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Thursday, 26 February 2015
Official CVS-Cheshire East Certificate of Membership


Here is the Groups Official Membership Certificate that arrived today, for 
next years membership of CVS-Cheshire East.

Will now get this over  to Mel Smith our Web Page Webmaster to include 
somewhere on the Web Page (if she can now find room ;)

Watch this Space :)


21st Group make the local Press, yet AGAIN!

Press Article from the local Guardian Newspaper this week, 27th Feb 2015
We are being treated very well by the local Middlewich & Winsford Guardian 
Newspaper, with thanks to Josh, the Middlewich and Winsford Guardian Reporter.


I do provide the information when we have something worthy to report, and 
Josh certainly makes sure we get our nose in somewhere, even though he was 
not able to use any of our photos, this time around. However, with such 
good press I feel sure this will allow for the group to gain more members, 
as this never fails when we have good press relations.

NOW-How about making more of the many photos the group take when we are 
on outings, or even your own photos when out and about. You will see from 
the nice photo above by Nick Jones, and their comments, they NEED MORE 
FROM YOU!!!

More for the GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER.
Get your own OUT and ABOUT photos sent in to the Guardian, and they will 
do their level best to try and get them printed. 

Try to make sure you also tell them you are a member of the 21st Group, 
as this will also give us some more, much needed press, and the more press 
we get, means more new members.

More photos of Mid-Cheshire for use by the INDEPENDENT Free Newspaper.
You can also help the group by getting your MID-CHESHIRE photos, of 
anything, anywhere, on any topic, sent to myself using the group e-mail 
of the21stctncg@gmail.com.

They have committed to myself to run a GROUP ARTICLE each month, 
letting the local community know who we are, what we do in Mid-Cheshire, 
and why!!

ALL we have to do is to get your Mid-Cheshire photos to myself, and until 
the Web Page takes over this task, I will then send your photos to the 
Newspaper EDITOR, direct. She will then use the photos in their monthly 
Newspaper, which will again help the group mature and gain new members.

I have had some, BUT NOT NEARLY ENOUGH, so get out and about with your 
digital camera, and get these good photos to myself !!!!

This is just a fantastic opportunity for the 21st group, so please try 
not to waste it :)

GOOD PHOTOS get the GROUP GOOD PRESS and NEW MEMBERS.

Cliff


21st Group Photography Instructional Outings for FREE!!


Photo by member Mr Ken Rane, provided for our member Monthly Photo 
Presentation.

WHAT is the purpose of Group Instructional Photo Outings?

Why, have we been arranging group meetings since the group commenced to 
operate in MARCH 2014?

Why, is it that we now can get some 20 members and family to attend such 
meetings? (plus,children as well).

Why, do group members do this for FREE?.... 
They do this so that you can :-

A) Meet in a relaxed and non pressure group with like minded people, 
with new and experienced photographers who use a whole range of differing 
digital cameras and with members that range from those having NO 
experience in photography, to being retired professional photographers. 
Members are helped by other more skilled and experienced member 
photographers, who just wish to do this for the pleasure and fun of 
helping others, and sharing the fantastic experience of learning.

B) Be taught how best to use their OWN CAMERA to make their own 
photographs, so much better.

C) To all capture the same shot, be it a flower, bird, countryside, 
woodlands etc after being told, how best to take that kind of shot, 
using their camera.

D) To also be able to ask members how best to take any other 
photograph, whilst out and about with the group, to gain even more 
experience and enjoy the creative art of photography.

Following the group photo outing we ask for members to provide 3 to 5 
of their own "better" photos, that are quite small (less than 500K) in 
size, so we may take their photos and make this into a member photo 
presentation that is displayed when members arrive at the start of 
monthly meetings.

This is the time where they can themselves see how well their own photos 
came out, when compared to other member photos that were taken of 
THE SAME TOPIC with the same camera settings. They will see, without 
asking any further questions, just how well they have done, compared to 
other members. 

They are also encouraged to make a note of members photographs and 
names, so if they wish to follow up they can contact members directly 
and ask questions, say on Facebook about the members photos / settings etc
and ask how they can improve their own photos, buy discussing this in 
PRIVATE with the other member.

THIS WORKS, AND SO DO THE MONTHLY PHOTO OUTINGS!!

Make sure you find time to also come along to our now regular monthly 
SATURDAY afternoon outings.

Your own photography skills will come on in leaps and bounds, as it has 
for many of our newer members.

Just ASK that question that has been bugging you for ages, and did not 
know who to ask :)

Just ask around the group and they will tell how they enjoy the outings, 
and how their own photos have improved since taking part.

Cliff


Tuesday, 24 February 2015
21st Group-North Wales Coach Tour-SUNDAY 17th May 2015-Update



Photo by Cliff Astles
 
Just a quick update to let members know what the latest position is if 
considering joining the trip......  
Coach is now 70% FULL.

If you wish to go on the trip please make sure you In-Box myself on 
Facebook, or use the Group e-mail of the21stctncg@gmail.com to book your 
seats...............NOW!!

