A month by month summary of the Society activities.
August 2026: Rachel Wallace – Art Follows Nature
On a warm August evening, we were delighted to welcome the highly respected photographer Rachel Wallace from Henley-on-Thames, who presented an inspiring talk entitled “Altered Images.”
Like many photographers, Rachel’s passion for photography began at a young age. She later went on to achieve her City & Guilds qualification and Licentiateship of the Royal Photographic Society (LRPS). Working from her home darkroom, complete with a fridge stocked with her favourite wine, Rachel creates and transforms her distinctive photographic images.
Although she remains passionate about film photography, Rachel explained that her first digital camera, a Nikon D70, opened up new creative possibilities. She prefers to carry out much of her image manipulation in-camera rather than through extensive post-processing, creating unique and often unpredictable results.
Rachel has a particular affinity for textures, forms, colours and fine details found in everyday objects. She carefully combines these elements to create compelling images where all the components work harmoniously together. Her work is heavily influenced by photographers and artists who encourage a different way of seeing. Among these are Alan Henderson, who believes photography is all about “looking”, Stephen Gill, particularly his Hackney Flowers series, and Roland Barthes’ Camera Lucida, with its emphasis on layered imagery and personal interpretation.
She also enjoys experimenting with Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) and cited Hungarian photographer Mari Mahr and British conceptual artist John Stezaker as significant influences. Stezaker is renowned for his innovative collages, which combine found postcards, film stills, publicity photographs and other imagery to create surreal and psychologically charged works.
Rachel concluded by discussing more sustainable darkroom practices and alternative photographic processes. Her experiments include lumen prints, chlorophyll prints made using plants and moss, cyanotypes, and Cliché Verre. She also demonstrated how glass and mirrors can be used creatively to produce striking reflective images.
Rachel’s presentation was both fascinating and thought-provoking, showcasing her creativity, technical skill and willingness to experiment. It provided members with plenty of inspiration and new ideas to explore in their own photographic journeys.
Monthly Topic: Blue
Our monthly topic was Blue and once again our members demonstrated just how creatively they can interpret a theme. The variety of images submitted showed imagination, skill, and individuality, proving that our photographers really do know how to make each monthly challenge their own.
Coming Up Next Month:
Jason Parry-Wilson, who will be talking about ‘ Hints & Tips on Wildlife photography’.
Make it your 2026 resolution to join us!
Come along and enjoy inspiring talks from our wonderful guest speakers.
All welcome. We meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month. Meetings start at 7:30pm at the Adderbury Institute.
Photo Credit: Andrew Dayer, ADDPS Member (Blue Topic)
Courtney Killpack, ADDPS
July 2026: Scott Hurd – Thinking Photography
The Himba Goatherd shepherds her flock into the safety of the kraal at sunset
Our July meeting welcomed long-term and long-distance member Scott Hurd, who joined us via Zoom from his hometown in Namibia to talk about all things Thinking Photography.
Scott explained that it was his great-aunt, Vera, who first inspired his love of photography. When he and his wife moved to Otjiwarongo, Namibia, in 2007, he quickly realised that photography there was very different from what he had experienced in the UK.
He found that the quality of light, the architecture, and the landscape completely changed his perception of how light could be used within photography. Scott had to learn these differences quickly, as he soon became extremely popular, photographing everything from school proms and corporate events to real estate and hotels.
When discussing his camera settings, Scott explained that he generally uses Single Focus or Servo mode, an ISO of 800, and an aperture of f/8.0, which he finds important for achieving good depth of field. He typically sets his white balance to either Sunny or Auto and keeps image stabilisation switched on. His key advice was that these settings should be configured before heading out to shoot.
Since moving to Namibia, Scott has photographed a wide range of subjects including portraits, wildlife, promotional images for a friend’s helicopter business, local hotels, and, more recently, projects for cheetah conservation organisations, a cause that is particularly close to his heart.
Scott enjoys using continuous shooting (multi-shot mode), preferring to review and select the strongest image later during post-processing.
Recently, Scott and his wife undertook a road trip from Namibia into South Africa, photographing spectacular landscapes, wildlife, rivers, estuaries, and abandoned diamond-mining towns. One highlight of the journey was Oranjemund, a former diamond-mining town located in Namibia’s Karas Region on the northern bank of the Orange River at the South African border. There, Scott photographed the desolate mines, abandoned houses, and remaining artefacts, all while keeping a watchful eye on the local herds of oryx grazing nearby.
Scott concluded by sharing his most important photographic principles: maintain an open mind, make the best of the opportunities available, pay close attention to balance and composition, be aware of your lighting, keep a positive attitude, and always value success.
