Norton Radstock Photographic Society celebrated its 50th anniversary this year with an outing to the Sculptures by the Lakes, just outside Dorchester. 

Sadly, the weather was not on our side, but the mood was positive as 14 of us filled the Mendip Community Bus and traveled in style and high spirits, with cameras and waterproof gear at the ready.

The venue, for those unfamiliar with it, is some 20+ acres of beautifully developed landscape surrounding Pallington Lakes that is home to spectacular sculptures, stunning exhibitions, along with a shop and refreshments available to suit every taste.

It was a very sociable, relaxing day if a little wet, but the venue lived up to its reputation and a good time was had by all. For those of us who had visited previously, it was a delight to see how much it had matured and changed. For those new to the facility, it was declared a place to return to in the future, and we returned to our meeting place in Shepton Mallet having had a thoroughly enjoyable day with many images to process.

Post-COVID, it is so good to see our club growing and thriving when others locally have not survived. We had a very successful exhibition at Midsomer Norton Fayre where quite a number of inquiries suggest we may well increase our membership in the 2024/25 season. All our details are on the website (https://www.nrps.org.uk/), which is refreshed regularly, so if you are interested in our regular Thursday meetings, then check us out and contact us — September will soon be here.

We have one last community responsibility to support this summer: the Writhlington Flower Show in August, before we return to what looks to be an interesting program on September 5. Watch this space.

Meetings are held weekly throughout the year, with breaks at Christmas and in August. The formal program runs until the end of May, followed by informal excursions in June and July. We meet on Thursdays at 7:30 pm— in person at the Masonic Hall in Midsomer Norton on the second and fourth Thursdays, and via Zoom on the other Thursdays.

We welcome photographers of all levels of experience and interest and our aims are to promote the relationship of all photographers, whether amateur or professional and to encourage competitions, hold lectures; give practical demonstrations to inform members of all aspects of photography, either by film or digital means.

Jenny Short