We are a very welcoming and diverse photographic society based in central Walthamstow.
Members enjoy all aspects of photography through talks, practical evenings and competitions.
New members welcome!
Society
Members
Meetings
Where and when do we meet?
We meet most Monday evenings throughout the year from 8pm to 10pm, upstairs at the Quaker Meeting House, Jewel Road, Walthamstow (near The Rose and Crown pub).
We don’t meet on Bank Holidays.
Check out the Programme section below for full details.
Programme 2021
January
11th Members evening – Photos on the theme of winter
18th Chasing the Light – a talk by Kieran Metcalfe
25th Walker Trophy Round 1 (digital images)
February
1st Members evening – interesting software
8th An evening with Lee Robinson
15th Projected Images competition with Chingford Photo Society
22nd Walker Trophy Round 2 (digital images)
March
1st East Anglia – a talk by Steve Hedges
8th Walker Trophy Round 3 (digital images)
15th Basildon Trophy competition
22nd Elements – a talk by Ken Payne
29th Members evening – editing each other’s photos
April
5th Easter Bank Holiday
12th An evening with Ivan Finch
19th Members evening – Tell a Story
26th David Smith – Olympus ambassador
May
3rd Early May bank holiday
10th Goddard Trophy (a panel of 4 images)
17th Members evening
24th Portraiture – a talk by Tom Peck
31st Spring Bank Holiday
June
7th 1 in 60 Competition
14th Albert Bale Trophy (portraits)
21st Evening outing
28th Summer Photography Course starts
July
Summer Photography Course continues
August
2nd, 9th, 16th Summer Photography Course continues
23rd Annual Exhibition opening
30th Summer Bank Holiday
September
6th Annual Exhibition awards
13th Walker Trophy Round 1 (prints)
20th A Passion for Wildlife by Ron and Maggie Tear
27th Members evening – Portrait lighting
October
4th Walker Trophy Round 2 (prints)
11th An evening with John Cross
18th 8-Way competition
25th Walker Trophy Round 3 (prints)
November
1st Bert Whittern Trophy
8th Members Evening
15th Centenary Trophy – AV
22nd Print battle with Chingford
29th An evening with Sean Pines
December
6th Annual General Meeting
13th Christmas Party
What do we do?
At each meeting there will be typically between 20 and 30 members attending.
Meetings tend to fall into one of three categories:
- talks
- competitions
- members’ evenings
There is a social aspect too, and members will be able to chat to each other before the meetings and at the break; some will go on to nearby pub The Rose and Crown afterwards.
We also hold regular exhibitions of our work. You may have seen us at Winns Gallery in Lloyd Park; we have also shown at Vestry House, and during the E17 Arts Trail.
Talks
Each year we have up to a dozen external speakers visiting the Society.
The subects of the talks vary, reflecting the different interests of members, and might include wildlife, press and sports photography, travel, portraiture or something technical.
Competitions
There are various competitions spread throughout the year. These are:
- internal competitions for Society members only
- competitions against other local photographic societies and camera clubs
The internal competitions are generally open in terms of subject matter, but we also have a Portrait competition, plus an AV (audio visual) competition.
Some competitions are for projected digital images, others are for prints.
They are judged by an external person who isn’t associated with the Society.
Members find that receiving critique from someone who isn’t a friend or family can greatly improve their photography.
Members’ evenings
Throughout the year we have various informal members’ evenings (see the Programme for details).
They typically allow members to practice or discuss various aspects of photography.
Example evenings include
- practical portraiture – using off-camera flash and studio lighting
- Photoshop or Lightroom sessions
- Light painting
These evenings will also include some fun competitions voted for by members.
Diversity
We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive group of individuals which greatly adds to the interest and strength of the group.
Our club is a fairly even mix of men and women. Anyone can join us regardless of age, ethnicity, religion or gender identity; everyone is made to feel welcome.
Membership and Visiting
Annual membership of the Society currently costs £70 per year which is payable in October.
People joining the Society mid way through the year will pay a pro-rata rate.
Membership entitles you to:
- attend all meetings throughout the year
- enter all the competitions
- enter work in our exhibitions
Should you wish to visit us prior to joining, then please get in touch.
Guests may visit up to three times free of charge before committing to membership.
Summer Photography Course
Our Summer Photography Course runs once a year for 8 weeks during June, July and August, and is aimed at beginners and those wishing to brush up on their skills.
Booking in advance is strongly recommended to ensure a place.
The course covers the practical aspects of using your camera with a strong creative element alongside guidance on how to take better photos across a range of subjects.
Check out our dedicated page for further information.