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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 below 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.
Out & About
It's not just about the Thursday nights. We also visit lots of places and events where we can support and learn from each other and capture some great images.
A Fantastic Day at Yorkshire Wildlife Park
While our regular Thursday evening meetings take a break over the summer, Otley Camera Club's photography certainly doesn't! Today, a group of our members headed to Yorkshire Wildlife Park for one of our regular informal photography outings. Joining us were several students who recently completed a Photography for Beginners course at Prince Henry's Grammar School, run by one of our members, making it a great opportunity to continue learning and putting new skills into practic
Jul 12
Otley Camera Club and Otley Cricket Club – A New Partnership Begins
Saturday marked the beginning of an exciting new partnership between Otley Camera Club and Otley Cricket Club as our members headed to Cross Green for their match against Horsforth Hall Park. The day provided everything you could want from a cricket fixture. After bowling Horsforth Hall Park out for 253, Otley produced an excellent run chase to secure a brilliant victory. For Otley Camera Club, the day was about much more than photographing a cricket match. Supporting local o
Jul 7
Otley Camera Club at the LOGCO Otley Cycle Races
Thursday evening saw Otley Camera Club once again out in the community, this time supporting the LOGCO Otley Cycle Races by documenting one of the town's biggest annual sporting events. Our photographers were tasked with capturing not only the high-speed racing action around the circuit but also the atmosphere, entertainment and community spirit that make the Otley Cycle Races so special. With England's football match finishing just before the racing began, the town was alrea
Jul 5
Otley Camera Club Captures Otley Carnival
Otley Camera Club Captures Otley Carnival What a wonderful day for Otley Carnival! With the sun shining and the streets packed with spectators, participants and performers, the atmosphere throughout the town was fantastic. Otley Camera Club was delighted to support the carnival team by photographing the event and helping to capture the memories of another successful community celebration. From the colourful parade and imaginative floats to the fantastic costumes and smiling f
Jun 21
A Fantastic Weekend in the Lake District
Otley Camera Club is about so much more than our Thursday night meetings. While those evenings are always fantastic — with inspiring speakers, practical sessions and competitions — one of the things we value most is getting out with our cameras and sharing photography experiences together. This weekend was a perfect example of that. A group of 17 members, along with family members, spent a brilliant weekend in the Lake District, packed with photographic opportunities and grea
Apr 27
A Social Photography Day at Sheffield Butterfly House
A group of Otley Camera Club members recently headed to the Sheffield Butterfly House for a relaxed social day — with plenty of photography along the way. These informal outings are a really important part of the club. They give members the opportunity to spend time together, enjoy photography in a relaxed setting, and support each other in developing their skills. From colourful butterflies to the ever-busy leaf cutter ants, there was no shortage of subjects to photograph —
Apr 15
Scouting the Lake District for Our Upcoming Club Weekend
On Monday, two of our members travelled to the Lake District to scout locations for our upcoming club photography weekend. The aim of the visit was to identify the best spots for photography and make the most of the time we’ll have as a group. As expected, the area offered a wealth of opportunities, with stunning landscapes, varied scenery and plenty of potential for creative image-making. The planned weekend will include a range of landscape photography opportunities, allowi
Apr 3
Out and About: A Creative Day at Tank Space
A group of Otley Camera Club members recently enjoyed an exciting and highly creative visit to Tank Space, a unique studio that features both a rain studio and an underwater tank. These two very different setups provided fantastic opportunities for experimentation and creativity. During the session we were able to photograph three excellent models, working across both environments to create a wide variety of striking images. The models were fantastic throughout the day — not
Mar 14
Photographing “The Witches of Eastwick” with Bingley Amateurs
Otley Camera Club has been delighted to work with Bingley Amateurs to photograph their upcoming production of The Witches of Eastwick at the Bingley Arts Centre. Eight of our members attended three key stages of the production process: the set-up day, the technical rehearsal, and the final dress rehearsal. This gave us the opportunity to capture not only the finished performances but also some of the behind-the-scenes moments as the production came together. It was fantastic
Mar 11
Capturing “Come From Away” with Guiseley Theatrical Productions
Last night, several of our members attended the dress rehearsal of Guiseley Theatrical Productions’ latest show, Come From Away , to capture the energy and atmosphere of the performance. The production proved to be a fantastic show, full of emotion, music and powerful storytelling. Our member Danni produced some truly stunning images from the evening, beautifully conveying the spirit and drama of the performance. The show runs for five performances, starting tonight and finis
