Melbourne Camera Club

Nature Group Outing
2025-09-28 10:00 - 14:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Banyule Flats Reserve
Banyule Flats Reserve
This month we’ll explore Banyule Flats Reserve, a rich mix of wetlands, riverine forest and open grassland along the Yarra.
The area is one of Melbourne’s most rewarding spots for nature photography, with more than 150 bird species recorded from Ducks, Spoonbills and Rails on the water to Fairy-wrens, Rosellas and Pardalotes in the woodland.
Late September is also a fantastic time for macro photography, with spring wildflowers beginning to bloom and plenty of insects and other small details to capture.
Bring along a telephoto lens for birds or a macro lens for close-ups, as well as sturdy shoes for uneven tracks. We’ll break for a relaxed picnic lunch together, so remember to pack food, water, and a chair to sit on.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XwFhE6EC6tEd6B9b9

MCC Annual General Meeting
2025-10-02 20:00 - 21:30 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
The 135th Annual General Meeting of the members of the Melbourne Camera Club will be held Thursday 2 October 2025.

Film Developing and Printing Course – Darkroom
2025-10-04 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-05 09:30 - 16:00, 2025-10-18 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-19 09:30 - 16:00 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
This Analogue Photography course is open to MCC members as well to non-members. It is designed for those people who are just starting to process and print film. It can also be taken by those who wish to update their film processing and printing skills. Course participants must be over 18 years old.
The course is divided into two units:

Processing the exposed film – Unit 1
Printing from a set of negatives – Unit 2

This course has been pre-booked and full. For more information and if you are interested in the course please contact the organiser via the course page below:
https://melbournecameraclub.org.au/courses/analogue-photography-basics-course2/

Exclusive to MCC workshop with the acclaimed Isamu Sawa | for registered participants
2025-10-05 13:00 - 16:00 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Exclusive Presentation for Melbourne Camera Club Members
Studio Hacks for Still Life Photography
Masterclass with Commercial & Fine Art Photographer Isamu Sawa
Join us for an inspiring live lighting demonstration session with Isamu Sawa, one of Australia’s leading commercial and fine art photographers, as he shares his personal studio techniques and creative approach to still life photography.
Born in Japan and raised in Australia, Isamu’s photography is grounded in precision, restraint, and refined visual storytelling—rooted in a Japanese-inspired philosophy that balances technical craft with creative exploration. His career spans almost three decades, with work featured in campaigns for renowned brands such as Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Schweppes, David Jones, and National Australia Bank.
This masterclass is designed to provide Melbourne Camera Club members with unique, behind-the-scenes insight into how Isamu creates still-life imagery that resonates—whether for fine art or commercial use. From lighting hacks to composition techniques, you’ll come away with tools you can apply to your own studio work.
📍 Location: Isamu Sawa Photography / 9 Glasshouse Road, Collingwood
📅 Date: Sunday, 5 October, 2025; 1pm – 4pm
Cost $87.00 (including stripe fees)
This is a not to be missed opportunity with limited place’s so don’t hesitate , book now.

Portrait Group
2025-10-06 19:00 - 22:30, 2025-11-03 19:00 - 22:30 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
This is the monthly meeting of the Portrait Group – first Monday of each month. An excellent chance to practice portrait photography skills, learn about studio lighting and grow your portfolio.
The meeting is a practical photography session. We use flash lighting in a studio setting. We will have 2 sets operating and 2-3 models, so there will be ample opportunity to shoot.
Open to all MCC members (and visitors may attend up to 2 sessions).
If you want to shoot, please bring:

your camera (with a standard hot shoe on top for the flash trigger)
$10 for a shooters licence.

Please come along at 7pm to help set up. We start shooting at 8pm, and stop when the models say they’ve had enough (typically 2-3 hours).
Please remember that after the shoot you are required to send some photos back for the models. (See https://melbournecameraclub.org.au/interest-groups/portrait-group/portrait-image-returns/)

Mid-Week Outing
2025-10-07 10:30 - 14:00 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
The Archibald at Geelong
Details have been sent via mailout.
To receive the mailout tick ‘MidWeek Outing Group’ on your profile page.
See Mid-Week Outing Group

Print Competition (Club Rooms only)
2025-10-09 20:00 - 22:00 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Set Subject: Minimalistic Architecture

Judge: Mark Bloot’hoofd (link)

Closing Date for Entries: Midnight Wednesday 8 October 2025

Studio Hacks for Still Life Photography by Isamu Sawa | for registered participants
2025-10-12 13:00 - 16:00 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Studio Hacks for Still Life Photography by Isamu Sawa

Masterclass with Commercial & Fine Art Photographer Isamu Sawa
Join us for an inspiring live lighting demonstration session with Isamu Sawa, one of Australia’s leading commercial and fine art photographers, as he shares his personal studio techniques and creative approach to still life photography.
Born in Japan and raised in Australia, Isamu’s photography is grounded in precision, restraint, and refined visual storytelling—rooted in a Japanese-inspired philosophy that balances technical craft with creative exploration. His career spans almost three decades, with work featured in campaigns for renowned brands such as Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Schweppes, David Jones, and National Australia Bank.
This masterclass is designed to provide Melbourne Camera Club members with unique, behind-the-scenes insight into how Isamu creates still-life imagery that resonates—whether for fine art or commercial use. From lighting hacks to composition techniques, you’ll come away with tools you can apply to your own studio work.
? What You’ll Learn:

Going beyond the limitations of an obligatory softbox – by using diffusion gels to control light more creatively.
Utilising a single direct light source to enhance micro details while creating drama and mood.
Real-world insights from Isamu’s practice, including his acclaimed exhibition, “Without Water”, a macro study of flowers in decay utilising ‘focus stacking’ to maximise depth of field.

