DAY TRIP: Shuttleworth Light Trail
2026-01-02 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Shuttleworth, Alder Drive, Biggleswade, Beds, SG18 9DT, United Kingdom
Shuttleworth’s unique twist on a winter light trail, as recommended by John Hughes, turns their Collection & Garden into an illuminated experience that shows off Shuttleworth in a whole new light. Produced entirely in-house, the trail lets you explore Swiss Garden’s quirky features aglow in vibrant colours, with some fun interactive elements and photo-worthy moments. In the Collection hangars the iconic aircraft, vehicles and machines will be bathed in light, adding to the awesome revere these fantastic machines inspire.
£17 per head.
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SOCIAL: Fish & Chip Supper & Awards Ceremony
2026-01-22 19:00 - 22:00 | The Bell & Bear, High Stree, Emberton, MK46 5DH, United Kingdom
Kick off the year with a social occasion and dinner.
Note this on a Thursday (not our usual Wednesday) to coincide with the chippy van at The Bell & Bear, Emberton.

SPEAKER/TUTORIAL: Smart Phone Photography
2026-01-28 20:00 - 22:00 | The Olney Centre, High Street, Olney, MK46 4EF, United Kingdom
Join Jeanette for a very interactive talk on how to use your phone for photography. As well as giving a presentation, Jeanette will go through how to set up the camera, control exposure, etc. She demonstrates on an iPhone, but the talk is suitable for any make and model of phone.
Many of our members use their mobile phones for photography, either alongside their camera or as their main instrument, and the inclusion of this talk into our programme will hopefully appeal to a broader spectrum of members.
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PROJECT: Portrait Pairs
2026-02-18 19:30 - 21:30 | The Swan Inn & Bistro, 12 High Street, Olney, MK46 4AA, United Kingdom
Last month we set the challenge to pair up and take portraits of each other, so each participant gets to be both a model and a photographer. This evening we get to see the results. Should make for an interesting and fun evening.
Rules
There aren’t any hard or fast rules. You just need to take a photo of the person you were paired with. It can be in or outdoors, posed or natural. It is a portrait challenge though, so we would like to see their face.
Useful Resources
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/portrait-photography-tips
8 Portrait Photography Tips Every Photographer Should Know

SPEAKER: Through my Viewfinder - Warren Alani
2026-02-25 20:00 - 22:00 | The Olney Centre, High Street, Olney, MK46 4EF, United Kingdom
An exploration of decisive moments in photography; how the perfectly-timed shot can truly make a picture come to life. A well-structured, informative, and entertaining presentation of coloured and monochromatic images and prints. This talk covers a wide range of subjects including sports, architecture, environmental and portraiture. In this presentation you will learn some information about the techniques and equipment used for these images, applicable to both novices and experienced photographers alike.
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DAY TRIP: The Photography & Video Show
2026-03-14 09:00 - 17:00 | NEC Birmingham, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham, B40 1NT, United Kingdom
Following on from an enjoyable trip last year, this is a great exhibition for photography lovers with stands selling and demoing kits + lots of talks and seminars.
£18.95 (£15.95 for over 60s) plus transport.
https://www.photographyshow.com/

SOCIAL: Towcester Selection Night
2026-03-18 19:30 - 21:30 | The Swan Inn & Bistro, 12 High Street, Olney, MK46 4AA, United Kingdom
A look at our images from 2025 (plus possibly some that we are submitting for this month’s competition) with a view to selecting our final twenty.

COMPETITION NIGHT
2026-03-25 20:00 - 22:00 | The Olney Centre, High Street, Olney, MK46 4EF, United Kingdom
Looking Down (DPI)
Urban (DPI)
Open (Print)

Judge: Richard Houghton

SOCIAL: Competition Dissection
2026-04-15 19:30 - 22:00 | The Swan Inn & Bistro, 12 High Street, Olney, MK46 4AA, United Kingdom
We will revisit some of images from earlier competitions and dissect the judges comments. The evening is informal but may consist of a mixture of show and tell….if you’ve reworked your image to reflect the judges comments; defend and deny…if you want to give the back story to your image and why you may not agree with the judge; general discussion; any member who doesn’t like competitions can submit images on the themes for member comments.

SPEAKER: Land Air & Sea (Dave Peck)
2026-04-29 08:00 - 17:00 | The Olney Centre, High Street, Olney, MK46 4EF, United Kingdom
Dave Peck shows off his landscape and seascape shots in the first half and aerial shots with the drone for the second. He will bring one of his drones along and talk us through how and why you should use one.
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PROJECT: One Subject, Ten Photos
2026-05-20 19:30 - 22:00 | The Swan Inn & Bistro, 12 High Street, Olney, MK46 4AA, United Kingdom
Choose an object, any simple, everyday object. The challenge is then to take 10 completely different photographs of the item. Project to be carried out in your own time.
We’ll then come together to share our results.