Feb 25
Collaborating with Bingley Amateurs: The Witches of Eastwick
Otley Camera Club is delighted to be working with Bingley Amateurs as they prepare for and perform their production of The Witches of Eastwick. This collaboration gives our members the opportunity to document both the build-up and the live performances, capturing everything from rehearsal moments to the drama and atmosphere on stage. Theatre photography presents its own unique challenges — changing lighting, movement, and the need to tell a story in a single frame — making it
Feb 16
Supporting Local Music: A Punk Rock Photography Project
At Otley Camera Club, we’re always keen to find opportunities to work with and support local community events and groups. Not only does it strengthen our community links, but it also gives our members the chance to enjoy new and varied photography experiences. Through our connection with Otley Common, we were recently asked to help a local band who were preparing for an upcoming gig. They wanted a selection of photographs of their instruments to display on the walls of the Co
Dec 14, 2025
Spontaneous Adventures – Members Capture the Deer Rut at Studley Royal
One of the many things that makes Otley Camera Club special is its strong social spirit. While we organise a variety of club trips throughout the year, it’s just as inspiring to see members chatting in the clubhouse and planning their own spontaneous photography outings. This Thursday was a great example. A group of members quickly organised a last-minute trip to Studley Royal to photograph the rutting deer, taking advantage of the season and the fine autumn light. It turned
Oct 26, 2025
Capturing the Magic of “9 to 5” with Guiseley Theatrical Productions
Some of our members had a fantastic evening last night photographing the dress rehearsal of 9 to 5 , performed by Guiseley Theatrical Productions . The rehearsal was full of energy, laughter, and vibrant performances — the perfect opportunity to practice our theatre photography skills. The combination of stage lighting, movement, and emotion made for a dynamic and creative challenge, and our members rose to it brilliantly. It’s always a pleasure to collaborate with local arts
Oct 8, 2025
A Waterfall Adventure in Hebden
At Otley Camera Club, it isn’t just about Thursday nights. The club is also about the social side of photography – getting out together, discovering new places, and supporting each other as we grow in our creativity. This weekend, one of our members, Chris , organised a trip to Hebden near Grassington to photograph a waterfall. After the recent heavy rain, the falls were in full flow, providing a dramatic backdrop for our cameras. While this did mean a few of us ended up wit
Sep 28, 2025
Exploring Thruscross Reservoir
Today’s meet-up took us out to the beautiful Thruscross Reservoir. With the water levels unusually low at the moment, the long-submerged village has reappeared, offering a rare glimpse into the past. It’s fascinating to see how nature and history intertwine in this quiet corner of Yorkshire. As we wandered along the reservoir’s edge, there were plenty of other discoveries too — including some incredible fungi popping up along the paths and a deer. Between the serene waters, e
Sep 14, 2025
Otley Camera Club Visits the Farne Isles
Last weekend, Otley Camera Club members took a much-anticipated trip to the Farne Isles – one of the UK’s top wildlife photography destinations. While some members made the journey up just for the day, others turned it into a weekend getaway, taking the opportunity to enjoy some good food, unwind, and, of course, capture the stunning Northumberland coastline with their cameras. Saturday was the big day, and we all met at the harbour, ready for the boat trip to the islands. Th
Jun 18, 2025
Iceland Photography Trip – Member Showcase
Back in February, four of our members set off on a photography adventure to Iceland, drawn by its dramatic landscapes, icy textures, and unique winter light. From frozen waterfalls and black sand beaches to the elusive Northern Lights, the trip offered countless opportunities for breathtaking images. On Thursday evening, they presented their photographs and shared stories from the journey with the club. It was a fantastic night filled with inspiration, laughter, and plenty of
May 17, 2025
Capturing Spring at Croft Foot Farm
Last week, members of Otley Camera Club had the pleasure of spending a memorable morning at Croft Foot Farm , hosted by the wonderful Amy Bateman and her family. The visit coincided with lambing season—an incredibly special and busy time on the farm. Cameras in hand, we were given the opportunity to document the life, energy, and beauty of spring’s arrival in the countryside. From newborn lambs to the quiet resilience of the landscape, every moment offered a unique photogra
May 11, 2025
Capturing the Action: Our Partnership with Leeds Warriors
This year, we’re excited to continue our partnership with the Leeds Warriors Ice Hockey team, bringing the fast-paced thrill of the sport to life through our photography. As members of Otley Camera Club, we love the challenge of capturing the speed, intensity, and raw emotion of the game. Attending their home matches gives us the perfect opportunity to refine our sports photography skills while supporting a fantastic local team. Ice hockey is a sport of split-second action, d
Mar 28, 2025
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