News Season 2025 - 2026
18th December
We held our Christmas Social tonight. Wilson arranged a finger buffet, thanks to him for that. There was a Secret Santa lucky dip and a picture quiz. Some of the members had their photos taken with a Christmas backdrop. A fun night among friends was enjoyed by all.
The club will now take a break until Thursday 8th January when Libby Smith from Carluke Camera Club will give a Photoshop tutorial. January 8th is also the hand-in deadline for the third digital image competition of the season.
11th December
At the latest meeting of Motherwell Photographic Society club members had the opportunity to enhance their portrait photography skills by photographing a model. A white background and studio lights were set up before the amazing Daiquiri Dusk joined us to be our model for the evening. Wearing her Greatest Showgirl costume, Daiquiri delighted the photographers with her modelling expertise and friendly personality. Daiquiri was so popular with the members that before she left us, she had already been booked to come back to model next year.
The Christmas social evening will take place at the next meeting on Thursday 18th December. The club will then take a break, resuming on Thursday 8th January when the guest will be Libby Smith from Carluke Camera Club who will give a Photoshop tutorial.
4th December
The second print competition was judged by David Spinks tonight. The results were as follows
Landscape and general Section
1 - "The Witch's Owl" by Linda Greenhill
2= "Dandelion Reflections" by Dominic Smith
2= "The River Leven awaking from the Mist h" by Douglas McEwen
2= "Calgary from Above" by Ashley Hanlon
3= "Water Buck " by Rodger Shearer
3= "Natures Colours" by Dominic Smith
3= "Its Ma Baw" by Bill Lamarra
Portrait Section
1 - "The Unhappy Couple" by Linda Greenhill
2 - "The Viking and the Ferret" by Linda Greenhill
3= "Breaktime in the Workshop" by Linda Greenhill
3= "The Lady in Red" by Linda Greenhill
3= "Starting School" by Iain Ferguson
4th December
At the Latest meeting club President Rodger Shearer gave two presentations on the subject of Journeys.
In September 2024 Rodger visited the island of Ascension in the South Atlantic Ocean. This is not a destination that many photographers have the opportunity to visit. Rodger’s daughter is Coastal Reserves Manager and Seabird Scientist on the island and helped Rodger get permission for his visit. Rodger shared images of buildings, wildlife and the volcanic landscapes of Ascension. He also talked about the history of the island and gave a fascinating insight into the day-to-day life of the 800 residents.
Rodger’s second presentation was on his recent wildlife tour to Sri Lanka. Rodger’s wildlife photographs are greatly admired by the club members who were delighted to be shown stunning images of sloth bears, leopards, elephants, colourful birds and other animals. Rodger gave information on the lens and camera settings used to capture the images. It was evident that Rodger has a passion for wildlife.
3rd July
The club recently received the results of the Scottish Photographic Federation Annual Portfolio. This is a club and individual competition open to monochrome prints, colour prints and digital images. The highest scoring entries (approximately 30% of the total entry) became the Annual Portfolio of accepted prints and projected images for the year.
Motherwell Photographic Society entered all three sections. Our final placings were 22nd in the colour print section, 22nd equal in the monochrome print section and 10th equal in the digital image section. 28 clubs entered the competition.
Four of the club entries were accepted into the Annual Portfolio. Mummy’s Fur Coat by Rodger Shearer was accepted into the digital section with a score of 14 out of 15. Rodger’s colour print The Leap was given 13 out of 15 and Rodger’s monochrome print Stormy Waters also scored 13 out of 15. The Jersey Pullers by Dominic Smith was accepted into the digital section with a score of 12 out of 15. We look forward to viewing the Portfolio during the 2025-2026 season.
3rd July
A good number of members made the journey to Newarthill today for the funeral of Thomas McGinn. (We knew him as Tom) It was a sad occasion but a lovely service and some of us spoke to the family at the graveside on behalf of the club.
8th June
We have had the very sad news this week that one of our members has died. Thomas McGinn has passed away last week. He was a member of the camera club and of the committee for a very long time and until quite recently was an active member, putting in a variety of genre of images into our competitions from birds in Strathclyde Park to surfers in San Sebastian.
He will be sadly missed.
