Otley Camera Club Celebrates Successful Annual Exhibition

We held our Annual Photographic Exhibition over the last weekend of May at All Saints’ Parish Church, Otley. The free event attracted a large number of visitors on both days.

Inside the church, around 80 stunning images submitted by club members were on display, showcasing a wide range of photographic genres—from landscapes and portraits to nature and creative compositions.

Local professional photographer Giles Rocholl judged the competition and selected Head On by Massimiliano Malisan as the overall winner. Visitors were also invited to vote for their three favourite images, with the top-voted photograph earning the title of Public’s Favourite. The winning image was Squirrel Run by Les Smart.

Alongside the exhibition in the main church hall, visitors enjoyed a print sale and a very popular, well-stocked tombola—one lucky attendee even won a year’s free club membership. Informative displays highlighted our club’s history and our work in the local community over the past year, including events such as Otley Carnival, Otley Cycle Race, Otley Friendly Wildlife Festival, Leeds Warriors Ice Hockey, Otley Common, and Guiseley Theatrical Productions.

We also unveiled its new 2025/2026 season programme, packed with guest speakers, competitions, tutorial and practical evenings, and a variety of sessions where members can share, discuss, and enjoy photography in a friendly, supportive atmosphere. Our club Chair Richard Sells said there was “a lot of excitement about the new programme and many people looking forward to joining us when it starts in September.”

A key feature of the exhibition was the public photography competition, which ran in both adult and junior categories. All entries were displayed throughout the weekend, with the winners announced at the event.

Visitors also enjoyed refreshments, including drinks and homemade cakes, while viewing a presentation of striking images from some of the club members’ recent photography trip to Iceland.

We extend our sincere thanks to Otley Town Council and Specsavers for their support of the exhibition, and to #TogetherLeeds for supporting the public photography competition.

We delighted to share the results with you.