"watch IT and C"

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Wednesday, 21 January 2015
21st Century Technology & Camera Group-Cheshire East Community Group 
Grant


Just to let members know that we have finally received the cheque for 
£500.00 from Cheshire East for the successful application for a community 
grant, to help the group grow, and to also help with paying group 
expenses and costs in the future.

It is currently proposed that the monies will be used to help the group 
pay expenses and to purchase items, currently loaned to the group by 
members for presentations etc, and to do more marketing for new group 
members etc.

We will now also be going ahead with the purchase of a NEW high technical 
specification Laptop. 

The laptop will be installed with software specifically designed to help 
with photo post processing.  
e.g. Lightroom 5, plus other FREE and special software packages that are 
used to enhance photos etc. 

Additionally, the Laptop will also be installed with Microsoft Office to 
help with general member training, for use at home and in business for all 
members, particularly for our younger members and those in our group that 
may wish to brush up their own skills on business application software.

We can also by using the Group Laptop meet with other potential member 
groups to show them what we are doing in the community, and would they 
wish to join the group ? 

We will also be using the laptop (with a suitable PP presentation) to 
meet with potential SPONSORS and other public bodies to obtain funds for 
the group and business sponsorship and advertisements (if possible).

Further grant applications are currently in the process of being generated,
and there are a few we await the results.

Cliff 21st January 2015.


Tuesday, 20 January 2015
21st Century Technology & Camera Group-"Instructional Photo Outing" 
Feb 7th 2015







Pictures-in and around Peckforton Castle,  
by Cliff Astles
 
Looking ahead to next months (FEB) photo outing it has now been scheduled 
to take place at Peckforton Castle, South West Cheshire. Full detail of 
the outing can be found by looking at the group Facebook site EVENTS, and 
members are requested to add their names to the EVENT if they plan to 
attend.

My wife Barbara has "volunteered" (she has always wanted to do this 
anyhow :) ) to act as "bait" for the variety of  RAPTOR birds they have 
available and this in itself is a fantastic opportunity to take photos of 
both static and FLYING birds while Barbara sits in the middle of the 
grassed area of the inner Castle, perhaps called the castle inner walled 
area. I am told this will take some 90 mins for the full show.

The birds will sit on Barbara outstretched arm ( with gauntlet ) and fly 
around the inner walls of the castle and sitting upon the inner walls 
which are some 30 feet high. The bird handler will then call the birds 
down for food who will then take the food whilst perched on Barbara's arm.

During all of this the group will have the opportunity of using their 
cameras to take photos, whilst being outside of the grassed inner castle, 
for NO COSTS. However, if group members wish to get in closer, they are 
then called "spectators" and this will cost £ 5.00 for each spectator. 
Paid when I pay for Barbara to do her bit for Queen and Country. The cost 
for anyone to do this like Barbara would be £ 50.00, and has to be booked 
well in advance of attending. This is my treat for Barbara, as she has 
wanted this for some time. 

Therefore, I decided that it would be nice to combine a group photo outing,
with the raptor experience for Barbara, so that members can experience 
this for themselves and perhaps get some good photos for FREE.

Most of us do not get many opportunities to do this type of photography, 
so thought it a good idea. Please make sure you note this EVENT for Feb 
in your own diary and let's hope the weather is as good as it was when I 
was there taking the above photos.

Cliff

Member Update-20th Jan 2015



Photo from last Saturdays "Voyage of Discovery" on the 
Shropshire Union Canal
 

Member Group Meeting-
Wednesday 21st January 2015-Willowmere-Middlewich-Cheshire.

All being well, the attendance at this months group meeting could be the 
best attended we have had since we started the group back in March 2014, 
so we must be doing something right :)

Would all members planning to attend please add their names to the group 
EVENT for the 21st January.
We need this information in order to plan the night knowing how many are 
wishing to attend, and this now includes a growing number of non-Facebook 
members, with more junior members interested as well.

We are fast approaching the magic number of 100 members, not bad as we 
only started the group in March of 2015, with NO members at all.

Thanks

Cliff.

Monday, 19 January 2015
British Civil War





















How much do YOU know about the British Civil War in Cheshire, and in 
particular the Battle for Nantwich and MIDDLEWICH in 1643 (ish) ??????

Not very much if you are like me, so want to find out more ??

Well, this next weekend at Nantwich, with the March onto the Town and 
Battle, you can see something like 3 to 500 regular re-enactment people, 
all suitably dressed in period costumes, with all the paraphernalia of  
war, all around the Town and Battle Field.

What an action packed day for all of our 21st Century Technology & Camera 
group to test out their camera "ACTION" shots for real. The photos will 
be with you forever, and help you to also remember what happen in 
Cheshire in the 1700, that shaped the British Island, to what it is 
today and for EVER.

I have been asked for the last 5 years or so to provide photos to the 
Nantwich Branch of the Sealed Knot Society, so they may have them for 
their own Marketing purposes. YES, I will be there from 9.00 am until 
something like 4.00 / 4.30 pm making sure they have photos to use from 
this years activities.

This year they have kindly invited myself and Barbara to their evening 
dinner at the CROWN HOTEL in Nantwich, where there will be even more for 
me to try and capture as they will also be performing ( after the meal) 
by showing dancing of the 1700, and they will again be all suitably 
dressed in period costume.

