St Helens Camera Club

The nature competition is always a highly competitive one and our 2025 season is no exception. We were presented by some incredible pictures and we are certain our Judge Chris Boyes CPAGB was challenged to choose a winner on the night.

This year has been one of our more active years we have produced quite a number of exhibitions and practical nights.

One of the most successful was our recent Macro Night. We had quite a few of our expert photographers who shared their equipment and knowledge to allow us all to experience the world of Macro Photography.

One of our expert tutors on the night was Thomas Stott who produced these images.

Our Judge for tonight was Gordon Watson ABPE DPAGB PPSA EFIAP who as always provided much appreciated comments. Many thanks to Judge Watson.

This year we have updated how we are holding our meetings, we are focusing more of practical nights and camera workshops. On Monday we were allowed into the worlds of our respected Judges and treated to a masterclass of critique and how to post produce pictures for competition.

Colin Douglas ARPS DPAGB offered his insight into the pictures, which were submitted by our members.

Tillman Kleinhans ARPS DPAGB

Then demonstrated how he would process the pictures to a competition standard. We are showing the selected images both before processing and after processing just to demonstrate what a collection of judges can offer to aid the photographer in achieving a competition award.

Pictures by Jennifer Hogarth ‘Sheep in field’ and Suzanne Brislen ‘Galleon ship, Tokyo’

In Jennifers case the sheep was added in Photoshop just to demonstrate composition and the ability of Photoshop to add in elements. Please note this would invalidate any image submitted for competition.

Tillmans closing comments on the photos.

‘The first set of the Galleon show how a photo taken in challenging conditions can be edited to produce a usable photo, while the second set show how a good initial image can be enhanced with some basic editing and the use of AI. It should be noted that images which include AI generated material are usually not allowed to be entered into photographic competitions and salons.’

We were honoured to be asked to judge the recent Love St Helens photography competition for 2025. Suffice to say it was almost impossible to choose winners from the submitted photographs, instead we decided to award Judges choice awards, as the standard of the competition was so high that is was impossible to pick just one winner.

May we thank all the staff and members of St Helens Parish Church for their efforts in organizing this event and allowing us to comment on the photographers work.

Once we have a date for the public exhibition we will publish it on here, so please keep coming back to see when it starts.

Not long to go until we begin our 2025 season, this is our 125th anniversary year so we are putting together a program of events which should cover most genres of photography.

We start on the 8th September where we are hosting a photo exhibition arranged by St Helens Parish Church for Love St Helens.

Showcasing amazing photographs taken by residents of St Helens.

On the 22nd of September we are holding a fashion exhibition in association with Zero over the summer we took a team of photographers into the town to shoot an editorial fashion camaign for the brand. on the 22nd we are inviting staff and customers to come along and see the result of all their work, there will be a short introduction and talk about how we shot the campagin and then the exhibition will be opend to the audience. There will be an opportunity to have selected prints signed and presented to anyone who would like to own one. Please come along to see what the camera club can offer the community and how photography can support people and sustainable brands like Zero.

Our year to end of 2025 syllabus is presented as follows please have a look and perhaps you too would like to start your photographic journey. No DSLR required, bring along your phone camera and desire to produce some great pictures. Keep looking at the page as we will be presenting a three part portrait workshop and Macro photography practical evening as well as our 2026 syllabus.

We are to be featured in the 19th of August 2025 edition of Amateur Photographer

Our Venerated Judge Tillman Kleinhans has submitted an article and selected images from the membership for inclusion in the magazine.

Its a wonderful beginning to our anniversay year.

Thank to to Amateur Photographer, Tillman and all the members of the club.

Is photographing people something you avoid? Do you prefer to photograph landscapes ? Why ?

Photographing people can be the most rewarding experience you can have, it might be a new addition to the family, a special occasion or that special holiday and you want to take better holiday photos.

Perhaps you want to experience a studio shoot, working with Flash (it’s not as difficult as you might think) or take the flash outdoors ?

Well in this intensive series of workshops we are introducing the members to taking great portraits. Both men and women will be covered as the lighting can be quite different.

Join our two working photographers as they introduce you to the equipment they use on a shoot, and how to pose and light your subject.

In the second Workshop they will be leading a practical night of portrait photography, having two highly experienced portrait photographers on hand to lead you on set and to help you produce high quality portraits. Please note this will be a practical night, however should you wish to attend without shoot you are more than welcome to experience what a real-life shoot looks like.

Our final workshop will be to demonstrate how to post produce the photographs you have produced.

We will be demonstrating the workflow from RAW development, pixel editing and plugin support.

Using a combination of Free software, paid for software and subscription software so there will be no barrier to you producing the best portraits you can.