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 2025

January
6th Members evening – Preparing for printing – Ian Waterman
 
13th Grete Hjorth-JohansenTartarus
 
20th Walker Trophy for Prints – Round 1
 
27th John Cross – India
February
3rd Joe O’DonohueInvisible Cities
 
10th Projected Images Competition  versus Chingford Photographic Society (at Chingford)
 
17th Walker Trophy for Prints – Round 2
 
24th Ian HowardBlack and white
March
3rd Walker Trophy for Prints – Round 3
(Incorporating the John Parish Memorial Trophy for landscape prints)
 
10th Chris ShepherdMy Camera
 
17th Member’s Evening  – Winter Theme (a ‘just for fun’ competition)
 
24th Steve Myall100 Strangers
 
31st  Members evening–  Members Express
April
7th 1 in 60 Competition – Hosted by Chingford Photographic Society
 
14th Goddard Trophy – Competition with each entry being a panel of four prints held together with a theme
 
21st Easter Bank Holidayno meeting
 
28th Susan Clark – 175 years of Photoshopping
May
5th Early May Bank holiday – no meeting
 
12th Basildon Trophy – Hosted by Chingford Photographic Society
 
19th Malcolm Hupman – Where I Photograph British Wildlife
 
26th Spring Bank Holidayno meeting
June
2nd Member’s evening – assignment night
 
9th Albert Bale Trophy – Portrait competition (prints)
 
16th City Walk – Club outing
 
23rd Member’s Evening – Summer Social
 
30th  Summer Photography Course
July

7th, 14th, 21st & 28th –  Summer Photography Course

August
4th Summer Photography Course
 
11th Summer break – no meeting
 
18th Summer break – no meeting
 
25th Annual Exhibition at Winn’s Gallery (in Lloyd Park)
September
1st Member’s Evening –  Exhibition appraisal
 
8th Walker Trophy for Projected Images – Round 1
 
15th Tom Peck – Mobile Phone Photography
 
22nd Members Evening – Showtime
 
29th Walker Trophy for Projected Images – Round 2
October
6th Kevin Pigney – Seascapes
 
13th Member’s Evening – In the Style of…..
 
20th Walker Trophy for Projected Images – Round 2
 
27th Bert Whittern Trophy – WDPS v. Muswell Hill and Dunmow – a digital competition held in Walthamstow
November
3rd Sally Sallett – Never Underestimate an Old Woman
 
10th Print Competition versus Chingford. (at Walthamstow)
 
17th Member’s Evening – subject TBC
 
24th Centenary Trophy – Audiovisual competition
December
1st Annual General Meeting
 
8th Christmas Party and Award Presentation
 
No other meetings in December

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 £75 per calendar year.

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.