Whitton Photographic Club

A Section of Whitton Community Association

CLUB HANDBOOK

Table of Contents

Section Page

1 Introduction and Welcome 3

2 The Club – general information

- What do we do? 3

- Why join a club? 4

- What does it cost? 4

- How do I join? 5

3 Competition details and rules 6

4 Club Constitution 9

5 Other Photographic Organisations 11

6 Digital Competition Software 14

INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME

Whitton Photographic Club was formed about 1965. It is a Section of the Whitton Community Association. For many years it has been affiliated to the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain through the SPA - The Surrey Photographic Association. These organisations are established to promote and co-ordinate matters of common interest to amateur photographic groups at local and national level.

We have a club programme (website http://whittonphotographicclub.org/ ) during most Monday evenings September-July 8.00-10.00 p.m. (meet from 7.30) at Whitton Community Association, Percy Road, Whitton, Twickenham. We do not have facilities for darkroom work.

Through our association with the above organisations we participate in inter club competitions held annually by local photographic clubs. This provides the opportunity for members to demonstrate their photographic skills in a competitive environment to a wider forum than the Club membership.

Although membership is not large, in competition we often out-perform clubs with significantly greater membership numbers, where one would expect a stronger portfolio of work.

Whitton Photographic Club has a growing reputation for innovative and imaginative work.

Above all we try to promote a friendly and relaxed environment within the Club which allows all its members to pursue and fully develop their individual photographic interest.

WHAT DO WE DO?

The Club has an annual programme of events which includes:

Monthly Club Competitions

Inter Club Competitions

Guest Speakers

Photo Opportunities

Studio Evenings

Audio Visual Presentations

Improvement Forums

Demonstrations

The Club's competitions are graded according to ability and progress of members. There are two levels of work, Intermediate and Advanced. There are also separate categories for print and projected image (digital or slide film) workers. Trade processed prints are acceptable in print competitions.

Within the competition structure there is a framework for absolute beginners to progress through the above competency levels, thereby improving their photographic skills.

The Annual Club Programme is published in September of each year and details more specifically the events that have been arranged. Comments, criticisms and suggestions for future programmes are welcomed.

WHY JOIN A CLUB?

There are many benefits. Many members of the Club began as absolute beginners who took Snap Shots whilst on holiday, recorded family events and generally clicked a camera at every opportunity. Their pictures, however, were frequently a disappointment. Limbs chopped off, lamp posts projecting from the head, red eyes, too light, too dark, too small and too far away !

Membership of a club helps to focus the photographer on improving technique, picture composition, presentation etc. Often the experience gained in club membership affords the opportunity to develop a particular interest in one or more aspects of the hobby, thereby enhancing the satisfaction gained from its pursuit.

It also provides opportunity to meet like-minded people in a friendly social environment, to learn from others' experiences, compete in Club competition for trophies and prizes, and, generally, enables one to pursue the hobby to whatever level of commitment one wishes to make.

Through the Club's association with other photographic clubs, opportunities exist to compete in the wider arena of amateur photography.

Your local Photographic Club is the bridge that enables those interested in taking pictures to move from the Snap Shot to creative, imaginative and more pleasing photographs with artistic/aesthetic merit.

Why not take the first step across the bridge?

WHAT DOES IT COST?

Because Whitton Photographic Club is a Section of the Whitton Community Association (WCA), membership of the latter is a requirement. An annual membership fee is charged. Additionally, members also belong to Whitton Community Social Club Ltd, which for a very small initial share fee of one pound (£1) entitles one to use the Club Bar. Current rates are:-

WCA Annual Membership - £15.00

Concession rate of £12.00 for Senior Citizens over 65.

Reviewed annually

Whitton Photographic Club, whilst being a Section of the WCA, is self financing.

Annual Subscription - £25.00 (Reviewed annually).

Paid to WCA for each attendance £1.50 (Reviewed annually).

Income is used to meet the following expenses: -

WCA Levy

VAT charges on income

Subscriptions to Photographic Federations

Lecturers' and Judges' Fees

Administrative expenses

Equipment replacement

HOW DO I JOIN?

