What's On

Magical Atmospheres of the Wilderness - Talk by Tobias Gjerde

Tues 8th Sept 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Tobias is an exciting young wildlife photographer from Norway, already gaining international recognition for his atmospheric and artistic approach to nature photography. Despite his age, he has built an impressive portfolio, won major awards, and become one of the youngest members of the Norwegian Association of Nature Photographers.

Our Members Present

Tues 15th Sep 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Short presentations by members of the Society. This is an opportunity to share your images with your fellow members. Volunteers required please! If you would like to take part, please inform Steve Ball, Programme Secretary. (programmesecretary@colchesterphotosoc.co.uk).

Fine Art, Minimalism, and Long Exposure Photography - Talk by Gary Gough MFIAP FRPS MPAGB APAGB

Tues 22nd Sept 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Join Gary Gough as he shares his approach to creating striking fine art images through minimalism and long exposure techniques, transforming simple coastal scenes into powerful, atmospheric photographs. He will also discuss his photographic journey and how his YouTube channel has grown into a platform for teaching, inspiration, and community.

Projected Digital Image League Competition (1st Round) - Appraisal by Paul Parkinson ARPS CPAGB BPE3*

Tues 29th Sept 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

About Paul Parkinson ARPS CPAGB BPE3

I’m based in NW Kent and am a Member of Aperture Woolwich Photographic Society. Up until recently I was Vice Chair, Competition Secretary, KCPA Rep, Zoom guy - but that has gone now, to my great relief, passed on to, I think 6 other people within the club.

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Capture the Moment – A Passion for Sports Photography - Talk by Nick Alston ARPS AWPF DPAGB BPE4*

Tues 6th Oct 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Nick is an experienced photographer with a passion for capturing the energy and intensity of sport. In this engaging talk, he shares images from a wide range of disciplines, with a closer look at hockey, rugby, and boxing, alongside the key techniques behind successful action shots.

Colour Print League Competition (1st Round) - Appraisal by Richard Rackham

Tues 13th Oct 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

CPS 8 x 8 Trophy Competition - Appraisal by Mike Fuller

Tues 20th Oct 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Eight clubs compete with an entry of eight prints, each by eight different photographers.

About Mike Fuller

Natural World Fine Art

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From Animal to Man – and Multiple Exposures - Talk by Marketa Zvelebil

Tues 27th Oct 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Capturing what we perceive as “reality”, the behaviour of animals and people, is one of the most compelling aspects of photography, where we wait, camera in hand, for the decisive moment. At the other end of the spectrum lies a more artistic approach, where reality becomes something we shape and reinterpret.

Projected Digital Image League Competition (2nd Round) - Appraisal by Matt Cooke ARPS MA (Distinction - Mdx) FHEA

Tues 3rd Nov 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

An open PDI competition for images of any subject but which must have been taken in Essex. Two entries per person allowed.

From Amersham Photographic Society to Colchester Photographic Society - Talk by Andrew Bailey

Tues 10th Nov 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Andrew reflects on how his landscape and nature photography has evolved from his days at Amersham Photographic Society through to the present day at Colchester Photographic Society. Through a selection of images, he explores the stories behind their capture, the techniques involved, and the lessons learned from both successful and unsuccessful photographs.

Monochrome Print League Competition (1st Round) - Appraisal by Tony Bramley FRPS

Tues 17th Nov 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

About Tony Bramley FRPS

Tony works from his home studio/offices at Marks Tey near Colchester in Essex. He has been working as a professional photographer for over twenty five years, winning several awards and accreditations in this time within professional photography with the British Institute of Professional Photographers and the Royal Photographic Society. Storm Photography has been the professional photography side of his work for most of this time. In 2016, he started The Light Academy, photography training for one2one, group training & group workshops. In December 2015 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society for his unique conceptual work on Suprematism within photography. This was followed with the RPS Fellowship of the Year Award in 2016, for the ‘most outstanding panel of work achieving a Fellowship’. Personal photography includes; abstract, street, modern & contemporary architecture, still life & portrait photography. Interests: Photography History, Modern Art, Russian Avant-garde, Aviation & Shooting.

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Adventures in Madagascar - Talk by Chrissie Hart ARPS DPAGB

Tues 24th Nov 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

A captivating collection of digital and printed images from Chrissie’s travels in Madagascar, showcasing the people, wildlife, and unique landscapes of the world’s fourth-largest island. With some prints for show during the break.

