Our second night of the season was the hugely popular Being and Share. For this we met for introductions in the old cafe room, while our usual lecture theatre space hosted a speaker for the PSNS Archaeology section.
This worked to our advantage, allowing tables of small groups to spend time ice-breaking over discussion of images brought in by all. With nearly 20 new faces this season, no one knows everyone else, so if you feel you don’t, don’t worry, you are not alone.
Four tables downstairs, four more upstairs. We had images on prints, tablets, phones, stick drives, laptops. We had images from members of 40+ years standing, from those along for their first visit, and everyone in between.
And somewhere in the corner, Tim had set up tripods with cameras running timelapse exposures, to capture a sense of the animated bustle of the evening. The results may yet appear in our Facebook group, at Perth Photo Forum. (If you’re joining that, make sure to answer the membership questions).
To round off the evening, a growing sociable gathering convened in the bar of the Grampian Hotel, just over the road. With just long enough for a swift half or so, we had the place to ourselves for some relaxed photo chat. Perfect.
Our new 2024-25 season is under way, for anyone with an interest in Photography, and living within Perth, Perthshire, Perth and Kinross, and surrounding areas in Scotland.
For our second week, we’re having a Bring and Share – bring some of your own images, as prints or on electronic devices, to share and discuss in small groups. Finished work, work in progress, rejects from the cutting room floor, howlers from the blooper reel, whatever. https://www.perthshirephotographicsociety.org.uk/2024/08/programme-2024-25/#week02
Newcomers are very welcome to register online, and come along to meet us for a couple of weeks, with no commitment. That gives you the chance to decide if you like what you see. Or you can jump straight in with new or renewed membership. Either way, go to the online form at How do I join? to register.
The first night of each PPS season is traditionally President’s Night, and incumbent Ian Mackay welcomed more than fifty of us, of whom maybe a quarter were along for their first visit. Welcome indeed!
The lengthy tea break spilled out of the foyer and back into the theatre, and provided an opportunity for making newcomers feel welcome, and for old friends to catch up.
In the second half of the evening, Ian introduced some themes in his own interests, both in photography and in life, and talked us through some of his landscape images, explaining how a sometimes-plain scene can be brought alive as a striking image.
To round off the evening, a handful of dedicated researchers investigated the possibilities of the bar at the Grampian Hotel, just over the road. Their lounge looks big enough to hold most of us, and stays open until 22:30, so not dangerously late. Let’s see if that can become a regular thing.
One exciting feature of the upcoming PPS season is our novice development programme. Now in its third year, we’re offering a more structured support to members who identify as novice photographers. Check out our Novices page and see some more Before and After images from our recent ‘novices’. How will your photography have changed, this time next year? https://www.perthshirephotographicsociety.org.uk/membership/novices/
Here at Perthshire Photographic Society we start back for our weekly meetings at the beginning of October, and our membership form for the coming season is now open.
If you’ve been part of us in previous years, now’s a good time to get this year’s membership in place.
If you’re new and would like to get to know us, you’re welcome to have two trial weeks before you commit; or you can jump straight in with membership – either way, see our Membership page for details ….
Are you interested in photography, and living in and around Perthshire? Come and join with Perthshire Photographic Society – we meet at 7:30pm, on Wednesday evenings between October and March, in the Soutar Lecture Theatre at the AK Bell Library in Perth.
We’re on the up! Perthshire Photographic Society enjoyed success over the summer, with our best-ever results in the Scottish Photographic Federation’s annual Portfolio competition. This one’s very egalitarian, in that, if any club member puts in images for the club entry, they go in to the competition, with no selection by the club.
The Portfolio attracted over 1,700 entries from some 34 clubs around Scotland, some of whom are among the strongest in the UK. In this illustrious company, PPS came 8th= in colour prints, 8th= in mono prints, and 11th= in digital images. It’s something we can be proud of.
Of particular note is John Boyd’s winter landscape, Morning Calm, shown here, which won an SPF Bronze Medal in the Colour Print, as John Tillotson’s Judge’s Choice
Here we publish details of all our visiting speakers, plus a Quick Calendar, linking to a fuller look at each evening of the season.
