Accrington Camera Club

A night with a difference was recently enjoyed by members of Accrington Camera Club, with a portrait session.

At the age of 23, Shaun Slicker became one of the youngest people to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the UK and had a tattoo to help him come to terms with having the condition.

Seven years later he’s now gone under the needle countless times, with the front of his upper body pretty much covered in ink art – including a defiant ‘I might have Parkinson’s but Parkinson’s doesn’t have me’ message tattooed on his left forearm.

So members had plenty to photograph when he was invited to attend one of the club’s portrait nights and pose under the studio lights.

Using a ‘slave’ to trigger the lights with infra red via the camera’s hot shoe, the small group of photographers took it in turns to take pictures of Shaun using a choice of two set-ups and were encouraged to direct him into different poses and try different lighting arrangements.

There was also a separate table top set-up for anyone who wanted to use studio lights but with a static subject.

Members very much enjoyed the experience and were keen to hold another practical night, this time to go into more detail about the different lighting options possible with studio flash and the effects they produce.

Our annual exhibition at the Haworth Art Gallery was taken down last week, which meant that it was time to pick out the winner of our competition where gallery visitors had the chance to win a copy of their favourite print from the exhibition.

Gallery manager Yvonne Robins did the honours and the winner is Lindsey Yates, from Helmshore.

She chose North Aisle, Norwich Catholic Cathedral, by Alfred Hoole and will now receive an A4 print.

Mary’s Shell by Anthony Sanderson LRPS received the most public votes.

Once again, the number of visitors to the gallery while our exhibition was on was up on last year, so thank you for supporting the event, and also Yvonne Robins at the Haworth for allowing us to use the venue.

This week’s meeting is a just-for-fun AV competition.

Meetings are on Fridays at the Primetime Centre, Stourton Street, Rishton, starting at 7.45pm.

Our final meeting of the season will be our president’s evening on July 15, where the club’s president Wayne Rushworth organises the entertainment.

After this we have a break until September.

For next season’s programme and more information about the club, please see our website accrington cameraclub.org.uk.