Written by A Lively Finale: AGM Wrap-Up and Exciting Plans Ahead
Who would have thought an AGM could be one of the most engaging evenings of the year? Yet that’s exactly how Dunchurch Photographic Society closed its 2025–26 season—on a high, with a lively and thought-provoking Annual General Meeting.
The AGM is arguably the most important date in our calendar. It’s the moment when members shape the future of the society—sharing what’s working, what could be improved, and where we go next. This year’s discussion was especially meaningful, reflecting on a period of real progress and looking ahead to an exciting milestone: our Golden Anniversary.
A Year of Growth and Change
The past 12 months have seen some fantastic developments. Our membership has grown, we’ve invested in a new projector screen, and we’ve expanded beyond our usual Wednesday evening meetings with a wider range of events. These are achievements worth celebrating—but, as always, we’re looking for ways to do even better.
One key focus for the coming season is increasing participation in the Merit competitions. In previous years, entries have tended to drop off in later rounds, particularly in the print category. The committee believes this may be due to members feeling discouraged after earlier rounds. To address this, a new approach will be introduced: a single submission deadline for all three rounds. This means all entries—prints and projected images—must be submitted before the first round of judging. Keep an eye out for the confirmed date when the new programme is released.
New Themes to Inspire
Of course, one of the highlights of the AGM is revealing the competition themes for the upcoming season. This year’s Merit subjects promise plenty of creative scope:
- Reflections
- It is all in the detail
- Golden
We also unveiled the Summer Challenge theme: “Village Life – in 3 Counties.” The rules are simple—capture your interpretation of village life in Warwickshire, Leicestershire, or Northamptonshire, with all images taken between the AGM and the competition date. No dipping into the archives this time!
Sharper Images, Bigger Impact
Another important change for the new season is an increase in the maximum dimensions for projected images. Members can now submit images up to 3840 x 2160 pixels, allowing judges to appreciate far greater detail. Just remember: portrait images are still limited to a maximum height of 2160 pixels.
Rethinking the Panel Competition
The Panel competition sparked one of the evening’s most in-depth discussions. Originally designed to encourage photographers to think in cohesive bodies of work, the format has evolved over time—from five images to three, and from prints to projected images. However, the shift to projection has introduced challenges, particularly in presenting panels as intended within the limits of the screen.
A proposal to return to a print-based format—potentially with club support for printing costs—was well received and will be explored further by the committee. We’ll keep members updated as decisions are made.
A Changing of the Guard
Finally, the AGM is where committee roles are confirmed—and sometimes relinquished. This year, we say a heartfelt thank you to several individuals stepping back from their roles.
Our President, Adrian Canale-Parola, has stood down after many years of dedicated service. His calm, thoughtful guidance has been invaluable to the society. David Bray is also stepping down as Secretary, though thankfully not going far—he will continue to serve as Vice Chairman, adding yet another role to his long list of contributions. We also bid farewell to Steven Farmer and Karen Tillett from the committee, both of whom have played important roles in the club’s success.
Their efforts have helped shape the society into what it is today, and they leave with our sincere gratitude.
In their place we welcome the return of Graeme Webb who is taking on the role of Secretary and Geoff Nuttall who is joining the committee for the first time.
With a milestone year ahead and plenty of fresh ideas on the table, the future of Dunchurch Photographic Society looks bright. Here’s to a golden year of photography, creativity, and community.