Members of Drogheda Photographic Club are no strangers to winning awards, in the fifty years since the club was established they have won almost everything there is to win in photographic circles.
This month however, the club was chosen for the singular honour of a multi-page spread in the Amateur Photographer (AP) magazine which is considered to be the bible for photographers, both amateur and professional.
It is a considerable feather in the cap for a photographer to have an image published by AP but for Drogheda Photographic Club to be the subject of a four page spread is a huge testament to the quality of the work they are producing.
Established in 1972, Drogheda Photographic Club and a number of the founding members are still active in the club today. They have our own premises in Millmount.
They have been awarded the Best Club in Ireland title fifteen times and Drogheda and was one of the founder member clubs of the Irish Photographic Federation (IPF).
One of the Drogheda Photographic Club members, Des Clinton FIPF FRPS MFIAP, was the first President of the IPF. The current President, John Butler FIPF ARPS, is also a member of the Drogheda Club.
There is much more to the club than winning prizes however. A large part of their mission is to introduce beginners to the immense pleasures that photography has to offer.
To that end they offer a ten-week beginners’ photography course twice a year which is open to members and non-members.
These first steps in photography can lay the foundation for a lifetime’s enjoyment of what the diverse world of photography has to offer.
These can vary from photographing family members in a better light to producing awe inspiring landscapes or macro images of insects or sports images – in fact whatever floats your boat. The only limiting factor in photography is your imagination.
“A typical club meeting will feature a presentation from a guest speaker chosen from a pool of renowned photographers from across Ireland and the UK but we also encourage club members from all levels to speak about their images and their approach to photography” said Club Chairman, John Butler.
“We organise practical evenings such as model shoots, still life sessions or focused sessions on a particular topic such as lighting or printing. Our practical evenings give new members the opportunity to take photos while learning from more experienced Club members.
“Lecturers usually take questions during or at the end of their talk, after which, at about 9.30 we go for tea or coffee in our own tea room. This provides a good opportunity for informal discussion and learning.
“Experienced club members are always keen to share their knowledge with newer members who find their advice and encouragement very helpful. We have a fully equipped studio and high quality photo printer for use by club members.
“We usually plan several outings a year, for example, to photograph sea birds or places of historical and cultural interest, but this has been significantly curtailed during the pandemic. We do, however, hope to have an outing later this year.
“The main objective of the Club has always been to promote and encourage photography in Ireland. Photography is now more accessible than it has ever been. A key goal is to encourage more people to explore photography and produce high quality prints and there is a place in our club for people with all levels of photographic skills.
For more information see:
https://www.droghedaphotographicclub.com/
