Welcome
This season’s Annual Exhibition kicks off in Macclesfield Library’s gallery on the 17th May 2025. This includes a great selection of images from the club’s members.
If you would like to find out more about the club you’ll find plenty of links from our home page or if you would like to contact us or ask a question please feel free to drop us a note via our contact page
To provide some background to the images displayed in the library we’ve included some details below with each image, the name of the author (photographer), some background information on the subject as well as a few technical details so that the authors can share a bit their knowledge, skill and experience.
Each image is accessible via a QR Code displayed next to the image in the library.
Denis Jones
Grandpa’s Oil Can
by Denis Jones
The photograph of the ‘heirloom’ oilcan was taken in a darkened room using the technique of ‘light painting’ using a light from a diffused torch over an exposure period of 30 seconds.
Pentax K5iis, Pentax 16-45 Zoom lens at 38mm, aperture f11.
Higher Lane Kerridge
by Denis Jones
Taken to show the picturesque terrace of stone-built cottages and cobbled lane.
Olympus OM1n with Zuiko 28mm lens, yellow filter. Kodak TMAX 400 35mm B&W film. The developed monochrome negative was scanned and the digital image processed in Adobe Lightroom to produce a duo-toned result.
Hoare Frost
by Denis Jones
The ice crystals formed on the skeletons of the umbrellifer seed heads in the hedgerow stood out against the overcast sky. I concentrated on a single head to simplify the composition.
Pentax K5iis, Pentax 16-45 Zoom lens at 21mm, aperture f8.
Steps
by Denis Jones
Taken at the Glass Museum in Tacoma USA. The ‘brutalist’ external hard landscaping gives an interesting composition against the cloudy sky.
Pentax K5iis, Pentax 16-45 Zoom lens at 21mm, aperture f8.
Temple of Justice
by Denis Jones
Taken in the USA at the Washington State Capitol Campus the building houses the state’s Supreme Court. My intention was to show the formal symmetry of the neoclassical architecture.
Pentax K5iis, Pentax 16-45 Zoom lens at 21mm, aperture f8.
Waiting for a Ride
by Denis Jones
An urban scene taken in Seattle USA, two of the electric scooters for hire seemed to stand lonely on the empty sidewalk with downtown Seattle beyond.
Pentax K5iis, Pentax 16-45 Zoom lens at 16mm, aperture f8.
Urban Canyon
by Denis Jones
This area just north-east of Manchester Piccadilly station with tram lines and new high rise buildings has a rather bleak vibe.
Pentax K5iis, Pentax 16-85 Zoom lens at 23 mm, aperture f8.
The Royal Naval College Greenwich
by Denis Jones
Pentax K5iis, Pentax 16-85 Zoom lens at 16 mm, aperture f6.3
Kevin Blake
Capercaillie – Crazy Charlie
by Kevin Blake
This was a solitary male capercaillie nicknamed Crazy Charlie which had been ostracised from the other birds but would still call. He was know to have a bit of a temperament. Taken in Finland in 2024 near Kuusamo, Finland. Unlike the UK there are reasonably good numbers of capercaillies in Finland.
Canon EOS R5, Canon EF100-400 F4.5, 1.4 Extender @ f8.0, ISO 2500, 1/000 sec, Handheld, Stop +2/3, focal length 520mm
Ural Owl
by Kevin Blake
Taken near Kuusamo, Finland on a recent trip with Kuusamo Nature Photography in Spring 2024 although it was still just above freezing.
Canon EOS R5, Canon EF100-400, F4.5, 1.4 Extender @f8.0, ISO 2000, 1/400 sec. Handheld, Focal length 560mm
Whooper Swan
by Kevin Blake
Taken on a frozen lake near Kuusamo, Finland. Spring 2024, The snow and ice had just started to thaw. The image was taken from a hide.
