We kick of the year with our latest featured 

photographer Kaidi Niit. 

Kaidi joined GCC back in January 2014 and remains an active and valued member our club.

We took a time out to ask her a few questions about her 

photographic journey so far... 

Q1. Tell us a bout yourself and what made you join GCC...

Kaidi: I am from a little Estonian island called Saaremaa and as long as I remember, always had an interest in photography. My uncle had film cameras (Zenit, Fed, Smena) and a dark room, so I am really lucky to have albums full of childhood photos. Then later my best friend had one of the first digital cameras that was available but I was the one who used it most. She still has CD-s full of my snapshots. I bought my first digital camera with my first salary and never left home without it. When I moved to Ireland I saw an article in Bray People about GCC and knew I wanted to join. I have learned so much since joining the club thanks to the inspiring and helpful members.

Q2. What type of photography do you do most? What do you enjoy most and why?

Kaidi: My favourite type of photography is landscape and seascape and I love to go back to the same spots to find different angles every time. I also enjoy exploring new places, because Ireland's nature is so versatile. Second favourite type would be taking portraits in natural light to capture persons real personality.

Lately I am really into creating images and stories in Photoshop. Completely different genre with endless opportunities. I like to use my sunrise/sunset photos as a background to give them a different life. Since joining the club, I find myself looking my native country completely different way and see beauty where use to be "nothing special".

Q3. Among all the images you have taken, do you have a favourite? Why?

Kaidi: It is really hard to choose one, because each favourite image has its own story. But if I really have to pick one, it would be the one I took this summer when I was back home. It was the time of summer when days were the longest and it only goes dark for couple of hours. That field is behind my mothers apartment and perfect for sunset pictures. It is my favourite image, because it captures the essence of the long summer days that I miss when living in Ireland.

Q4. How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

Kaidi: Youtube tutorials are my favourite way to learn new skills and tricks. My favourites are KelbyOne, SLR Lounge and PHLEARN. I love to take part of workshops to get fresh ideas. I advanced the most when I was preparing for my L panel. Before that I felt that Photoshop was a challenging program, now I see it as a great tool to get the results I want.

Q5. In the field, do you have a preferred shooting mode?

Kaidi: I tend to shoot in Aperture mode. Landscapes between F11-F16, depending on the location, light and also the result I have in mind. I create my images backwards. First comes the idea and then I find a way to create it. Shutter speed depends on F number. ISO 100-300, white balance auto. Focus is most of the time Auto, except when I use my macro lens. To get better result,I find it easier to focus manually. Since I discovered how much more I can do with the Raw file, jpeg is a history.

Q6. What kind of tools do you use for post processing?

Kaidi: Lightroom and Photoshop. It is a work in progress and I am pushing myself to learn how to use the tools in both programs. And thanks to fellow club member Jane, I use the 'Snapseed' app on my phone.

Q7. Whose work has influenced you most in recent times?

Kaidi: My biggest inspirational influence is Rosie Hardy, a young creative photographer from UK. Her ideas and concepts are so unique and creative. Also award winning nature photographer Remo Savisaar, and well known Elena Shumilova. The way she captures people in natural environment is exceptional.

Q8. When you go away on holiday, what camera gear do you bring with you? Why?

Kaidi: I take my Nikon D7200, 18-105mm and 50mm lens. With them I can usually get the images I am after and are not too heavy to carry.

Q9. Among the photography gadgets that you own, is there something that you wish you hadn't bought? Why?

Kaidi: A tripod bag. I have only used it once. When going out to shoot I attach my tripod to the camera bag.

Q10. Finally, What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

Kaidi: I wish I had kept the original photo files I took with my first camera, not only the ones I processed. Now they look over saturated and cropped in wrong way. Would love to process some of them in a different way. Oh well, you live and you learn :)

You can see many more of Kaidi's photo's over on her Flickr Photostream. Click here to visit Kaidi's photostream.

This months featured 

photographer is Graham Cashell. 

We take a time out to ask him a 

few questions about his 

photographic journey. 

Graham is a founding member of the Camera Club and has been with us since day one.

Q1. Tell us about yourself and what made you join GCC...

