Photo exhibition is picture perfect show

Lichfield Camera Club's summer exhibition is at the Chasewater Country Park's Innovation Centre until July 26.

The exhibition is compiled of stunning photographs taken by members of the club, with Scotland's Forth Bridge in fog, and the street scene in Dubrovnik, Croatia on show along with various nature shots.

Grace Mason, chair of Lichfield Camera Club, said: "There are around 100 shots in this exhibition, which we hold in July every year after the end of our season in June.

"We take a wide range of photographs. We have got members doing everything from macro shots – very close up shots of animals and insects - to landscape photographs, all with a huge range of cameras, from compact and bridge cameras to DSLR cameras.

"There's a very wide range of skills too, there are people who have been taking photos for years and people who have just bought the their first camera looking to improve.

"Some used to work in a dark room and use film, and some didn't start until the digital age, like me, but everyone is digital now."

When she first joined the club, Mrs Mason was a complete beginner with the camera.

Now, after only nine years, the chair is an avid photographer who enjoys taking shots of wildlife in its natural habitat.

She added: "It is very much a hobby. In 2006 I bought my first digital camera and started taking snapshots. I hadn't got a clue what I was doing at first but now it has become an obsession.

"The club has been running for about 75 years now and there are around about 60 members. We are a friendly club and make new members and visitors very welcome."

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Lichfield Camera Club meets weekly on Wednesday nights during the season, which starts in September and runs through until June, with a varied programme that includes guest speakers, competitions, and tuition evenings.

From September 9, the club will be meeting at Lichfield Methodist Church, Backcester Lane every week from 8pm until 10pm after seven years of meeting outside of the city.

"We are all thrilled to be back in Lichfield after being in Longdon for seven years for our meetings, we have found a fantastic room at the church," added Mrs Mason.

"We have as series of competitions during the season with external judges present and guest speakers hosting instructional evenings on specific types of shots.

"One Monday each month there is specific tuition from our advanced photographers at the club. We try to cover whatever the members want to do."

Lichfield Camera Club held its annual end of season awards on Saturday, with a barbecue and presentation ceremony for members who won competitions during the season.

The summer exhibition is now in its second week at Chasewater and has left a lasting impression on many visitors at the park so far.

Jane Lees, development officer at Chasewater Country Park, said: "We have people visit our exhibitions here every four weeks but there is always a very good response for the Lichfield Camera Club, this particular exhibition has been very well received.

"There's a spectrum of all different paintings which is nice to see, we're pleased to have them here."

Admission to Lichfield Camera Club's summer exhibition is free.

The exhibition is on every day, from 9am until 6pm on Monday to Friday and from 10am until 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information on Lichfield Camera Club visit lichfieldcameraclub.org