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New Members Guide

Introduction

This page contains some basic survival information for new members and helps provide some information about the society and how it works. A PDF version of the following can be downloaded from here.

Aims and objectives of HPS are to

  • advance the art and science of photography
  • provide an outlet for personal images
  • get new ideas
  • learn new techniques
  • enjoy photography
  • provide access to other people who want to create images
  • share experiences

History

Founded in 1963 by Clive Owens and Peter Harris. Originally started with 9 members, by 1970 the club was fully established with lectures, competitions, instructional evenings and photographic outings. It was at that time that the Annual Exhibition was started which today attracts about 400 visitors and has led to a second exhibition held in the autumn. Which has proved equally popular with our members and the public

An increasing membership over the years led to various changes in meeting place until the Society settled in the Friends Meeting House in 1974. This happy association lasted until 2008, when the Society moved to St. Peter's Centre, Lower Heswall.

Since the Society started, there have been many changes and developments in cameras, film and processing techniques together plus the introduction of ‘digital’ processing. Heswall has embraced all these changes over the past 45 years and is ready for the next 45.

Membership

You will have received a copy of the ‘rules and constitution’ – essential for all clubs and societies where members funds are involved.

Payment of the full annual subscription (decided at the Annual General Meeting) plus a small entry fee, entitles you to:

  • all the benefits of the Society.
  • ability to enter all Society competitions.
  • a free cup of tea or coffee plus a biscuit.
  • participation in all other club activities such as instructional workshops, which may be available from time to time.

There are some small additional charges for attending:

  • the additional summer meetings (to cover the cost of the room hire).
  • any workshop held in addition to our normal programme ( to cover the cost of the room and the instructor).

Payment of the reduced Associate subscription entitles you to all the above except you cannot:

  • enter the competitions
  • vote at the AGM.

Contact details

Should you need to contact a member of the committee, you will find telephone numbers in the syllabus or e-mail us via our web-site. If you wish to contact any other member, please contact the Secretary or Treasurer.

Meetings are

St Peter's Centre, Lower Heswall
  • usually held at the St. Peter's Centre on a Friday evening starting promptly at 8pm.
  • they run from early September to mid-May.
  • held fortnightly during June/July only, on an informal basis at the St. Peter's Centre.
  • timed to finish at 10pm (or very soon after.)
  • detailed in the syllabus (or web-site) issued before the start of each new season in September. You will normally be reminded at the end of each meeting of the details for the following week.
  • sometimes held jointly with other clubs, maybe at other premises – see syllabus, website or the Newsletter for details or announcements at the society meeting. Details of competitions held between clubs will be announced at Society meetings.

The meetings feature a:

  • tea/coffee break at about 9pm for 15/20 minutes.
  • weekly raffle. Any profit goes to general society funds.

Parking

Please park your car in Village Road, Station Road or School Hill. Disabled parking is available in the Rectory grounds

Competitions

Competitions are an important part of society life. Not only can you show what you have been doing, but by listening to judges critiquing your work talking to other members and seeing other images, you can learn to improve the standard of your entries, understand different techniques, etc.

It is important to read magazines, go to exhibitions and browse the internet. The internet is probably the richest possible source of images known to man and HPS.

Some things you need to know about HPS competitions.

Each month starting in September there is a monthly competition (see a list here). Each month has a different theme starting with a general or open subject (and including People and Nature). There are sections for prints (Colour and Monochrome separately) and Digital Images, each with a maximum entry of three images per section. Prints must be mounted, on board, with a maximum board size of 500*400mm. 35mm Slides may be entered in the People and Nature Competitions. Each monthly competition is judged by a different external judge who comments on the images on the competition night and the top 5 prints get points awarded. The points are totted up and the overall winner of each section will get a cup - presented at the Annual Exhibition opening evening.

The Annual Exhibition has the usual sections, but also includes slides, on an Open theme, with the entries being judged on a separate evening. All entries (plus those in the People and Nature Competitions) are also shown externally, usually in Heswall Library. See the programme for dates.

Confused - its not as complicated as it seems - honest! Don't worry - ask one of the competition secretaries on a Friday night. The competition evenings are always announced beforehand and, of course, they are in the syllabus that each member gets every year and on the web-site.

However:

  • pick up an entry slip before each monthly competition or download here from the web site.
  • separate slips should be completed for each section, prints or slides - usually available two weeks before hand-in.
  • the competition sections are split into prints. digital images and slides (annual only) as shown in the Competition Rules section of the syllabus.
  • new members are normally entered in the 'Standard' sections. But may provide samples of their work for assessment if they wish to compete at a higher level.
  • the first ‘League’ Competition is usually ANY SUBJECT, i.e. choose your best prints/images that you will not want to enter in any other League competitions which have a set subject or theme.
  • if you are unable to hand in on the advertised night or have any other problems regarding the competition, consult one of the Competition Secretaries but please note, late entries cannot be accepted.
  • you can collect your entries on competition night as it may avoid damage to your print if it has to be stored.

A final word on competitions if you are new to them.

Listen to what the judges have to say about the work of others as well as your own and store what you feel is of value to your photography. The judges views are opinion not fact, use the information or ignore it. Read photo magazines - not just ones from the UK. Go to exhibitions!

What matters is the stuff between your ears not the latest camera. Creative pictures derive from observation and imagination.