My first interest in photography was in my teens when a newspaper I
worked for had a darkroom with all the gear for use by the company’s
photographic club.
Later, apart from family shots, all my photographs were black and
white, home processed, enlarged and printed in various darkrooms built in lofts
and spare bedrooms. This phase continued for many years until the advent of the
digital camera which offered cheaper and easier photography and the logical move to colour. All my film
developing tanks, enlargers, chemical trays and their associated smelly
chemicals were sold to a keen student of photography for 5% of their original
price and I moved to inkjet prints via an Epson A3+ printer.
I have been a member of photographic clubs for as long as I can
remember. My early black and white days were with Birkenhead Photographic
Association before joining Hoylake Photographic Society when they used to meet
upstairs in the Hoylake Conservative Club where the Society had a darkroom for its
members.
Photography has had to take its place alongside my other activities
over the years and as such has not received the dedication afforded to
photography by most of the Club’s membership. My sporting pedigree as a
competitor has included motor cycle off road trials and motocross, cricket and
golf, although now only the latter receives my attention.
As a result my
photographs tend to be of a sporting nature. Being a Vice President of the
Wirral 100 motor club who organise motor cycle road race meetings at Oulton
Park and Anglesey, allows me to have good trackside vantage points.
Some years ago, after complaining about something, I was immediately
brought onto the Committee and later highjacked to become the Hon Treasurer. My
working alongside the rest of the dedicated Committee, has enabled me to see
the rapid development of the Club.
A small enthusiasts club has now become a
more professional organisation, with state of the art digital equipment, the
running of an acclaimed annual international competition and still enjoying the
tremendous enthusiasm of its members.