Cliff


Sunday, 22 February 2015
MARCH 2015-Member Photo Presentation-Early Reminder


Photo by Cliff Astles
Taken this morning 22/02/15 at about 7.30 am.

Just thought I would put this up as a nice sunny morning photo reminder, 
for those that were not lucky enough to get up and about before the RAIN, 
HAIL, SNOW & RAIN finally came to Cheshire, and probably to spoil most 
peoples day :(

Having decided to have this months topic of  SUNRISE and SUNSETS I then 
added another topic of SPRING FLOWERS.

Therefore, for the doubters for getting any photos with sunshine or any 
kind, I thought this would show other members that there is a sun out 
there. There are ALSO many Crocus, Snowdrops, and in fact many other 
Spring Flowers around to get that SPECIAL shot for our member 
presentations.

PLEASE, get your photos to me fairly quickly (less than 500 K in size, 
please) as when we have many HUNDREDS, as we did last month, it does take 
a little time to get these sorted, and placed with members names into a 
MS PowerPoint Presentation.

This one was POST Processed using PICASA3 from Google, which I do rate 
highly as quick and easy way to improve your photos, with Photo Post 
Processing Software, and to add any special effects ( Photo boarders on 
this one only) as below. 


Friday, 20 February 2015
NEW-North Wales Group Photo Tour-Sunday 17th May 2015.

Group "Instructional Photo Outing" with family, friends & Guests
Sunday MAY 17th 2015 from Middlewich at 9.00am-return to Middlewich, 
about 8.00 / 9.00 pm

One of the best photography days out from our Mid-Cheshire homes is a 
FULL days visit to North Wales.
It is just a wonderful day out for all of the family, with some fantastic 
photo opportunities, no matter what you like to shoot, as you can see 
from photos above, and Andy Boardmans one of the lake at Llanberris, 
looking back to the Llanberris Pass.

It can ALL be done quite easily with our very own group organised coach 
tour, using one of our local Coach Tour operators. It is a long day out, 
stopping on the outward journey at the many local beauty spots, taking 
lunch (or take your own packed lunch which makes better use of the time).

From Middlewich at say 9.00 am, and then making our way to Llangollen, 
but stopping at the Pontcysyllte Aquaduct, just before Llangollen from a 
short stop for photos. Then Llangollen for an hours photos, on to 
Betws-y-Coed, for similar short stop for photos, water falls passing 
through the town etc.

Proceed to Chapel Gurig and along the road to Llanberris Pass, my photo 
of the rocks / stream running along the Llanberris Pass, turning round at 
Llanberris Lake, Andy Boardmans photo above, and head back to Middlewich, 
via the same route, or perhaps head back towards the A55 at Conwy Castle 
(NOT STOPPING on return leg as it will be TOO LATE), and back via the A55 
to Chester & Middlewich.

This would be a GREAT GROUP SHORT WORLD TOUR of North Wales, with like 
minded people all wanting to have a good friendly fun & family day out, 
and taking of a "few" photos, so we may look back and remember the trip 
for many years.

With now confirmed prices of £15.00 for Adults and £7.50 for children, 
this must be one of the cheapest ways to get in some much needed 
photography experience in just one day, with HELP from group members to 
ensure we all get some GREAT photos.

Please e-mail your booking needs for adults and children via the group 
e-mail at the21stctncg@gmail.com.

I will be looking at taking a booked seat deposit of 50% of the total 
per booking (non returnable when I have reserved the coach). 
PLEASE let me know how many seats adult and children you require to be 
booked, ASAP, as more than 30% of the total available have already been 
reserved.

The full cost of the trip will required to be paid to myself or Barbara, 
NO LATER than the end of April, and will be collected (as we did the Canal 
Boat trip) at monthly meetings (cheque to pay 21st Century Technology & 
Camera Group).
If you need my address then please message me on fb.

People that had previously said YES wish to go, also need to re-confirm 
to me, as the original list was ONLY to judge provisional interest. The 
trip is now ON for REAL, so make sure you let me know SOON how many seats 
you wish to book

THE BUS DOES HAVE AN ONBOARD TOILET...................YES!!!!

Thanks for your continuing interest.

Cliff Astles


Photo by Cliff Astles-Llanberris Pass-Photo is quite a large file. 
BUT, if you manage to get a copy from the photo try and BLOW it up quite 
big, and search for the THREE lady "rock climbers". I thought they were 
the feathered kind, but my binoculars told me a different story. Answers 
in my In-Box Please.


Let's get your photos on our site!

The photos underneath the main photo on the Website's Home Page are just 
quickly used stock photos from the previous web provider's (WIX) library.

We would like all of the photos on the website to be created by members 
of the group.

With that in mind we would like for members to provide for the Web Page 
a selection of still life photos that represent the following themes 
(links), as below.

Upcoming events
 
Previous events
 
Assignments
 
News
 
Welcome

Please, let us have these as soon as possible so we can incorporate YOUR 
photos in the next update that is done by Melody.

These can be sent direct to Melody Smith, using the Group Facebook Page.

Thanks

Cliff