WELCOME to Behind the Lens, a feature that shines a light on the talented photographers in our Guardian Camera Club group.
This week, Lynne Bentley shares some of her favourite photographs.
Lynne, who lives in Northwich, has been taken photographs since she was a little girl after being given one of her dad’s old cameras.
She loves to see the changing seasons and capture the memories of walks with her husband.
If you would like to appear in Behind the Lens, email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk
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Lynne as a youngster on Llandudno Beach, 1985
When and why did you take up photography?
When I was younger, my dad never went anywhere without his camera and his bag full of lenses and filters. To encourage me to take an interest in photography, he gave me his old camera - a Kodak Brownie – but unfortunately it let in light and didn’t produce good photos. My dad must have been impressed with my enthusiasm as a year later while on a holiday in Llandudno at the age of 10, he decided to upgrade my Kodak Brownie to a brand new Boots 110 Teleflash. I thought it was the bee’s knees with its built-in flash and telephoto lens. Time and technology have moved on since then but I still use a compact camera today, albeit a more modern one.
A heron sits waiting patiently by the Trent and Mersey Canal at Acton Bridge
What do you love about taking pictures?
My husband and I try to make the most of good weather and I love capturing the memories of our walks and days out together. It’s a delight to witness the changing seasons and all the different things we see. I like having a pictorial record of it.
READ MORE:
“Photography is the illusion of changes in light, shade and colour”
The perfect pose - a robin at Marbury Park
Where is your favourite place to take pictures and why?
I don’t have a favourite place as such but I do love the local rivers and canals. As Northwich has the River Weaver, River Dane and the Trent and Mersey Canal, you’ll usually find me ambling along one of the towpaths, stalking a squirrel or a heron and looking for the next magical shot.
What is your favourite subject matter and why?
I love photographing the waterways and wildlife because there’s always something different to see. I challenge myself to get at least one wildlife shot each day, be it animal, insect or bird.
Reflections on the Trent and Mersey Canal at Barnton
READ MORE:
One woman and a dog’s photographic journey in Mid Cheshire
What do you enjoy about being part of our Camera Club on Facebook?
The Camera Club has given me inspiration to visit new places and try out different subjects matters. I never thought my little compact camera would be any good at capturing wildlife but if I’m quiet and still and get reasonably close, it doesn’t do so bad. I now have many pictures of robins, herons and squirrels. I love the challenge that wildlife presents to me and it’s down to the people in the Camera Club who have unknowingly encouraged me to persevere.
If you could photograph anyone/any place/anything, who/what would it be?
Locally, I’d love to be able to photograph a badger, fox or hare. Further afield, I think it would be a real treat to capture the Arctic Glaciers.
Sunset on the River Weaver at Action Bridge
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