Updated 29 August 2024
About Our Group
We are a friendly, active and successful photography group catering for and supporting all levels of photographic ability or interest – from complete beginners to professionals, abstract to astrophotography – and new members are always most welcome throughout the season.
Our programme includes:
Additionally, during 2020 we introduced informal virtual special interest group meetings as part of our response to the pandemic. These have proved popular and interesting, and many members have engaged with the subject matter with particular enthusiasm.
We normally meet each Friday evening between early September and the end of May each year. However, at present all meetings are held online. We are proud that we were one of the first clubs to continue our meetings 'virtually' when the pandemic restrictions were imposed in March 2020.
While we don't give direct instruction in photography, we do have critique and photo editing evenings, educational talks, and our members are always willing to share techniques in their area of expertise – many of them meet up regularly to share photo walks/trips locally. There is a wealth of knowledge within the group that you can draw on. Any member who would like some assistance just needs to ask – we will do what we reasonably can to help you.
Location:
We meet at Beckington Memorial Hall, Beckington, nr Frome, Somerset BA11 6SH. Meetings start at 7:30pm
See the map on our 'Find Us' page or download it here. Note that some meetings are still being held on Zoom – please check the Programme page for details.
Our programme includes:
- Guest speakers covering broad photographic subjects
- Practical evenings
- Photographic outings (photowalks, residentials)
- Critique nights
- Yearly exhibitions
- Internal & external competitions
- A photographic fair held twice yearly, typically in April and October
Additionally, during 2020 we introduced informal virtual special interest group meetings as part of our response to the pandemic. These have proved popular and interesting, and many members have engaged with the subject matter with particular enthusiasm.
We normally meet each Friday evening between early September and the end of May each year. However, at present all meetings are held online. We are proud that we were one of the first clubs to continue our meetings 'virtually' when the pandemic restrictions were imposed in March 2020.
While we don't give direct instruction in photography, we do have critique and photo editing evenings, educational talks, and our members are always willing to share techniques in their area of expertise – many of them meet up regularly to share photo walks/trips locally. There is a wealth of knowledge within the group that you can draw on. Any member who would like some assistance just needs to ask – we will do what we reasonably can to help you.
Location:
We meet at Beckington Memorial Hall, Beckington, nr Frome, Somerset BA11 6SH. Meetings start at 7:30pm
See the map on our 'Find Us' page or download it here. Note that some meetings are still being held on Zoom – please check the Programme page for details.
Annual Subscription
Our Membership Year runs between the first Friday of September until the first Friday of September the following year.
The group's annual membership subscription is just £40 (*) per annum for adults and £20 per annum for juniors ('juniors' being defined as those between their 16th and 18th birthdays; juniors must be accompanied by an adult whenever attending a meeting or event).
(*) - For those who join after Christmas, the fee for the remaining two terms of the year is £30, and for those who join after Easter it is £20 for the remaining term of the year.
Non Members are welcome to our 'Speaker' evenings and selected other events for a 'day membership' fee of £4.00 per visit (^).
(^) - Please note, this 'standard day membership' charge may be varied for particular talks and events.
Where else can you get such value? So come and meet us on a Friday evening from September through to May.
INTERESTED IN JOINING?
If you are interested in joining us, or have questions about potential membership, please get in touch with the Secretary using our online contact form.
Frome Wessex Photographic History
Frome Wessex Photographic's roots stem from the days of Club Canon back in 1984, when Canon encouraged and sponsored keen photographers to form local groups throughout the country. The support from Canon in those days was minimal, but the manufacturer did provide technical support for meetings and published a quarterly magazine, “Focus”, which advertised the local groups' contact details and their various activities. The magazine was also a platform for both local group competitions and members' photographs. As a result, a small number of keen Canon camera users got together in the Frome area and started a local Club Canon Group. Most of these founder members are still enthusiastic members of our group today.
During 1987 Canon decided to stop supporting these local groups, so existing members of the Frome group decided to continue to run the club and rename it “Frome Wessex Camera Club”. The reason for the inclusion of Wessex was to negate any confusion between the other club in town, “Frome Selwood Camera Club”.
A club programme was soon arranged and, as this coincided with joining the Western Counties Photographic Federation (WCPF), we were able to hold our own competitions/lectures and call upon a range of listed speakers and judges. We continued as a very small club for the next ten years or so, struggling to exceed our membership beyond 15. Our meeting place was at the Packhorse Inn Frome. We were always indebted to the landlord who very kindly allowed us to meet fortnightly, there being no charge for the room.
The club endorsed digital imaging at a very early stage, during 1996, and soon had new members wishing to join our group. The Packhorse meeting room was fine for a small collective but due to a growing membership we started to outgrow the venue, so a move to Beckington Memorial Hall seemed a good idea. Due to its excellent location this venue has allowed the group to encourage membership from a wider geographical area, as can be seen from the membership listing.
Our Membership Year runs between the first Friday of September until the first Friday of September the following year.
The group's annual membership subscription is just £40 (*) per annum for adults and £20 per annum for juniors ('juniors' being defined as those between their 16th and 18th birthdays; juniors must be accompanied by an adult whenever attending a meeting or event).
(*) - For those who join after Christmas, the fee for the remaining two terms of the year is £30, and for those who join after Easter it is £20 for the remaining term of the year.
Non Members are welcome to our 'Speaker' evenings and selected other events for a 'day membership' fee of £4.00 per visit (^).
(^) - Please note, this 'standard day membership' charge may be varied for particular talks and events.
Where else can you get such value? So come and meet us on a Friday evening from September through to May.
INTERESTED IN JOINING?
If you are interested in joining us, or have questions about potential membership, please get in touch with the Secretary using our online contact form.
Frome Wessex Photographic History
Frome Wessex Photographic's roots stem from the days of Club Canon back in 1984, when Canon encouraged and sponsored keen photographers to form local groups throughout the country. The support from Canon in those days was minimal, but the manufacturer did provide technical support for meetings and published a quarterly magazine, “Focus”, which advertised the local groups' contact details and their various activities. The magazine was also a platform for both local group competitions and members' photographs. As a result, a small number of keen Canon camera users got together in the Frome area and started a local Club Canon Group. Most of these founder members are still enthusiastic members of our group today.
During 1987 Canon decided to stop supporting these local groups, so existing members of the Frome group decided to continue to run the club and rename it “Frome Wessex Camera Club”. The reason for the inclusion of Wessex was to negate any confusion between the other club in town, “Frome Selwood Camera Club”.
A club programme was soon arranged and, as this coincided with joining the Western Counties Photographic Federation (WCPF), we were able to hold our own competitions/lectures and call upon a range of listed speakers and judges. We continued as a very small club for the next ten years or so, struggling to exceed our membership beyond 15. Our meeting place was at the Packhorse Inn Frome. We were always indebted to the landlord who very kindly allowed us to meet fortnightly, there being no charge for the room.
The club endorsed digital imaging at a very early stage, during 1996, and soon had new members wishing to join our group. The Packhorse meeting room was fine for a small collective but due to a growing membership we started to outgrow the venue, so a move to Beckington Memorial Hall seemed a good idea. Due to its excellent location this venue has allowed the group to encourage membership from a wider geographical area, as can be seen from the membership listing.