Graham: I was a keen photographer from my school days. Although, to be honest, there wasn’t much to my photography, I just liked taking photos and seemed to have a eye for it. I usually saw something nice, but thought, ‘if I hop this wall and get down lower, imagine the shot I might get’. All my photos then would have been at the end of the film age and then the early generation of digital cameras. In 2011 I was part of the discussion on Boards.ie, with 4 or 5 others, out of which a ‘common interest group’ was setup. We met in a pub, handy, and everyone arrived with a plus 1. Then the next week there’d be more plus ones. Then we moved pub. And again, everyone arrived with a plus one. Before we knew it, the club had outgrown the pub, could no longer be just a common interest group, and a month later, we had Greystones Camera Club. After all the work in getting to that point, I really had to join, didn’t I!!???

Q2. What type of photography do you do most? What do you enjoy most and why?

Graham: Up until the start of this year, land and seascapes were my favourite. I love exploring what the east coast has to offer. It was this that formed a lot of my early competition entries and help gain me my first Irish and International distinctions (qualifications). These are the Licentiate of the Irish Photographic Federation (LIPF) and the Artist Fédération Internationale de l'Art Photographique (AFIAP). After losing a lot of the 2015 with some back issues, I needed something to help get my drive and passion for photography back. I decided to take the route of portrait style, as I liked that style but had shot very little of it. After I dipped my toe into it, I decided that shooting models in landscape and fine art nude captivated me. This sparked my passion once again and I just love getting to create new images. I’ve also got to work with some amazing models from Ireland, central Europe, and the most famous of them all in photography circles, a Canadian model, Fredau. This new style has brought me unbelievable success since I started entering it in International exhibitions, known as Salons. With only around 20-30% of all photos submitted to exhibitions getting accepted, and less than 1% getting an award, I’ve managed to win 20 awards around the world since May this year. This has been a bonus to enjoying the style but also a big driver to my plans for photos I want to create.

Q3. Among all the images you have taken, do you have a favourite? Why?

Graham: The Dive Board... This photo was taken in January 2015 in Whiterock, Killiney. This is probably my favourite shooting ground. The location has a wealth of options, all different every-time depending on the tide. I loved the photo when I saw it on my camera, but it was elevated to my my favourite photo as it won me the Best Overall Image in the 78th An Oige Photography Competition and got awarded an IPF Gold Medal, the highest honour medal available from the IPF.

Q4. Whose work has influenced you most in recent times?

Graham: I’m not into famous photographers and the ‘masters’ really at all. I love to learn by what’s around me, the people I shoot with and the people I’m in competition with. When starting out exploring landscapes, the work of Eimhear Collins and Brian Hopper were my benchmark, a rather high one at that. Both were great to learn off and get advice from as I brought my photography from level to level. In my current genre of portrait, models in landscape and fine art nude, the work of Ross McKelvey, Joe Doyle, Bill Power and Tim Pile are my biggest influencers. The most amazing thing about having your favourites being present day photographers, is that I have had the experience of shooting with all of them and are there to bounce ideas off them. Recently a little dream came true when I got invited to shoot for the weekend with Tim, along with Joe, firstly in a very old house in Dublin, then a country house on the outskirts of Dublin.

Q5. How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

Graham: Online there is a wealth of information available to you to enhance your knowledge. While I use that for some elements of learning, I think workshops, of which I’ve done a landscape and a portrait one, are very helpful. However, just asking experts in the genre can be the most beneficial. Since I started in the club, I would often have a quiet word with those who I wished to learn something off. Most photographers love to be asked about their photos and I’ve got guidance from my friends and, at times, even friends only met through facebook. These then lead to good relationships with photograhers all over the country. Recently, all the names above have given me super guidance and assistance as my photographs reached the next level, and they know how much I appreciated the help. My little take away here: If you see something you like, ASK! Sometimes you get little in return and that’s fine, but don’t let it put you off, you’ll get super pointers from so, so many.

Q5. In the field, do you have a preferred shooting mode?

