Treasurer’s report
Len reported that he has been looking into revised quotes from insurers with the aim to improve LIPs public liability cover from £2m to £5m; this includes cover for all LIP exhibitions, satellite group meetings; courses and workshops. Membership is still growing fast, although this is lovely to hear it does raise some administrative problems because of this Len is looking into new database software to help manage it better in the future.

Exhibition report
John started his report by explaining some of the challenges experienced at last year’s exhibition, with respect to the venue. Since then he has visited two new galleries with the view to change venues for this year’s exhibition. Details of which were passed around the committee, both of these carried a higher cost to LIP than Cottons but it was agreed that this cost would be worthwhile; with a show of hands John was asked to proceed, was passed unanimously. We will keep you updated and lets all keep our fingers crossed that it goes to plan – this would be a very exciting move for LIP.

Magazine report
Another area that is going through change is our magazine, under a new editor, Tiffany. She reported that after a long process to find a new name for the magazine one was ready to be put forward; after a short discussion the committee agreed that this was a good title (I will not give it away now, some of you will already have guessed the rest will have to wait). It was also reported that there will be a new size and again this was agreed. Tim is also putting in a lot of work trying to find new outlets for our magazine for the future, plus there is talk of having a stall at Photomonth held at Spitalfields (this would also help promote our exhibition which is held at the same time).

LIP Project report
We were happy to welcome John Levett to the meeting, to update us on the LIP Project (for those who did not attend the AGM, LIP is working on a group wide project which is still in its infancy). We read through a document that outlined the sort of questions people had asked when discussing the project. This was then talked over by the committee – it was felt that a clear and concise statement was needed along with a ‘hook’ to crystalise in the photographers’ minds the raisons d’être of the project. It was agreed that our next step will be to produce an artistic statement and to form an initial team, consisting of a voice for the project, organiser, fund raiser and communications person. The committee will arrange a brainstorming meeting very soon to come up with a mission statement.

Programme report
Elizabeth reported that two more workshops were now live in the website and is looking into a possible ‘Digital Stories’ workshop as a follow up to Daniel Meadows’ talk in January. Other points raised: the need for a Portable PA System for LIP (this I am looking into but if anyone has any advice please get in-touch) and the need to attract more female speakers for talks and workshops.

I hope this has given you some insight into the work going on. Any feedback or offer of time would be most welcome, and if you have viewpoints or suggestions on these topics or something new please feel free to email me at:

chairman@londonphotography.org.uk
Adrian Capps
Chair

Greg Lucas: Photography as Speculative Journalism (Talk)
Wednesday, 3rd March at 7.30pm

The Art of Photography with Yoke Matze (Workshop)
Saturday 20th March from 10am-4.30pm

Also there are a few spaces remaining for this April workshop:

Introduction to Large Format Photography with Nick Lockett
Saturday 24th April, 10.30am-4.30pm

Some members may remember or may have attended The Photographers’ Place workshops and master classes, run by Paul and Angela Hill at Bradbourne in the Peak District from 1976-96. As then, this new workshop weekend is intended for the more experienced photographer and includes both technical and aesthetic guidance. Gone are the darkrooms, replaced by sessions on digital post production. You need a high – end compact or SLR and a passion for photography to attend the sessions.

Professor Paul Hill will be there with two other experienced photography tutors, Martin Shakeshaft and Nick Lockett, to ‘eat drink and sleep’ photography for a whole weekend.

For details of the workshop weekend see www.photographersplace.co.uk

For all the info you need including guidelines and technical details, please check out the submission page. The entire online process shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes, so what are you waiting for?! We’re excited to see your view on the theme!

Upcoming Talk Wed January 20, 7.30pm
Daniel Meadows: Digital Storytelling
Talks about creating a national portrait of the English and pioneering Digital Storytelling.

Upcoming Workshop Sat February 6, 10.30-5.30pm
Studio Lighting at Photofusion with Paul Ellis
Learn all the basics you need to control studio lighting and construct the pictures you want to make.

Also a number of members of the Contemporary Group of the Royal Photographic Society are longtime LIP members. The Contemprary Group has organised a weekend event in Birmingham upcoming in May:

RPS Contemporary Group Event: Spirit of the Age
A weekend event in Birmingham featuring talks by Ian Beesley, Joy Gregory, Brian Griffin, Tom Hunter, Greg Lucas, Jenny Mathews, Simon Roberts and Helen Sear.

Events like this are happening simultaneously in every corner of the world just as our leaders gather at the United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen for the most important climate negotiations of our time. The message is: The World Wants A Real Deal – a treaty strong enough to tackle climate change and the destruction of the planet.

Come and join in! Bring a candle and something to share (cookies, cake etc.), Astrid will serve tea.

This is also a great opportunity to see her exhibition, which is dealing with climate issues and severe weather conditions.

Check out the event and RSVP here

Saturday, December 12, 3-4pm
Viewfinder Photography Gallery
Linear House, Peyton Place
Greenwich, London SE10 8RS

Public Transport: Greenwich Station Rail and DLR

The Frames issue will be available starting next week at the Photographers’ Gallery, Serpentine Gallery (Koenig Books), Viewfinder Gallery and National Portrait Gallery.

This is the last issue edited by Britt Hatzius, who has for the past three years invested her focus and creativity into producing a fine quality magazine to showcase our members’ work to the public.

Frames features work by photographers Tony Othen, Anne-Marie Glasheen, Kelly Hill, John Levett, Odette England, Millie Burton, Mary Pritchard, Hamish Stewart, Chris Hudson, Caroline Fraser, Jonathan Goldberg, Jenny Johnson Burrows, Peter Spurgeon, David Solomons, Nancye Gault and Jerry Barnett.

Nigel’s photograph The Swimmer was Overall Winner in the annual BBC Staff Photography Competition. There was a record-breaking 1,364 photos submitted with more than 470 participants taking part.

Judges said of Nigel’s image, “A clean, bold composition. The photographer is not afraid to have a photograph of almost nothing. An isolated figure in the landscape. The line of the figure, the line leading out to him, against the line of the horizon: it works perfectly. Subtle bands of colour. Unusual and powerful.”

www.nigeljarvis.co.uk