Welcome to the Pennant Hills Photographic Club

We welcome all photographers to join and participate in its events and by sharing knowledge to improve and enhance photographic skills. Our club aims to mentor, support, and educate its members, and to foster skills and passion for photography in a collegiate and enjoyable atmosphere.

Meeting Address only: Uniting Church Hall – Corner of Boundary Road and Bellamy Street. Parking is on a grassed block of land opposite the church in Bellamy St., and the entrance we use is facing Bellamy St.

For information on the club please view this link.

To join please download and complete the Membership Form (PDF fillable): Download Membership form

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About Us

PHPC is a medium-sized club of around 40-50 members. Our members range in skill from enthusiastic novices to experienced photographers. The club has a few members who are judges.

We have a number of members who run the mentoring program for our newer members to learn the capabilities of their camera(s). We are large enough to support the growth of members but small enough to be a community, where all members can know each other. The club is here to challenge us to get the best from ourselves and our cameras

Join our Club Upcoming Events - mouse over for details
Apr
1
Mon
7:30 pm Easter – No meeting @ Uniting Church Hall
Easter – No meeting @ Uniting Church Hall
Apr 1 @ 7:30 pm – 9:45 pm
Easter weekend – no meeting
Apr
10
Wed
7:30 pm ZOOM Presentation – Street Phot...
ZOOM Presentation – Street Phot...
Apr 10 @ 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Joint presentation with Hornsby Heights Camera Club.
Apr
15
Mon
7:30 pm Comp 03: Open and Set – Nature @ Uniting Church Hall
Comp 03: Open and Set – Nature @ Uniting Church Hall
Apr 15 @ 7:30 pm – 9:45 pm
Per the Australian Photographic Society definition. See https://www.a-p-s.org.au/index.php/nature-definition
Apr
27
Sat
11:00 am Outing: City Walk @ Central Station
Outing: City Walk @ Central Station
Apr 27 @ 11:00 am
Outing: City walk starting from Central Station 11am (NOTE: No meeting Monday 29th April)
May
6
Mon
7:30 pm Comp 04: Open and Set – Architec... @ Uniting Church Hall
Comp 04: Open and Set – Architec... @ Uniting Church Hall
May 6 @ 7:30 pm – 9:45 pm
Comp 2404 – Open and Set – Architecture.  Images showing the design of buildings, bridges etc.
Recent Posts Archives

Print and Projected Image of the Year Competition Instructions

Now that members have uploaded their final entries for the year, except for the Poster Competition, it is time to consider what images to select for the final competition to be held on the 3rd of December 2018.

The procedure for entry involves selecting from any of the images that have been already uploaded and entered into previous competitions, irrespective of awards gained.  The instructions are on the Club Rules and Documents page, and at the following link:

PHPC MyPhotoClub Instruction – Entering the Image of the Year Competition

Please ensure that:

  • if you are a member of other clubs on MyPhotoClub that you select only from your PHPC (pennanthills) entries; and
  • your selected entries are appropriate for the media category you are entering – specifically, that monochrome prints are monochrome

Also please note that MyPhotoClub will not produce labels for this competition (which is a shortcoming that is acknowledged but cannot be changed).  Labels are required for prints, but as members are selecting from prior entries, labels should already be attached. As advised previously, it is prudent to save PDF copies of your labels when entries are first made.

The Poster Competition is entered by the usual method and labels must be attached.  Please refer to the Comp Rules and Categories V4 2018 for the Poster Competition requirements.

If anyone has difficulty or questions please contact the Competition Secretary at competition@phpc.org.au or on 0408-406-519.  Good luck with your entries.

by Tony Strasser, 18 November 2018

FCC F/Stop Newsletter for November 2018

The FCC F/Stop Newsletter has just been published and may be of interest to our club’s members.  Topics covered include the FCC Interclub competition and upcoming photographic exhibitions which are always an object of admiration and source of inspiration for photographers.  Our colleague Jeff Akers is the newsletter editor.