NO, NOT ME, I have got to get back from Nantwich to Middlewich, hot bath, 
hot shave, get dressed in my JAMES BOND evening attire, if it will fit :( 
and be there for something like 7.00 pm. To meet and greet and get photos 
of attending, in their formal and period dresses and stuff.).

All in a days work :) :) :) and I JUST LOVE DOING IT.

A GREAT day out for you keen group photographers, and a good day out for 
ALL the family. See u there.

Cliff

http://www.battleofnantwich.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Holly-Holy-Day-2015Final.pdf

21st Century Technology & Camera Group-Canal Boat Trip Pictures


 
Member Update-Monday 19th Jan 2015.

The deadline has now CLOSED for member photos to be submitted to myself 
for inclusion in the Member Group Photo Presentation for Wed 21st Jan 
Member Meeting at the Willowmere-Middlewich-7 till 9 pm.

We have had an excellent number submitted and are wonderful but differing 
photos from the trip, I for one am highly delighted the trip turned out 
to be such a resounding success. 

I plan to be doing another in the Spring when perhaps the BLUEBELLS are 
out again in the woods, so we can have a go at Woodland Bluebell photos, 
and perhaps a more relaxed time on the canal-side with a  break for a 
B B Q , and coverings for if it is wet. Ideas, and loan of kit, nearer to 
date of going.

Don't forget that this WEDNESDAY is the January Monthly member meeting 
and will again have Mr Mark Williamson, professional  photographer from 
Knutsford, who this time will be speaking and showing photos from his 
assignment for Tatton Hall, 365 days at Tatton. The photos are STUNNING,
and his visit should NOT be missed.

Therefore, please add your name the the EVENT at the TOP of the 21st Group
Web Page so we have some idea of numbers for staffing and catering needs.

Looking forward to Wednesday, and trust you all feel the same.

Cliff

Sunday, 18 January 2015

Photos for January meeting, 21st Group Website and new policies.



Canal Boat Photos from Photo Outing-Saturday 17th Jan 2015.


You may, if you wish, add a small (10 to 15) photo album to the 21st group
Facebook Page, plus you need to make sure you also let me have your own 
selection of 5 photos to place onto the Member Photo Presentation for Wed 
Night.  Why only 10 to 15 ? photos, to make sure I do not have to 
purchase another disk drive :) Members took many hundreds of photos on 
this trip :)

Website

As most members now know, you can view the new website at
www.watch-it-and-c-.co.uk
This has been designed and created by group member Melody Smith and is 
available for members to view / use NOW. More and more facilities will be 
released to enhance and complete the task to make it 100%,  progressively 
by Melody, over the next few weeks and months.

Members are requested to feed back to Melody any errors they may find or 
difficulties they have with using the website plus anything they see as 
being useful to include in the Website.

Proposed Policies

Both Facebook and the website will be used side by side. However we will 
need to work out the best way to contact members. Entries into this blog 
can be viewed on both the group Facebook page and website and this is why 
I am currently using this to announce member meeting details. It would be 
good to eventually have this blog for reports on events and subjects 
(camera and tech related) which may be of use to group members. It is 
hoped that members will also submit blog posts to me for inclusion. All 
members are welcome to comment on blog posts. Comments will be moderated.
It is proposed that we use Mailchimp to email club members with details of 
meetings and other information. This way we are not reliant on:

    members being on fb (not all are);
    members signing on to fb to receive important messages;
    fb privacy settings preventing some members seeing 'shared' information;
    members having Facebook posts sent to their phone.


Mailchimp is fully compliant with data protection laws and ensures that 
the group is handling member data correctly. To enable this to happen we 
need your email address. Please DO NOT send these by any means that would 
make them available publicly. A new 'contact details' sheet will be made 
available for you complete from the web page shortly. If you have any 
concerns about this proposed change in group policy please contact me 
(Cliff) in person or via. the group email. If time permits the subject 
will be discussed at the upcoming meeting.

We will also be looking for keen members to become committee members or 
sub-committee members. It is envisaged that committee members will 
represent the whole group and contribute to steering the club's direction; 
sub-committee members would help with one or two jobs within the club 
ie. monitoring comments on the blog or forum, updating the website etc.

Onward and Upward.

Cliff

Group Meeting-Willowmere-Middlewich-Wed 18th Feb 2015



Photo by Cliff Astles-Dave Warren.

Dave lines up his "Destroyer" to make sure he gets through the canal bridge
in one piece :)
We are lucky enough to have OWEN Lloyd with us again, this time making sure
we understand and take full advantage of all the wonderful  features of 
your digital camera. 
Owen, will be providing us with more detail on digital camera basics / 
technical information on digital camera settings, focus, depth of field 
etc with member Q and A sessions.

This workshop is designed to get members to more fully understand their 
camera's, with basic info and more! Also to help you take better quality, 
creative photos. If you have any questions then start getting them ready 
now!

Please make sure you ADD your name to the 21st GROUP EVENT on Facebook if 
you are a member and intend or maybe planning to attend. You may bring 
friends and family if you wish. All attendees pay the same Fee. 

This is particularly important to NEW members as we wish to make sure you 
are properly introduced to current members and feel part of the group, 
right from the outset, at our Willomere Group Meetings.

Unsure, on ANYTHING just give Cliff a call on 07971 136360


Onward and Upward.

Cliff