Whether you’re looking to push your still life work to the next level or gain new studio techniques from a master of the craft, this is a rare opportunity to learn from one of the best.

BOOKING LINK

When
October 12th, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Location

9 Glasshouse Road
Collingwood, VIC 3066
Australia

Event Fee(s)

MCC Member Workshop Fee (Incl. $3.00 Transaction Fee
A$87.00

Photo Discussion Group
2025-10-13 20:00 - 22:00 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
The Photo Discussion Group provides a regular forum where you can discuss your passion for photography with like-minded people.
In a friendly, helpful environment, we explore a diverse range of photography topics – what makes competition winning images, creative techniques, how do judges evaluate our work, what tools we use to create the images we love, and how we may progress our skills to a higher level – to name a few.
Whatever your interests – photographic genres, image capture, image processing, printing, PDI, the latest tools, or just looking for tips – you will not be disappointed.

Conceptual Photography SIG
2025-10-15 19:30 - 21:30 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Check our homepage for the annual plan for 2025,
and the link to all past presentations.
September CPSIG Meeting
Date: Wednesday, 17 September
Time: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Place: MCC Clubrooms
On Wednesday 17 September, the Conceptual Photography SIG will hold an informal panel discussion about all aspects of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale (BIFB) – the art, the process, and the experience.
The discussion will be chaired by garrie maguire from MCC and xyz photo gallery and who was tasked as one of the judges of the open programme at BIFB.
Please pass on the details of this event to those motivated to come along – all welcome!

Cheers
Coordinators of CPSIG – Bob Warfield, garrie maguire, Andrew Tan, Wayne Harridge, Robin Tully,

Opening of the Fourth Annual Conceptual Photography Exhibition
2025-10-16 20:00 - 22:00 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia

MCC Lighting Group SIG - October 2025
2025-10-17 19:30 - 21:30 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Join us in the club studio & surrounding streets, where we will explore photography with Colin (dressed as the Joker). We will also explore mood lighting and colour lights to enhance the mood and feel of the shots.
Please bring along your camera, battery, SD card and a tripod (tripod is optional)

Photowalk Community – Ballarat International Foto Biennale
2025-10-18 10:00 - 15:00 | VIC
For our next Photowalk, we will be heading to Ballarat International Foto Biennale for the day – note that this photowalk is being held on Saturday, and not our regular Sunday outing.

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale was founded in 2005 and attracts significant International and Australian photographers as one of Australia’s pre-eminent photographic festivals. Held every two years it showcases work from domestic and international artists that is new, previously unseen in Australia or contextualised afresh; the Open Program fosters the development of new artists.

We will spend the day checking out some of the photography exhibitions in Ballarat and there will be some photography opportunities around town while walking between the exhibitions.
FESTIVAL TICKETS: Link here – includes entry to the Core Program exhibitions throughout central Ballarat (no cost to view the Open Program exhibitions). Tickets also available in person from Festival Hub, at the Mining Exchange, 12 Lydiard Street North, open 10am-4pm.
FESTIVAL GUIDE: View online. Printed festival guide: $5, available from Festival Hub shop at the Mining Exchange (12 Lydiard St North).
As well as visiting some of the Core and Open Program exhibitions, we are hoping to view some of the MCC Members exhibitions, including:

MCC Conceptual Photography Group, Link
Gaye Beal A Symphony of Hues Link
Lesley Bretherton Botanica Obscura Link
Renee Sterling The Walk to the Beach Link
Anne Shellard, Kaye Linsdell, Sally Paterson Stillness and Soul Link

We will spend the day checking out some of the photography exhibitions in Ballarat and there will be plenty of photography opportunities around town while walking between the exhibitions.

