February 2024 Landscape Group News

By the time you read this, the festive season will have passed and (hopefully) everything is back to normal, or nearly so. While there were fewer activities in the Landscape Group in December because of the season, things will be building up in the upcoming quarter. See future editions of the Newsletter for details. Of course, the first quarter’s weather tends to be colder and wetter, so Photographers getting out and about should be sure to wrap up warm and dry and don’t forget to wear a hat to prevent your head from getting cold and wet. Once we have passed the Solstice, the weather should tend gradually to get warmer and perhaps a little drier, although February can be very cold!

The Newsletter was originally due to be published in January, but because of production problems, it was decided to run it in February. As a result, the publication dates for 2024 will be February, March, May, June, July, September, October and November.

We are delighted to announce the two well-known professional photographers who will be giving talks on the 2^nd of March alongside our Annual General Meeting. Tickets for these talks and attending the AGM are free and can be booked by following the link. Zoom link will be in the confirmation email.   

When the first Catbells trip was announced in the spring, I was really disappointed that I couldn’t go on it. It sounded quite wonderful to be on such an iconic hill in the Lake District with the sun rising and illuminating the beautiful scenery. So when the opportunity arose again in the autumn, I jumped at the chance.

Bolehill Quarry and Padley Gorge are both well-visited and photographed sites close to Hathersage in the Peak District National Park. Various past years and seasons have produced some great images that have appeared in photographic publications, including the RPS.

I was given my first Box Brownie by my father when I was about 5 and loved trying to emulate what he did with his (without much success). Later, when I was in my teens, I was given an Olympus Trip 35 and an uncle taught me how to use his darkroom. All was forgotten during the years of university and gainful employment. I would - like any parent - record my children’s development but I didn’t really take up photography again seriously until 2014 and on being widowed in 2015, I leapt into it with gusto with the freedom to go where and do whatever I wanted.

The recently relaunched RPS member-led events are a great way for photographers to get together and spend time with a fellow RPS member with location-specific knowledge and expertise. In our case, Mike Kitson led us (a small group of four) through the majestic landscape above Coniston village in the Lake District, where the old copper mines are located.

The Landscape Group’s next residential conference has been announced and will take place on the weekend of 7-9 March 2025 in the stunning North Queensferry in Fife.

Congratulations to all three winners and don't forget to enter the competition.