Blog

The first set subject competition this season was “Macrophotography” and  our own chair, Tony Marsh was  judge for the evening.  Tony has great knowledge of natural history and experience with macrophotography. He was therefor able to give useful comments and insight on all the images submitted. He chose three images as best of the night with Simon Robert’s “Sundew” coming out top.
Best Image 1. Simon Roberts – ” Sundew “.

2. Simon Roberts – ” Red thighed Bromeliad ”

3. Richard Jakobson – “Autumn colour ”

10 other images were awarded the Tony “Gold Award”:
Julie Walker – ” Blue Hawker Dragonfly ”

” Red Eyed Tree Frog on the Move ”

” Black Darter on a Windy Day ”

and ” Swallowtail ”

Richard Jakobson – ” Mushroom ”

Jo Knight – ” Cockchafer Beetle ”

Simon Roberts – “Glass Frog ”

and ” Golden Dung fly ”

Alan Walker  ” Great Green Bush cricket ”

Carol Minks ” Honey Bee on an Allium ”

All the entered images can be seen on our gallery page:

2025-2026 Competitions

 

Penruddock-based photographer, author and outdoor guide Tom McNally visited the Keswick Photographic Society this week with a memorable evening of images and stories.

Tom told us about his background, starting with his father’s home darkroom, through a formal education to degree level in photography and a few years of outdoor guiding before developing a business combining his passions for photography, the outdoors, and Cumbria, from its mountain peaks to mining heritage, as well as volunteering with the mountain rescue service.

He works professionally with a number of outdoor brands, events and elite extreme athletes including skiing, climbing and mountaineering, base jumping & mountain biking.

Tom also showed one or two “extreme wedding” commissions and delivered an absolutely fascinating presentation – one of the best many members remember – with just the right balance of concept, technique (with “marginal gains”)  and anecdote behind some of his award-winning images, sharing the joys, serendipity and difficulties of working in extreme environments both high in the mountains and underground.

It’s unusual to find a speaker with such an interesting narrative and excellent images as well as the effortless ability to engage and amuse an audience. His stock of “Extreme Lakeland” books was soon exhausted and we look forward very much to his “Forty Fells” publication and its associated Rheged exhibition next year following in the footsteps of our friend Amy Bateman.

We are all grateful to him for taking time out from his busy calendar and young family to give us such an outstanding talk.

Simon Roberts