- Members Benefits Intro to Our Sponsors on Training May 14th
- Evaluating Images – Upload Before May 14th
- Results for competitions in 2024 April – Digital and Print
- Results for competitions in 2024 March – Digital and Print
- When Entering a Club Competitions Please Read the Competition Briefs for the Set Subject.
- Results for competitions in 2024 February – Digital and Print
- Axholme Interclub Competition: Set Subject – Street Photography
- Membership Renewal & New Membership 2024
- Competition rule changes 2024
- Competitions are Open for 2024
Members Benefits Intro to Our Sponsors on Training May 14th
An Introduction/Update on our Corporate Sponsors and Preferred Suppliers, the Benefits that are available to the Members of the Castle Hill Photography Club and what you should know about these Corporate Sponsors and Preferred Suppliers before you purchase your next Camera or other Photographic Equipment.
by Peter John O'Brien, May 10, 2024
Evaluating Images – Upload Before May 14th
The training night on Tue May 14th is ‘What Are Judges Looking For’
I will be presenting that key components that are covered in the FCC Judging Course so that you can review your images with those components in mind.
Following that outline, the members will be able to explore their understanding of those judging components by evaluating images in an interactive session.
In order to have images to evaluate, I am calling for members to supply some images for evaluation. These could be past or future images for competitions. Or images that you are not sure of their potential.
The ideal way to provide these images is the Critique Corner in MyPhotoClub. In the Members area, the fourth button is where you can upload your images.
The Critique Corner is an area that can be used on an ongoing basis whereby you can upload an image for other members to offer suggestions and then you can also reply.
by Peter John O'Brien, May 8, 2024
Axholme Interclub Competition: Set Subject – Street Photography
Last date to submit entries: Midnight May 19th.
link to enter images: Goto Competition
CHRSLPC has an interclub competition with the Axholme Club in the UK every six months. In May Axholme chooses the competition set subject and in November Castle Hill selects the set subject. Axholme has chosen Street Photography as the competition set subject, we now require images to enter this competition. There is a UK judge and an Australian judge and the club with the best overall scores is the winner. Street photography is a lot of fun, now is the time to practice some street photography and submit some entries.
As a guide most people do not mind if you take their photograph. Avoid children and homeless / distressed people.
Street Photography Definition
Street photography is a genre of photography that records everyday life in a public place. Street photographers capture spontaneous moments of people in a candid state, often without their knowledge. Street photography is not directed or staged, and it communicates the experience of everyday life and the vision of the artist by careful framing and timing.
by Robert Clarke, February 7, 2024
Results for competitions in 2024 April – Digital and Print
There were 18 entries that were rated the highest by our judge(s).
Members can view all images and comment on them by following this link
View / Comment entries in 2024 April – Digital and Print
click here to see a pdf catalog of all competition results
Eyes Geoffrey Higgins – Image of the Month – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Lying Eyes Nic Marotta – Image of the Month – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Autumn Reflections Vito Ricapito – Image of the Month – open A Grade Open Digital |
Murder Ball At Its Best Peter John O’Brien – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Big Splash Dianne Tavora – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Alone Bain Shenstone – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Birubi_Dancer Peter Lees – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Last Wave Anthony Hicks – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Pure Innocence Narelle Wajzer – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Racer 22 Peter Van Acquoy – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Twelve Moore St Vito Ricapito – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Sails in Mono Terry Lilley – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
From The Inside Rod Harris – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Rain drops Ian Roberts – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Solitude Kay Sath – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
On Show Ward Kirshaw – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Dahlia Dreaming Gillian Chan – Image of the Month – open B Grade Open Digital |
Fractured reflections Jean Rhodes – Merit – open B Grade Open Digital |
by Peter John O'Brien, April 23, 2024
Results for competitions in 2024 March – Digital and Print
There were 10 entries that were rated the highest by our judge(s).
Members can view all images and comment on them by following this link
View / Comment entries in 2024 March – Digital and Print
click here to see a pdf catalog of all competition results
By the lake Kay Sath – Image of the Month – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Louise Rosa Doric – Image of the Month – open A Grade Open Digital |
Sunrise At The Entrance Choo Beng Chew – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Mt Lamington landscape 2 Alex Springall – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Myrtleford Ward Kirshaw – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Rainy day on the Anzac bridge Jean Rhodes – Image of the Month – open B Grade Open Digital |
Ocean Deep Peter Robson – Merit – open A Grade Open Digital |
Lady Cordelia Dina Gialouris – Merit – open A Grade Open Digital |
Santorini Sunset Jan Lambert – Merit – open B Grade Open Digital |
Cross Country Jumper Ward Kirshaw – Merit – open B Grade Open Digital |
by Gary Elliott, March 26, 2024
When Entering a Club Competitions Please Read the Competition Briefs for the Set Subject.