Canon EOS R5, Canon EF100-400 F4.5, 1.4 Extender @ f8.0, ISO 320, 1/1250 sec. Handheld, focal length 560mm
Dead Vlei Sosssuvlei, Namibia
by Kevin Blake
I spotted this person resting in the shade of one of the dead trees in Dead Vlei. I waited for about 10-15 minutes in 30 degree temperature for other folks to get out of the image before I took a series of photographs. I’ve no idea who the person was but it just made a great composition and added to the scene.
Canon EOS R5, Canon EF 16-35, f16 @ ISO 800, 1/100 sec, +1 stop, focal length 35mm
Elephant Parade
by Kevin Blake
On a recent trip to Namibia and Etosha National Park in September 2024 at one of the waterholes near Okaukuejo we arrived about 5pm and only had until about 6pm before we needed to leave in order to exit the park. Nothing happened until 5:45pm but as we were preparing to leave the elephants arrived very silently lead by the matriarch. It was one of the best experiences of the trip.
Canon EOS R5, Canon EF100-400 f4.5, 1.4 Extender, @ f8.0, 1/500 sec, focal length 504mm ISO 800. Handheld, Stopped down 2/3.
Etosha National Park – Wildebeests
by Kevin Blake
On a drive around Etosha National Park in September 2024 and near the Okondeka rest stop next to the Etosha Pan (salt pan) we spent about 45 minutes watching various bird species come and go and then a small herd of wildebeests marched across the pan. I just liked the contrast between the foreground, pan and sky.
Canon EOS R5, Canon EF100-400 f4.5, 1.4 Extender, @ f8.0, 1/3200 sec, focal length 420 mm ISO 500. Handheld, +1/3 stop.
Plains Zebra, Etosha National Park
by Kevin Blake
On a second day in Etosha, in September 2024, we chose to drive to Sprokieswoud. We waited for the Zebras to arrive as they were a bit tentative due to the other animals at the waterhole. The day was very bright and the ground very parched reflecting a lot of white light, which made a great contrast against the stripes of the zebra.
Canon EOS R5, Canon EF100-400 f4.5, 1.4 Extender, @ f8.0, 1/3200 sec, focal length 420 mm ISO 500. Handheld, +1/3 stop.
Elephant Family, Etosha National Park
by Kevin Blake
This is crop of a larger family group, near Namutoni in Etosha National Park. It was fascinating to watch the whole herd work together at the waterhole. In particular the play between the younger elephants and the adults.
Canon EOS R5, Canon EF100-400 f4.5, 1.4 Extender, @ f8.0, 1/400 sec, focal length 420 mm ISO 500. Stopped down 2/3 Handheld
Leopard, Okonjima Reserve
by Kevin Blake
This image was captured on one of our ‘sundowners’ in Namibia where we were driven to a vantage point to watch the setting sun. As part of the drive we tracked a female leopard. Even though radio collared she was extremely difficult to locate, hiding in the scrub and bush. But once located she was a amazing sight coming within about 10 metres.
Canon EOS R5, Canon EF100-400 f4.5, 1.4 Extender, @ f8.0, 1/500 sec, focal length 520 mm ISO 2000. Stopped down 1/3 Handheld
Jeff Dakin
Blue Tit – I Can Do a Cartwheel
by Jeff Dakin
Taken in my garden during the snowfall of 2025. A rare opportunity to capture our garden birds.
Camera Nikon D500, Lens Nikon 300mm 2.8, F4 1/4000sec ISO 2000
Badger – A Wet Brock
by Jeff Dakin
Taken using 3 Nikon flash Speedlights and Camtraptions triggers. Many failed attempts before achieving this one.
Camera Nikon D7200, Lens Nikon 50mm 1.8, Nikon SB-910 Speedlight, F8 1/250sec ISO800
Grey Seal Pup at Donna Nook
by Jeff Dakin
A trip in December to photograph one of 1,649 pups born 2024 /2025
Camera Nikon D500, Lens Nikon 300mm 2.8, F 2.8 1/200sec ISO 2000
Red Grouse from the Peak District
by Jeff Dakin
Taken During the snowfall of January 2025. Getting to the Moors was the biggest Challenge.
