Photography News Issue 56

Photography News | Issue 56 | photographynews.co.uk

CameraClubof theYear in associationwith

Camera Club of the Year 2017-18: the final

Five of the UK’s leading camera clubs made it to our final showdown and after a day shooting five challenges with Fujifilm cameras, we had a winner… Eastwood Photographic Society

IMAGES EditorWill Cheung presents themembers of Eastwood PSwith their trophy.

final. This was a good thing to do for several reasons. Everyone got the chance to meet informally and it took away the stress in the morning of getting to the venue on time for an early start. And very importantly, it meant that the club members could spend some time with the cameras they would be using the following daywith the Fujifilm technical teamanswering questions and explaining key features. We devised five different scenarios (see the accompanying panel, below) that each club had to shoot in turn, with an hour allowed for each club to produce their entry with each member submitting an image each. Each club entry was judged as individual images, not as a set. The judging panel was: Liz Bray, fields account manager, Fujifilm; Tris Dawson, Natural Light Spaces; and Ian Farrell and Adam Duckworth, expert photographers representing Photography News . Every image was scored out of 20

Words byWill Cheung

There is no camera club competition quite like the Photography News Camera Club of the Year, which climaxes in a live final shoot-out where entries have to be produced in a set time using cameras that most members have never used before. Qualifying for the final is a challenge in itself and our five finalists deserve huge congratulations for getting that far, beating off over 40 of the country’s leading clubs to win their respective rounds. That is no mean feat so well done to them all. Indeed, well done and thanks to every club that supported the competition during the year. Our five finalists were invited to spend a relaxing evening with the Fujifilm and Photography News teams the night prior to the

and all scores totted up with highest scoring club declared the winner. After a close judging session Eastwood PS from Glasgow emerged triumphant. You can enjoy some of their pictures and some from our other finalists over the next few pages. Aside from the glory of being the Photography News Camera Club of the year, Eastwood PS also wins free lectures by three Fujifilm X-photographers of their choice so that the entire club membership benefits from the team’s hard work. Well done to Eastwood PS.

So that ends our search for the best UK camera club for this year. For most clubs the new season kicks off in September. Like all camera clubs and photographic societies, our five finalist clubs always welcome new members so if you are interested please check the relevant website for the latest programme details and meeting venues before dropping in, or better still contact the membership secretary in the first instance. Look out for the launch of the new competition this autumn.

The shooting scenarios

Shoot 2: The canal Aim of the shoot: Shots had to be taken in and around the area of the canal so reflections, detail and any wildlife was eligible. Minimum shooting time was 40 minutes. Kit to be used: Fujifilm X-T2 with 50-140mm and 100-400mm lenses

Kit to be used: Fujifilm X-T20 with 60mm and 80mm macro lenses Shoot 5: TheDepot Aim of the shoot: The Depot dates back to 1803 and the historic site offers interesting photo opportunities. Kit to be used: Fujifilm X-E3 with 10-24mm and 18-55mm lenses

Each teamhad one hour to shoot in each of the five scenarios, and also in that time to select and edit their entry with one image per team member required. In four scenarios, downloading and editing could not begin until a certain time (30 or 40 minutes) had elapsed and in Shoot 1, entries had to be taken using Fujifilm Film Simulation modes. At the end of each shoot the scene

(obviously not Shoots 2 and 4) was reset for the next club so the start point was the same for each club. Shoot 1: Pip the gentleman Aim of the shoot: Pip’s unique look has huge potential. Members had to the make most of him, with lighting, posing and styling. Kit to be used: Fujifilm GFX with 32-64mm and 110mm lenses

selection of dresses for members to choose from. With flash, props and a wind machine there was plenty of photo potential. Kit to be used: Fujifilm X-H1 with 56mm and 90mm lenses Shoot 4: Still life Aim of the shoot: To fashion great still-life/macro shots from supplied props using continuous light.

Shoot 3: PromQueen Aim of the shoot: Model Em had a