The Photography Show: 21 - 24 March 2015

[Mike Farley]

A group from the club has been to this show and its successor, Focus on Imaging, for the past few years and always had an enjoyable day. Focus on Imaging was essentially a trade show, but the organisers of its successor are making it more of an inclusive experience and incorporating other activities. They are promising that the next show will be better than ever and are moving into a larger hall at Birmingham's NEC.

http://www.photographyshow.com/

Is anyone interested in going to the show? Normally we take advantage of prepaid low cost rail fares from Euston to Birmingham International as this is the most cost effective option. The lowest price tickets go on sale 12 weeks before the date of travel. By my recloning, this will be around the end of the year or beginning of January, so if we get ourselves organised now we can get the tickets at the lowest price. The cheapest tickets are limited in number and sell out quite quickly. If you would like to go, respond to this thread with your preferred date. For those wanting to go at the weekend, Saturday is normally the better day as rail journies are usually much slower on Sundays, which makes for a longer day and less time at the show.

[Mike Farley]

Some additional info.

The cheapest train fare I can find for a journey to Birmingham is £7-50 single each way. Based on experience, those tickets can sell out quite quickly, especially for morning travel. The next lowest fare is £11. Surprisingly, these tickets have remained at those prices for a few years now. Whilst I cannot yet confirm the prices for travel during the duration of the show, I do not anticipate any variation. By my calculation, the tickets will go on sale on 27 December 2014, so it would be good to have confirmed numbers by Xmas.

One thing to be aware of is that these tickets are non refundable, although they are not assigned to named individuals. If you subsequently find that you cannot go, you might still be able to make arrangements for someone else to use them.

It is also possible to save a bit of money by purchasing tickets for the show in advance. They go on sale during the first week of December and you can pre-register if you wish.

[Rose]

I'm interested and might be able to take a day off, to go Mon or Tues. Are there any last minute bargains to be had if one goes on the last day ??

[Mike Farley]

Are there any last minute bargains to be had if one goes on the last day ??

There are special show offers and sometimes dealers will compete to undercut the other by a pound or so on a popular product. I have not been on the last day of any of the shows, but I suspect that the answer is no. It's my understanding that the discounts have to be agreed in advance with the manufacturers and it is not like an event such as the Chelsea Flower Show where the stock is perishable.

[Mata]

It will be nice to have an away day. Monday 23rd or Tuesday 24th March may be better days to avoid the usual busy weekend crowd.

Its shame I missed the Joe McNally evening. I did try to get a place at the last minute but they were fully booked.

[Mike Farley]

Its shame I missed the Joe McNally evening. I did try to get a place at the last minute but they were fully booked.

An example of why it is worthwhile paying attention to what's posted on the forum. It would have been great to have had more club members there.

[Mike Farley]

Bump.

It is getting close to the time when I will be purchasing train tickets, so I need confirmation of when people want to go. Monday or Tuesday have both been suggested and if this the case I will try to purchase tickets for the 10:43 or 11:03 trains. Looking at the timetable, I would imagine that arrangements will be very similar to last year, so I'll link to that rather than repeat everything. If we go on the Saturday, it might be possible to get an earlier train and have more time at the show.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=878

[Rose]

Why so late a train if we go on Mon / Tues ??

[Mike Farley]

Why so late a train if we go on Mon / Tues ??

Tickets are more expensive for the earlier trains during the week. Also, for those who do not have season tickets, cheap travel by train across London does not start until 9:30. For me, travelling on Saturday is a better option and while the show might be busier that day, crowds have never been an issue in previous years.

Sunday is not really an option if travelling by train as the journeys are much slower. On the final day, the show finishes an hour earlier at 17:00, which means a bit more hanging around as the cheaper tickets are for the later trains.

[Canonballer]

Hi Mike,

I should like to attend the show and my preference would be the Saturday if possible. However if the majority preference is for a weekday visit, then I'm happy to take a day's leave in order to attend along with the rest of the group.