Last Night – The 4-Way Battle

Last Wednesday, we were hosts for the annual Four-Way Battle and what an interesting evening it was! Unfortunately, Glenrothes Camera Club was unable to take part this year but the three remaining clubs, Dundee, St Andrews and Perthshire Photographic Societies enjoyed an exciting contest.

The judge was Guy Phillips from Helensburgh and he started the evening by congratulating the competitors for presenting such an incredibly high standard of images. Each club entered 6 mono prints, 6 colour prints and 8 digital images. A camera was set up so that the prints could also be projected onto a screen. The prints were put on display around the room once the judge had commented on them and everyone had the chance to have a closer look at them during the break.

There were many excellent photos, with several of them receiving high scores of 20, 19 and 18 points. It was a close competition and congratulations go to the members of St Andrews Photographic Society who won by one point! Dundee PS was second and Perthshire PS was not too far behind. Overall, it was a very worthwhile evening and a lot was to be learned from listening to Guy’s comments about each photo and why he awarded the scores that he did.

Four-Way Battle 2022

Be inspired by the passion of others

This year we are delighted to showcase the passion of five different photographers, each to inspire us in our own way.

PFA Exhibition

One of the delights of photography is exploring different ways to see our world. Each of us finds inspiration and passion in our own way, and this year, each of our external speakers will welcome us into their world – how they’ve been inspired, and how they choose to express their passion.

If you’re a prospective new member, you’re welcome to attend two weeks on a trial basis, in case you need time to make your mind up. Any two weeks – it’s up to you.

Our Speaker evenings are 19 and 26 October, 2 November, 25 January, and 1 March. There’s more information about each speaker on our Programme page. 

Time for a new season of photography fun

After another busy summer of trips and photo walks around Perth, we are making the final preparations for the new PPS season. 

Wailing Widow Falls, by Tim Haynes, Highly Commended

Returning to the AK Bell Library will bring a chance to enjoy in-person presentations by our guest speakers, take part in member workshops, and catch up with one another over a cup of tea. Of course, we return with the buzz of internal and external competitions, in both print and digital formats, providing a great way for us all to learn and practise new skills. 

You’ll find all the information on our Programme page, with week-by-week details available. For Competitions, you’ll find guidance on each, giving you all you need to know to take part. And through our regular emails and meetings, we’ll remind you when a hand-in is coming up, to help you think about how you’d like to take part. 

If we are new to you, our members are all at different points in the photography journey. This is a fun and safe space to be inspired, learn more, practice and play, and ask questions. We look forward to seeing you soon.

The new season is about to start

Welcome to the start of the 2021–22 season. With continued uncertainty around room capacities, we’ll use Zoom for our meetings. We start off on Wed 06 Oct, 19:30, with our President’s Night, and a chance to hear from some of the Committee. During October we’ll enjoy a presentation by Graham Dargie on the 20th and member’s talk/workshops on the 13th and 27th.

Time to renew your membership

With the start of the new season, it is time to complete the online application form again, which can be found on the Membership page of the PPS website. If you prefer to see if PPS is for you, we are delighted to welcome you to join us for a couple of trial weeks while you get to see how we enjoy our Wednesday evenings through the cooler months.

It will be great to see everyone again, to start our next season.

Playing with Light is OPEN

We are delighted to welcome you to visit Birnam Arts for a relaxing time to enjoy some of our favourite photos in our next exhibition!

Birnam Arts
The mezzanine is filled with light, a beautiful way to enjoy the exhibition
The gallery also has quiet corners to enjoy the works
Perthshire Advertiser covers the opening

The Exhibition is nearly ready!

Final preparations are being made as the team puts the finishing touches to the new exhibition, Playing with Light, which officially opens on Friday morning.

The cafe is open, happy to serve you a delicious coffee and baked treat.

With covid restrictions, we will start with an informal launch from 10:30am, for anyone who is able to join us as we celebrate the beautiful perspectives we each see around us.

Birnam set up – getting things laid out across the gallery space
Birnam set up – getting things laid out across the gallery space
Birnam set up – measuring twice, even once on the walls
Birnam set up – measuring twice, even once on the walls
Birnam set up – checking it all from different angles
Birnam set up – checking it all from different angles
Birnam set up – fairly happy with how it is all coming together
Birnam set up – fairly happy with how it is all coming together
Birnam set up – on to the next wall
Birnam set up – on to the next wall
Birnam set up – there are also smaller items that might be just the thing you are looking for
Birnam set up – there are also smaller items that might be just the thing you are looking for

Birnam Arts, Station Rd
Oct 1-24 — Wed to Sunday, 10am-4pm
Masks required indoors

Facebook Group: Perth Photo Forum

We’ve re-named our Facebook Group, and added some notes on how we might best use it.

Perth Photo Forum provides an online place to learn from discussion of photography, by and for the people of Perth, Perthshire, Perth and Kinross, and surroundings. The Group’s privacy setting is Private, which means you have to apply or be invited to join, and posts are not visible to anyone other than its members.
However, anyone with an interest in the subject and a connection to the area is welcome to join.

The Group is hosted by Perthshire Photographic Society (PPS), which also provides real-world meetings, activities and outings for its members (subject to covid) – keep an eye on this site and our FB Page Perthshire Photographic Society. Many, but not all, members of this group are also members of PPS – it’s optional.

Thank you all for your amazing images and your involvement in the group! Please show support in the form of likes and comments to our new members.

SPF Portfolio Evening 2020

Last night we watched the Scottish Photographic Federation’s annual presentation of their awards for digital and printed images, both colour and monochrome.

Our member David gave a running commentary on the photos.

David gave a commentary on the SPF Portfolio

Four-Way Battle 2019

Although it was my first time organising such a thing and I was therefore quite nervous, it was a pleasure for PPS to host this year’s fourway competition – the “Fourway Battle” – and to welcome our friends from St Andrews, Glenrothes and Dundee to an evening of friendly competition, excellent photography, fab food and instructive & constructive adjudication from our guest judge, Ian Tully ARPS, CPAGB.

The overall scores were:

  • St Andrews 347
  • Dundee 345
  • Perth 325
  • Glenrothes 307

St Andrews Photographic Society are to be congratulated for a well-deserved win and for retaining the title of winner. Perhaps we should discuss with the other clubs the notion of creating an actual trophy!

The standard of all of the clubs’ entries was high, with only two marks between the winners and the runners up, Dundee Photographic Society.

Ian Tully’s informed and constructive comments exceeded our hopes. His perceptive remarks encompassed not only the technical aspects of the photographs, but their composition, form, structure, light – especially light – and the opportunity presented to us all as photographers to tell a story as well as creating pleasing images.

Graham Robb, External Competition Secretary

Photos of the evening (thanks to David Stanghon):

Some of PPS’s entries for the competition: