Hull F4 Photography Club

05/06/2026

Fantastic news for F4 member Duncan Wood

We are delighted to share that Duncan Wood has had some of his images published in The New York Times, following his appointment as the official photographer for the Cotswold ‘Olimpick’ Games.

What an achievement.

The Cotswold ‘Olimpick’ Games are full of atmosphere, tradition, character and wonderfully unusual sporting moments, making them a brilliant subject for strong documentary and event photography. Duncan’s work being selected for such a prestigious international publication is a real credit to his skill, his eye for storytelling, and his ability to capture the spirit of an occasion.

A huge well done from everyone at F4. It is always fantastic to see our members’ photography reaching wider audiences and gaining the recognition it deserves.

Congratulations, Duncan; we look forward to seeing more images from the event, and perhaps a few from the Cheese Rolling Races, too.

Here is the article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7323462/2026/06/05/cotswold-olimpick-games-shin-kicking-world-championships/?unlocked_article_code=1.n1A.c6_D.k4TXzgcvlHks&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_twitter&smid=tw-share-ta&fbclid=IwY2xjawSPtrRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeBNitmhkQqn6zY4eCxRKjZYBjaj-c5Fov7SJ36eig3MV1zT_pYpLU--d2lG0_aem_cm3__tQHEhl4NavtrjFz-A

For over 400 years it is believed that people have gathered in a picturesque English town to watch an annual shin kicking competition

01/06/2026

F4 Photographic Group Summer Break

F4 Photographic Group is now on its summer break, with our first meeting back on Thursday, 3rd September at 19:30 at Cottingham Civic Hall.

Summer Challenge for Members

While we are away, members are invited to take part in our Summer Challenge: creating a photo essay based on the "Hull Fish Trail and/or other fish-related imagery".

Some members have asked, "What is a photo essay?"

Put simply, it is a collection of 3 or more separate images brought together around a common theme. In this case, the theme is fish.

Your photo essay could be:

* A storyboard featuring all 41 fish from the Hull Fish Trail
* A collage or panel of 6, 9, 12, or more images
* A simple triptych showing your favourite 3 fish
* A creative interpretation using fish-related signs, textures, reflections, markets, boats, or coastal details

There is plenty of room to be imaginative, so enjoy the challenge, explore the trail, and use the summer break to create something thoughtful, creative, and personal.

We look forward to seeing what members produce when we return in September.

01/06/2026

Following our AGM last week we presented a number of trophies that had been recently engraved, to their respective winners.
Mo Lee already had the top half of her award, The Landlord's Cheetah Trophy for "Best of the Annual Trip 2025" but the base can now be reunited with the Cheetah. Here she is receiving the award from incoming f4 Chairman - Gareth Morgan.
Also receiving an award is Steve Littlewood who won the "Print Photographer of the Year" award.
Finally, Outgoing Chairman Chris Hatfield is shown presenting Gareth with the "Print Of The Year" award.

We are now embarking on our programme of Outings across the Summer and start again in September. However, if you are considering joining a photography club, please make contact with us.

15/05/2026

An excellent Lighting Workshop with Julian Stamford last night at f4. We had a three light set up, starting with "NFNP" (no flash no picture for those who watch Gavin Hoey), followed by the introduction of a key light, fill light and a background light. Then we progressed to a boom held softbox/grid and finally a reflector/grid. Modelling by Tony Evans, photos by Steve Littlewood and Nigel Dalton.
Great entertainment whilst learning more about lighting. We also had a discussion on the merits of white balance and how you can use it for different effects.

Here's a few pics.

08/05/2026

Foto Faves Evening

Thursday, 21st May
19:30
Cottingham Civic Hall

Who, or what, has shaped the way you see photography?

Our Foto Faves evening is all about the people, images, ideas, and influences that have inspired or informed our own photographic journeys.

It could be one of the greats, such as David Bailey and his striking portraits, Ansel Adams and his breathtaking landscapes, or a contemporary photographer whose work you admire. It might be someone you follow on YouTube, a book that changed how you shoot, a style that caught your imagination, or even another photographer within the club.

The idea is simple: bring along a few images and say a few words about the person or subject that has influenced you.

No pressure, no formal lecture, just a relaxed and interesting evening of shared inspiration, conversation, and photography.

Whether you want to contribute or simply come along and listen, everyone is very welcome.

08/05/2026

Last night at f4 we held our "Image & Print Of The Year" competition. This consists of images and prints that were placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in our competitions throughout the year. The individual winners of The f4 Digital Trophy for most points accumulated throughout the year in the PDI contests and the Zonda Master Printer Trophy for most points gained in the print contests have already been decided. These two awards combine images and prints from all of those competitions.
Our judge, Darren McDonald, Vice-Chair of Driffield Photographic Society provided excellent in depth critique and analysis and told us he thought the decisions he came to were difficult owing to the standard of work we presented him with, which is highly encouraging.

f4 Image Of The Year 2025-2026.

