Having joined Nottingham Outlaws in June 2023, i was just finding my feet when members went off for last years’ Kitkat to North East England; so was quick to jump on board with this years jaunt to the Loch Lomond area of Scotland.
On the way, we visited a church of architectural interest in East Kilbride, but were unfortunately unable to gain access to the interior (we returned on the way home)
Before arriving in Dumbarton, we also visited The Burrell Collection at a gallery in a country park. A string quartet were playing in the gallery. Then it was off to Dumbarton to get settled in the hotel.
Next morning saw us visiting Glasgow University, where we photographed the impressive Cloisters and the home of Charles Rennie Macintosh (inside a campus building); before a street photography session around Glasgow city centre, including a visit to Barras Market where I came across stallholder Jimmy, who was a real character and had posters on his stall incorporating his photo. He showed me a Peaky Blinders wanted poster with him on it.
Other places visited included the transport museum; The Armadillo and Ovo buildings; ‘Squinty’ Bridge (waited for two hours for it to be illuminated, and it never happened); Cloch Lighthouse; Wemyss Station; RSPB Loch Lomond; Finnich Glen and The Devils Pulpit.
After over a year of trying, one of our member, Nick Pearce, finally saw the Northern Lights.
Previous attempts had meant standing near Dunstanburgh Castle in the North East for 4 hours or in the Vale of Belvoir for several hours. Alerted during Friday 10th May by a fellow member Nick headed to a spot above Lambley village in search of darkness. Finally at about 11pm the show started, not in the North as expected but the East. The stunning display continued for over an hour and a half. It included the traditional green colours but a spectacular arc of pink and red from East to West with a dazzling display directly overhead.
In the 80’s I carried out studio work for a marketing company which began my interest. In the 90’s I became Digital Print Manager for a company and even though I was working abroad I was travelling around a lot and did not have time to carry on with my photography. I met my wife in 2006 and her (adult) son was very interested in photography and this sparked my interest again having someone to talk to about equipment etc. I then purchased my first Nikon, a D300 digital camera. Due to health confines I only used my camera infrequently. I then purchased by Sony AR74 in 2022 and following a chance meeting with Nick Pearce at Langar airfield (both of us taking photographs), this spurred me on to join the Outlaws in 2023.
I have had an interest in photography from adolescence and always liked to take along one of those tiny single use cameras on holidays with friends; that I had to send away to get my prints.
The second projected Digital Image (PDI) competition of the year took place at the Outlaws den, the church hall, St James’s Church, Mapperley. The judge for the evening was Peter Jones and he was accompanied by the President of North & East Midlands Photographic Federation (N&EMPF) Sue Wilson.
There were 24 entries in the open and 22 in the themed (Birds) sections. Peter complimented the club on having so many quality images, covering a range of subjects. Which led to 7 images being held in the open section and 9 in the themed. He also mentioned that his lowest marks of 15 were higher than his usual of 12 or 13.
On the evening of 30th March, the Outlaws held their first Print competition of the year at the church hall, St James’s Church, Mapperley. The judge for the evening was Dave Hollingsworth who we had met at a similar time of year in 2022. It was then that he judged a print competition and praised the standard of prints produced, following this years judging he commented that the quality of prints submitted was exemplary, fine praise indeed for the Outlaws.
