Crosskeys camera club opens shutter to new members

A Crosskeys camera club are looking for new members to join its ranks ahead of the summer.

Western Valley Camera Club celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, and puts on four or five exhibitions across Caerphilly County Borough a year.

The club meet weekly at Cross Keys Rugby Club, and hold monthly competitions on a range of subjects, including still life, landscapes, nature, and architecture.

Western Valley also run workshops and have recently welcomed guest speakers from the industry, who give insights into the tips and tricks of the trade during their talks.

Exhibition Secretary for the club, Derek Terry, said: “At our workshops we offer advice on lighting, shooting and focusing.

“We also help members with talking to models if they are doing a portrait shoot. It’s something people might not think about, and when they come down to it they find it hard or don’t know how to give the models directions or make them feel at ease in front of the camera.”

In the summer months, the club arranges evening and weekend trips around South Wales and Bristol to take photos.

Mr Terry added: “We just meet up and jump in each others’ cars, collect those who don’t have transport and head off for a trip.

“Recently I went to Arnos Vale Victorian Cemetery in Bristol where there are over 50,000 graves over 45 acres, and I got some spectacularly varied pictures.

“I actually had a 14-year-old boy phone me up asking where I had taken the photos, as he saw them at an exhibition in Newbridge and wanted to go.”

When he’s not acting as an accidental tourist information officer, Mr Terry partakes in a bit of competition with fellow camera clubs in the area.

Western Valley Camera Club have been known to invite other clubs to a shoot-off, where each club submits 20 photos to be judged by an individual professional photographer.

“We tend to do quite well”, Mr Terry said, with more than a little hint of satisfaction in his voice.

The club will also be competing against clubs across the UK in November, after being picked as one of four clubs to represent Wales at the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain’s Print Championship in Ormskirk.

Anyone who would like more information on Western Valley Camera Club, or are be interested in becoming a member can visit www.westernvalley.co.uk or phone Vince Penticost on 01495 272581.