May we take this opportunity to wish you all a happy Christmas and prosperous 2015.

 

Congratulations 

To David Mew whose PDI entitled Beach Chat was chosen by the Judge as the winner of the Steinberger Cup competition and to the runner-up, Paul Whitmarsh, for his PDI entitled Calm.

 

What’s on at the Club in the New Year

On 8 January we will be showing lantern slides and prints from the Club archives.

 

On 15 January Bromley will be hosting one of the SLF Print Plates interclass competitions. The Judge will be Andy Smith.

Mono Prints:   Bromley v Croydon v Orpington v Selsdon

Colour Prints: Carshalton v Mitcham v Old Coulsdon v Selsdon.

15 January is also hand in for our Colour Prints competition round 3.

 

Things to do in the next couple of weeks

 

Space Station visible over London area

The space station will be visible, and very noticeable as it flies right over London on the following dates:

  • Friday 19 December – 4:48 pm
  • Saturday 20 December – 5:34 pm
  • Sunday 21 December – 4:43 pm
  • Monday 22 December – 3:52 pm
  • Tuesday 23 December – 4:38 pm

…and finally on Xmas Day itself, not actually over London, but quite close, so still very bright, maybe Santa is on his way home at 4:33pm.

To see the space station head outside about 10 minutes before the flypast, and find somewhere modestly dark – a local park, or somewhere above the street lights, such as a balcony, etc. Face directly to the west and look about 30 degrees above the horizon and get used to the darkness. About 2 minutes before the flypast overhead, you might start to see a bright fast moving star heading towards you and flying right over your head. It’s sufficiently different from local airport traffic that once you spot it, it becomes very noticeable. Maybe you will want to give a wave to the astronauts as they fly overhead. Or maybe it was Santa in his sleigh practising before the big event.

 

Christmas Eve Auction at Smithfield Meat Market – Wednesday 24 December. The famous annual clearance auction by Harts at Smithfield – cash only. Bring your own bags to carry away the meat, and get ready to join in the crush. Starts at 10:30 am and is usually finished by noon.

 

Boxing Day Tug-of-War – Friday 26 December – Annual tug-of-war between the patrons of The Nags Head and The White Hart. Starts at 10:30 am between the pubs on Bridge Road, Moreton, Ongar, Essex CM5 0LH. Usually attracts hundreds of people to watch, which sees each team start by downing pints of Guinness, eating beans in hot sauce and being pelted with whipped cream along the way.

 

Science Museum Lates – Wednesday 31 December – 6:45 pm to 10:00 pm. Monthly late night adults only opening at the Science Museum. Usually themed, although they don’t release details until a few days beforehand. Free.

 

New Year’s Day Parade – Thursday 1 January 2015 – Starts at 11:45 am on Piccadilly at the junction with Berkeley Street outside the Ritz Hotel. Finishes 3:00 pm at Parliament Street. The parade route is: Piccadilly – Piccadilly Circus – Lower Regent Street – Waterloo Place – Pall Mall – Cockspur Street – Trafalgar Square – Whitehall – Parliament Street. More than 10,000 performers representing 20 countries world-wide will assemble for the Parade.

 

Christmas Meal

Some members mentioned to me that they thought Ferrari’s was not as good this year as last. If anyone would like to suggest an alternative venue for 2015 please let me know.

 

Photography Exhibitions

 

A History Of Photography at Victoria & Albert Museum FREE

Photographs from the 1840s to the 1970s, featuring Eugene Atget’s views of Old Paris and significant images by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Man Ray, Alfred Stieglitz, Irving Penn and Bernd and Hilla Becher. On until 17 January.

 

Astronomy Photographer of the Year at The Royal Observatory, Greenwich currently displaying the winning entries.

From all over the world entrants have captured ethereal images of the sky viewed from Earth, out to swirling nebulae in deep space. See these incredible images close-up and free, and take inspiration for your own photography and star-gazing. The exhibition is on now until February 2015 in the Small Exhibitions Gallery, Royal Observatory and is open  from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily and is free.