We are the Oldest Photography in Gloucestershire, dating back to 1865.Wether you are an experienced Photographer or just starting out on your Photography journey you will receive a warm welcome. We meet on Thursday evenings from September to May at 7.45pm in Holy Apostles Church Hall in Charlton Kings. Our weekly programme includes presentations by experienced photographers as well as critiques and competitions - all designed to encourage members, whether complete beginners or more experienced photographers, to develop and improve their photography. We run an 'Aggregate Competition' for prints and projected images during the year, with 'Beginners', 'Intermediate' and 'Advanced' categories, as well as competitions for specific genres and Audio Visual presentations, and take part in 'Battles' with other clubs. We look to our visiting and experienced judges to offer constructive criticism as well as make awards. We also run a monthly web-based thematic 'Challenge' competition to encourage members to go out and take new photographs; this popular competition is judged by members. Our 'Annual Exhibition' is one of the highlights of the year and gives our members the opportunity to show the best of their work in public. At the same time, we host the 'Gloucestershire Young Photographer' competition for students in Gloucestershire in conjunction with Cheltenham Arts Council. We offer courses and other opportunities to enable members of varying abilities to learn basic and more advanced techniques. We publish 'In Focus' - an informative newsletter for members - three times a year. We encourage members to apply for photographic distinctions and to take part in national and international competitions. We have two active sub-groups: the 'Studio Group' for mainly portraiture, and the 'Digital Group' for all things digital. We are looking to arrange more outings and our hard-working Committee aims to respond to suggestions from members. Planning is under way to celebrate our 150th anniversary in 2015. As you can see we have a thriving website with critiques, competition entry facilities, a marketplace and blogs - though some pages are fully accessible only to members. New members are always made welcome and supported. So whether you are just a beginner or a more experienced photographer and whatever genres interest you - for example pictorial, documentary, natural history, portraiture, creative, audio-visual, sport - or just photography in general, you will find many opportunities to share your interests and develop your skills as a member of Cheltenham Camera Club.
