July 28th 2011

After our Committee Meeting last night we have a few things lined up for ye.

First of all I’d like to thank Beatrix from Beatrix Portraits for taking the time out to be our Judge last night for the Ladies Challenge. She was great to comment on everyone’s images and really got involved. One image captured her imagination and she has offered to work in it in B&W so we’re looking forward to seeing the results there. Winners were 3^rd Elena, 2^nd Margaret, 1^st Larissa. Beatrix has also agreed to come in another night and show us some of her work. In the meantime you can visit Beatrix’s website here: http://www.beatrixportraits.net/

Many thanks also to Andrew Dalton for sponsoring last nights competition.

The results of the Photo Hunt were given as well. It was a great day out and made us think and run about the place a bit. Winner of the Funny Photo was Nigel with his Muffin Man. Photo Hunt results: 3^rd Bernie, 2^nd Julie, 1^st Larissa

And don't forget the Maritime Festival is on this weekend - Saturday & Sunday

Saturday: Riverwalk with plenty of live music, duck race, model sailing, amusements culminating in the release of 200 Chinese lanterns at 10p.m. which will be a beautiful spectacle over the town. Lanterns will be on sale on the night.

Sunday 31 the annual blessing of the fleet takes place along the quayside at 2p.m. which will be opened by Arklow Pipe Band. Later in the afternoon the Air Sea Rescue display takes place at 3p.m. followed by Bingo and Dog Show and more.

Coming up:

3^th Aug - Bernie is opening her doors to us for a social night of food and merriment at her house at 8.30pm. We’ll meet in the Bridge beforehand to organise transport so try not to be late please. Bernie’s house is on the Ballynattin Road just past Vitra Tiles.

7^th Aug – A day for all the family – a trip to the Zoo. Times to be confirmed. New additions to Dublin Zoo are White Crowned Mangabeys, a baby gorilla, baby giraffe and a King Ratsnake - so something for everyone.

10^th Aug – Alphabet Night. This is a little exercise to get your brains going and open your eyes. Taking inspiration from the Photo Hunt tonight we’ll randomly pick out one half of the alphabet and you’ll be given half an hour to go out and take 13 photographs based on the letters given. You can do this individually or in groups of two or three but try get different photos to make for an interesting night. When you return we’ll have a look at them – should be interesting! We’ll schedule the other half of the Alphabet for another night.

17^th Aug – Panel Night – anyone who is interested in doing Panels – this is a good night for you. Bring in about 30 photos each (4x6 or 5x7) and we’ll see if we can get 10 to gel. I’ll bring the butterfly photos we took in Donegal and we put together a panel of them as well.

21^st Aug Sunday – Another day for all the family – a trip to Greenan Farm, Museum and Maze. There’s loads of things here - again something for eveyone. There's also a wild nature walk here with a chance of spotting wild deer, moorhens, frogs and dragonflies.

24^th Aug B&W competition. Rules below. Also tonight we want to see the photos you didn’t put into the competition and we want to know why you choose the ones you did put in so bring them in on yer stick and we’ll have a full black and white night.

Paul will be running the Photo School for 6 weeks beginning 7^th September 8.30pm-9.30pm. After the six weeks I’ll do two nights on Picasa and we’re also in the process of organising some Photoshop classes as well so plenty to learn and as members there’s no extra charge.

Another competition in September - the first of it's kind for us - Digital Creation/Manipulation. Images digitally enhanced or altered to create an entirely different photograph. Removed images, inserted images and cloned images and the like may be used to create a completely different photograph. The finished entry must still appear to be a photograph - not an artistic impression or design.

Finally - for anyone who’s interested - as part of the Gorey Market House Craft and Design Festival the PPAI Photo Journalism exhibition is opening tonight in the Library, Civic Square in Gorey. It doesn’t say how long it’s on for and you can see the slideshow here: http://www.ppai.ie/slideshow-2011/

So in brief:

3^rd – Wednesday Night at Bernie’s 8.30pm

7^th – Trip to Zoo

10^th – Alphabet Night

17^th – Panels & Butterflies

21^st – Trip to Greenan

24^th – B&W competition

7^th Sept – Photo School

September - Digital Creation/Manipulation Competition