Determined to fill the summer gap between Norton Radstock Photographic Society’s regular meetings, six members travelled to Liverpool on 2nd August to spend four days together exploring the city with cameras.

True to form, the intrepid group of ‘Liver Birds’ wasted no time on arrival and headed for the docks, drawn by the buzz of the waterfront and the traditional and nostalgic, sounds of Merseyside.

Surrounded by the grandeur of the Three Graces that comprise the iconic skyline, there was much that caught the eye and triggered the shutter, not least the colour and variety afforded at street level against a backdrop of the busy summer fairground.

Statues of The Beatles, Cilla Black and Billy Fury were hard to capture without a tourist posing the inevitable selfie, and we never did find Eleanor Rigby!

It is fair to say that the days were fun-filled and fruitful, facilitated by Jill Toman’s meticulous advance planning and the attentions of Dave, the taxi man we ‘adopted’ (or he us?). Dave was cheerfully at our beck and call, and only slightly

incredulous about the time we wanted to spend photographing Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ statues, or “those funny things on the beach”, as he called them!

Only two of the group sank into the mud flats there, and we mostly stayed together on our various sorties, eventually managing to align our individual and diverse refreshment needs.

There was also time for exploring personal interests which ranged from Beatle Mania to a trip on the Ferry across the Mersey, and some night photography.

The Central Library was awe-inspiring, and its sweeping contours, together with those in the Liverpool Museum, provided all with much material for the ‘Curves’ category in the Tri-Battle later in the year. The grandeur of the Anglican and Catholic Cathedrals provoked much discussion and some humorous interaction through coloured glass, and the view of the city from on high was well worth the climb.

The visit ended all too soon on Saturday with a short train journey through the Mersey Tunnel to the garden village of Port Sunlight. Created by Lever brothers and designed by a number of architects, specifically for the well-being of its occupants, the village offers a unique insight into the life of the factory workers they employed and cared for during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. The question now is, “Where next?”

This was just one of a number of creative endeavours prompted by the enthusiasm of individual NRPS members, determined to be proactive in the summer break, and to increase their skills and knowledge in the field of photography. If you want to join us in the new season you will be made very welcome. The first meeting is at the Midsomer Norton United Services Club at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday, 7th September.

Jenny Short