Training Officer Ian Hosker LRPS develops new skills for members

Training Officer Ian Hosker LRPS has been working hard to encapsulate this body of knowledge and share it formally for all members through innovative learning materials and short courses. In particular, he has developed a modular learning resource on Eduflow, containing step by step guides on the essentials of photography with links to other videos and reference sources. Ian said, “The beauty of the Eduflow system is that we can tailor the content to fit the needs of our members, for those grappling with the creative potential of manual settings for the first time and as a handy reminder for everyone, of the essential techniques we all use”. Ian is ideally qualified to support learning in the Club. His career has been as a professional educator and university lecturer and he is a competition judge for the WCPF (West Country Photographic Federation).

For some members, especially those who have not participated before, the prospect of entering photos into competitions can be a daunting one. Whilst it is entirely discretionary for members who wish to enter, there are great benefits to be gained by doing so. The judges work very hard to provide a balanced critique and the positive feedback gained can assist the photographer in developing his or her skills and confidence.

Ian will be providing coaching and one-to-one support for anyone who wishes to enter competitions. He said, “competitions are not for everyone and it has always been a principle of the Club that there is no pressure to enter if members prefer not to do so. Many members are happy to do their own thing and that is just fine but for those who would like to have a go, and could use some advice and support, I will be facilitating a “buddy” system for them. Hopefully, this new idea will help to give even more people the confidence to show their images.”

The new training programme and buddying system are excellent examples of the way Sidmouth Photographic Club continues to add new content and resources for its members. Club secretary Mike Hawkridge ARPS is delighted with the direction the Club is taking. “Although we all long for the end of the pandemic, the Club Committee has worked incredibly hard to keep the Club active and we have found new ways of improving the experience for our members. The subscription has been kept to £48.00 pa this year again, which represents fantastic value for money, especially with the learning resources and very broad programme of speakers and events for the current year, and I am grateful to everyone involved in making the Club such a success.”

Michael Ginsberg