Back Row; Joanna, Della, Dave, Mark, Front Row Ita, Lisa, Lilie Photographer (missing) Haydn
14th of June, the beautiful June summer weather, sun sea and sand. Just a shame this was June in Ireland, rain, wind and a rocky landing was the order of the day for the day trip to the Saltee Islands just off the coast of Wexford.
Photo Credit: Dave Dyar, Navan Camera Club
9 Intrepid explorers set out (1 got misplaced on the way! sensibly waiting for better days to return). The first hour and a half was miserable, the wind lashed and rain fogged the lenses. Dave already half soaked from the boat spray (his right half) now was drenched through. A tip for would be outdoors people, don’t wear denim.
Photo Credit : Ita Boyle, Navan Camera Club.Photo Credit: Dave Dyar, Navan Camera Club
The usual Saltee residents were hunkered down out of the weather, Razorbills, Puffins, Guillemots, Gulls, Gannets and Cormorants. Not much action going on between them. Entertainment came from the RNLI rescue of a couple of stranded sailors on the rocks below. A lifeboat was in attendance and a helicopter flew overwatch. Thankfully all were safely rescued and the boat towed off the rocks. With this good news story the weather started to lift, birds started feeding and spirits rose, although it remained overcast throughout the day.
Photo Credit: Haydn Hammerton, Navan Camera Club
here is something special about a puffin, it is in the sad eyes, inquisitive looks and comedic walk that endears them in your heart. This was my first time photographing the Saltee Island birds and I am hooked. Can’t wait to return, maybe with an umbrella and wellies next time, and a suitably longer lens.
Haydn 1st Place Photo of the Year Andrew 2nd Place Photo of the Year Joanna 3rd Place Photo of the Year
As the camera club comes to the end of its 32nd year, we look back at what a great one it has been for the club.
Membership has risen to 74 members. 16 new members completed the beginners course, and we had a record 8 new members joining during the year.
We were visited by some well noted and respected photographers from many genres of photography, to present their work and pass on their knowledge. Peter McCabe, Peter Gordon (explore light) Dominic Reddin (Nature photographer of the year 2017), Jean Gillespie, Eddie Malin, Jos Menting, Eddie Kavanagh, to name but a few.
In January we hosted a night for local camera clubs in the Newgrange Hotel when Robert Thompson gave a fantastic talk on his macro and his Northern Ireland project. David Cantwell who started his career in photography in Navan Camera Club and became a leader in his field of commercial photography visited the club in February.
Joe Houghton was also on hand with plenty of gadgets and gismos just in time for Santas visit (now we all have matching tripods). A few first time speakers for the club with Bernard Hand from Kells who passed on his love of wildlife photography and is going to organise an outing for us next season and Caroline Quinn, another local, also introduced us to her newborn field of photography.
Fiona organised a weekend away in beautiful Connemara for members in October, and we had our annual weekend away to Donegal in April. Gerry ran an outing to Birr Castle and Darina organised a trip to the Japanese Gardens. Aubrey and Ita brought us to the Saltees as well as running the beginners course with Ireneusz for the club again this year. Stephen kindly ran a seven week lightroom and photoshop course for members, and all the money raised was proudly donated to our local Meals on Wheels and Meath River Rescue.
Anthony Lynch and Ian Corruthers held a very enjoyable Astro and steel wool burning in Bective Abbey in October, followed by a smoke and splash workshop with Milca and Andy in January. Our own Ronnie, Margie, Andrew and Fiona ran a macro workshop in the clubhouse in March. We also took a coulple of visits to Bartos studio for a portrait workshop.
Christmas is always a special time for the club members to put the cameras away and enjoy a nightof good food and craic and a visit from our very own Santa. This year we had our night out in Flame, and have a few sneeky photos of the night.
It was with regret that we said goodbye to Ireneusz who returned to his native Poland, He was a great member of the club for the past 10 years, and looked after all the tech areas, as well as facebook and the website, and was always on hand to give advice and help to any member at any time. We will just have to organise an outing to Poland now. Haydn has kindly taken over his reign
for us.
Congratulations due..
Well done to Mark Savage and Haydn on being awarded their L panels during the year.
Ronnie’s photo was selected to be digitally showcased at the “Creative Composition” exhibition at Qlick gallery Amsterdam, with his dancing paint composition.
Haydn won the Wikimedia science photography competition with his Rotunda Microscopes in Chapel Photo and His Lady walking on the platform photo was part of the street photography exhibition in Powerscourt Town House Centre last summer.
Andrew Yeates won the photography competition on Ireland AM with his Howth Lighthouse Image last summer. In the IPF Nature Photographer of the year he also won a gold medal, bronze medal and honourable mention in the NE Regional rounds and at the finals he won an IPF silver medal for
judges choice for his puffin image and two honourable mentions. In the international salons he won 3 honourable mentions.
Well done to all those who entered the 6 competitions (and print of the year) during the year and those who won prizes. Congratulations to Haydn who won first prize in our final print of the year competition, to Andrew who won 2nd and to Joanna who came third. The club photographers of the year were Mark
(senior) Gerry Duane (intermediate) Carol Duffy (novice). Well done to all of you.
We look forward to seeing your prints on the club wall for the coming year.
As we look forward to the next chapter in the history of the club, we must acknowledge all those who have given of their time and expertise to make the club the great club that it is, from those that we always willing to help out at opening up, making teas, cleaning, tidying, organising outings, collecting money, sending emails, keeping facebook, whats app and webpages up to date well done and thank you. And a special mention to Matt and Gerry two of our new members who were always first to offer a helping hand when a volunteer was asked for.
And last but not least to Andrew, Haydn, Della and Fiona, for putting a great calendar of speakers, activities and events together for the year.
We look forward to seeing you all back and to any new members at the start of September.
Award Night Winners with Ritchie Hatch Right to Left – Haydn, Mark, Carol, Andrew, Joanna, Dave (Chairman) and Ritchie Absent – Gerry Photo of the Year Winners Joanna, Andrew and Haydn
