Leek Photographic Club

23/08/2026

Purple Haze - The briefest of light captured upon Ipstones Edge.

Out for 2 hrs in flat light only for the sun to pop out in the smallest of gaps for no more than 2 minutes.

23/08/2026

On Saturday 8 members of Leek Camera Club met in Ipstones at the Midlands Pedigree Whippet Racing Club. A day dedicated to capturing these incredibly fast dogs in high-speed action.

While the gorgeous, clear weather was welcome, the midday sun created a massive technical challenge. The direct, side-angled sunlight casting harsh shadows across the darker dogs, while simultaneously threatening to blow out the highlights on the whiter ones. Balancing a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the whippets' explosive speed against the necessary aperture and ISO settings proved to be a nearly impossible task, resulting in plenty of missed shots heading straight to the recycle bin!

Overall, a cracking couple of hours out with like minded photographers refining high-speed action photography.

23/08/2026

We have a fabulous programme of photographic talks, demonstrations and competitions starting on September 17.

Want to join us? Click the link to find out more.

Leek Photographic Club is a friendly club of photographic enthusiasts from all skill levels, meeting weekly to discuss, share and learn photography.

24/07/2026

A small group of members met at Crosby beach this week to try our hand at long exposures.

We arrived at low tide and started scouting for photographs. We spotted a photogenic sewage pipe (you had to be there) but it was going to take a while for the tide to come in. So we headed off to the beach café for a coffee.

The temperature was cooler that we've had at home, so we spent some time chatting, walking along the beach and just enjoying being out in the sun.

Eventually the tide came fully in and we had to work quickly to get our images. The irony of long exposure photography is that you still have to be quick to capture the moment!

This was the furthest trip we've made in the Summer programme, but the coastal location offered a number of photographic opportunities that just aren't available closer to home, so it was definitely worth it.

If you have not attended one of the Summer Programme events, you are missing out. These events are open to both members and guests. The next event is a landscape photography shoot to capture the heather on 12 August.

05/07/2026

Yesterday, members of the club visited Gladstone Pottery Museum, where we were joined by the Ragged Victorians, an award-winning living history group recreating the “great unwashed” of Victorian England.

The attention to detail in their costumes, combined with the backdrop of the museum, created some great opportunities for portrait photography.

The warm, overcast weather was ideal for photography. The event was attended almost exclusively by photographers, which meant the re-enactors were happy to pose for the camera and even relocate to areas with better light. Although the museum was busy, it was usually possible to isolate subjects without visitors from the 21st century photo-bombing our shots.

30/06/2026

Leek Photographic Club is the top club in Amateur Photographer of the Year! OK, it's just the first round, but we'll take it.

09/06/2026

Last week, members of the club visited Thorswood Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to try our hand at creative wildflower photography. Think shallow depth of field portraits of orchids, multiple exposures, and in-camera movement. This photograph shows Peter Rothwell making on of the images of the day!

26/05/2026

Last Thursday, a few of us visited a local apiary to photograph the bees and beekeepers at work. As well as the chance to get close to the hives, it was fascinating to hear about the hidden life of bees from the beekeeper. Who’d have thought that bees’ eyesight is so poor they return to the hive in a zig-zag rather than a bee-line?

Wearing full beekeeper suits gave us access most people never get. We were able to stand right beside the hives as hundreds of bees flew around us, photographing behaviour that would normally be impossible (well, risky) to see at close range.

The afternoon produced plenty of photographic variety: portraits of the beekeepers, macro shots of bees arriving with pollen, details of honeycomb and hives including the queen cell, and the challenge of capturing fast-moving insects in flight.

Judging by the conversations at the pub afterwards, several members went home with images they were pleased with.

08/05/2026

Yesterday, some members of Leek Photographic Club met up for a photo shoot on the Leek branch of the Caldon canal.

New members are always welcome! Why not come along to one of the events in our Summer programme? You don't need specialist gear, expert knowledge, or a particular style of photography. You just need a camera and the willingness to spend a couple of hours looking at the world more closely.