OPS Weekly Newsletter 26 April 2026
- Don’t forget to hand in your exhibition prints this Tuesday evening if you are not able to help with the setting up on the exhibition on Thursday morning.
- Want to get your BPAGB, CPAGB or DPAGP…? The Chilterns Association of Camera Clubs is holding an Awards for Photographic Merit Workshop on Sunday 10 May 10.00 – 17.00 at the Amersham Community Centre, Chiltern Ave, HP6 5AH. Details here
- Last meeting held on Tues 21 April: Print Critique with Chris Palmer FRPS
Chris has been judging photographic competitions for some 40 years and has a deep love for photography. He was up front about what he says on the evening will be his own personal view and that the most important judge of your photographs is you – the photographer.
He described the printed images that were displayed very well, informed by his years of experience and his enjoyment of the medium. He had well-reasoned suggestions of how an image could be improved with a minor adjustment, a bit of a crop, or maybe turning into black and white etc etc.
He greatly admired the intent and creativity of the prints, and even though a photograph may not be great in the conventional sense it doesn’t follow that the image does not have meaning.
On portrait photography Chris was also very keen that the ‘sitter’ is asked what his or her thoughts about the photograph.
The quality of the images was excellent, and it was good to see members ‘spreading their wings’ and showing images that would probably never be entered into a competition. It shows that, as opposed to competitions, a ‘critique evening’ is where, in those immortal words from Hot Chocolate: “Everyone’s a Winner”
- Next meeting Tues 21 April: Long Lens Landscapes with Murray Livingston
Murray Livingston is an award-winning landscape photographer whose work has appeared internationally. A 2024 Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year finalist, he has published
books and held a solo exhibition in Oxford.
In Long Lens Landscapes, he challenges the instinct for wide-angle views, showing how telephoto lenses can isolate subjects, highlight patterns, and create striking perspectives. Through this approach, Murray reveals how long lenses can unlock new creative possibilities and make your photography stand out.
- Upcoming meetings/events
- 1 May: May Day festivities at ‘stupidly early o’clock’
- 5 May: Print Competition No. 3 judged by Steven Galvin LRPS
- 7 May: 18.00-19.45 Private View – Members’ Annual Exhibition
You can see the programme here and download it:
https://oxfordphotosociety.co.uk/programme-download/
- Photographic events in and around Oxford
Colonial Views of India: Photographs by Eugene Clutterbuck Impey
This free photographic exhibition in G29 offers a rare glimpse of late 19th century India.
It is the first exhibition to focus on photographs and negatives in the Ashmolean, and as such features previously unseen photographs of India by Colonel Eugene Clutterbuck Impey (1830–1904).
Exhibition open 11 Apr – 13 Dec 2026
Ashmolean Museum,
Beaumont Street,
Oxford
OX1 2PH
Art Weeks Oxfordshire
The 2026 festival runs from 2 to 25 May with more than 350 venues to visit.
Please see our details here: and all the venues which feature photographic art here.
Dylan Brennan, The Big Shot
Blackwell’s Book Shop
Broad Street
Oxford
Wednesday, May 27 from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Dylan Brennan will discuss his new photographic book, The Big Shot with Britain’s most celebrated press photographer, Greg Brennan
The Big Shot: Photographs by Greg Brennan showcases the work of one of Britain’s longest standing and most celebrated press photographers, offering an intimate look at three decades of celebrity, entertainment and major events. From Hollywood and music legends to sporting greats, fashion visionaries and members of the British royal family, Greg Brennan has spent a lifetime chasing every opportunity to provide the public with rare behind-the-scenes insights, capturing encounters with the likes of Jack Nicholson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lady Gaga, Kate Moss and Queen Elizabeth II.
A ‘Live Aid’ moment for Wildlife
Margot Raggett MBE left a corporate career in PR in London in 2010, to concentrate on her love of wildlife photography. She was a regular ‘Photographer in Residence’ at Entim Camp in the Maasai Mara for several years and also led photographic safaris.
Margot will be talking about the work of the photographers for Remembering Wildlife books and work.
13th June 2026, 10:00am
Warwick Hall
Burford
Tickets:£10 from ticketsource.co.uk/burford-festival
Oxford Photomarathon
12 topics, 12 Photos, 24 Hours
July 25-26 2026
The First Oxford Photomarathon will start at 10:00am on July 25, 2026
Save the date! You will have 24 hours to take 12 photos – the subjects will have a distinct Oxford theme, but you can be based anywhere in the world if you can’t make it here.
- Exhibitions further a field
Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition 2026
The Sony World Photography Awards 2026 exhibition returns to Somerset House from 17 April – 4 May.
https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/sony-world-photography-awards-exhibition-2026
Best photography exhibitions to see in 2026
- Astronomy Photographer of the Year, National Maritime Museum
- Bird Photographer of the Year, touring
- RPS Landscape Group Members’ Outdoor Exhibition, touring
- Wildlife Photographer of the Year 61, Natural History Museum
- Boris Mikhailov: Ukrainian Diary, The Photographers’ Gallery
- Lee Miller, Tate Britain
- Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2025, National Portrait Gallery
- Richard Avedon: Facing West, Gagosian Grosvenor Hill
- The Last Resort, Martin Parr Foundation
- Catherine Opie: To Be Seen, National Portrait Gallery
- Sony World Photography Awards 2026, Somerset House
- Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait, National Portrait Gallery
- Tim Walker’s Fairyland: Love and Legends, National Portrait Gallery
- Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2026, National Portrait Gallery
More detail here:
https://amateurphotographer.com/latest/articles/best-photography-exhibitions-to-see/
- General photographic interest
Five Photography Lessons I Wish I Learned Sooner by Alan Schaller
In his inimitable style Alan shares the five most important things that he has learnt as a photographer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZKkhVTc1hk
Royal Photographic Society
List of all upcoming RPS workshops
Monk football and sperm whales: All About Photo awards winners 2026
A selection of winning images from the 11th edition of the All About Photo awards – The Mind’s Eye. The 2026 winners receive $5,000 in cash prizes. First place was awarded to Matt McClain
World Press Photo 2026 winners – in pictures
The World Press photo of the year winner has been announced. A striking image by Carol Guzy has been awarded the top honour, with photographs by two finalists, Saber Nuraldin and Victor J Blue, also commended. We take a look at these images that tell stories of the human impact of global events including the climate crisis, US aid cuts and drone wars
https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2026/apr/09/world-press-photo-2026-winners-in-pictures
Award winning photos share beautifully intimate moments of pregnancy and motherhood
Tracy Mcilhatton recently won the 2026 Alumno Photo North Student Photography Competition with her project, ‘Where Life Begins’. The project shares an intimate look into the reality of the journey of becoming a mother, the raw emotion pre, during and post-birth, and tender moments shared between mother and baby.
On Earth Day, these stunning aerial photographs vividly reveal earth’s beauty – but also show its massive destruction too
Water is a diminishing but critical resource, which humans are responsible for destroying. This new collection by Yann Arthus-Bertrand documents it all