Projected Digital Image League Competition (3rd Round) - Appraisal by Caroline Preece LRPS

Tues 1st Dec 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

About Caroline Preece LRPS

My photography is a reflection of both my life in London and my rural upbringing in a small country village in the South of England. I am drawn to human elements and documenting everyday life, chance occurrences, captured moments, a look, a gaze, a feeling, an attitude, a time or a place.

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[ZOOM] Annual CPS vs Wetzlar PDI Competition by Zoom - Appraisal by Tom Peck LRPS CPAGB

Tue 8th Dec 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

About Dr. Thomas Peck LRPS CPAGB

I’ve been taking photographs for many years now. I originally focused mostly on macro photography of flowers, and then expanded to include landscape and portraits.

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Image Appreciation

Tues 15th Dec 2026 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Tonight we’re blending a relaxed social gathering with an opportunity to explore the printed medium. Tables will be set up throughout the hall where members can display possibly unseen and/or unmounted printed images they’ve created. This is a chance to discover a variety of genres, explore ideas, discuss paper types and receive valuable feedback to refine and enhance the presentation of your own work.

The Essex Challenge - Appraisal by Jim Bennett CPAGB

Tues 5th Jan 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

An open PDI competition for images of any subject but which must have been taken in Essex. Two entries per person allowed.

Colour Print League Competition (2nd Round) - Appraisal by Nick Akers ARPS BPE4*

Tues 12th Jan 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

About Nick Akers ARPS BPE4*

Nick is a retired corporate communication and marketing manager having worked in senior positions in the telecommunications and energy industries. He lives in Norfolk.

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Alternative Truths - Talk by Damien Demolder

Tues 19th Jan 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

How closely do our photographs reflect the way we truly experience the world? In this thought-provoking talk, Damien explores the gap between perception and image, and how creative use of camera, lens, and technique can bring the two closer together.

MIPS Challenge Trophy Interclub PDI League Competition - Appraisal by Tim Morland DPAGB ARPS

Tues 26th Jan 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Monochrome Print League Competition (2nd Round) - Appraisal by Jane Barrett ARPS AWPF DPAGB BPE5*

Tues 2nd Feb 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

About Jane Barrett ARPS AWPF DPAGB BPE5*

A long-time member of Benfleet Camera Club and more recently The Beyond Group, I have always had a fascination for photography and in particular the printed image. I love the challenge of capturing that moment in time which would normally be a fleeting instant often missed in a blink of an eye, such as a bird taking off or a canoeist being swamped by water.

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Butterflies, Dragonflies and Other Invertebrates - Talk by Liz Cutting ARPS DPAGB BPE5*

Tues 9th Feb 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

As both a naturalist and photographer, Liz brings a deep understanding of her subjects to her work. This talk focuses on photographing invertebrates, particularly butterflies and dragonflies, exploring how observation, timing, and technique come together to capture these delicate and fascinating creatures in their natural environment.

Projected Digital Image League Competition (4th Round) - Appraisal by Alison Jenkins ARPS DPAGB CPAGB/AV BPE1*

Tues 16th Feb 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

About Alison Jenkins ARPS DPAGB CPAGB/AV BPE1*

Alison Jenkins has always been a keen photographer and over the years has studied and achieved many awards and certifications. She is an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society (ARPS), she has a Distinction of the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (DPAGB), and a City & Guilds in photography in which she was awarded a Distinction.

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Colour Print League Competition (3rd and Final Round) - Appraisal by Naomi Saul ARPS ASINWP EFIAP DPAGB APAGB BPE4*

Tues 23rd Feb 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

About Naomi Saul ARPS ASINWP EFIAP DPAGB APAGB BPE4*

Having learned so much from the Camera Club world, I wanted to pass on some of the knowledge I had learned (and am still learning all the time) to others and was invited to join the East Anglian Federation of Photographic Societies (EAF) judges’ panel in 2006. I try to assess what “drove” the photographer to take the picture and always enjoy seeing the work of others.

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Wild Women: Creativity, Community and Collaboration in Photography - Talk by Amy Fields

Tues 2nd Mar 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

An inspiring look at how bringing female photographers together in supportive, creative spaces can spark new ideas, build confidence, and push artistic boundaries through shared experimentation and collaboration.

