The Sasol Highveld Photography Club held its eagerly anticipated January 2026 club meeting, setting a vibrant tone for the new year. The evening was a blend of celebration, planning, and knowledge sharing, highlighted by the recognition of 2025’s top photographers and a glimpse into exciting upcoming events. Johan Drotsky served as the esteemed guest judge for the evening.
The club showcased an impressive collection of 65 photographic entries for the night’s competition, spanning diverse categories: 10 in Nature, 3 in Photojournalism, 9 in Monochrome, 14 in Pictorial, 9 in Scapes, 8 in Nature – Birds Only, and 12 for the Set Subject.
A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to honouring the outstanding achievements of its members throughout 2025. The club celebrated the dedication and talent of its photographers, culminating in the announcement of the prestigious “Club Winners of the Year”:
2025 Club Winners Spotlight:
- Junior Winner: Yolandi Geyser
- Hostess Winner: Lorraine Botha
- Senior Winner: Peter Winnan
- Junior Set Subject Winner: Lorraine Botha
- Senior Set Subject Winner: Sussa Pelser
Category winners from both junior and senior divisions were also recognised for their exceptional work across various genres, including Monochrome, Nature, Nature – Birds Only, Photojournalism, Pictorial, and Scapes.
The club also took time to acknowledge January birthdays, with well wishes extended to Piet Potgieter (Jan 3), Danie Smit (Jan 10), and Stian Griffin (Jan 15). Members were reminded to keep their Photovault profiles updated with their birth dates.
Beyond local club activities, the Sasol Highveld Photography Club highlighted its members’ successes in national competitions. Recent results from the 7th Vanderbijlparkse Fotografiese Vereniging Salon PDI (2026) and the 7th Rustenburg PDI National Salon PDI saw numerous “Accepted” photos and Certificates of Merit awarded to club members like Sussa Pelser, DNE Smit, Johan Viljoen, Yolandi Geyser, Pierre Jordaan, and Louis van der Walt, showcasing the club’s strong presence in the broader photographic community.
Looking ahead, the club outlined several upcoming opportunities for members to engage with the Photographic Society of South Africa (PSSA):
Upcoming PSSA Salons (Closing Dates in 2026):
- 5th Bethal Digital Salon PDI (January 17)
- 2nd Highway Salon PDI (February 07)
- Ermelo Fotoklub 5th Digital Salon (February 21)
- 14th National AFO Salon (March 07)
- PSSA 29th National Up-and-Coming Photo Competition (March 14)
- SAVAS 4th Digital Salon (March 21)
- 10th PSSA NATIONAL SALON PDI (March 28)
Members were encouraged to participate in these salons to further hone their skills and gain national recognition.
The club also announced an upcoming photography event: the 46th Annual Sasol Secunda Marathon on Saturday, offering members a chance to capture dynamic action shots.
Finally, the 2026 meeting calendar with its monthly set subjects was unveiled, providing members with a clear creative roadmap for the year:
- January: Holiday
- February: Emotion
- March: Perspective
- April: Motion
- May: Forms in Nature
- June: Time
- July: Funny
- August: Night
- September: Industrial
- October: Mirror, mirror
- November: Self-Portrait
- December: Annual general meeting and braai!!!
The Sasol Highveld Photography Club looks forward to another year of fostering photographic talent, celebrating achievements, and providing engaging opportunities for its passionate members.
Here are the winning photographs for January
The best Set Subject entry is “Wave backflip” by DNE Smit
The Best Senior entry is “Garlic Display” by Leon Pelser
The Best Junior entry is “Aandete” by Edmund Hattingh
Here are the COM and GOLD certificates
Category – Nature – Birds Only
Category – Nature
Category – Pictorial
Category – Monochrome
Category – Monochrome
Catagory – Photojournalism
Category – Set Subject (Holiday)
