: our judging culture. Developing good judges has long been part of our club DNA, and that tradition continues to grow. With our own judging team, external judges that will be introduced quarterly, and plans for further judge development, we’re not only learning how to make better photographs – we’re learning how to look at photographs more thoughtfully too.
Behind all of this is a committee that quietly makes the magic happen – managing finances and memberships, organising outings, workshops and communication, keeping the website and digital systems running, promoting the club and producing our newsletters. Their commitment, together with the enthusiasm of our members, is what turns a photographic club into a photographic community.
Even our finances gave us something to smile about: despite investing in equipment such as the Spyder colour-calibration device and supporting all the activities of the year, FHPS ended the financial year with a positive surplus and healthy available funds.
So, as we begin another photographic year, perhaps the biggest achievement of all is this: we are growing without losing what makes FHPS feel like FHPS. We are becoming more ambitious, more skilled and more visible, while still retaining the camaraderie, encouragement and occasional good-natured chaos that make being part of this club so enjoyable.
The AGM gave us a chance to celebrate how far we’ve come. Now it’s time to pick up our cameras and see where the next year takes us.
Let’s raise our glasses to another year of seeing differently, learning together and chasing good light!

Betzi

October Theme – Farming – Submit by 19th October.

Explore the world of agriculture by photographing the daily life, work and landscapes of farms.
We have a wide variety of agricultural sources on our doorstep. Try and think a little broader than Canola fields.
Use your preferred genre to produce a different angle and create a meaningful story.
Farming activities, think about the livestock with their carers.
The Landscapes of farm life, early morning risers working the land.
Harvesting. By hand offers human interface but machinery also plays a big part in todays farms and offers a photographic challenge. Think milking sheds. Crushing grapes.
Photos of livestock have to be within a farming context.

This is an open Category, mono or colour and manipulation is allowed.
More ideas and reference can be found by using our good friend google.

UPCOMING SALONS

A quick look at our club’s calendar will show you the two upcoming salons deadlines are the 17th October for Centurion and Amber closes on the last day of the month.

(Of course it also shows other important events such as submissions and meeting dates! Why not bookmark it on your browser for quick access).

The full list of PSSA Salons, entry criteria and the winning images can be found at https://pssa.co.za/category/salons/calendar-results-for-year-ending-june-2026/

October Opportunities – Call for more ideas and input.

If you know of any activities happening that would provide a photographic opportunity please suggest them on our Whatsapp Chat group. If they are a long time away they can be added to our calendar.

This October on the calendar (https://fishhoekphotoclub.co.za/calendar/) we have the Kite Festival on the weekend of the 24/25th