DATE: SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER

Meeting location: Ballarat Railway Station, outside the main doors
You can self drive or take the V/Line train: departing Southern Cross 8.35am / Arrive Ballarat Station 10.01am, check the latest timetable
Meeting time: 10.05am
Lunch and coffee breaks to be decided on the day
Finish time: approx 3pm

Return trains:

Regular trains return to Melbourne all day: 3.24pm / 4.04pm / 4.44pm / 5.24pm etc

We welcome MCC members and friends to the photowalk.
We look forward to you joining us on Saturday 18 October.
If you will be joining us please RSVP for planning purposes. Email: photowalks@melbournecameraclub.org.au

Conceptual Photography 4th Annual Exhibition
2025-10-18 11:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-19 11:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-25 11:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-26 11:00 - 15:00 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Digital Editing Group
2025-10-20 20:00 - 22:00 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
As the level of understanding of digital editing techniques varies enormously among members, we will aim to provide information to members at basic, intermediate and advanced levels in each meeting.
The focus is not on how to capture an image, but on what can be done with it in post-processing after downloading the images to your computer. Topics such as adjusting exposure and saturation, compositing, HDR and special effects will be just some of the areas covered. The digital editing techniques discussed will primarily be applicable to Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, however these techniques are generally transferable to many other digital editing programs.
This month we will be looking at a variety of Lightroom/Camera Raw processing that will help your images stand out. We will also consider when that processing has gone too far. For Photoshop users doing portrait retouching, we have a couple of short videos on removing dark eye circles and removing reflections from glasses.

Mid-Week Outing
2025-10-21 10:30 - 14:00 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Rhododendron Garden, Olinda
Details sent via mailout on 8 Oct 2025.
To receive the mailout tick ‘MidWeek Outing Group’ on your profile page.
See Mid-Week Outing Group

PDI Competition (Zoom only)
2025-10-23 20:00 - 22:00 | Via Zoom
Set Subject: Minimalistic Architecture

Judge: Ian Rolfe (link)

Closing Date for Entries: Midnight Wednesday 8 October 2025
Zoom Link: published in the Newsletter

*Cancelled* Nature Outing
2025-10-26 10:00 - 14:00 | Lerderderg Campground carpark
Due to the current weather warnings for rain, thunderstorms and strong winds, we have decided to cancel the outing. The safety of our members is paramount.
We hope to see everyone at our next outing to Werribee Treatment Plant on Sunday 30th November.
Stay safe and dry.
————————–
Lerderderg Campground carpark (Upper Chadwick Track off O’Brien’s Rd)
We’ll follow easy, well-defined forest trails with gentle slopes—perfect for relaxed macro and nature photography. Expect spring wildflowers and native orchids in bloom, along with Eastern Yellow Robins, Superb Fairy-wrens, Grey Fantails, thornbills, pardalotes, and occasional raptors such as Brown Goshawks or Wedge-tailed Eagles. You may also spot wallabies, echidnas, and skinks basking on sunny logs.Please bring sturdy shoes, lunch, plenty of water, and a folding chair

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4UQ1uv51CXAAvXPD8

APG October Meeting
2025-10-27 19:30 - 22:30 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
October 27, 2025 @ 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Show and tell, feedback on printmaking, passion projects, work in progress, sharing of interesting cameras.
Guest speaker Peter Leverett on Street Photography (to be confirmed).

Very Special Guest - Member- Russell Spence
2025-10-30 20:00 - 21:30 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Change of Program for Tonight’s Meeting
Unfortunately, our scheduled guest speaker Mark Forbes is unable to join us this evening due to illness. We send Mark our best wishes for a quick recovery and hope to welcome him to the club at a future date.
We’re very fortunate, however, that Russell Spence has generously offered to step in at short notice with a presentation on Nature Photography. This couldn’t be more timely, with our upcoming club outing to the Western Treatment Plant and the End-of-Year Nature Awards just around the corner.
For those who don’t know Russell, the WTP is very much his backyard. His deep love of the natural environment is reflected in his photography, which celebrates the beauty, behaviour, and diversity of wildlife found in our own region. His mantra, “The Art That Nature Makes” is evident in every image he creates.
This will be an evening full of insight, beautiful imagery, and practical tips for anyone who enjoys photographing the natural world.
Come along, enjoy the company, and be inspired by what promises to be a wonderful presentation.

Mat cutting workshop
2025-11-01 10:00 - 13:00 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Come to the MCC studio to join others in cutting our mats for the End of Year or monthly print Competition.

Mid-Week Outing
2025-11-04 10:30 - 14:00 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Springvale Botanical Cemetery
Details sent via mailout on 21 Oct 2025.
To receive the mailout tick ‘MidWeek Outing Group’ on your profile page.
See Mid-Week Outing Group

"Very Special Guest" Dr Donna Cohen
2025-11-06 19:30 - 21:30 | Melbourne Camera Club, 254 Ferrars St, South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Donna Cohen’s presentation tonight will be on the topic of Perspective. She will be exploring how perspective is so much more than the way we represent three dimensions in a two-dimensional medium — it’s also about the many factors that shape how we see and interpret the world around us.
Dr Donna Cohen, who was instrumental in developing the club’s strategic plan, brings a wealth of insight from her extensive corporate background.
Her experience in leadership and organisational development adds another valuable layer to our understanding of how perspective influences the way we think, plan, and create.
Donna was born in the US to English parents and has lived most of her life in Australia (which explains her unusual accent). She is recently retired after a long and varied working life and is currently trying her hand at writing a novel. She notes that while she has done many things in her professional and personal life, the one word that has never been used to describe her is “photographer”.
You will not want to miss this opportunity …. see you there.