Monthly Topic: A View From Above
Our monthly topic was “A View From Above”, and once again our members demonstrated just how creatively they can interpret a theme. The variety of images submitted showed imagination, skill, and individuality, proving that our photographers really do know how to make each monthly challenge their own.
Following Scott’s presentation, founding member Richard Broadbent gave a brief history of the Society, which this month is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary of existence. Scott was also a founding member, and joined us in raising a toast.
Coming Up Next Month:
Rachel Wallace, who will be talking about ‘art follows nature’.
Make it your 2026 resolution to join us!
Come along and enjoy inspiring talks from our wonderful guest speakers.
All welcome. We meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month. Meetings start at 7:30pm at the Adderbury Institute.
Photo credit: Scott Hurd, associate member of ADDPS
Courtney Killpack, ADDPS
June 2026: Aleks Gjika – China
Last Wednesday we welcomed Aleks Gjika, who not only hails from Gloucester but is also a key member of the Cheltenham Camera Club.
Back in 2025, he and 25 other highly experienced and renowned photographers were invited by the Chinese Government and FIAP on a photographic tour of China, with the aim of capturing images to help promote tourism.
Being part of such a large group, Aleks challenged himself to take photographs that went beyond the usual tourist shots—images that would stand out and differ from those taken by his fellow photographers.
Aleks and his group travelled extensively across China, including a visit to the stunning city of Jinan, one of the largest cities in Shandong Province. Often referred to as the “City of Springs”, Jinan is famous for its 72 artesian springs.
During the tour, the group visited a wide variety of locations, including schools, manufacturing sites, retail environments, steel producers, temples, and even a model village. One particular highlight was Aleks’s vibrant photos of the Temple of Confucius, taken during a festival day, capturing colourful dancers and flags in full celebration.
He was also especially proud of the photographs he captured on the Great Wall, as well as his images of the intrepid travellers who visit it each year.
Aleks concluded that the tour was an incredible experience, praising the outstanding hospitality shown to him and his fellow travellers. He said he couldn’t have asked for more.
Our monthly topic was ‘bottles’ and once again, our members really know how to turn our monthly topic into their own!
We had photos from everything from of the insides of bottles, fizzy pop advertising to crazy mountain bike stunt cycling ‘…will he bottle it?’.
Coming Up Next Month:
Ex-member Scott Hurd will be zooming in from Namibia to talk Living and Working as a Photographer in Namibia.
Make it your 2026 resolution to join us!
Come along and enjoy inspiring talks from our wonderful guest speakers.
All welcome. We meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month. Meetings start at 7:30pm at the Adderbury Institute.
Picture Credit: Paul Friend, ADDPS Member (Bottles topic)
Courtney Killpack – ADDPS
May 2026: Lisa Rendall – Dare to Be Different
Wednesday evening, we welcomed renowned photographer Lisa Rendall via Zoom.
Lisa began by sharing aspects of her life that led to her nickname, ‘The Rebel’. Her journey started in the world of breakdancing, where she won numerous awards and had the opportunity to meet and choreograph for several well-known artists and groups “back in the day.” More recently, she has turned her creative focus to photography.
By her own admission, Lisa does not concern herself with technical camera settings; instead, she embraces experimentation and enjoys discovering the effects that can be achieved both at the point of capture and during post-processing. She works without rigid rules, often taking thousands of photographs and then selecting those that resonate with her. Using Affinity, she applies her preferred editing techniques—her “recipes”—to create her distinctive results. Some images are sharply in focus, while others deliberately are not.
In her favourite photographic locations, Lisa has developed an instinct for identifying the best spots for street photography. She possesses what photographers often describe as a “seeing eye” — a natural ability to spot compelling characters, interesting places, and, most importantly, the moments when the two come together. Her intuitive approach allows her to recognise what works and enhance it in her own unique style.
The quality and originality of her work have earned her widespread recognition, including accolades and awards from around the world. It is, therefore no surprise that her diary is filled with invitations to exhibit her work and speak to photography clubs.
Our monthly topic was ‘food’ and boy, do our members really know how to photograph food & love to blur the lines between human food & insects dining out on flowers!
Coming Up Next Month:
Aleks Gjika will come to talk about his trip to China.
Make it your 2026 resolution to join us!
Come along and enjoy inspiring talks from our wonderful guest speakers.
All welcome. We meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month. Meetings start at 7:30pm at the Adderbury Institute.
Picture Credit: Lisa Rendall
Courtney Killpack – ADDPS
March 2026: Nicholas Posner – 40 Years of Celebrity Portraiture.
On a dry Wednesday evening in March, we welcomed renowned photographer Nicholas Posner, who spoke about his remarkable 40‑year career in celebrity portraiture.
