Circles

Apart from Circle D, Circles are made up of UK based members. Who share an interest in a particular form of photography. Such as colour or monochrome printing, transparencies, street photography or the use of early screw Leica’s. Members can use Leica equipment of whatever vintage for the production of images for circulation and comment. With the few exceptions detailed below there is no restriction of subject. Home produced digital or darkroom is the norm but commercially produced work is accepted in some circles.

Click on the circle number below to be taken to an image gallery. Please note, circles 6, 15, 20 and ABE currently do not have online image galleries.

Circle 2

Unmounted monochrome prints up to 10″x8″ or A4 minimum size 9″x6″ with five folios per annum non voting.

Circle 3

Unmounted colour prints up to A3 (minimum A4), 12 folios per annum, non voting.

Circle 4

Monochrome or colour prints up to 10” x 8”, four/five folios per annum, non voting.

Circle 6 

Mounted monochrome prints up to 7″x5″ six folios per annum.
The only print circle the majority of whose members are all currently darkroom workers.

Circle 9 

Monochrome prints up to 10″x12″ twelve folios per annum. (subjects are open except for twice a year when specific themes are nominated).

Circle 10 

Unmounted monochrome prints up to 16″x12″ or A3, minimum size 10×8 six folios per annum, non voting.

Circle 15 

Transparencies (glass mounting not required) six folios per annum.

Circle 19 

Now closed, circle 19 was for Colour prints up to 10″x8″ minimum size 6×4 eight folios per annum. You can view some of circle 19’s work by clicking below

Circle 20 

Is a large print circle (A4 or slightly larger), either black & white or colour. With an open remit, covered by the wide term “documentary”. It is a non-voting circle with postings of portfolios every two months.

Circle 39 

The Screw Circle Monochrome and colour prints up to 10″x8″ minimum size 7″x5″ (mounting optional). In theory the group also accepts transparencies but none have yet been submitted. Six folios per annum. The only absolute requirement for this group is that the picture be taken using a screw mount Leica camera.

Circle D 

is a Digital Circle formed in 2011 and operates online. Each month members upload a photograph in colour or black and white to the Circle website, allowing other members to comment and vote on the work. Photographers in the Circle use a wide variety of equipment, from early screw thread Leica’s to the latest Leica’s. Panasonic cameras with Leica lenses and even a pinhole body cap on a Leica body. The subject matter is varied from everyday scenes to portraits and street photography. There’s no restriction, and it is a chance to share work with like-minded photographers.

Circle ABE 

Architecture and the Built Environment – commenced July 2021; non-voting folios circulate every 5 to 6 weeks. Our very broad architectural brief covers buildings, churches, stained glass, townscapes, bridges, tower blocks, historic & stately homes. All types of civil engineering, museums and galleries (including exhibits), archaeological works, railway stations, airports, shopping malls etc. If it’s built, it’s eligible and can include human interest. All types of unmounted prints both colour and monochrome, digital and darkroom, any size up to A3, are welcome. All prints are critiqued and we all learn from our members’ comments. New members including beginners always welcome. 

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All the print Circles function in basically the same way. Folios are sent out by the Secretary at regular intervals. Circulated from one member to the next according to a planned rota and posting dates. Each folio contains two sets of folders both of which contain one image from each member of the circle together with a ‘crit sheet’. The first folder – the ‘voting folder’ contains all the images in the current round. The second folder is the ‘collecting’ folder where each member replaces his old image with a new one. The sheets are used to provide details of the image. (title, camera, lens, etc and any other technical details where recorded). and to allow all members to comment on the image. Each photograph passes through the system twice (the secretary makes the transfer). Each circle member is thus able to read the comments of all the other members. Due to the high cost of postage, we can only accept print circle membership from within the United Kingdom.

The Digital Circle secretary sends out an email link to the folio each month. Members vote and comment on their choices for the month. Members submit their images to the secretary via email sized to 1600 pixels on the long edge.

Members Based in the United Kingdom wishing to sign up for a circle can do so by logging into the members area and completing the “circle sign up form”.

Many Society members have also added their own galleries of photographs or links to their own websites.