Printable version of the 2026 program here
Assessment Competition Rules here
SPC Policy on the use of Generative AI here
Digital/Projected Images Assessment Guidelines here
Assessment entry form (two per page) here
scroll to the bottom for the 2026 program
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2025 SPC Club Program
February 12 – Assessment – Print - ‘Holidays’
A happy subject! Show us your photographs from your holidays, either home or abroad, family and friends, or an adventure!
February 26 – Workshop - Flash
Flash is a most under-utilised aid to effective photography. We will cover bounce flash, fill flash and direct flash techniques, and Inbuilt camera flash. If time permits, remote flash. Bring your camera and your flashgun; Make sure you have some fresh batteries.
March 12 – Assessment – Print - ‘Musical Instruments’
The instrument is the main point of interest. May show fingers or hands playing the instruments. Think classical…curves, strings, tuners, keys B&W, etc. Seek complimentary lighting for this one.
March 26 – Workshop – Fine Art Printing
Tips and tricks to get the most out of your printer. We will also look at some simple ways you can calibrate your monitor without using a dedicated hardware instrument such as a Spyder Monkey. Setting things up in Lightroom, Photoshop or other software to get consistent quality results.
April 9 – Assessment – Digital - ‘Tabletop Photography’
Photography of selected items using artificial backgrounds, studio or flash lighting…painting with light including UV or window light.
April 23 – Workshop – Intentional Camera Movement
Tips tricks and practice to getting those buttery movement shots where colours bleed into each other like watercolours on wet paper. In time for the June abstract assessment. Bad ICM looks awful, but great ICM can look sublime. Discover how to do it properly.
May 14 – Assessment – Print – ‘Industrial’
Any image that depicts machinery, work practices, people at work, factories or tools. Anything from a watch maker to a tyre changer to a …you get the picture.
May 28 – Workshop – Zoom Meeting
A social event so we can get together to discuss anything and everything photographic without having to leave home in the cold, dark and often wet winter months.
June 11 – Assessment – Digital – ‘Abstract’
We have just had an abstract assessment, so I think you all know the drill here.
June 25 – Workshop / Night Street Photography in Nowra (6:30pm, Nowra School of Arts carpark)
We have had a number of night walks over the last few years, and they have been great fun. A leisurely stroll around the sights of Nowra…you will be amazed at how different familiar places look through a camera viewfinder at night. A fun gathering which should enable members to get some images for subsequent assessment subjects. Bring a torch and a tripod. A hip flask wouldn’t go astray either.
July 9 – Assessment – Print – ‘Landscape or Seascape’
Pretty self-explanatory. Be sure to exploit morning or evening light for mood enhancement in this assessment. Avoid the empty foreground syndrome.
July 12 - Workshop - Scribbly Gum Studio Annual Photographic Shoot.
This annual event, sponsored by the artist Randall Sinnamon at Scribbly Studio in the bushland of Woollamia near Jervis Bay is on a Saturday. Arrive 11am for morning tea and then wander around the Studio and surrounding bushland to take photos of' anything and everything' (there are so many hidden gems there). Return to the studio for lunch at noon. This will be a SPC long lunch where we discuss what we have photographed and what we have seen. Please bring a plate of food to share and your own drinks.
July 23 - Meet at UOW for judging of the 2nd Annual Scribbly Gum Studio Photograph Competition with Randall Sinnamon (Vanessa and Michael are to be confirmed as co-judges). There is a Perpetual Trophy designed and made by Randall as an extra incentive.
August 13 – Assessment – Digital – ‘Street Photography’
Capture the mood of the street, usually, but not necessarily in a candid way. Photograph people going about their daily lives, doing ordinary things.
August 27 – Workshop – Light Painting
A fun night shooting abstract light patterns using a number of different techniques. If you have any paper lanterns or sabre lights feel free to bring them along. You will need your tripod for this shoot. Matt will bring along a series of different light sources to play with and photograph. He will also bring some sparklers. Dave can be the safety officer.
September 10 – Assessment – Print - ‘Winter’
Any image that makes us shiver. Think rain, frost, logs on the fire, people rugged up etc.
September 24 – Workshop
Zoom meeting
October 8 – AGM and Assessment – Digital - ‘Portrait
October 22 – Workshop
Member’s request - Let us know what you want to have for a workshop.