With a very diverse genre of images to choose from, Darren chose "A Defiant Boy" by Duncan Wood as his winner with "Respect" by Lis Henderson and "St Isaacs" by Andrew Hersom in second and third places respectively. Congratulations to Duncan who will receive his trophy at our awards ceremony later this month.

f4 Print Of The Year 2025-2026.

There are only three print competitions and therefore Darren's choice was theoretically easier for him to make but he told us that the decision was still a difficult one. The print competitions are all "Open" and we saw a choice of genres with a healthy quantity of wildlife prints amongst them. Darren chose Gareth Morgan's "Girl With The Pearl Headband" as his winner, highlighting the pose, composition and post processing as major factors in his decision. Steve Littlewood came second with "Heron Landing" and Gareth also took third place with "Boudicca". Well done to Gareth who receives the f4 Print Of The Year Trophy.

It was a highly entertaining competition with strong images and prints so we extend our thanks to Darren for his time and considered comments. We also thank all those who entered all of our competitions throughout the year and enabled us to have such a quality field of entries.
Congratulations to our worthy Winners, Duncan and Gareth.

Here are the top 3 from each competition.

Image and Print Of The Year - 2025-2026

02/05/2026

Hello everyone!

We have some very exciting news to share regarding the upcoming YPU Exhibition. This is one of the highlights of the photographic calendar, and we are thrilled to announce that several of our very own F4 Photographic members have entered the competition this year.

If you want to see the absolute "best of the best" photography from across Yorkshire, this is an event you simply cannot miss. The level of talent on display is always breathtaking and provides wonderful inspiration for photographers of all skill levels.

For those planning to join us for the opening day on Saturday, 9th May:
The day begins with the Annual Assembly in the Town Hall at 10:30 am (doors open at 9:45 am). We are honoured to welcome Guest of Honour Christine Widdall FBPE MPAGB EFIAP APAGB HonLCPU, followed by the first showing of the accepted projected images and award-winning prints.

The Print Exhibition itself will then open to the public at 12:30 pm. There will be coffee and tea available in the foyer, making it a perfect chance to socialise and discuss the work on display.

Why not get together with a few fellow members and make it a club outing? It is a fantastic way to support our club entrants and enjoy a day immersed in the art we all love.

For details on parking and transport, please check the Dewsbury Town Hall website. We look forward to seeing a great Beverley turnout in Dewsbury!

01/05/2026

Event Title: Practical Night – Lighting Workshop with Julian Stamford
Date: Thursday, May 14th
Time: 19:30
Location: Cottingham Civic Hall.

Get ready to see your photography in a whole new light!

We are delighted to announce our next practical night, led by our very own Julian Stamford. This session is designed to take the mystery out of studio lighting and give you the confidence to create stunning portraits.

We will begin the evening with an insightful discussion on the fundamentals of light. Julian will guide us through different modifier sizes and explain exactly how their purpose changes the outcome of a shoot. Whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting your photographic journey, there will be plenty of "lightbulb moments" for everyone.

The main event will be a hands-on workshop where members photograph members. We will have several lighting set-ups prepared to experiment with different moods and tones, and we will even be getting creative with colourful gels!

What you need to know:

Dress for the occasion: We encourage everyone to come dressed in their favourite outfits to act as models for one another.

Bring props: If you have any interesting props, please bring them along to add extra character to the shots.

A special bonus: Julian will be sharing the images he takes during the night with the members involved.

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn in a supportive, friendly environment. It does not matter what kit you have or how much experience you possess, as this night is all about community, learning, and having a bit of fun behind the lens.

We cannot wait to see the incredible images you create!

27/04/2026

MEMBER ACHIEVEMENT SPOTLIGHT

It is always a great day when we get to celebrate our club members' successes. A huge congratulations to Matthew Binns, whose fantastic photograph of a Grasshopper Warbler was recently selected as a "notable image of the week" on the Birdguides website!

Grasshopper Warblers are famously "skulky" and can be very difficult to catch out in the open, making this sharp, clear capture even more impressive. While the website might have mislabelled the location as Shetland, Matthew actually took this stunning shot just a mile from his home in Cambridgeshire.

It just goes to show that you do not always need to travel to the ends of the earth to find a prize-winning subject. Sometimes, patience and a bit of luck in your local patch are all you need.

You can see the full list of winners and notable mentions here: https://www.birdguides.com/articles/photo-of-the-week/photo-of-the-week-20-26-april-2026/

Well done, Matthew! We look forward to seeing more of your work at our next meeting.