Wanaka Camera Club ready to mount first photographic exhibition

Wanaka Camera Club members (from left) secretary Diane Forster, Del Tubb and president Jacquie Scott are gearing up for the club’s first photographic exhibition next week.
Wanaka Camera Club members (from left) secretary Diane Forster, Del Tubb and president Jacquie Scott are gearing up for the club’s first photographic exhibition next week.
Members of the Wanaka Camera Club consider themselves ‘‘amateurs'' in a ‘‘fledgling'' group, but their interest in photography and the skills learned and developed during the past two years are to be shown for the first time at the club's inaugural exhibition next week.

‘‘We thought it would be a nice way to celebrate our second year,'' club founder and president Jacquie Scott said.

Mrs Scott says she was shocked when she moved to Wanaka from Australia two years ago and discovered there was no group for people with an interest in photography - so she promptly started one.

Two years on, and the Wanaka Camera Club now has more than 50 members, although only about half of those attend all of the monthly meetings.

At each club meeting, experienced Wanaka photographer Roger Urlwin runs a lesson on a different topic.

Between meetings, members take a themed photograph - with a new subject assigned each month - and a photograph of a subject of their choice.

Those people who choose to get independent feedback on their work can then have their images emailed to members of an established camera club in Greymouth for critiquing.

Many members also enter photography competitions and participate in additional workshops and field trips.

Mrs Scott said the club was the only one of its kind in Central Otago and the Queenstown Lakes district.

It is a member of the Photographic Society of New Zealand and has charitable status.

The group has photographed local events such as swimming meets, golf tournaments, the Perfect Woman competition, Challenge Wanaka and the Relay for Life in Cromwell, all on a voluntary basis.

Members field regular requests to take wedding photographs as well, but at this stage, they prefer to leave that responsibility to the professionals. - The Wanaka Camera Club's first photographic exhibition will be held at The Venue, corner Cardrona Valley and Orchard Rds, Wanaka.

Opening on Sunday, 7pm to 10pm, and Monday and Tuesday, from 10am to 5pm. Entry by gold coin.