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Photo club gets Belper people in the right frame of mind
Belper is a beautiful town full of historic and pretty old buildings, surrounded by stunning rural scenery.
So it is no wonder that over the years the town has produced an excellent camera club who work to document the beauty and character of the area.
The LB Camera Club was formed more than 25 years ago to help people develop their photography skills and further enhance the already rich pool of artistic talent in the town.
The group organises many talks and outings, both locally and further afield, to give members the chance to capture the best possible shots.
Reporter Laura Hammond met the group during an outing to the River Gardens.
On a beautiful summer's evening Belper's River Gardens display themselves as the jewel in the crown they truly are.
So it was no surprise to find the town's camera club milling around and making the most of the stunning light and lovely scenery.
"We come here quite a lot in summer," said secretary Keith Hind, who has been a member of the group since it was set up in 1984.
"Sometimes we just go out and walk and take pictures, sometimes we have talks, or competitions between the members. It's a very flexible programme."
There are about 20 people who regularly attend the fortnightly meetings, but the group is hoping to attract some new people with fresh ideas.
Member Pat Midgely said: "We're a small but friendly group. It's very supportive."
The club, which is officially called the LB Camera Club, welcomes all levels of talent, from novices to those well-versed in the world of photography.
They offer tips and guidance, but direct tuition on up-to-the minute digital cameras is out.
Pat said: "We haven't really got anybody who is capable of teaching any of the imaging things, but we can give advice and share our experience."
The people who attend the group, which meets at the Conservative Club in Campbell Street, come from all walks of life, and became part of the club for different reasons.
Pat said she started going to the group because her husband was a member and she wanted to share an interest with him. She discovered that as a painter, the photography helped her develop her hobby.
Fellow member Phil Harrison, who joined the group three years ago, said: "I enjoy it because of the variety of skills and interests that people have. It's meeting with like-minded people. It's sociable rather than technical.
Several members of the group have been involved for many years, some, like secretary Keith Hind, have been there right from the start.
Brian Key is another club veteran. He can remember using old-style film cameras well before the onset of the digital age.
He said: "Things have changed a lot over the years. I used to win competitions with slide photographs, but I don't anymore. I prefer the old cameras. They seemed to hold better and you got a satisfying click
with them."
Many of the talks which take place at the twice-monthly meetings show how much technology has advanced in photography over the years and tell members about the brilliant effects which can be achieved with modern digital cameras and imaging software.
Other talks are more like travelogues, with photographers going along to show pictures taken in various exotic locations and talk about the way in which the photographs were achieved
Competitions are also sometimes held within and outside the group.
Keith, who puts together the programme of events, said: "We try to make it as varied as possible, but we would like some new people who could give us fresh ideas. We would like to encourage young people to come along."
The group is looking to get more involved with the community, and hopes to offer use of its equipment.
Members recently invested in some new digital equipment after receiving a lottery grant, and it would like to share that. They are hoping to set something up soon, maybe with young people from Belper's Drop Inn youth club, or other groups throughout the town.
Keith said: "It could be anyone interested in coming to join us."
The group is currently enjoying a summer break, but it will start up again in September.
For more information about the LB Camera Club, call Keith Hind on 01773 823949.
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Weather for Belper
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
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