Camera Nikon D500, Lens Nikon 500PF, F 7.1 1/2000 ISO 500
Puffin – He’s Behind You !
by Jeff Dakin
Taken in June on the Inner Farne Island. With a menacing Black-backed gull in the distance, Puffins have such a tough life.
Camera Nikon D500 Lens 500PF, F 7.1 1/1600sec ISO 160
B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress Sally B
by Jeff Dakin
Taken at RAF Cosford Air Show June 2024
Camera Nikon D500 Lens Nikon 300mm 2.8, F11 1/200sec ISO 250
Guillemot Posing on the Farne Islands
by Jeff Dakin
Taken on a recent boat trip in March 2025 to the magical Farne Islands. They had just returned to there breading grounds
Camera Nikon D500, Lens Nikon 500PF, F 5.6 1/4000sec ISO 500
Sanderling on the Beach
by Jeff Dakin
Taken Lying down, camera mounted on a skate board. On a Northumberland beach as the tide was coming in.
Camera Nikon D500, Lens Nikon 500PF, F 5.6 1/3200sec ISO 1600
Curlew Wading
by Jeff Dakin
Taken in October on a beach in Northumberland as the sun was setting.
Camera Nikon D500, Lens Nikon 500PF, F 5.6 1/2000 sec ISO 500
Cormorant First Light
by Jeff Dakin
Taken early on a February morning as the sunlight partially flooded the reservoir in Langley.
Camera Nikon D500, Lens Nikon 300mm 2.8 plus 2X TC, F8 1/3200sec ISO 800
Martin Pickles
Bollington
by Martin Pickles
Bosley Locks
by Martin Pickles
Bramshill Motorbike Enduro
by Martin Pickles
London
by Martin Pickles
Macclesfield
by Martin Pickles
Manchester
by Martin Pickles
Vince Sparks
Frozen in Time
by Vince Sparks
Picture taken at Rudyard Lake, nr Leeks Staffs, February 2025. It was unusual to see the lake completely frozen and the boats frozen in position. The freezing fog also added to the atmosphere and the small figure on the jetty added to the scale and overall composition.
Sony A7Cii, Sony 20-70G Zoom lens
Spellbound
by Vince Sparks
Picture taken at Trentham Gardens, nr Stoke on Trent in Jul 2024. The image was taken from a low viewing angle to enhance the compisition and include the moody and cloudy sky. The images was edited and processed using the Snapseed editor and filters.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple PRO RAW image processed using Snapseed
The Japanese Garden
by Vince Sparks
Picture taken at the Japenses Garden of Tatton Park National Trust near Knutsford, Cheshire during March 2025. I liked the tranquil nature of this scene and the mirror image of the pagoda and bridge in the lake.
Olympus EM5 mkiii Mzuiko 12-45 f4 Pro lens
Waiting In The Rain
by Vince Sparks
Picture of the Bundeshaus Parliament Building in Bern, Switzerland, following a thunderstorm. After a violent thunderstorm, the sun began to emerge and illuminated the lady with the umbrella sheltering from the storm.
Olympus EM5 mkiii Mzuiko 12-45 f4 Pro lens
The Reading Room
by Vince Sparks
Picture taken at Manchester Central Library in the circular reading room. I was drawn to the architecture and symmetry of the building and the reading tables which are laid out on a hub and spoke principle. I tried to reflect the building symmetry in the image.
Leica DLUX8 24-75mm zoom @ 24mm using 16:9 aspect ratio image
Silent Prayer
by Vince Sparks
Picture taken in Santander Cathedral, Norther Spain, Sept 2024. I saw the man waiting patiently to see the priest and noted the framing of the arch and the wonderful soft light that illuminated the scene
Leica DLUX8 24-75mm zoom
Canalside Walk
by Vince Sparks
Picture taken near Congleton Dane Valley canal in October 2024 as the final autumn leaves remaind on the trees. The picture was talk in the late afternoon as the low winter sun illuminated the amber leaves.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, using 5X (120mm) zoom lens. Image processed using Snapseed.