The newsletter may be read at this link.

by Tony Strasser, 16 November 2018

Competition 1811 – Set Topic only – Our Club

It’s time to prepare your entries for the next and penultimate competition for 2018 – Competition 1811 which is Set Topic only, being “Our Club”.  The definition is: “A photo taken at a Pennant Hills Photographic Club function during 2018”.

For clarity, PHPC functions include meetings and outings conducted during 2018:

  • any meeting inclusive of competitions, presentations, workshops or special meetings such as the Special General Meeting or Annual General Meeting;
  • 30th April 2018 outing to the Goods Line and Chinatown;
  • 7th May 2018 workshop on Soft Focus;
  • 2nd July 2018 Christmas in July dinner and studio photo session;
  • 22nd July to 18th August 2018 Photo Rally location, but photos do not need to adhere to the Photo Rally competition rules regarding content. Any photos otherwise conforming to our general competition rules are eligible to be entered;
  • 24th to 27th August PHPC Weekend Away to Gulgong and enroute;
  • 5th November 2018 Still Life workshop in conjunction with the AGM.

Entries must:

  • conform to our general competition rules; and
  • not have received a Credit, Merit or Top Shot award in any prior PHPC club competition.

This competition will close at midnight on Saturday 18th November 2018.

PHPC MyPhotoClub Instruction – Entering a Competition

As usual, please contact the Competition Secretary, Tony Strasser (mobile: 0408-406-519 or email: competition@phpc.org.au) if you have any concerns or questions.

Good luck with your entries!

by Tony Strasser, 6 November 2018

Results for Special Trophy Competition 1810 Published – Laneways, Corridors & Tunnels

The entries in and the results of the Special Trophy Competition 1810 (Set only – Laneways, Corridors & Tunnels) are now available for you to see.  This was not a point score competition, rather each category was awarded first, second, and third place with annual Trophies to be awarded to those achieving first places.

The instructions for viewing competition images and results can be read by clicking on the following link. The instructions are also on the Club Documents Page.

PHPC MyPhotoClub Instruction – Viewing Completed Competitions

Well done to those who entered and especially to the place getters.

by Tony Strasser, 4 November 2018

Reminder (Updated) – Annual General Meeting on Monday 5th November

A reminder to members that the PHPC Annual General Meeting will be held at 7:45 pm on Monday 5th November at our usual venue, the Uniting Church Hall on the corner of Bellamy and Boundary Streets, Pennant Hills.  The relevant documents can be viewed and downloaded via the following links:

View or download the Agenda

Financial Report FY2017-18

PHPC Nomination Form 2019

The AGM is usually short, so we plan to hold a camera workshop exercise afterwards so please bring your cameras and tripods.  The subject will be shooting a Still Life photo.  We will be providing studio lights and small photo boxes. Bring a small prop if you wish to take a photo of it.

by Tony Strasser, 1 November 2018

PHPC Beginners’ Guide to Photography

Michael Frost has kindly provided a Beginners’ Guide to Photography which he developed a couple of years ago.

The Guide is for new members who would like some basic knowledge and as a starting point to discuss the subjects covered with more experienced members who have a deeper understanding of the material presented.

The Guide is interactive, using the controls at the bottom of the page, the index, and included hyperlinks to either the appendices within the guides or external websites. The Guide is intended to be viewed full screen.

The Guide has been posted in two parts on a new “Tutorials and Presentations” page which is restricted for PHPC Club Members only.  Anyone not logged in as a member will only see a “page not found” error.  This page also contains the presentations that have been made to the club by guests in recent years.

Many thanks to Michael Frost for the work he has done for the benefit of PHPC Members.

by Tony Strasser, 28 October 2018

Results of Competition 1809 “Circular the Shape” Have Been Published

The entries in and the results of Competition 1809 (Set only – Circular the Shape) are now available for you to see. View competition galleries here.

The instructions for viewing competition images and results can be read by clicking on the following link. The instructions are also on the Club Documents Page.