This Club Handbook is part of a Membership Pack. In addition to it we have enclosed:-

Copy of our current Annual Programme

Current committee members

We hope that the information contained in these will encourage you to want to become a member.

Within the rules of the Whitton Community Association, potential members are able to visit the Club as guests for a period of three consecutive weeks before committing themselves to become members.

We welcome the opportunity this affords to enable potential members of WPC to experience the Club in action, participate in its programme and form their view as to their future commitment to the Club. During this period attendance is subscription free.

We hope that as a consequence of your visits you will want to join. Our Secretary will then arrange for you to be registered as a member of the Whitton Community Association, and as a member of the Photographic Club.

Please use the time as a guest to ask the principal office holders or other members of the Club any questions you may have about the Club, its organisation, facilities and membership.

COMPETITION RULES

1 GENERAL SECTION

1.1 This section applies to all internal competitions unless superseded by the rules applying to individual competitions.

1.2 Competitions are open to all fully paid-up Club members and potential members.

1.3 If members submit entries for a competition but are not themselves present that evening, they must still pay the normal weekly subscription.

1.4 Images may qualify for more than one competition but may not be used more than once in any particular competition.

1.5 Trade processed images may be submitted in any of the competitions.

1.6 Prints shall not be less than 175 x 125mms (7" x 5") and shall be mounted to an overall size not larger than 50 x 40 cms.

1.7 The competitor's name shall be printed on the back of each print which shall also show the section of the competition in which it is to be entered. (Self-adhesive labels are available.)

1.8 Prints shall be titled with the name endorsed on the reverse side of the print. Titles endorsed on the face side will debar the print from external competitions.

1.9 Slides shall conform with the standard 50 x 50mms (2" x 2") format: the picture area not exceeding 40 x 40mms. Masking is permitted.

1.10 All slides shall be correctly spotted in the bottom lefthand corner on the viewing side, i.e. usually the white side.

1.11 Slides shall be titled and have both the name of the competitor and title printed on the viewing side.

1.12 Digital images for projection must be saved in the JPEG format and sRGB colour space. Maximum image size in the horizontal axis is 1400 pixels and in the vertical axis 1050 pixels. (Please note these are maximum sizes). The procedure for saving and naming images is given in appendix 'A', on page 14. Entries will be accepted on any media, provided ownership details are shown and should be delivered to the Club's Digital Representative, no later than 24 hours prior to the commencement of the competition. Digital images cannot also be used in Print competitions in the same year.

1.13 Certificates are given to competition winners.

2. MONTHLY COMPETITION

2.1 The Monthly Competition is divided into two sections for prints:- Intermediate and Advanced, but only one section for projected images.

2.2 All appropriate conditions from the General Section shall apply.

2.3 The Committee will advise Members which section they should enter.

2.4 No more than three prints, colour or monochrome and/or three projected images may be entered in each round of the competition. No entry may be used more than once in a Monthly Competition.

2.5 When set subjects (or subject) have been arranged, up to three prints and/or projected images may be submitted, but must all be related to the set subject/s.

2.6 Certificates, one for each section, are awarded to competitors who have obtained the highest aggregate of 10 markings and have accumulated a minimum of 70 points in their respective section over the period of the competition. Where runner-up awards are available they will be awarded to competitors with the next highest total of points provided the other requirements of this paragraph are satisfied.

2.7 Award winners in the Intermediate section will be promoted to the Advanced section.

3. EDDIE EDDOLLS COMPETITION

3.1 Up to three prints may be entered; the certificate being awarded for the best individual print. These prints plus up to three more of the photographers choice will be considered for the SPA inter-club competition

3.2 All the appropriate conditions from the General Section shall apply.

4. MIKE CROSS COMPETITION

4.1 Entrants shall submit six prints, colour and/or monochrome demonstrating their versatility and competence.

4.2 The certificate shall be awarded to the portfolio of six prints judged to be the best portfolio.

4.3 The appropriate conditions from the General Section shall apply.

5 SUMMER COMPETITION

5.1 Up to three prints and/or projected images may be submitted on a set subject decided by Members at or following the AGM.

