Weekly Programme

Presenter:Peter Prosser

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Your chance to get feedback on your images in this our second digital image competion.

Peter Prosser is a long time judge of the OPS, is an experienced UK photographer and photographic judge. He works across a range of subjects including landscape, portrait, and creative photography, with a strong background in both traditional darkroom and digital techniques. He is also involved in judge training for the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain. As a judge, Peter offers constructive feedback, technical insight, and a fair, thoughtful approach to image assessment.

Please remember to select and upload your images via photocontestpro.com before midnight on Saturday 6th.

 

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Presenter:Daniel Meadows

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Shuttles, Steam and Soot – Daniel Meadows

Join up with fellow OPS members at Oxford Westgate Library for this special event.  

Daniel Meadows, photographer and digital storyteller, is a twentieth century pioneer of British documentary practice. His photographs and audio recordings capture uniquely the felt life of the everyday in England. His work has been widely published, exhibited and collected. In 2019, his archive was acquired by the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford.

Photo Oxford Festival partners with Bluecoat Press to bring you a talk by Daniel Meadows. Daniel will tell the tale of his long-lost work: ‘Shuttles, Steam and Soot’ which he has reconstructed into a touring exhibition accompanied by three new publications.

In 1975, while working as photographer-in-residence to the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, Daniel was drawn to Bancroft Shed, the last remaining steam-powered cotton-weaving mill in the district.

“In the time of Johnny Rotten,” he says, “Bancroft was like something out of Dickens. A place of unholy clatter with a language all its own. Busy women in dusty alleys heard you with their eyes and talked back with their hands. How could I not respond?”

Against a backdrop of industrial decline, Daniel documented the life of the mill, creating a remarkable portrait of the people who worked there and their disappearing trades. The resulting exhibition — one of the Half Moon Photography Workshop’s legendary radical programme of affordable, portable, touring shows — was first exhibited in 1978. It toured to community centres across the UK and to Germany before it was worn-out and destroyed.

Fifty years on, Daniel has worked with Four Corners in London to recreate the show and Bluecoat Press has published a series of limited-edition newspapers — ‘Shuttles’, ‘Steam’ and ‘Soot’ — to accompany its tour.

Join Daniel as he shares images and audio recordings from this rarely seen body of work. Followed by questions from the floor and a signing.

The exhibition runs from 25 October – 25 November 2025 at the Westgate Library Oxford.

MAIN IMAGE:   Peter  Tatham, steeplejack, poses for
his portrait, 150 feet up, atop the disused city,
incinerator chimney, shortly after commencing
the demolition process. Salford, September 1976.

Weavers, Mari Parker and Sheila Dugdale, on a smoke break. Melfar Manufacturing Co., Colne, Lancashire. Autumn 1975.

Stanley Graham, mill engineer, replaces gland packing on high pressure cylinder. James Nutter & Sons, Bancroft Shed, Barnoldswick, Lancashire, June 1976.

Boiler fluing: Jack, the ‘inside man’ in
“from the Weldone gang, taking off his
rags (‘fent’). Barnoldswick, Lancashire.
Easter holiday, April 1976.

 

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Presenter:Alec Pain

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Alec Pain (aka Alastair Place) is a UK-based experimental film photographer and regular contributor to Shoot It With Film. Working mainly with analogue film cameras, Alec explores the beauty of imperfection, the unpredictable nature of film and his everyday surroundings to transform small-town streets and subtle textures into poetic visual stories.

In this engaging and reflective presentation, Alec invites you into his world of creative risk-taking with film. Through a mix of images, anecdotes, and hard-earned lessons, he’ll show how light leaks, composition quirks, and camera “flaws” can unlock new ways of seeing. Whether you’re a seasoned analog shooter or digital devotee curious about alternative approaches, this talk will inspire you to slow down, embrace accidents and find magic where you least expect it.

Perfect for the curious, the experimental or for simply seeing the world a li ttle differently.  Alec will talk us through his adventures in film photography, be that with a plastic toy camera such as the Holga; shooting pinhole, 35mm or 120 film cameras.

 

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Presenter:Eddie Keogh

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Join us for an exciting evening of Photography!

  • Try the latest Canon gear
  • Get exclusive discounts
  • Hear Eddie Keogh reveal pro tips, stories & shooting secrets
18:00 Test Drive and Refreshments
Speak to Canon experts, test the gear, ask Eddie about his setup, take advantages of the event discounts
19:45 Take a moment – Eddie Keogh

An evening with Eddie Keogh, England’s official football team photographer and longtime Canon Ambassador. Enjoy an in depth look into the modern world of sports photography plus a few off beat stories from his 40 years as a professional photographer.

Note earlier than usual start time for people wanting to test the equipment.

Entry is free for OPS members and doesn’t need booking
If you are not a member Book Here

BURTON UPON TRENT, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Bukayo Saka of England jumps into the swimming pool on an inflatable unicorn at St George’s Park on July 04, 2021 in Burton upon Trent, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

 

A goalkeeper takes a goal kick during a Sunday morning game on Hackney Marshes, east London. Hackney Marshes is synonomous with Sunday league football. In its heyday it had 88 full-size football pitches marked out, although these days only half of those are now used.
These images are part of a grass roots project I am undertaking. I have covered football professionally for nearly 40 years and I just wanted to bring my expertise back to where it all began for me.

 

Amateur football in “The Valleys” of Wales. Gwnfi United take on Afan United in the Port Talbot and District Premier League in the town of Blaengwnfi.
These images are part of a grass roots project I am undertaking. I have covered football professionally for nearly 40 years and I just wanted to bring my expertise back to where it all began for me.