If entering a club competition in the set subject section it is very important to review the competition briefs. If your image does not meet the brief, it is likely that your entry will receive a no score. Often members enter images that have manmade structures in Australian landscapes. Manmade structures can be part of the image, but they must not be a dominant element of the image. The competition guidelines state “A photograph of Australian natural land or coastal scenery, which may include people, buildings, animals, or other objects (example manmade roads/tracks & fences) provided these elements do not dominate the photograph”.
If your image has a dominant manmade element such as a dominant building or structure, consider entering the image into the open category.
by Robert Clarke, March 14, 2024
Results for competitions in 2024 February – Digital and Print
There were 46 entries that were rated the highest by our judge(s).
Members can view all images and comment on them by following this link
View / Comment entries in 2024 February – Digital and Print
click here to see a pdf catalog of all competition results
THE CHASE Geoffrey Higgins – Image of the Month – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Feeding Young One branko komlin – Image of the Month – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Little future aviator Monica Mulder – Image of the Month – open A Grade Open Digital |
Scarlet Honeyeater Geoffrey Higgins – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Messy eater Linda Frost – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Dinner time Linda Frost – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Australasian Figbird Carol Abbott – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Down The Hatch Peter John O’Brien – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Fishing Is Easy Peter John O’Brien – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Territory battle z_DSC3083.jpg2 CH Lisa Harris – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
The glory of life zZ72_9932 .jpg2 Lisa Harris – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Mount Kaputar Sandra O’Farrell – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Dragons Tooth John O’Farrell – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Interloper Jennifer Lees – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Bird Brekkie Peter Van Acquoy – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Endangered Alan Fowkes – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
The Girl is Mine Alan Fowkes – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
King Parrot Patricia Sheumack – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Hungry little mamma squirrel Monica Mulder – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Lone Flamingo Terry Lilley – Merit – set subject A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Couple Eric Chung – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Montague Island Paul Nomikos – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Tree Frog Paul Nomikos – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Two Mouths To Feed Choo Beng Chew – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Robber fly with prey 7716 2 Alex Springall – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Quick Snack branko komlin – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Busy Bee Jan Lambert – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Snack Time Ward Kirshaw – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Flying Rainbow Rod Harris – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Life Blood Kay Sath – Merit – set subject B Grade Set Subject Digital |
Kitty Litter Gerard Siddle – Image of the Month – open B Grade Open Digital |
Double Take Peter Robson – Merit – open A Grade Open Digital |
Oops !! Terry Jenkins – Merit – open A Grade Open Digital |
Behind Bars Ian Moore – Merit – open A Grade Open Digital |
Ride the Wave Trung Cang Nguyen – Merit – open A Grade Open Digital |
Lucas 2014 William Stewart – Merit – open A Grade Open Digital |
Business Tycoon Dina Gialouris – Merit – open A Grade Open Digital |
Running for finish Gary Elliott – Merit – open A Grade Open Digital |
Flying Gary Elliott – Merit – open A Grade Open Digital |
Gramophone Dina Gialouris – Merit – open A Grade Open Digital |
Natures Dance – The Art of Survival Manny Mavi – Merit – open A Grade Open Digital |
Anzac Bridge Vito Ricapito – Merit – open A Grade Open Digital |
Eye Steve McHardy – Merit – open B Grade Open Digital |
Memorial IMG_2261r Jean Rhodes – Merit – open B Grade Open Digital |
Sunrise Serenity Gerard Siddle – Merit – open B Grade Open Digital |
Hannahs watching Geoffrey Hodgins – Merit – open B Grade Open Digital |
by Gary Elliott, February 27, 2024
Membership Renewal & New Membership 2024
The cut-off date to complete membership renewals was the 9th February 2024 due to changes in processes with MyPhotoClub (MPC). If you missed renewing by that date, you will need to re-register as a NEW MEMBER and pay the joining fee.
To complete the New Membership Process:
The Photography Club is a sub-club of Castle Hill RSL Club. You MUST be a member of the CHRG (Castle Hill RSL Club, Parramatta RSL Club or the Lynwood Country Club) and be over 18 years old. Refer below for Junior Members aged 16-17 years old, and in the case of a family membership all family members must be both RSL and Photography club members.
• If you need to join the Castle Hill RSL club then click here for details of Castle Hill RSL Membership
• Everyone requires an account to sign into. Your email address is used to sign in.
• Click on the JOIN OUR CLUB button on the Home Page. When you click on the Join our Club button you will be prompted to sign in or create a new account. Create a new account if you are a first time member or Sign in if you are a member who missed the renewal date.
