On Thursday 27th August Smethwick Photographic Society will be welcoming back club member Peter Gennard as he presents yet another one of his entertaining as well as enlightening photo talks at the clubhouse.

Peter is stepping into the slot vacated by David Lowe as per the original programme – but fear not David will return. Peter has prepared a new set of images showcasing his unique blend of portrait compositions.

Peter R. Gennard, MFIAP, EFIAP/d3 began his interest in photography as a teenager, but a visit to Smethwick International Exhibition in 1983 marked a turning point.

He joined the prestigious Smethwick P.S. and began to enter FIAP approved International Exhibitions. Peter achieved AFIAP in 1987 and EFIAP in 1991.

The pinnacle of his photographic career was gaining the highest FIAP distinction, MFIAP in 1993.

He continued to build on his EFIAP distinction by achieving the EFIAP/bronze in 1995 and the EFIAP/silver in 1996. The EFIAP/gold distinction was obtained in 1997 and eventually the EFIAP/platinum in 2000. In 2022 he gained his EFIAP Diamond 2 award and then in 2023 his EFIAP Diamond 3, so his distinctions are MFIAP, EFIAP/d3

Peter is a prolific international exhibitor, to FIAP approved internationals. To date, Peter has had 1446 different pieces of work accepted in prints and projected images. They have gained 4460 acceptances in 52 different countries. From those acceptances he has gained 645 awards.

Here’s a selection of what we can expect from Peter:

For information go to our Streaming page HERE

Thursday 20th August 2026;  We have our annual Nature members competition of the year,  a competition judged this year by Ralph Snook (Prints and PDIs are welcome).

Entry is open now  and will close on Sunday 16th August.

To watch by live streaming you must be registered and logged in and purchase a ticket. For information go to our Streaming page HERE

Programme begins at 8.00pm.

These images are from the same competition in 2025.

On Thursday 13th August Smethwick PS members and guests will get the opportunity to experience this annual exhibtion in our newly refurbished clubhouse. A large selection of high quality prints together with a selection of PDI shows (Colour, Mono, Nature and Awards).

The 77th Midland Salon of International Photography exhibition will be held from 10th August to 17th August 2025 at Smethwick Photographic Society’s dedicated exhibition space.

Here, visitors will get the opportunity to view high quality prints under state of art lighting and display spaces. And get the opportunity to discuss and debate the merits of each image with like minded photographers over a drink.

The exhibition will feature projected images and prints in various categories including open colour, open monochrome, scapes, and nature.

The event is organized by the Midland Counties Photographic Federation in partnership with Smethwick Photographic Society.

Selection of images from the same exhibition in 2025:

 

Starts at 8pm in the club room and on stream

 

On Thursday 6th August Smethwick Photographic Society will be welcoming club member David Thomas as he gives his first presentation at the clubhouse.

David Thomas ARPS has had a life-long interest in photography, always ensuring that he had a camera with him on his travels. Looking for a way to get an objective assessment of his work, he joined the Royal Photographic Society in 2010 and, shortly after, joined Smethwick Photographic Society.

With advice from Roger Parry and other club members on print selection and panel presentation, he successfully submitted a panel to the RPS, and gained his Associateship in the ‘Professional and Applied’ genre in 2014.

David’s main interest is in figure and portrait photography. His talk’s title reflects that, while some of his work has been ‘Out’ on location, it has been mainly ‘In’ the studio. Since 2014 David has been fortunate to have extensive use of professional studio space and equipment. His ARPS panel combined location and (mainly) studio images.

His foray into club competitions started in 2015, winning first prize in Smethwick’s Members’ Advanced Portrait competition. Since then, David has frequently (but not prolifically) submitted work to UK exhibitions, achieving an approximately 50% acceptance rate. In 2018 he submitted his first entry to the Edinburgh Salon, and won a FIAP gold medal.

In other competitions, he has twice won first prize (gold medal) in the RPS Digital Imaging Group’s annual print competition, with his name featuring twice on that silver cup!

David’s images range from (almost) straight captures to substantial photoshop edits, and include both colour and monochrome work. Whenever possible, he prefers a square format. This is a presentation of both the progression of his work and how studio access has enabled his creativity.

Here’s a selection of what we can expect from David:

For information go to our Streaming page HERE

Thursday 30th July Smethwick Photographic Society will be welcoming back (after a long break) Ian Whiston. A renouned wildlife photographer, Ian will showcase his stunning work from his many trips to African National Parks.

Ian Whiston DPAGB,EFIAP/d2, MPSA, FBPE, Hon LCPU. Ian became interested in photography in the 70’s and joined his first camera club, Mid-Cheshire Camera Club in 1982 of which he is still a member. He is now a life member, past chairman and the long-suffering competition secretary since 1990. 

Ian has always enjoyed the Natural World hence his main photographic interest is in the Nature field, especially the Big Cats of Africa. He has been fortunate to visit East Africa 25 times and being on the LCPU federation judging and lecture list enjoys speaking to camera clubs on his experiences of safari photography and its pitfalls. 

Ian also enjoys other branches of photography, landscape, portraiture and sport. After retiring in 2001 he joined Crewe PS to seek more competition and in 2007 started on the photographic distinction trail. His first distinction BPE1* was achieved in April 2010 which was followed later in the year in attaining CPAGB accreditation. Further levels of accreditation have followed at regular intervals all with Nature images to his present status of DPAGB, EFIAP/d2 MPSA, FBPE. All the distinctions gained have been made mainly with nature images. Further levels of distinction are in the pipeline. Since entering the International Exhibition Salon Circuit in 2013 he has gained over 4000 acceptances and achieved over 1000 awards with 270 different images including 250+ Gold Medals. To date he has exhibited in 44 countries of the world, achieving awards in many of those countries. In 2013 he was the PAGB Nature Photographer of the Great British Cup and has been the LCPU Nature photographer of the year several times. 

In 2015 he was the Scottish Salon Nature Photographer. Ian is on the PAGB judges list and has been a selector at several federations, national and international exhibitions.

 

Here’s a selection of what we can expect from Ian:

For information go to our Streaming page HERE