 

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 21: Sunderland fans celebrate their side’s first goal scored by Elliot Embleton during the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final match between Sunderland and Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley Stadium on May 21, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

 

Grassroots football on Hackney Marshes, east London. Hackney Marshes is synonomous with Sunday league football. In its heyday it had 88 full-size football pitches marked out, although these days only half of those are now used.
These images are part of a grass roots project I am undertaking. I have covered football professionally for nearly 40 years and I just wanted to bring my expertise back to where it all began for me.

 

BLANKENHAIN, GERMANY – JULY 11: Jude Bellingham of England recovers at Spa & Golf Resort Weimarer Land on July 11, 2024 in Blankenhain, Germany. (Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

 

DOHA, QATAR – NOVEMBER 22: England players are seen silhouetted as they warm up during the England training session at Al Wakrah Stadium on November 22, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images

 

DOHA, QATAR – NOVEMBER 30: Jude Bellingham of England in the swimming pool at the team hotel on November 30, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images

Many thanks to Canon and London Camera Exchange for sponsoring this evenings event

 

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Presenter:Glyn Dewis

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We’re delighted to welcome Glyn Dewis, a professional photographer, educator and longtime Adobe Ambassador. Glyn works closely with Adobe to deliver training, feedback, and real-world insights to help shape the tools creatives use every day. He is also a best-selling author and a sought-after speaker known for making complex tools accessible and practical for photographers at all levels.

In this session, Glyn will walk us through the latest Adobe updates following their major annual release. He’ll highlight new features in Photoshop and Lightroom,
demonstrate how they can improve your workflow, and share tips on getting the best results from the newest tools. Whether you’re into portraiture, retouching, or general photography, this is a great opportunity to learn directly from someone at the heart of Adobe’s creative community.

 

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Presenter:Sandra Devaney

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Join up with OPS members to photograph Remembrance Day in Oxford

The service starts at 10:30 in St Giles.  Last year I went for the first time and arrived at about 10:00 and was able to take photos of people as they arrived.

Its a great opportunity to capture the emotion, tradition, and atmosphere of Oxford’s Remembrance Sunday – maybe even get some Movement pictures for this terms theme. With its historic backdrop, the event offers a chance to photograph the parade, formal ceremony, and quiet moments of reflection.

It’s a good opportunity to practice event and street photography in a meaningful public setting.

Time and meeting point for coffee TBC

Photos by Sandra Devaney, November 2024

 

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Presenter:Kieran Hunt

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We’re pleased to welcome Kieran Hunt, an accomplished photographer and educator, to lead this practical evening workshop. Kieran holds a First-Class BA in Photography (Editorial and Advertising) and a Distinction at Master’s level in Visual Communication. His work spans editorial, commercial and fine art photography;  he’s been shortlisted for the Nikon Discovery Awards and exhibited his work across the UK.

Kieran’s approach blends technical skill with creative exploration—making him a fantastic guide for this hands-on session on painting with light.

Held the evening before Bonfire Night, this workshop is a great chance to experiment with long exposures, handheld lights, and movement to create dynamic, eye-catching images. Whether you’re a beginner or more experienced, you’ll leave with practical techniques and ideas to use during firework season and beyond.

You’ll learn:

  • How to shoot effective long-exposure images
  • Techniques for using torches, LEDs, and other light sources
  • How to balance ambient and artificial light
  • Creative ways to bring energy and originality to your night photography

Don’t forget to bring your camera and tripod, if you have one.

 

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Presenter:Tamsyn Warde

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Tamsyn is a documentary photographer who had two of her projects shortlisted for this year’s Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize at The National Portrait Gallery; she was also the winner of the Royal Photographic Societies’ student Documentary Group competition in 2024 with her project ‘On These Magic Shores’ – which she will talk about in this presentation.

Most of us have memories of the games that we played as children. You will often hear the romantic recall of days gone by when children played freely in the street. This is reflected in the images made during the 20th century featuring children playing outdoors in a time before digital gaming and modern aspirations.

The British Children’s play Survey (2021) surmises that 75% of children’s play takes place inside their own homes and gardens (if you have one) and recent research From Play England (2024) highlights a decline in doorstep play from previous generations.

Children are less likely to engage in play unsupervised by adults and to be given the freedom of outdoor spaces in their communities. Childhood has been changing since the early 2010’s and Play England warn against today’s children becoming the first generation to have a phone-based childhood instead of a play-based one.

On These Magic Shores is a project exploring the spaces in which children play in the UK. The project looks at how and where children are playing, and where play belongs in their lives. I’m interested in spontaneous play which is child-led and sparked by their own imaginations and interests. This kind of play evolves naturally when children have the opportunity. This requires time that is not dictated by an adult timetable and freedom of an appropriate space close to home.

Tamsyn has recently completed her Masters degree in photography at Falmouth University.

 

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Presenter:Kevin Day

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Kevin Day – Guest Judge
We’re delighted to welcome Kevin Day as guest judge for our upcoming Print Competition. Kevin is a professional photographer with extensive experience in portrait and event photography, and a respected judge on the UK camera club circuit. Known for his thoughtful, constructive feedback and engaging judging style, Kevin brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to every session. His visit promises to be both inspiring and educational for all OPS members.

Please remember to select and upload your images via photocontestpro.com before midnight on Saturday 18th.

 

 

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Presenter:Sandra Devaney

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Join up with other members to capture one of Oxford’s most photogenic traditions—Matriculation Day. New students, dressed in formal academic robes, gather across the city before processing to the Sheldonian Theatre. With its historic buildings, lively atmosphere, and unique visuals, it’s a great opportunity to practise street and portrait photography in a classic Oxford setting. 10:30 Students start walking to the Sheldonian and ceremonies start about 11:00. It lasts a couple of hours. Time and meeting point for coffee and meet up TBC

Photo – Against War Crimes, Sandra Devaney

 

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