• From this point you will need to pay your membership. To start this process, click on the ‘PAY MEMBERSHIP FEE link/button below. You will be taken to the club’s New Member Registration page on TryBooking which is an event booking site the club is using to process membership payments.
o For the open session option, click the Select button.
o On the membership options page select the appropriate membership option, enter ‘1’ and click the Next button.
o On the ‘Ticket Details’ page fill in the form. This information is required so the club can manage and communication with its members. As TryBooking is a third party application you will be asked to provide information already provided to register for MyPhotoClub. Click the Next button.
o Follow the prompts and complete the payment process.
• The TryBooking payment system offers two options, Credit Card, PayPal and GPay. There will be a booking fee added to the price of the membership by TryBooking, 2.5% or 3.0% transaction fee, depending on payment method, and $0.50 handling fee. Once you complete the process an email will be sent to you with a receipt. Please send a photo of your RSL Club Membership card to the Membership Secretary and a joining code will be sent to you to enter and complete the registration process.
• Junior members, aged 16-17, are now permitted under the following conditions
• The Junior member must apply to become a Junior Member of the RSL at the membership desk
• A Parent/Guardian, as well as the Junior member, must become members of the photography club
• The Parent/Guardian must accompany the Junior member at all club events
• Parents/Guardians and the Junior Member may join the club utilising a Family membership
• By becoming a financial member of the club, you hereby agree to abide by the rules and conditions of the club, refer Club Constitution
NOTE: Members who joined on or after 1st October 2023 do not need to renew their membership, as it’s current until the end of 2024.
If any issues are encountered, email the Membership Secretary. Include in the email details about what you were trying to do, what went wrong, including any error messages, and, if possible, a screen dump of the TryBooking page where the issue was encountered.
by Narelle Wajzer, January 9, 2024
Competition rule changes 2024
Happy new year to all our members and we look forward to some outstanding photography images, training sessions, outings and social events in 2024.
If you haven’t thought about entering the club’s competitions, give it a go as it is a great way to improve your skills as all images are judged and judges usually give suggestions on how to improve images. Even if you don’t enter a competition come along to the competition night to see and hear what the judges say about the entered images.
Due to the introduction of generative fill and advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in photoshop the Australian Photography Society (APS) has developed rules regarding generative fill and AI in competitions. The Castle Hill Competition committee reviewed these rules and has adjusted the club’s competition rules to be in line with the APS. The rules will apply to all competitions commencing in 2024.
The New Competition Rules for CHRSLPC are:
5.6.3 Post-production.
Overview of post-production rules
The simplest way to think of the post-production rules is that you must have captured the pixels in your camera. Software can be used to adjust those pixels in the many options that software such as Photoshop provides. You cannot use any pixels that are generated by software or purchased overlays (for example, fog, dust, light rays etc) as they are not your work.
Post-production rules
Post-production processing that is entirely based on pixels in the original image and does not extend the image beyond its original boundaries is ‘acceptable’. The processing must be under the direct control of the photographer, whether that processing is manual such as cloning, painting, dodging, etc or automated such as using filters or plugins.
‘Content-aware Fill’ or similar modification that is entirely based on pixels in the original image/s and which does not extend the image beyond its original boundaries is ‘acceptable’.
‘Generative Fill’ or the use of ‘Artificial Intelligence’ or other processes that use content generated by software from written / verbal prompts or developed from the work of others is ‘not acceptable’.
by Robert Clarke, January 7, 2024
Competitions are Open for 2024
Members can now enter competitions for 2024. Each month there is a set subject and open competition.
The set subjects for 2024 are:
Month | Set Subject |
February | Nature |
March | Australian Landscapes / Seascapes |
April | Monochrome |
May | Creative / Experimental |
June | People Portrait |
July | Rush Hour |
August | Panorama |
September | Water in Motion |
October | Playing with Artificial Light |
November | Panning |
There are two ways to access the competition entry page where images can be dragged and dropped in. Note the maximum image size and dimensions. Images that have received a credit or higher in a prior competition cannot be re-entered into a competition.
Method 1: In the calendar click on the date of the competition. A pop-up will be seen with the set subject guidelines. Click on the pop-up to make it full size. At the bottom of the pop-up there is a link that will take you to the competition entry page where the set subject guidelines are also displayed. Close the pop-up to access the competition entry page. Make sure that you nominate the competition entered, set or open, digital or print.
Method 2: Click on Members. When the page opens at the top right click on the 2024 year selector. All the 2024 competitions that are open are displayed with the closing dates. Click on the competition that you want to enter; a pop-up will be displayed with the set subject guidelines. To enter the competition, close the guideline pop-up.
by Robert Clarke, December 20, 2023