Meetings will be held on Wednesdays at 7.30pm, at the AK Bell Library, unless noted otherwise. Bring your own mug for a hot drink in the break.
If you’re new, details on how to join are on our membership page.
Visiting speakers:
David Gilliver
Miniature Photography
16 Oct 24 David graduated from the Fine Art Photography course at the Glasgow School of Art in 2001 and has been working as a professional photographer and artist ever since. He specialises in long-exposure photography (the art of ‘Light Painting’) and macro photography (‘Little People’) and has become one of the internet’s best known names in those fields. He will tell us about his approach to Miniatures photography
Espen Helland
Black Grouse Leks
23 Oct 24 Espen is a Norwegian ecologist working in Scotland. With a background in wildlife biology and conservation, he has a passion for the natural world, and believes it is our duty to keep as much wildlife and ecosystems alive for ourselves, for future generations, and for nature’s own sake. He is an expert on Black Grouse and leads photography workshops to leks in Perthshire. Espen is an OM System (Olympus) Ambassador.
Peter Wilkinson
Wildlife on our doorstep
30 Oct 24 Peter is a local Perth photographer who documents the amazing wildlife to be found on our doorstep – from Ospreys and Otters in the Tay to the Quarrymill Kingfishers
Richard Smith
Urban Documentary
20 Nov 24 Richard (a.k.a. Rich Fotografi) is an urban photographer from Glasgow. He says, “I have an unexplained and possibly disturbing interest in photographing cinematic alleyways, street art, abandoned buildings and the Duke of Wellington outside the Gallery of Modern Art especially if he has a new cone on his head.”
Not only that, “For more than three years I have been a volunteer photographer for Homeless Project Scotland and have made them more than 1,000 photos to use in their press releases, website, social media accounts and leaflets.”
Debbie Wallace
Portraits of Childhood
22 Jan 25 Debbie has created a beautiful photographic record of her three girls, from babies to teenagers. Her pictures capture the dreamy, ethereal aesthetic of a perfect childhood
Chas Sievewright
Minimalism to Street
22 Jan 25 Chas is well known to many member of PPS. He will talk about how his photographic interests have evolved from B&W minimalism to gritty urban Street Photography.
Noel Clegg
Fine Art and Long Exposure Photography
26 Feb 25 Noel is one of the UK’s most accomplished Fine Art photographers. He has won numerous international competitions and has exhibited in London, Hong Kong and New York. Noel will show some of his best known pictures then demonstrate his processing technique.
Further information about speakers and topics will be posted here as details become known.
PPS President Ian Mackay will welcome new and returning members as an introduction to the Society and to the forthcoming season.
09October 2024
Member’s talk/ Workshop In the former cafe; turn left as you enter from outside
Bring and Share
Bring some of your own images, as prints or on electronic devices, to share and discuss in small groups
16October 2024
Speaker’s Night
David Gilliver: Miniature Photography
David graduated from the Fine Art Photography course at the Glasgow School of Art in 2001 and has been working as a professional photographer and artist ever since. He specialises in long-exposure photography (the art of ‘Light Painting’) and macro photography (‘Little People’) and has become one of the internet’s best known names in those fields. He will tell us about his approach to Miniatures photography
23 October 2024
Speaker’s Night
Espen Helland: Black Grouse Leks
Espen is a Norwegian ecologist working in Scotland. He is an expert on Black Grouse and leads photography workshops to leks in Perthshire. Espen is an Olympus Ambassador.
Peter is a local Perth photographer who documents the amazing wildlife to be found on our doorstep – from Ospreys and Otters in the Tay to the Quarrymill Kingfishers
06 November 2024
Workshop In the former cafe; turn left as you enter from outside.
The first part of the evening is aimed at helping you to understand what is required for each competition when entering our external competitions (optional background reading linked from here https://www.perthshirephotographicsociety.org.uk/competitions):
Alan Edwards – how all of our external competitions are judged and ranked.
