On 14th October our members were treated to a stunning presentation of local photographs by a full-time local photographer currently based in Penrith. Mark Hetherington is an Associate of The Royal Photographic Society and was the winner of the 2026 International Garden Photographer of the Year. His work has featured in The Times Newspaper, British Photographic Awards and in The Trail, Amateur Photographer and Outdoor Photography magazines.
For all of us who live in and around the Lake District, we are fortunate to be in some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, if not the world. However, most of us witness the scenery when it’s light and probably when it’s dry, too. Photographers like Mark, whose remarkable images we have just witnessed, seem never to be indoors when there is a sunrise, sunset or in deed any other phenomenon or spectacle to capture.
Mark Hetherington’s obsession with photography is to capture not just the view, but the light, the atmosphere and the impact. He’s an advocate of Joe Cornish’s work whose interpretation of TLC is not tender loving care, but Timing, Light and Composition. In order to achieve this, Mark utilises his skills as a photographer, fell runner and rock climber to be on fell tops, lakesides and all the iconic lake district viewpoints at dawn or dusk, in snow and ice or wind and rain. This often entails setting off in pitch darkness to navigate tricky routes to fell tops for sunrise or descending such routes after sunset.
As if such feats were not enough, it was revealed after the first half of Mark’s presentation, which concentrated on the landscapes, that he often stays on the fells well after dark. The second half of his presentation included wonderful images of the Milky Way or the Aurora Borealis from many locations across the Lake District.
Many of Mark’s photographs were from well known landmarks such as Buttermere, Derwentwater, Blea Tarn, Rydalwater, Blencathra and Scafell, but they were most definitely not reproductions of the familiar. He successfully captures impact and atmosphere in very well composed creations.
Unfortunately, the Club meeting due to take place on Wednesday 21st October has had to be cancelled due to the ill health of the visiting speaker. Our next meeting will therefore take place on Wednesday 28th October when several members of Dalston Photographic Society will be showing their work. Prospective new members and visitors are always welcome to join us at 7.30pm in the Quaker Meeting House, opposite Booths supermarket, Keswick or alternatively via Zoom. Please contact us with with any questions or to reserve a place.