For photographers young and old, the club nurtures diverse interests and capabilities, creating opportunities for local photographers to share their passion with likeminded people, and engage with the community. Club meetings take place at Tregadillett Community Hall on Tuesday evenings between September and April, where members talk about photography, listen to talks on different aspects of the hobby, and have competitions to foster involvement and learning. They also enjoy three evening outings during the summer months!

The club encourages all forms of photography, from digital to film, using projected and printed images. All kinds of cameras are used, including phones, drones, point and shoot, and professional models. Each member is reminded that it is the photographer and their own artistic flare that produces a high quality image, rather than the camera. Each summer, the club hosts a weekend exhibition at St Mary Magdalene Church featuring various prints that members have produced.

Club member Hugh Letheren said: “The exhibition allows people in the community to have a look at the photography our club produces. We are grateful to St Mary Magdalene Church, who are very kind to allow us to take up such a large proportion of the space for this event. This summer, we had 150 prints on display, which looked very professional and received some good feedback from the community.”

On top of this, the club fills the space in the JAG shop (located just across the street from St Mary Magdalene Church) with 24 prints that are changed on rotation every two weeks to give each member the chance to have their work in the spotlight. This exhibition is always a popular one, drawing in much attention as people pass by on their way to the shops, to work, or to meet friends for a coffee.

These events are part of the club’s efforts to engage with the local community, often attracting new members or at least giving the photographers some well-deserved recognition for their talents. Annually, members are encouraged to enter their work into local and national competitions, including the Cornwall Photographic Alliance, in which they can enter individually or as a team - and often come in the top quarter of entries each time. Launceston Camera Club has also won the Amateur Photographer Magazine’s Photographer of the Year Club Competition three years in a row since 2021, with members taking part in ten monthly rounds with their own individual offerings.

Similarly, the club offers to judge local photography competitions, and recently judged a local youth photography competition - a rewarding moment, according to Hugh, who said the young talent was evident. In July, four members attended the Launceston Show and created a whopping 290 images of the event, which were used in a presentation photo book.

It doesn’t matter if you have been using a camera for years, or have only just picked one up and are looking to get started - Launceston Camera Club offers a warm welcome to photographers of all abilities and ages. Interested in photography? See www.launcestoncameraclub.co.uk for more information on how to join.

Main image by Ian Smith.