Graham: When shooting land and seascapes, aperture is my go to mode. ISO usually 100, auto focus and an auto white balance. I then use filters to try and get me my favourite shutter speed of between 1 and 1.6 seconds. This is just ideal for getting a lovely drag-back of the waves after they crash on the beach. If I’m looking for a long exposure of a few minutes, again I use filters and close the aperture right down so I can achieve perfectly smooth water or lovely soft streaks in the sky of the clouds passing over. When working with models in the landscape, however, I would tend to shoot in manual mode as the light is constantly changing. Using manual I can keep adjusting the settings to ensure I get the histogram using all available light without ending up with blown highlights. The most important setting to change then is the ISO. It’s all about getting the fast shutter speed to capture the pose, jump or flowing silk in the breeze. It’s a challenge at first, but you become very quick at getting the right setting…..as you shoot off another 20 frames in a few seconds!!

Q6. What kind of tools do you use for post processing?

Graham: I shoot in Raw, so the basic adjustments are applied there. Once complete, I take the photo into Photoshop CC to apply the finishing touches. My favourite plug-ins for that are Google Colour Efex Pro and Silver Efex Pro. Two amazing filters for simple, yet natural (provided you don’t go crazy), adjustments to photos. Both are free now and if you don’t have them, go get them!!

(Google - Nix Software link)

Q8. When you go away on holiday, what camera gear do you bring with you? Why?

Graham: I bring my Canon 7D, tripod and , if restricted to one lens, it would be my favourite, a Canon 15-85. A super lens that can cover wind angle landscape through to up close shooting at events. My Lee filters would also come. If room allows, a 50mm f/1.4 lens is great with kids, and a 10-22 for expansive land and seascapes.

Q9. Among the photography gadgets that you own, is there something that you wish you hadn't bought? Why?

Graham: None. 

Q10. Finally, What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

Graham: I wish I knew how it was going to become the massive part of my, and my family’s life, that it is now. I could never have predicted the learning I was going to take on over the five years and to what level of photos I’m creating and success I would achieve. And, it's a journey that isn't anywhere near the end! :)

You can see many more of Graham's photo's over on his Flickr Photostream. Click here to visit Graham's photostream or his photography page over on Facebook here.

This months featured 

photographer is Jane Friel. 

We take a time out to ask her a 

few questions about her 

photographic journey. 

Jane served as GCC club secretary for 2 years and remains an active and vibrant member of GCC.

Q1. Tell us a bout yourself and what made you join GCC...

Jane: I did a introduction to digital photography evening class in BIFE in 2011 and joined the camera club in 2012. I've been taking pictures for as long as I can remember - I can't think of a time when I wasn't taking photos. Sending off my film rolls to Spectra and getting the envelope back was fun - usually the hit rate was approx 3-4 per roll! With digital you can hide that rate, though I'm not very good at deleting. My computer is groaning with the amount of unusable pictures (note to self - delete, delete, delete!).

I joined GCC to meet like minded people and learn more about photography, and the Club has been fantastic for that - it's a great club. Photography is my passion and I love it.

Q2. What type of photography do you do most? What do you enjoy most and why?

Jane: I take lots of landscape/nature/sea shots as that is what is easily accessible. Happily I live very near to sea and mountains, so it makes things easy. The type of photography that I enjoy the most is architectural - I can get very excited about a building! And I really like doing abstract shots. I would generally take at least one (more like ten) photos every day (that's probably the reason my computer is over loaded!) and use my phone to take pictures as well.

I'm planning to get my film camera out again and take some shots with that - I found out recently that the film can be processed digitally, so my fingers are itching to get going.

Q3. Among all the images you have taken, do you have a favourite? Why?

Jane: At the moment my favourite image is of the puffins on the Saltee Islands. I went there last year on a trip with the Camera Club and it was an absolutely magical experience for me. I loved the feeling of being on an island - I know I live on one but this was a completely different feeling - and being close to the birds, the sea, the air, the plants. It was a beautiful day and one I'll never forget.

I would love to go back again and even if I didn't have my camera with me (though let's face it, that would be highly unlikely) I would be quite happy to sit and be for the day.

Q4. How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

Jane: I use the internet for Photoshop tips and I buy lots of magazines and some books. I also do workshops and classes. I want to learn more and get different ideas for shots. By going out to classes, etc you meet people who have different talents, skills and points of view and I learn a lot from these situations. I like to go to exhibitions as well - both photography and art.