COMPETITION: Head to Head Towcester
2026-05-27 20:00 - 22:00 | The Olney Centre, High Street, Olney, MK46 4EF, United Kingdom
We prepare to do battle once more with Towcester with 20 images from each club, judged by an independent judge. If you haven’t heard yet, we lost by 3 points. I attach the scoresheet. There were some great photos from the Towcester crew and they had two twenty pointers (we didn’t get any). That said they also received 4 x 15 points (the lowest scores given) whereas we only got 2. Shows how close it was, but we need to up our game!

SOCIAL: Scavenger Hunt
2026-06-17 19:00 - 22:30 | Turvey, Three Fyshes Car Park, Bridge St, Turvey, MK43 8ER, United Kingdom
Meet over at Turvey for a mobile phone based, ten image, scavenger hunt. Meet in The Three Fyshes after for a show and tell. 7pm start.

COMPETITION NIGHT
2026-06-24 20:00 - 22:00 | The Olney Centre, High Street, Olney, MK46 4EF, United Kingdom
Opposites (DPI)
Open (DPI)
High Contrasts(Print)
Landscape Cup (Print)

Judge: David Steel

SOCIAL: Olney Photographic Walk with Dan Evans
2026-07-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Olney Market Place, Olney Market Place, Olney, MK46 4AJ, United Kingdom
Following on the positive feedback from Dan’s last walk, we will repeat the experience in a location of Dan’s choosing. About an hour and a half, finishing off at a pub to discuss results.
Venue to be confirmed

SPEAKER/TUTORIAL: Naomi Saul: Processing Prowess
2026-07-29 20:00 - 22:00 | The Olney Centre, High Street, Olney, MK46 4EF, United Kingdom
Naomi will visit us and using a handful of our own images, show us how best to process them to get the best from them.

You Tube Tutorial Session
2026-08-19 19:30 - 22:00 | The Swan Inn & Bistro, 12 High Street, Olney, MK46 4AA, United Kingdom
A deep dive into some of the trickier themes of the second half of the year. We will have an informal chat about what they might mean, what the best techniques are, and look at good examples both our own and others. There will be one or more You Tube tutorials that we will watch on the subject. If anyone has photos on the theme that they would like to share, feel free to bring them along.

SOCIAL: Alphabetti Spaghetti
2026-09-16 19:30 - 22:30 | The Swan Inn & Bistro, 12 High Street, Olney, MK46 4AA, United Kingdom
During your summer break, task yourself with finding letters in your surroundings and taking photos. We don’t mean literally, but find an object, plant, building etc in the shape of a letter. Bring your best ones to the social for sharing. Click on the link for some inspiration.

COMPETITION NIGHT
2026-09-30 20:00 - 22:00 | The Olney Centre, High Street, Olney, MK46 4EF, United Kingdom
Seascapes (Print)
Shadows & Silhouettes (DPI)
Open (DPI)

Judge: Michael Patton

SOCIAL: AGM
2026-10-21 19:00 - 21:00 | The Swan Inn & Bistro, 12 High Street, Olney, MK46 4AA, United Kingdom
If you have ideas for next year’s programme, themes for the competition, how we do things, or are just nosy about our finances and processes, please do come along to the AGM.

October Club Session
2026-10-28 08:00 - 17:00
TBC

SOCIAL: New Member Evening
2026-11-18 19:30 - 21:30 | The Swan Inn & Bistro, 12 High Street, Olney, MK46 4AA, United Kingdom
An informal evening to encourage new members to come along and meet us, and to give the opportunity to any member who has joined in the year to let us know what they have enjoyed, what they would like more of, and to feedback on the club.

SPEAKER/TUTORIAL: Essential Camera Skills (ECS) - Ricard Houghton
2026-11-25 20:00 - 22:00 | The Olney Centre, High Street, Olney, MK46 4EF, United Kingdom
The aim is to identify and agree the ‘Essential Camera Skills’ (ECS) required when photographing a variety of genres, topics, subjects and in different lighting situations. We will start the session with an interactive discussion inviting members to contribute, to get some kind of general consensus on what knowledge/skills are required for the ECS. During the break we will then set up a variety of items for everyone to capture images and we can check if they’ve been paying attention.

COMPETITION NIGHT
2026-12-16 20:00 - 22:00 | The Olney Centre, High Street, Olney, MK46 4EF, United Kingdom
Fungus(DPI)
Winter(DPI)
Open (Print)
Monochrome Cup (Print)

Judge: Colin Mills