October 24 – Annual Club Dinner and Awards Night
November 12 – Assessment – Print - ‘Nature’
.November 26 – Workshop
Guest speaker – An interesting guest speaker
December 10 – Open (no set subject) – Print - Peer judging
You get to be the judge. This also doubles as our Christmas social night, so please bring a suitably festive plate of nibbles and whatever you would like in the way of liquid refreshments.
2026 SPC Club Program
11th Feb: Print-based assessment. Subject: "Complementary Colours"
Look at the colour wheel. Aim to capture images prominently featuring colours from opposite sides of the colour wheel. If you need help with the colour wheel, check this out
25th Feb: Workshop: Paper Bag Team challenge
The idea is that we will team up at random (names drawn from a hat). Together we will work out how best to photograph a mystery object (the one in the paper bag). These images will be presented from critique at the March workshop.
11th March: Digital assessment: Subject: "Unloved"
This encompasses any subject that gives the impression of being unloved, neglected, abandoned, run-down, left behind etc.
25th March: Workshop: Members only (i.e. no outside judges and not contributing to the the annual pointscore)
Critique of paper bag challenge images. Tell us about your image, what you were trying to present and discuss with others how well you managed to achieve your vision and, if you didn't manage, discuss with others how you might achieve that vision. Because this is a workshop related excercise, there will be no pointscores awarded.
8th April: Print-based assessment. Subject: "Landscape/Seascape"
Pretty self-explanatory. Be sure to exploit morning or evening light for mood enhancement in this assessment. Avoid the empty foreground syndrome.
22nd April: Workshop: Collaborative photoshoot with a local dance group.
Venue will be the Nowra School of Arts. There will be opportunities to take traditional "studio" type portrait shots of couples dressed in their finery and of movement and action from various places on the dance floor, amongst the dancers.
13th May: Digital assessment: Subject: "Animals"
The subject "animals" is specifically chosen to avoid strict nature definitions. You can photograph animals in the wild, domesticated/farm animals, pets, mammals, fish, insects, birds etc. No limits but must be alive and not from the plant kingdom or man-made (eg statues)
27th May: Workshop: Table top photography.
Your images will be ideal for the August digital assessment later in the year.
10th June: Print-based assessment. Subject: "Transport"
Think planes, trains, automobiles, buses, bikes, balloons, skateboards. Anything that moves you!
24th June: Workshop / Photo Outing: Nowra CBD night walk (weather dependent)
Your images will be ideal for the September assessment of "Night Outdoors"
8th July: Print-based assessment. Subject: "Macro or Close up"
If you have a macro lens, great. If not try to get close up in camera with zoom or close-up rings.
22nd July: Workshop / Photo Outing: Sunset at Orient Point
More information from Denis re meeting time and place closer to the event.
Also in July (Date TBA) Scribbly Gums Studio Photo Outing. More information once things are arranged
12th August: Digital assessment: Subject: "Table top photography"
Images from the May 27th workshop on Table Top photography will be ideal for this assessment.
26th August: Workshop: Light Painting
9th September: Print-based assessment. Subject: "Night Outdoors"
You will be able to use images from both the June Nowra CBD night walk and the August light painting workshop.
23rd September: Scribbly Gums Studio photo competition judging and prize giving
14th October: Annual General Meeting;
immediately followed by Print-based Assessment: Subject "Portrait"
28th October: Workshop / Photo Outing: Floriade in Canberra. (Overnight stay recommended)
More information from Denis will be available well before the date.
30th October: Annual awards dinner:
Last year's dinner was rated the best in memory for the venue and the food. At a heavily subsidised price it makes for a very enjoyable and modestly priced event. Put it in your diary now.
11th November: Print-based assessment. Subject: "Flora"
If you went to the Floriade outing in Canberra you will have some great images for this one.
25th November: Workshop: Photo critique or guest speaker
A photo critique will take the form of bringing along an image that you are either very proud of and would like to share and tell us the story behind it. You may also choose to bring along an image that has vexed you. One that just didn't seem to come together. Be prepared to share the story also and see if your fellow members can help resolve your problems with it. These critiques are for educational purposes only and will not count towards the annual pointscore.
9th December: Print-based Peer assessment: "Open" (i.e. no set subject)