David Hay – a long-time SPF judge’s comments on our PPS entry to the 4-Way Battle which will be held this year on Wed 20 Nov in St Andrews.
John Boyd – talking through the SPF’s advice, published on their website, on what their accredited judges should be looking for when judging club competitions.
After the break, Ian Mackay will talk about the techniques and equipment that he uses for his photography, in his presentation, ‘My Guide to Landscape Photography.’
Competition: Grant Cup; click for – Scoring Slip – Online Voting Form – will be available on 08 Jan 25 – Test voting form – practise your online voting here
Workshop In the former cafe; turn left as you enter from outside
Description
22 January 2025
Speaker’s Night
Debbie Wallace: Portraits of Childhood
Debbie has created a beautiful photographic record of her three girls, from babies to teenagers. Her pictures capture the dreamy, ethereal aesthetic of a perfect childhood.
PLUS Chas Sievewright: Minimalism to Street
Chas is well known to many member of PPS. He will talk about how his photographic interests have evolved from B&W minimalism to gritty urban Street Photography.
We’ll take a look at the high-scoring images entered by clubs around Scotland in last year’s Portfolio competition. The images have been provided by the Scottish Photographic Federation. David Hay has kindly agreed to provide a commentary to accompany the photos. Hopefully, this evening will give you a good idea of the types of photos that we will be looking for when we submit our entry for this year’s Portfolio competition.
12 February 2025
Members’ Talks Night In the former cafe; turn left as you enter from outside
Noel Clegg: Fine Art and Long Exposure Photography
Noel is one of the UK’s most accomplished Fine Art photographers. He has won numerous international competitions and has exhibited in London, Hong Kong and New York. Noel will show some of his best known pictures then demonstrate his processing technique.
Competition: Dall Cup; click for – Scoring Slip – Online Voting Form – will be available on 05 Mar 25 – Test voting form – practise your online voting here
Competition: Simpson Cup; click for – Scoring Slip – Online Voting Form – will be available on 05 Mar 25 – Test voting form – practise your online voting here
12 March 2025
Members’ Talks Night In the former cafe; turn left as you enter from outside
Description
19 March 2025
AGM for 2024-25.
An agenda for the AGM will be sent to all members. After the AGM is complete, we plan on holding a ‘Bring and Share’ session. Please bring in some prints or digital images and we will split into small groups and talk about your images. There will be an experienced member in each group to lead the discusssions.
26 March 2025
End of season dinner and prize-giving. 7pm for 7.30pm. Details will be sent out via a newsletter.
Perthshire Photographic Society’s exhibition as part of Perth Festival of the Arts opens in less than two days time. Over the weekend, a small number of PPS volunteers gathered all the framed prints in their homes. On Monday and Tuesday, a slightly larger team will take care of the hanging, to show each print at its best. And on Wednesday we’ll open our doors, in the middle of the St John’s Centre, and hope to welcome you there.
Over thirty of us gathered for the annual end-of-season dinner, this time at the Royal George hotel in George Street, where we enjoyed a three-course meal in a comfortable private room with sociable round tables. The projector and screen allowed us to run the Birnam Exhibition slideshow during the meal, and show the winning images during the prizegiving. And the bright and spacious room made the event photography that wee bit easier.
President Ian Mackay awarded forty certificates and eight trophies for our internal competitions, plus the Millennium Quaich for distinguished achievement. Congratulations to all the winners, the highly placed, the less-highly-placed, and everyone who supported all our activities through the season in all sorts of ways. This includes a great number of Significant Others, some of whom joined us for the evening – lovely to see you all.
Big thanks, too, to Lizzie and Vicky for looking after the tea table every week through our season.
We’ll meet back again in October. In the meantime, our Facebook Group at Perth Photo Forum will continue over the summer as ‘an online place to learn from discussion of photography, by and for the people of Perth, Perthshire, Perth and Kinross, and surroundings’. So, not just for PPS members. And not just online – we also arrange a series of sociable photo walks. We’ll hope to see you out with your camera over the summer. Bon Vacances!