5.2 The competition shall be judged by the membership present at that meeting.

5.3 The appropriate conditions from the General Section shall apply.

6. VIOLET BORE COMPETITION

6.1 Up to three projected images may be entered; the certificate being awarded for the best individual image. These images plus up to three more of the photographers choice will be considered for the SPA inter-club competition

6.2 All the appropriate conditions from the General Section shall apply.

7. PAT MARTIN COMPETITION

7.1 A set of three related projected images will be judged as a whole, and the certificate shall be awarded to the set judged to be the best.

7.2 All the appropriate conditions from the General Section shall apply.

8 PORTFOLIO OF SIX PROJECTED IMAGES

8.1 Each entry shall consist of a portfolio of six unrelated projected images

8.2 The appropriate conditions from the General Section shall apply.

9. AD HOC COMPETITIONS

9.1 The Committee may approve ad hoc competitions, the rules of which shall normally conform with those stated in the General Section, unless specifically modified or excluded.

CLUB AWARDS FOR ANNUAL COMPETITIONS

PRINT COMPETITIONS

ADVANCED MONTHLY COMPETITION

ADVANCED MONTHLY COMPETITION RUNNER-UP

INTERMEDIATE MONTHLY COMPETITION

EDDIE EDDOLLS COMPETITION

MIKE CROSS COMPETITION

SUMMER COMPETITION

PROJECTED IMAGES

MONTHLY COMPETITION

MONTHLY COMPETITION RUNNER-UP

VIOLET BORE COMPETITION

PAT MARTIN COMPETITION

PORTFOLIO OF SIX PROJECTED IMAGES COMPETITION

SUMMER COMPETITION

Winners of the various competitions will be awarded a certificate to reflect their achievement and will be recorded in a Club “Roll of Honour”.

CONSTITUTION

1. NAME OF CLUB

The name of the Club shall be 'Whitton Photographic Club' (hereinafter called the 'Club').

2. AIMS

The Aims of the Club shall be to provide facilities and help to the membership in all aspects of photography to enable all members to enjoy this pastime to the full.

3. TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP

a. Membership shall be open to all members of the Whitton Community Association over the age of 18 years.

b. The Committee shall have the right to terminate the membership of any member deemed to be bringing the name of the Club into disrepute by any means in the opinion of the members.

4. SUBSCRIPTIONS

All members shall pay such subscriptions as the Committee may, from time to time, determine.

5. THE COMMITTEE

a. The Committee shall consist of Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary together with such representatives as may be required. In addition the Committee shall have the powers to co-opt. All Committee members shall retire bi-annually but will be eligible to be appointed or co-opted again.

b. At the relevant Annual General Meeting the outgoing Committee may, at its discretion, nominate, for confirmation by a simple majority of paid-up members, a President who shall serve for the two year duration of the incoming Committee. The President shall be entitled to attend and vote at Committee Meetings.

6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

An Annual General Meeting shall be held once a year in September which all fully paid-up members shall be entitled to attend for the purpose of receiving the annual report of the Committee; of appointing new Committee members; of making recommendations to the Committee, and, voting on proposals to amend the Club Rules in accordance with Clause 10.

7. RULES OF PROCEDURE AT MEETINGS

a. Voting - All questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote. No vote may be taken if there are less than six members present. No member may exercise more than one vote.

b. Minutes - The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the minutes and shall enter therein a record of all proceedings and resolutions.

8. FINANCE

All monies raised by or on behalf of the Club shall be used to further the Aims of the Club and for no other purpose. The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Club. Accounts shall be audited as determined by the Council of the Whitton Community Association.

9. DISSOLUTION

a. Should the Committee, by a simple majority, decide for financial or other reasons to dissolve the Club a meeting of all paid up members shall be called and the matter decided by a simple majority.

b. Should the Committee decision be confirmed, any equipment or money remaining after the satisfaction of debts or liabilities shall be handed over to the Council of the Whitton Community Association.

10. ALTERATIONS TO THE RULES

Any proposals to alter the Club Rules must be delivered in writing to the Secretary not less than 21 days before the meeting at which it is first to be considered. Alteration will require a two-thirds majority of individual paid-up members present and voting at the Annual General Meeting.