About Us
Our History
Thatcham Photographic Club was founded in February 2007 and had it’s inaugural meeting of five members in the Town Council Chamber. This was the home for meetings for some time until the membership outgrew the space. We now hold our meetings at Thatcham Football Club where we have a large space for the activities we organise.
What do we do?
Our meetings are varied and informal and may include…
A presentation with photo slideshow.
We have inspiring presentations from guest speakers with amazing photography, tips and techniques. Occasionally one of our own members will give a presentation about a project or topic they have been working on.
A practical session.
From light-painting and studio photography to table-top photography… these sessions give everyone a chance to practice and stretch their photographic skills.
Workshops.
On a specific aspect of photography, equipment or technique… chosen by popular request, based on what members want.
A Field Trip.
A chance to go somewhere different to shoot some photos with other members.
Community Outreach
We are proud to have received the Thatcham Mayor’s Award in recognition for our work in the local community and support of Thatcham events. Some of our activities include…
- Helping to raise funds for a local charity.
- Running photography workshops at schools and youth groups.
- Running discussion sessions as therapy for people with Aphasia or Dementia.
- Photographing activities and events on behalf of other interest groups.
- A display of our photos at the West Berkshire Community Hospital. Regularly refreshed with new images to help keep spirits up for patients, staff and visitors.
- A display at Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre, and a photo mosaic contribution to the Thatcham Jubilee Tableau at the Frank Hutchins Hall.
When Do We Meet?
We meet at 7.30pm on the second and last Wednesday of the month at Thatcham Town Football Club. Please check the Whats On page for our latest meeting schedule.
Should I bring my camera to every meeting?
It’s entirely up to you. We don’t always use our cameras at meetings. A lot of the photography is done by members between meetings. However, if you need some advice using your camera, bring it with you, someone will be able to help.
Sometimes we organise photo shoots, sometimes a guest speaker will want to run a practical session. On these occasions you will be given advance notice to bring your camera along.
Do I need an expensive camera?
Absolutely not! Our members have a broad range of cameras.
Whatever camera you have, we’re sure that by attending our meetings and joining in our activities the quality of the photographs you take will improve, your confidence will grow, and you’ll have fun doing it.
Mobile phone camera photography is welcomed too… we do not distinguish or differrentiate your photos based on the equipment you use. However, it is fair to say that the majority of club activities and practical sessions are largely aimed at conventional cameras, rather than mobile phone cameras.