‘TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYONE’
Winner Lesley inspired after loss of friend
A local amateur photographer claimed a top prize after the loss of a friend inspired her to take pictures of everything.
Lesley Smith (45), who is a member of the East Kilbride Camera Club, claimed the urban view prize from the Landscape Photographer of the Year awards for her snap of the Red Road Demolition.
However, Lesley, who lives in Strathaven, may never have got to this point if it had not been for her friend Nicola Waugh, who passed away four years ago aged 39 following a battle with cancer,
The pair had been friends for over 30 years. However, after her death, Lesley searched for pictures of both of them together but only had very old or blurry pics.
After this, husband Garry, daughter Emma-Rose and son Garry bought her a camera with a note telling her to ‘take pictures of everything and everyone’.
Lesley admits she was initially nervous to use the camera, but that the EK Camera Club helped her on her way to success.
She told the News: “After receiving a camera from my husband and children they encouraged me to go and take pictures of anything and everything and through doing that I joined East Kilbride Camera Club. I love capturing moments that make people smile, and occasionally make them cry as I may have found that moment in time that means a lot to them.
“I volunteer taking pictures for East Kilbride Community Trust through my love of photography and have met many wonderful families and friends.”
The mum is also a keen fundraiser for Macmillan and St Andrew’s hospice, donating fund from shoots to both charities.
She added: “If friends ask me to take pictures and I don’t charge I do always ask them to put money toward either the hospice or Macmillan nurses as they do a wonderful job. Life’s too short.”
Lesley admitted that she couldn’t believe that she had won the national prize, which will now see her work displayed at London’s Waterloo train station.
She added: “When I received the e-mail at first I thought it was a wind up and asked my husband to read it to make sure it was real!
“I had to keep quiet until the winners had been announced in the press and I still couldn’t get over the news.”
Some young Strathaven snappers have been recognised for their top landscape work with a national award and will join Lesley as part of the display.
The Young Landscape Photographer of the Year title went to 15-year-old Hannah Faith Jackson, who spotted the potential in Glasgow’s city reflections.
The pic was praised by judges for it’s “many layers” which suggest “the wealth of activity that goes on in our cities today.”
Henry Memmott was recognised in two categories – winning both the ‘Urban View’ and ‘Your View’ awards.
I love capturing moments that make people smile