Q5. In the field, do you have a preferred shooting mode?

Jane: Aperture is depending on the scene or effect I want to achieve and the shutter speed correlates to that. ISO 400, White Balance is Auto - except for long exposures - which I now set it at 10000 Kelvin following advice from a fellow Camera Club member and this has worked well. Focus is usually Auto unless I'm going for an abstract shot and Image Format is RAW.

Q6. What kind of tools do you use for post processing?

Jane: Photoshop and Nik Software. Still learning to use these tools - it's a daily challenge! I also use Snapseed, which is a fabulous free app for phone and tablet and very easy to use. I only wish there was a version for the computer.

Q7. Whose work has influenced you most in recent times?

Jane: I greatly admire Pawel Pentlinowski's work https://photobypawelp.com/tag/pawel-pentlinowski/ and the work of Lana Galina at www.lana.ie

I met both Pawel and Lana at the BIFE photography course and I think they are the most amazing photographers, with completely different styles.

I also love images by the fashion photographer Norman Parkinson and the large scale images ofAndreas Gursky.

Q8. When you go away on holiday, what camera gear do you bring with you? Why?

Jane: I usually take most of my gear - camera (Canon 7D), 24-70mm lens, 50mm lens, tripod, filters, shutter release. I take these things because they cover most eventualities and I do use everything when I'm away.

Q9. Among the photography gadgets that you own, is there something that you wish you hadn't bought? Why?

Jane: No. I don't buy a lot of gadgets and buy second hand if I can.

Q10. Finally, What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

Jane: I wish I knew how to be more selective about which shots to keep and which to delete. I think this is a skill and one I have yet to learn. I have boxes of prints from film and thousands of photos on file but I could probably delete 80% of them and still have too many....

You can see many more of Jane's photo's over on her Flickr Photostream. Click here to visit Jane's photostream.

This months featured 

photographer is John Mc Gowan. 

We take a time out to ask him a 

few questions about his 

photographic journey. 

Probably better known by

 his online presence as 'Pixbyjohn'

John is a founding member 

of Greystones Camera Club

and a very active photographer in the Greystones community.

If it's on in Greystones, John is probably there!

Q1. Tell us a bout yourself and what made you join GCC...

John: I am retired now with plenty of time to spend at my hobbies. Over my 41 years working for Dun Laoghaire VEC I always had a serious hobby of some sort. Amateur Radio, Golf, Lawn Bowls and a bit of photography. When I retired in 2009 I took photography a little more seriously timewise. I posted regularly on the photography section of www.boards.ie and on www.flickr.com. Margaret Traynor of the local Greystones Guide website saw my local event photos and asked could she use them on www.greystonesguide.ie which gave me another outlet for my photos of local events such as St. Patrick's Day Parades, Gourmet Greystones and the various festival & fun days in Greystones. When I saw James Griffin's post on boards.ie in the Greystones & Charlesland forum asking for interested photographers who wished to form a camera club I readily got in contact and everyone knows what happened after that when several people met up and a club was formed. I joined the club to become more knowledgeable about taking photos.

Q2. What type of photography do you do most? What do you enjoy most and why?

John: My preferred photography is documentary style covering the happenings and events locally. I have taken photos of several parties of all sorts and weddings at this stage which I enjoy. I love capturing people with a smile. I like landscape, sunrise and sunset photography also. I love taking photos of my grandchildren most of all, simple candid snaps are my favorite.

Q3. Among all the images you have taken, do you have a favourite? Why?

John: I have lots of photos which I love so it is difficult for me to pick a favourite. After much searching I will nominate this one Devil's Glen as it was a jpg straight from the camera 26-10-2014.

Q4. How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

John: I read a lot of manuals and search online for the latest tips & tricks, I don't think I am a very creative person in photography but so far I am satisfied with my shots. I am always interested in other club members photography and I try to learn from them.

Q5. In the field, do you have a preferred shooting mode?

John: When I am out shooting outdoor events without flash I generally use aperture priority.I shoot RAW & JPG fine. For landscapes I use manual setting of shutter speed & aperture. I use various ISO such as 64 and 160. For indoor shoots I generally use TTL flash, manual setting of shutter & aperture auto WB and ISO 200 and 320. I seldom use manual focus of my lens.