Nicholas grew up in Sunderland and went straight from school into medical training at Leeds Medical School. His career took a dramatic turn after attending the Durham Miners’ Gala, where he captured an iconic photograph of Arthur Scargill, later acquired by the National Portrait Gallery. That moment sparked his determination to photograph the major figures of the political and celebrity world.
Driven by ambition, Nicholas set himself the goal of photographing every Prime Minister of his era. Over the years, his subjects have ranged from Geoff Capes, World’s Strongest Man, to Kylie Minogue and Paul Daniels.
Relentless in his pursuit of political portraiture, Nicholas contacted politicians directly and was ultimately able to photograph Cecil Parker and John Major.
He developed a strong rapport within political circles and was later invited by Kenneth Baker to Dorneywood, where he combined photography with a friendly game of snooker. Unbeknown to Kenneth, Nicholas was a keen amateur player, and went on to win the match by potting the final ball.
His distinguished portfolio also includes portraits of Bobby and Jackie Charlton, Tony Blair, Edward Heath and James Callaghan.
After moving to Oxford with his family, Nicholas was invited by the Oxford Vaccine Group to photograph Annalise Dodd and Chris Patten. Away from politics, he enjoys photographing the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and also assists Michael Heseltine by photographing the trees and flowers at Thenford Gardens.
Coming Up Next Month:
AGM followed by ‘Whose photo is it’.
Make it your 2026 resolution to join us!
Come along and enjoy inspiring talks from our wonderful guest speakers.
All welcome. We meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month. Meetings start at 7:30pm at the Adderbury Institute.
Photo Credit: Nicholas Posner
Courtney Killpack, ADDPS
February 2026: Roger Hance – Attracting Birds to your garden
On a dark and rainy February evening, we welcomed photographer Roger Hance—joining us virtually from Colchester—to share insights into the wildlife that visits his garden.
Roger began by explaining that the key to successful garden wildlife photography lies in using a well‑camouflaged hide, or setting up discreetly in a summer house or shed. A good zoom lens, he noted, is essential for capturing activity across different areas of the garden without disturbing the animals.
To attract birds, Roger has developed several creative setups. One of his favourites is a moss‑covered log into which he drills small holes and fills them with peanut butter, suet, fat and seeds. He also positions an additional perch beside his standard bird feeder, allowing birds to queue naturally while he photographs them, often adding extra branches to create more visually appealing compositions.
Roger went on to describe how he camouflages parts of his house exterior using camouflage sheeting and wooden panels painted in earth tones. This helps the structures blend seamlessly into the background of his photographs, ensuring the wildlife remains the focal point.
His garden is not only a haven for birds but also attracts frogs to his specially adapted pond, which includes a shallow, plant‑rich edge. This setup provides an ideal resting place and creates beautiful, natural backgrounds. Roger emphasised that the secret to photographing frogs is to get down low and adopt a “frog’s‑eye view” rather than shooting from a standing position.
In addition, his neighbour’s garden attracts jays and a variety of newts, offering further opportunities for wildlife photography close to home.
Roger also showcased his moth‑attracting setup, which consists of a blue fluorescent light, a cardboard box and egg trays placed outdoors overnight.
By morning, the setup often contains an impressive selection of moths, which he then photographs against carefully chosen natural backdrops.
To round off the evening, Roger highlighted his successful YouTube channel, where he shares detailed explanations of his various setups and techniques. His content is freely available for anyone interested in learning more about garden wildlife photography.
Coming Up Next Month:
We’re delighted & honoured to welcome the super talented Nicholas Posner talking about 40 Years of Celebrity Portraiture.
Make it your 2026 resolution to join us!
Come along and enjoy inspiring talks from our wonderful guest speakers.
All welcome.
Photo Credit: Roger Hance
Courtney Killpack, ADDPS
January 2026: Club Night – Favourite/Best 3 images of 2025
We kicked off 2026 with a fantastic first meeting, where members shared their top three images from 2025. The selection truly reflected the diversity of our community’s interests, featuring everything from Neolithic hills and miniature houses to street photography, Kestrels, VE Day celebrations, local Tour of Britain cyclists, Zimbabwean leopards, starry skies, steam rallies, and London protests.
Coming Up Next Month:
We’re delighted to welcome Colchester-based photographer Roger Hance, who will be sharing his expertise on backyard birds—exploring the variety you can find and offering tips on how to photograph them at their very best.
Make it your 2026 resolution to join us!
Come along and enjoy inspiring talks from our wonderful guest speakers.
All welcome.
Photo Credit: Richard Broadbent – ADDPS Member
Courtney Killpack, ADDPS