Paul Laycock

I joined Haddington Camera Club in September 2018 and was not sure what to expect as I had never been a member of a camera club before, but everyone was friendly and helpful.  Some of the talks were way above my head, but I had been an enthusiastic snapper for 50 years and wasn’t too bothered as I had come to learn.  I found the workshops and talks on techniques by other club members very helpful. The competitions were a bit daunting, but I was willing to have a go.

I joined the clubs committee the following April after the AGM and somehow ended up as club secretary as I failed to step backwards in time with the rest of the committee.  I have held the post ever since.  It has certainly been a good experience and I am very thankful to the members for their support.

My main aim on joining the club was to have fun taking photos, improve my photography and make new friends. I have certainly managed to achieve all three and the tea and biscuits are a bonus!

Most of the images I take are wildlife and landscapes, but I am willing to have a go at anything.  Last year I tried to take images that showed animal behaviour, this year I have a little projected on Abandoned Places and Rural Decay, but my images are becoming more experimental. I have taken part in courses ( gifts from the family) on Wildlife photography at Edinburgh Zoo (bit of a contradiction there!), Architectural Photography in central Edinburgh and Portrait Photography in Newcastle, but to be honest I’ve learnt just as much at the club.

I like the technology side of photography and find the new advances in camera/mobile phone and editing technologies to be fascinating and challenging. Next year I might try a bit of video as my new camera has a vlog setting (whatever that is?)