Part 1: Joining a Photography Club
You will hear a man phoning a photography club to ask about becoming a member.
Lời thoại bài nghe (transcript)
Carol: Good evening, Harbourside Photography Club, Carol speaking.
Daniel: Oh, hello. I picked up one of your leaflets in the library last week, and I'm interested in joining the club. Could you tell me a bit about it?
Carol: Of course. We're a fairly relaxed group, about sixty members at the moment, and we welcome people at every level, from complete beginners to people who've been taking photos for decades. Can I ask what kind of camera you use?
Daniel: Well, at the moment just my phone, to be honest. I've been thinking about buying a proper camera, but I wanted to learn a bit more first.
Carol: That's absolutely fine. Quite a few of our members only use their phones. Shall I take down your details? Then I can send you our welcome pack.
Daniel: Yes, please.
Carol: Right. Could I have your name?
Daniel: Daniel Okafor. That's O-K-A-F-O-R.
Carol: O-K-A-F-O-R. And your address, Daniel?
Daniel: It's Flat 3, 27 Wexley Street. W-E-X-L-E-Y.
Carol: Lovely, that's only ten minutes from where we meet. And what sort of photography are you most interested in? We ask so that we can put you in touch with members who share the same interest.
Daniel: Hmm. I'd probably have said landscapes, because I do a lot of hiking. But actually, what I really want to get better at is wildlife, especially birds. My photos of them are always blurred.
Carol: Then you'll get on well with our wildlife group. I'll put down wildlife. Now, our meetings. The leaflet you picked up might say Wednesday, but we've just moved to Thursday evenings, because the room wasn't available on Wednesdays any more. We start at half past seven.
Daniel: Thursday's better for me anyway. Where are the meetings held?
Carol: At the Arts Centre on Marsh Lane, in the Lantern Room on the first floor. That's L-A-N-T-E-R-N. It's well signposted once you're inside.
Daniel: Great. And what does membership cost?
Carol: The full annual fee is sixty pounds. But our club year starts in January, and as we're already past the halfway point, anyone joining now pays forty-five pounds for the rest of the year.
Daniel: Forty-five. That's very reasonable. Could you tell me about the competitions? I saw something about them on your website.
Carol: Yes, we hold one every month, and anyone can enter, beginners included. The committee sets a theme, so last month it was reflections, for example. In the past we asked for printed photos, but now everything's submitted online. And to keep things fair, the entries are judged by a photographer from outside the club, usually someone from a neighbouring society.
Daniel: That sounds good. Do you go on trips as well?
Carol: We do. We'd planned a coastal walk for this Sunday, but the forecast is terrible, so that's been postponed until spring. That means the next outing will be the night photography walk around the old town, on the twenty-second. You'll need a tripod for that one, but we've got a few that members can borrow.
Daniel: OK. And is there anything I should bring to my first meeting? Should I pay the fee then?
Carol: No, you can pay by bank transfer later; the details are in the welcome pack. What would be really useful is if you could bring a few of the photos you've taken. They can be on your phone. Each new member is given a mentor, and it helps them to see the kind of pictures you take.
Daniel: I'll do that. One last thing: do you run any courses for beginners?
Carol: We have a beginners' workshop next month. It costs five pounds, which covers the room. It isn't about camera settings; that's covered in our spring course. It's mainly about choosing equipment, what to look for in a first camera and which lenses are worth the money. As you're thinking of buying a camera, I'd say it's ideal for you.
Daniel: Perfect. Could you put my name down for that, then?
Carol: I will. I'll send everything to you by email tonight.
