Welcome Message
Gwynfa is one of the friendliest photography clubs in Wales. We exist to facilitate, encourage & promote the enjoyment of photography in the local community. We are a non-profit making organisation.
New members are always welcome. Click here to find out how to join.
We meet at Caerlan Hall, Newbridge Road, Llantrisant, Rhonnda Cynon Taf, CF72 8EX each Thursday at 7.15pm and we finish around 9.30pm. Many of us then stroll to the local pub, The New Inn, Llantrisant to continue our conversations. (We do not meet at Caerlan Hall in July, August & December).
Our aim is to encourage photographers at all levels and exponents of every single kind of photography. Members are of all ages and from various walks of life. Both sexes are strongly represented and anyone can walk in and feel right at home. We also have full disabled access and facilities.
Gwynfa isn’t a school of photography but a vast amount of knowledge is to be gained by regularly attending meetings. Members are always available to provide informal advice and our programme of events includes a well balanced mix of club and inter-club competitions, visiting expert speakers and other events.
Gwynfa Camera Club’s membership of the Welsh Photographic Federation (WPF), the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB), the Federation International de l’art Photographique (FIAP) and the Photographic Society of America (PSA) facilitates strong links with other clubs, photographers and federations both nationally and internationally. Many of our members have achieved National and International photographic awards and distinctions from such organisations and there are also numerous national and international photographic salons and competitions for individual members to enter including ‘the Welsh Salon’, ‘the Welsh International Projected Images Salon’, ‘the Bristol International Salon’, as well as many others far to numerous to list here.
We take part in numerous local & national annual photographic events and competitions including ‘the WPF Memorial Trophy’, ‘the Barrian Cup’, ‘the Ace of Clubs’ and ‘the Stanley Chell Memorial Trophy’. On numerous occasions we have represent Wales at the PAGB National PDI Championships in Warwick and at the PAGB National Print Championships at Blackburn. We’ve also had success in the GB Cup where we have finished as high as sixth out of all the clubs in the UK.
Thanks to the support of ‘Awards for All Wales‘ and ‘The Arts Council of Wales‘ we have in recent years been able to obtain up to the minute presentation facilities for prints, slides and digital photographs. Our venue has a public address & hearing aid loop system to ensure that guest speakers and judges can always be clearly heard during their presentations.
Are you interested? Then why not come along free-of-charge for a couple of evenings, enjoy the show, have a cuppa and meet some of our members? You’ll be guaranteed a warm welcome. Should you then decide to join you can visit our ‘How Do I Join?‘ page.
If you still have unanswered questions, please ask for further information.
A Welcome Message from our President
Who could have guessed it would take so long to get back to ‘normal’ after Covid?
Gwynfa has now re-opened its doors to extend a warm welcome to existing members and anyone who is looking for a safe environment to meet in a community of enthusiastic photographers. For those who don’t feel ready to meet in person, there are guideline in place to help keep us safe and we hope you’ll come and join us against soon.
Gwynfa is still a large and friendly club and you’ll still find a warm atmosphere and people who are keen to share their experience and ideas for improving photographic skills and creativity within the medium.
The programme remains the most important aspect of club nights with a great range of speakers from far and wide. Zoom spoilt us all by allowing us to see international photographers sharing their pictures with us in the comfort of our own homes but Gwynfa remains committed to bringing guests from all over the UK in person. Also a lively programme of competitions ensures we are stretched in our imagination and creativity. What we hope to see in future is an increase in young members with up-to-date skills and enthusiasm to join the ranks of one of the largest and friendliest clubs in Wales and the UK.
Remember Gwynfa is not just a camera club but also a social group that enjoys getting everyone together in a sharing environment, to help us all enjoy our hobby and develop our photographic practice.
Kevin Thomas MA FRPS, President.