Do you enjoy photography - whether with your mobile phone or a camera?

Perhaps shots for your Facebook page or memories for the family album?

Would you be interested in practical demonstrations to develop new skills?

Or perhaps already an enthusiast and looking for inspiration for your shots?

The new season of regular weekly Wednesday evening meetings for the Isle of Man Photographic Society has just re-started.

Our president, Jeremy Broome-Smith, will give a warm welcome to all, whether existing members or new, whatever their level of expertise, be it complete novice or expert.

The society seeks to provide an enjoyable meeting place for all who enjoy photography and are willing to share their enthusiasm and perhaps also looking to develop their skills.

Our next meeting, on October 2, will be a showing of some 150 images provided by members for a calendar being sponsored by the National Farmers’ Union Isle of Man - and from which they will be making their selection for the calendar.

The programme, as always, provides a balance of meetings intended to cover a wide range of interests - including presentations by members and guest speakers, skills development sessions such as practical evenings (always greatly enjoyed), as well as competition evenings (for which participation is encouraged but not demanded).

While our official programme covers a season of weekly meetings from late September through to end April, the society’s events always include several summer social outing" to encourage photography and to share skills.

This summer, this included a well-attended and very successful macro photo event held at the Ayres, getting some highly detailed close-up images of insects and flowers.

There was also a boat trip from Port St Mary, ostensibly seeking the always elusive basking shark and maybe some porpoises (unfortunately neither being seen) though the prolific birdlife along the cliffs towards the Sound provided some excellent opportunities for good shots of gulls, guillemots and razorbills.

Members have also been set a non-competitive challenge over the summer months and which will provide the subject matter for one evening later in the programme - to provide 10 to 12 images of Laxey, hopefully with a theme telling a story of just how the photographer interpreted the assignment, and yet overall demonstrating the different ways each of us sees the same subject matter.

The society meets at the Arts Society Building (Thie Ellyn) in Worthington Road, Douglas, on Wednesday evenings, with all meetings starting at 7.30pm.

All meetings are open to the public (with a modest fee for non-members) and all will be given a very warm welcome.

We are delighted to acknowledge the support we receive from the Isle of Man Arts Council.

More details of the society and its programme can be found on our website at www.iomps.com.