top of page
BLOG
Welcome to the Otley Camera Club blog, where you can keep up to date with everything happening in and around the club.
Here you will find posts covering a wide range of activities, including club nights, competitions, outings and our involvement in the local community. It’s a great way to see what the club has been doing and the photography our members are producing.
You can use the options above to filter posts by category, including Out and About, Community, Competitions and Club Nights, making it easy to explore the areas that interest you most.
Club Nights
Discover what we have been up to our Thursday nights. Practicals, tutorials, competitions, speakers and social nights.
Triptych Competition: Judging Night with Mark
Last night, we held our AGM which was a positive, constructive and celebratory evening. It was great to see how the club is continuing to be a success and to grow. We’re excited to welcome Mark Waddington as our guest judge for this season’s Triptych competition. With his keen eye and extensive experience, Mark will be reviewing entries across two categories: prints and digitally projected images . As part of the evening, he’ll select his personal favourites in each categor
May 2, 2025
Otley Camera Club’s Newest Member Featured by the BBC
We’re thrilled to welcome Dani , our newest member at Otley Camera Club – and she’s already making headlines! Recently interviewed by the BBC , Dani shared her insights on some of the best bird-watching spots in Yorkshire . As a keen wildlife photographer with a particular passion for birds, Dani brings not only her talent behind the lens but also a deep knowledge of local nature reserves and bird habitats. The article highlights Dani’s favourite places to capture birds in t
Apr 19, 2025
Long Exposure and Multiple Exposure Competition Results
Last week, we were delighted to welcome Nigel Plant to the club as the judge for two of our most imaginative competitions: the Long Exposure Print Competition and the Multiple Exposure DPI Competition . Both categories showcased a stunning array of creative talent. From beautifully composed long exposures to inventive multiple exposure images, the standard of work on display was truly impressive. It was a fantastic reminder of the diverse photographic skills within our club.
Apr 18, 2025
Guest Speaker: John Bolloten – Exploring Life on the Margins
We're excited to welcome John Bolloten, a renowned documentary photographer from Bradford, UK, as our guest speaker. John's compelling work captures the raw realities of people and subcultures often overlooked by society, with a particular focus on heroin and crack users over the past five years. Currently, John is deeply involved in several long-term projects, including bare-knuckle fighting, illicit drug use, and the world of Sunday league football. His photography offers a
Mar 28, 2025
Explore the Tiny World of Macro Photography – Join Our Hands-On Evening!
Get up close and personal with the fascinating world of macro photography at our upcoming hands-on evening! Whether you're a seasoned macro enthusiast or just curious to try something new, this is a perfect opportunity to explore the art of capturing stunning close-up images. We’ll have multiple themed stations set up, giving you the chance to circulate, experiment, and photograph a variety of intricate subjects—from textures and patterns to tiny objects you might never have
Mar 21, 2025
Portrait Results and Next Week's Plans
Thursday night saw the much-anticipated judging of our Portrait Competition , with Peter Wells taking on the challenge of selecting winners from a truly outstanding set of images. For me, a great judging session is one where you learn something new and have a laugh along the way —and Peter certainly delivered on both fronts! His insightful critiques and engaging commentary made for an enjoyable evening while also helping us see our work from a fresh perspective. With such a
Mar 15, 2025
Portrait Competition Judging – Join Us!
We’re excited to welcome Peter Wells as our guest judge for this year’s Portrait Competition ! Peter will carefully review entries across two categories— prints and digitally projected images —selecting his personal favourites. Beyond choosing the winners, Peter will provide invaluable feedback on each submission, sharing what stands out in the images and offering constructive suggestions for improvement. This is a fantastic opportunity for our members to celebrate their
Mar 7, 2025
Meet Max and Claire: Exploring Their Photographic Journeys
Max and Claire may be relatively new to our club, but they’ve already made a strong impression. Max has showcased his fantastic skills in travel and portrait photography, while Claire has captivated us with her stunning nature and travel images. This week, we have the opportunity to dive deeper into their photographic journeys—discovering what inspires them, the lessons they’ve learned along the way, and the tips they have to share. Don’t miss the chance to view their incredi
Feb 28, 2025
A Unique Opportunity: Masters of Prints Exhibition
Don’t miss this incredible chance to explore the Masters of Prints exhibition, presented by the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB) . This prestigious showcase features 60 breathtaking images , each crafted by a different photographer and selected as a first-time exhibition entry. This week, Otley Camera Club will be visiting the exhibition hosted by our friends from Cookridge Camera Club . It’s a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in some of the finest pho
Feb 23, 2025
Reflection Competition Judging Night
Next week at Otley Camera Club, we are excited to welcome Christine Hodgson as our guest judge for our Reflections competition. This eagerly anticipated event will showcase our members’ creative interpretations of reflections, with images presented in two categories: prints and digitally projected images. Christine will bring her expertise and keen eye to the judging process, selecting her personal favourites while providing invaluable feedback on each submission. Her insigh
Feb 8, 2025
Knockout Photography & Multiple Exposure
Last Thursday, we hosted our very first Photography Knockout Night , and what a fantastic evening it was! The event brought excitement and plenty of engaging photographic discussions. What Is Photography Knockout? 📸🔥 This unique event is a battle of creativity where images face off in a thrilling competition. Here’s how it works: 32 Captivating Images: The competition kicks off with 32 stunning photographs. Head-to-Head Face-offs: Each pair of images is presented to the a
Feb 1, 2025
Photography Knockout Night at Otley Camera Club!