Three-on-a-Theme (Prints) and Digital Triptych (PDI) Competitions - Appraisal by Jonathan Vaines LRPS CPAGB AFIAP

Tues 9th Mar 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

About Jonathan Vaines LRPS CPAGB AFIAP

Jonathan is a photographer based in Bedford. He is a member and previous president of Cambridge Camera Club. He describes his photography as observational and has a great love of the coast. So, you either find him by the sea or, pre Covid, in a museum watching people walking up and down photogenic staircases.

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Colchester vs Ipswich Annual Battle at Colchester venue - Appraisal by Julie Hutson ARPS DPAGB

Tues 16th Mar 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Eight clubs compete with an entry of eight prints, each by a different photographer.

About Julie Hutson ARPS CPAGB

As well as being an accomplished photographer, having won Landscape Photographer Of The Year 2015 in the Urban View section for A Veil for the Shard, Julie has specific expertise in the pharmaceutical & life sciences sector. Julie has a PhD in Biochemistry, had a lectureship at a London medical school and has worked as a scientist in both research and development directorates.

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Projected Digital Image League Competition (5th Round) - Appraisal by Peter Norris AFIAP DPAGB BPE3*

Tues 30th Mar 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Monochrome Print League Competition (3rd and Final Round) - Appraisal by Tom Peck LRPS CPAGB

Tues 6th Apr 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

About Dr. Thomas Peck LRPS CPAGB

I’ve been taking photographs for many years now. I originally focused mostly on macro photography of flowers, and then expanded to include landscape and portraits.

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Photographing Namibia - Talk by Justin Minns FRPS

Tues 13th Apr 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Join award-winning landscape photographer Justin Minns on a photographic journey through one of the world’s most dramatic environments. From vast desert landscapes and towering dunes to abandoned towns and dark, star-filled skies, Namibia offers endless creative possibilities for the photographer.

Projected Digital Image League Competition (6th and Final Round) - Appraisal by Penny Reeves LRPS

Tues 20th Apr 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

About Penny Reeves LRPS

I’ve been a keen photographer ever since I pooled all my 21st birthday money to buy my first SLR, a Pentax ME Super that I still own. The move to digital back in 2002 opened up a whole new and wonderful world of creativity for me, and the number of burnt dinners that my family will happily accuse me of demonstrates how easily I lose time once I fire up PhotoShop. My recent images have mainly been landscape and nature, but I also shoot still life and portraits and work on composites and creative experiments — if it catches my interest, I’ll have a go (which saved my sanity during the recent lockdowns). I’m always interested to see how other photographers view the world, both to gain inspiration and to share ideas.

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My Life in Photography and Photography in My Life - Talk by Hilary Knight CPAGB

Tues 27th Apr 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Hilary reflects on a lifelong passion for photography, from her early days working in a photographic shop and studio through to the present day. Covering a wide range of genres, including portraiture, wildlife, macro, street, and creative photography, she shares how photography has remained a constant source of enjoyment, inspiration, and memorable experiences throughout her life.

The Wildlife of Delta de L'Ebre - Talk by Naomi Foster CPAGB BPE2*

Tues 27th Apr 2027 8:45pm - 10:00pm

Naomi Foster presents a photographic exploration of the wildlife of Delta de L’Ebre in the Catalonia region of Spain, based on five visits made at different times of the year. Through her images, she reveals the rich variety of birdlife and natural habitats found within this unique wetland landscape, while highlighting how the changing seasons influence both the wildlife and photographic opportunities.

Image of the Year Print and PDI Competitions - Appraisal by David Steel DPAGB

Tues 4th May 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

About David Steel DPAGB

Though I started photography many years ago and have a strong darkroom background, my work these days is predominantly digital for convenience. My day job is in IT and so photography remains mostly a leisure pursuit though I do take it seriously. I am an active member of Cambridge Camera Club and lecture and judge at camera clubs throughout East Anglia and beyond.

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A Passion for Wildlife - Talk by Kevin Pigney ARPS DPAGB ASINWP

Tues 11th May 2027 7:30pm - 8:30pm

In this engaging presentation, Kevin Pigney shares the story of his wildlife photography journey, illustrated through a selection of his most successful and memorable images. More than just showcasing photographs, he reveals the stories behind them: covering locations, planning, and the field craft required to get close to his subjects.

Annual General Meeting and Presentation of Awards

Tues 18th May 2027 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Annual General Meeting and Presentation of Awards, followed by a presentation after the break.