Q6. What kind of tools do you use for post processing?

John: I have Photoshop & Lightroom on my PC which I use.

Q7. Whose work has influenced you most in recent times?

John: In recent times the people who influence me most are my fellow club members. When I started posting my photos online I really thought I was the best photographer in the world but I soon learned that for every shot of Glendalough I posted there were Zillions of far better photos posted by so many other more proficient users of a camera than I.

Q8. When you go away on holiday, what camera gear do you bring with you? Why?

John: I take 1 camera with a 24-70 lens, 5 camera batteries and my flashgun with spare batteries for it. I find the 24-70 is a great walk around lens, heavy but I am used to carrying it at this stage. A large capacity CF & SD card.

Q9. Among the photography gadgets that you own, is there something that you wish you hadn't bought? Why?

John: A Manfrotto monopod, because I cannot hold it and use the camera for obvious reasons 2 things in life I cannot do, above is one and the second is I cannot hold a knife & fork whilst having a meal, but there is always someone to help out with the latter in cutting the meat etc. on my plate.

Q10. Finally, What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

John: The one thing I wish I knew was how expensive this photography lark was going to be once I was hooked.

You can see many more of John's photo's over on his Flickr Photostream. Click hereto visit John's photostream.

This months featured photographer is Celine Pollard. 

We take a time out to ask her a few questions about her photographic journey. Celine is a founding member of Greystones Camera Club and despite living abroad remains an active member of the club.

Q1. Tell us about yourself and what made you join GCC...

Celine: I was contacted in July of 2011 by a friend who had seen a forum on www.boards.ie asking if there were any other photographers in the Greystones area interested in forming a club. Of course I jumped at the opportunity and met up with a group of like minded individuals in a local pub on a Thursday evening. It was there that I, along with this group, became one of the founding members of Greystones camera club. I was fortunate to spend the first three years watching GCC grow in numbers and popularity until January 2014 when together with my husband David, I emigrated to Canada. I now reside in the city of Calgary, Alberta which is about one and a half hours drive to the stunning mountainous area of the Rockies.

Q2. What type of photography do you do most? What do you enjoy most and why?

Celine: My first love is definitely landscape photography followed closely by wildlife. I also love black and white photography. Landscape photography forces the photographer to chase the light and explore the beauty of ones environment! I feel most at peace very early in the morning before sunrise searching for that scene which drives the viewers desire to want to be in that place. If there is one regret about living in Alberta I have to say it is the fact that we are not near the ocean. I miss the smell of the sea and the sunrises that were stunning when living in Greystones. Having said that however, the scenery in Alberta is amazingly beautiful and I am spoilt for choice with the amount of wildlife Canada has to offer.

Q3. Among all the images you have taken, do you have a favourite? Why?

Celine: Without a doubt my favourite shot is the photo titled 'Starting Young'! I came upon this scene purely by accident in the "Highwood Pass" area of Alberta. I was out looking for bears when I had to pull to the side of the road to let some cowboys and cowgirls pass by with the herd of cattle that they were rounding up. I looked in my car wing mirror and saw this father leading his young son's horse while at the same time herding the cattle. The dust from the animals kicking up the dry earth was forming a mist like scene so I jumped out of my car grabbed the camera and voila!!

Q4. How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

Celine: I did study years ago with the New York institute of Photography when I lived in the USA so I knew the basic rules of photography. In the short few years I was in GCC my photography skills greatly improved from the knowledge shared from fellow club members. Now I am very comfortable with the camera and indulge in YouTube on a regular basis to learn other techniques about other forms of photography. There is a wealth of knowledge on the internet and from chatting with other photographers while out and about.

Q5. In the field, do you have a preferred shooting mode?

Celine: For landscape photography I mostly use AV or manual mode. Depends on the lighting conditions and if I am using filters or not! I stay within the bounds of F8-F16 with the camera at ISO100. I used to use Auto white balance but of late I find that in using the white balance for the conditions that I am getting better results. Focus is almost always on auto unless I am doing some macro shots. I always shoot in RAW. For wildlife I shoot at F4.5 to F7.1 and ISO 400 upwards but I try not to shoot above ISO 800 ...... I hate noise!! The shutter speed varies a lot as bears and moose, being more sloth like, are quite different from shooting birds! I jump between AV and TV modes. Focus is always on auto and my cameras are set for back-auto focus. Again always in RAW and white balance for the most part on auto.

