Thursday 22nd February 2007, 7:30pm

February Photo Project - 'Happy Accidents & Doors!'

The January project will be 'Happy Accidents'. This is a test of your spontaneity and creativity. The general idea is just to see what you can come up with when you are not trying at all! This could be something you get as an unintended effect, or just because the shutter went off at the 'wrong' time. Also, you could try not looking through the viewfinder at all, just point and shoot (it can be surprising how the perspective can change when you hold the camera above or below eye level, ie, the floor or in the air!).

Doors!

Angela had a great idea at the last meeting - a project to photograph any of the interesting doors in any of the 10 parishes. The idea is to create a collage of all the pictures taken and turn it into a postcard and/or poster for sale at the 10 Parishes Festival in September 2007. The funds raised will go to a local good cause, the proposed 10 Parishes Centre being the initial suggestion. If anyone else would like to propose a beneficiary, we can make a decision later as to whom shall receive the proceeds.

If you just start taking pictures whilst out and about, do remember to make a note of where, as out of courtesy we will want to ask the permission of the owner of any images selected for the final peice.

10 Parishes Festival - September 2007

A collective decision was made at the last meeting to participate in the 10 Parishes Festival in September. The venue may well be my home in Langley Marsh, although other suggestions are welcome. This at least makes manning the event a little easier, as we both work from home so can cover most of the 9 days quite easily. There is no theme, its just designed as a promotion of the photo forum and to give everyone something to work towards. We do need to know quite soon just how much space will be needed (and what hanging facilities), as the final deadline for entries to the festival is 31st March 2007. We'll need to be sure of the venue and who will be participating by that date so that we can be included in the guide.

Other matters

Remember that the project each month is just for inspiration. Don't feel like you've failed if you don't find time to capture something on the theme, and of course there is always merit in looking back over past images to see if there is new relevance to them, or maybe a bit of photo editing that might make something new out of something old!

As a group we love to see photo's on any subject, so please feel free to bring along images on any theme if you'd like to share them.

Remember that the Photo Forum is for you to share and enjoy your hobby. If there is anything that you would like to see, please let me know and we'll try to get things off the ground. If you have any ideas or thoughts for what to discuss or learn about at a meeting, let me know so that I can announce it to all in advance.

Our regular meeting venue is now at The Bear Inn, at the same time, 7:30pm on the last Thursday of the month.

I look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Cheers Dave Meehan 01984 629056