We are thrilled to announce an exciting new addition to our programme: Photography Knockout Night! This fully interactive event is sure to be an evening packed with fun, friendly competition, and engaging photographic discussions. What Is Photography Knockout? Imagine a thrilling battle of creativity where images face off in a series of head-to-head matches. Here's how it works: 32 Images: The event kicks off with 32 captivating photographs. Paired Competitions: Each pair
Jan 25, 2025
Long Exposure Night: A Favourite of Otley Camera Club
Thursday evening turned out to be perfect for one of Otley Camera Club's most eagerly anticipated events: long exposure photography. Despite the day starting with rain, the skies cleared just in time for us to head out and create some magical shots. Long exposure photography is always a club favourite, offering endless creative possibilities. We had a fantastic turnout, with members braving the earlier weather to join us for this exciting session. Armed with tripods, cameras,
Jan 25, 2025
Dive into the World of Long Exposure Photography
Join us for one of Otley Camera Club's most popular nights as we dive into the captivating world of long exposure photography! This exciting session will take us outdoors, equipped with an array of vibrant light sources. We'll set up our cameras on tripods, adjust to long shutter speeds, press the shutter, and watch the magic unfold. Our experienced members will be on hand to provide support and share tips throughout the evening, ensuring everyone can capture stunning light t
Jan 18, 2025
A warm night of feedback on Zoom and Night Competition judging around the corner
As the temperatures dropped dramatically last night, we decided to move our Otley Camera Club meeting onto Zoom. Despite the chilly weather outside, the evening turned out to be a wonderfully engaging and interactive session that left us all feeling inspired and connected. The focus of the evening was on providing constructive feedback on members' images. To make this process as inclusive and effective as possible, we split into four smaller groups. This allowed for detailed
Jan 10, 2025
Guest Judge Erica Oram Visits Otley Camera Club
We’re excited that Erica Oram , will be joining Otley Camera Club next week as our guest judge! Her visit promises to bring inspiration, constructive critique, and a wealth of knowledge. Erica will be reviewing submissions across two categories: Unmounted Creative DPI Street Her role will not only be to select her personal favourites from these submissions but also to provide invaluable feedback on each image. With her keen eye and vast experience, Erica will highlight the el
Dec 6, 2024
Last Week and This Week - 5th December
Last week at Otley Camera Club, we embraced the festive spirit with a relaxed and enjoyable social evening. Together, we prepared our Christmas decorations for this year’s Christmas Tree Festival at Otley All Saints Church. The festival, running from Wednesday to Saturday, promises to be a magical celebration of creativity and community. Don’t forget to stop by and admire our beautifully decorated tree! Looking Ahead: A Night of Long Exposure Photography This week, we’re shi
Nov 29, 2024
Last Week and This Week - 28th November
Last week, we were treated to a fantastic evening with our talented members, John and Paul, who gave excellent talks on photography. They shared their stunning images and offered insights into their photography philosophy. It was a superb and truly inspirational evening that left us all motivated and ready to capture the world through our lenses. Next Week: Get Ready for the Christmas Cheer! Get into the festive spirit with us a little early as we prepare decorations for the
Nov 22, 2024
Last Week and This Week - 21st November
Chris Caesar’s Composition Masterclass Last night, we were delighted to welcome Chris Caesar, who delivered an inspiring talk on composition. Chris treated us to a visual feast with his stunning photographs from iconic locations like Venice, Rome, the Lake District, and London. Through his captivating imagery and insights, he showed us how to elevate our own photography by applying key composition techniques. His presentation left us with plenty to think about and a wealth of
Nov 15, 2024
Last Week and This Week - 14th November
Last Thursday, our first practical session focused on creative techniques! Members had the chance to experiment with light positioning to create stunning reflections and dramatic shadows, bringing out new textures and details in their shots. Another station allowed members to craft unique cityscapes using everyday items like staples and ironmongery, resulting in miniature urban scenes that sparked everyone's imagination. Unfortunately, the second session was halted by the fir
Nov 9, 2024
bottom of page