The Stratford Clicks photography group held its latest meeting this week, featuring Painting with Light, at The Makers' Space just outside Alcester. With the group during COVID going to online themes and has now in late 2023 gone back to having physical meeting as well.
The group was formed in 2012 by local Stratford-upon-Avon area photographers Sally Crane, Mark Taylor & Charlie Budd. It was setup as an alternative to the existing Photography clubs, which are more focused on competitions and more formal. Stratford Clicks was setup for any interested photographers from full time professionals, semi-professional photographers and lecturers to fully amateur members.
The Group is now led by Paul Hancox and Natalie Carragher, and are being hosted by Clicks founder as The Makers' Space at Longbarn near to Alcester with he along with his wife Jules Fallon opened to creatives earlier in 2023 (The Stratford Herald reported on it).
The evening used the outside courtyard at The Makers' Space and members with their tripods and shutter releases took long exposures whilst other members twirled colour lights and fire cords. This brought out some stunning images including a Clicks logo created with a Start Wars style light sabre using multiple colours as Paul Hancox moved across the gathered photographers.
The final setup was over in the car park where Paul again used the fire cords whilst 4 photographers stood in front of him (after setting off their long exposures). The author is the right-hand figure in the image.
In the 10+ years that Stratford Clicks has existed there have been many photography opportunities offered including the waterfalls at Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons National Park) in South Wales, with the four spectacular falls; Sgwd Clun-Gwyn waterfall, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn waterfall, Sgwd y Pannwr waterfall, and Sgwd yr Eira waterfall. This was organised by Andy Page and used the mini coach from member Mark Clarke.
A Bluebell and wildlife session in Lynches Wood below Dover’s Hill above Chipping Campden, again organised by Andy Page and a private session at the Electric Train Museum close to Coventry Airport organised by Paul Hancox. Sadly, due to the expansion of business parks this had to close in 2017.
The group also use to host a regular exhibition in the bar at the Picturehouse Cinema in Stratford-upon-Avon, which changed relating to a new main film being shown. So, there was a Star Wars theme, a yellow theme and an Important Women theme. Sadly, the cinema is now closed and demolished but is now just a vacant lot behind fences.
The group also use to base this location for Instagram meets where members went round the town for a set time to see what members captured on cameras or mobile phones.
To find out more about the group or join for their next meeting in January (date to be published soon) do visit their Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/StratfordClicks
