The Isle of Man Photographic Society is this week in its mid-winter break for Christmas and New Year, so this is perhaps an opportune moment to reflect upon our season so far - and we’d like to think, a very successful one.

The highlights have been many - some excellent and well-received presentations, several practical sessions, and our programme of regular competitions well supported with a myriad of high quality entries - all contributing to a balanced range of activities to be enjoyed by our members.

Presentations so far have included ones by Shan Fisher (on portraiture), Carmen Norman (landscape) and Jake Huxley and Kevin Deakes from the Astronomical Society (astrophotography) - all representing popular genres and ones which our members have been keen to understand and to improve upon.

The practicals have covered some fairly basic techniques but ones for which many members would have had limited experience - each being led by more advanced members.

The first was on macro (close-up) photography using for example, some thinly sliced fruit back-lit to show structure and colour or bubbles in oily water for some colourful pattern shots.

Our most recent session included model portraiture using either flash or continuous lighting in typical studio sets with a range of backdrops.

A particular satisfaction has been the level of participation in our various internal competitions with the quantity and quality of the entries being excellent in both our intermediate and advanced groups - and resulting in some very close contests.

The Three Way Digital Battle with the two other island clubs was a much anticipated and enjoyed event, bringing together many of the island’s photographers in our annual social challenge - the resulting win therefore a big morale boost.

Members have also been encouraged to show their work in non-competitive ’monthly assignments’ set by Barry Murphy - and the wide range of images resulting has been a very clear demonstration of the artistic talent in the Society - something the committee is particularly keen to continue.

The next meeting in our formal season will be on Wednesday, January 9, when club presiden, Chris Blyt, will be giving a presentation of his work.

The society meets on Wednesday evenings at the Art Society building in Withington Road, Douglas, starting at 7:30pm.

All meetings are open to the public and all are given a very warm welcome, non-members with an entry fee of £2. Full details of our programme can be found on our website www.iomps.com.