This was our first photographic show for the general public (in my time in the club, and not including county competitions) but as we had recently hosted a couple of these, we were well versed in how to set things up. The event was at Pulborough Village Hall.
However, what gave us concern was whether we would be able to attract enough people to make the whole exercise work for us as a fund raising event.
Another of the club’s old friends, Walter Benzie ARPS cameto give us a talk on how and why he went about getting his Royal Photographic Society distinctions. Walter is a member of Guildford Camera Club and said he very much likes coming to SCC as we were the first club at which he judged a competition, we in turn like him coming to either judge or talk as he has such a relaxed, honest and straight up way of talking, which is also very amusing and downright funny.
This event was held on 13th March at Hailsham and was hosted by Rottingdean and Lewes CC. An almost capacity audience enjoyed the ensuing battle between the 22 clubs that had entered. Liz Boud judged the 110 prints with competence, good humour and consistency, few if any authors could have felt unjustly treated. Storrington's fortunes fluctuated by the round, at one time it looked as if we were heading towards the lead, but we ended equal 7th with our usual rivals Steyning. The surprise in the results was Chichester CC at next to bottom - they are used to being at or very near the top.
The Regnum Crouch P.I. competition was held at the Steyning Centre and was hosted by Littlehampton CC. The Judge was Chris Palmer ARPS AFIAP DPAGP APAGB who has more decorations than WWII General Montgomery. He gave very few high marks, three 20s, one 19 and two 18s. He did not like SCC's offerings and our highest scorer was Charmaine with her portrait of her Son, 'Out of the Darkness' which he awarded 16 points. All our other entries got 14 or 15, and we ended up joint 8th out of eleven clubs with 88 points.
We hosted our first at home Southern Federation competition this evening with our friend Trevor Gellard returning for the second time this season to judge. We have been members of the Southern Fed for quite some time to enable us to get a good deal on the club's insurance, but as its member clubs are all so far away we have never taken part in anything with them. With the advent of the PI competitions of course we can now enter stuff by sending a CD, job done.
Finally, we were able to hold our second Pi competition ofthe season. Originally schedule for 11th November was cancelled due to the unexpected adverse weather conditions in November. With a set subject of 'Touch', it came as no surprise that there were lots of images depicting hands in one form or another.
The third and final print competition of the season saw a total of 73 images submitted by our members and it was pleasing to see some of our newer member submitting for the first time.
The competition was judged by Don Mitchell, President of Bognor Regis Camera Club. Don in his imitable style likes to create a rapport with his audience and didn't disappoint on this occasion.
Our old friend Derek Forss visited us again, this time at a hurriedly rearranged evening at Pulborough Village Hall as our normal venue was suffering with a serious water leak and could not be used.
It was our turn to host a Mix and Match contest between ourselves Steyning CC and Southwick CC. It was held at the West Chiltington Village Hall, which turned out to be a very good venue for the event (just the right size with good kitchen facilities). However we were unable to gain access until 7.30, as someone else was using the hall till then, and we had a bit of a scramble getting set up.
Di chose the Sussex Yacht Club for the start and base for our photo walk which was very well situated for us to find lots of photographic material.
We met there at 10.30 for tea and coffee paid for by our Chairman. Di then gave us a welcome and suggested some of the places and sights in the immediate area which might encourage our photographic juices to flow. Tjhe weather was dry but bitterly cold and without any features in the sky what-so-ever, sadly.