PHPC MyPhotoClub Instruction – Viewing Completed Competitions

Congratulations to everyone who entered their work in the competition.  Everyone was impressed by the number of entries and the imaginative interpretation of the topic

by Tony Strasser, 22 October 2018

Comp 1810 – Special Trophy – Set Only – Laneways, Corridors and Tunnels

A reminder to members that there is less than one week until entry into the Special Trophy Competition for 2018 closes.  The topic is set only, being “Laneways, Corridors and Tunnels – Corridors in buildings, laneways or tunnels of any kind (railway, vehicular, etc).”

This competition does not attract points towards the yearly totals, rather a trophy is awarded to the best entry in each category.

The main focus of judging, as always, will be on the image, its interest, composition and impact on the viewer, as well as its technical attributes.  The topic is intended to constrain the subject matter in order to present a challenge for photographers’ imaginations and creativity.

Competition 1810 will close at midnight on Saturday 27th October 2018. The Committee will be scrutinising the photos presented as a prelude to judging for adherence to the topic. Any questions or issues about the competition should be raised with the Committee on or before the evening of judging so they can be respectfully considered and effectively addressed.

Instructions for entering a competition are on the Club Documents page and at this link: PHPC MyPhotoClub Instruction – Entering a Competition

As usual, if you have any difficulties or questions, please contact the Competition Secretary, Tony Strasser on 0408-406-519 or at competition@phpc.org.au.

Good luck with your entries! See you at the judging on the evening of the 29th October 2018

by Tony Strasser, 21 October 2018

FCC 2018 Interclub Competition Exhibition (Updated)

The Federation of Camera Clubs (NSW) Interclub 2018 Exhibition will be held this Sunday 21st October 2018 at the St George Leagues Club – 124 Princes Hwy, Beverley Park NSW 2217.  The exhibition is hosted by the St George Photographic Society.  PHPC entered a number of images into the Digital categories this year.  Members of PHPC are also members of the FCC and are eligible to enter the exhibition.

Print viewing from 10.30am – formal presentation starts from 1.00pm

Visit the FCC website here: https://photonsw.myphotoclub.com.au/

by Tony Strasser, 16 October 2018

Next Competition 1809 – Circular the Shape

This long weekend provides an ideal opportunity for members to explore the subject of our next competition, to take photos and/or to select their entries for the competition.

Competition 1809 is set topic only, being “Circular the Shape – a subject where the basic shape is, or shapes are, circular”.  The topic has had some questions, so this post is to clarify the topic.

Circular the shape means “in the shape of a circle” which in turn refers to the geometric shape “a round plane figure whose boundary (the circumference) consists of points equidistant from a fixed point (the centre)” – Oxford Dictionary.

The expectation is for subjects that clearly appear on the image as geometrically circular. An image where the subject may be circular in some perspectives but where those perspectives do not appear would not qualify, for example viewing a cylinder from the side so it appears as a rectangle.  It is, however, acceptable to have circular shapes that are viewed from off-axis angles, where they appear as ellipses, as long as the shape is still obviously circular.  Egg-shaped objects, on the other hand, are only circular when viewed on-axis, and other views would not be considered to be circular because they do not fit the geometric definition of a circle.

We always encourage creativity and artistic licence, so latitude of interpretation will be given, for example, to naturally circular shapes that may have irregular edges or long exposure subjects in trajectories forming circular trails would be considered to be on-topic.  Other creative variations to the circular topic are of course possible.

The main focus of judging, as always, will be on the image, its interest, composition and impact on the viewer, as well as its technical attributes.  The topic is intended to constrain the subject matter in order to present a challenge for photographers’ imaginations and creativity.

Competition 1809 will close at midnight on Saturday 13th October 2018. The Committee will be scrutinising the photos presented as a prelude to judging for adherence to the topic. Any questions or issues about the competition should be raised with the Committee on or before the evening of judging so they can be respectfully considered and effectively addressed.

Instructions for entering a competition are on the Club Documents page and at this link: PHPC MyPhotoClub Instruction – Entering a Competition

As usual, if you have any difficulties or questions, please contact the Competition Secretary, Tony Strasser on 0408-406-519 or at competition@phpc.org.au.

Good luck with your entries! See you at the judging on the evening of the 15th October 2018

by Tony Strasser, 29 September 2018