Q6. What kind of tools do you use for post processing?

Celine: I use Photoshop Elements, the latest version and also Colour Efex Pro. I have Silver Efex for my black and white images. I have an Apple iMac 27" screen and I just recently invested in a Canon Pro-10 printer and a Spyder 5 pro calibrator!

Q7. Whose work has influenced you most in recent times?

Celine: I really don't have any favourites when it comes to photographers of my time. Have always loved Ansel Adams work. I find on Flickr and suchlike there is an amazing amount of talent out there but at the end of the day I just try to shoot what I love and not be swayed by others.

Q8. When you go away on holiday, what camera gear do you bring with you? Why?

Celine: Too much ... I'm a work in progress!!!! I'm always afraid that I won't have the right equipment with me when I travel so I inevitably bring too much! When I really have to reduce the load I take my Canon 70D, Tripod, Canon 100-400mm lens, Canon 10-22mm and my trusty Canon 28-135mm. Extra battery and charger and SD cards and my Lee Filters!!! Yes, it is a heavy load but I reduce the amount of clothes in the suitcase to make room!

Q9. Among the photography gadgets that you own, is there something that you wish you hadn't bought? Why?

Celine: I made many mistakes with buying the wrong type of camera bags over the years. I have had my trusty Lowepro now for the last 10+ years, makes a big difference having the right bag for your equipment! The Gorillapod was another mistake ........... think I've only used it once!!!

Q10. Finally, What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

Celine: I wish when I first started out that I had taken photography learning at a much slower pace! I was so eager to get going that I got very confused about all the terminology and techniques. My advice to anyone starting out is get to know your equipment and it's capabilities first. Find out what type of photography you would like to try and get out and practice, practice, practice!!! Don't get upset if you take bad shots (I was very critical of myself in the beginning), learn from your mistakes. Never be afraid to ask the same questions over and over again until you fully understand.

Finally, enjoy your photography but remember to look around you instead of through the lens all the time! You can miss some magic memories if you don't put the camera down now and again!!

Our thanks to Celine for taking part in this spotlight feature and sharing with us.

If you would like to see more of Celine's work please check out her Photostream over on Flickr. Click here to view her images and follow her work.

Celine also has her own website. Click here to check out 'Moments by Celine'.

This months featured photographer is Pat Judge, we took a time out to ask him a few questions about his photographic journey. Pat has been an active member of Greystones Camera Club since his first visit back in September 2012.

Q1. Tell us about yourself and what made you join GCC...

Pat: I work as an Engineer in charge of the Signal, Electrification and Telecommunications Department in Irish Rail. I work to live and photography is a major part of my life, second of course to my wife, Katherine and five sons. I bought my first camera when I started work in 1979, an Olympus Trip 35mm. For years I took "snaps" here and there. About seven years ago I bought my first D SLR (after being tormented by my son Paul), a Nikon D60, and spent several years taking more "snaps" with the settings all in "Auto". In 2011, I decided to figure out the other settings and to join a club. The obvious choice had to be local as I live here in this wonderful town of Greystones.

My first visit to GCC was on a night out to Bray and the fist contact was with John McGowan who I met at the railway station. The evening was a great success and everyone was helpful.

My aim was to meet like minded people, learn how to use the camera and enjoy photography.

Q2. What type of photography do you do most? What do you enjoy most and why?

Pat: I enjoy most forms of photography but especially landscapes. I love to travel and do my best to avoid crowded towns and cities. I love the open country and seaside. I enjoy mountainous terrain and areas that are unspoilt.

Images taken at sunrise and sunset offer rewarding challenges and get you out to places when the normal folk are asleep.

Q3. Among all the images you have taken, do you have a favourite? Why?

Pat: In truth there are several images that I could name but the most striking to me were images taken in Northern Scotland and the Isle of Skye while on a photographic trip. I went on two trips to Northern Scotland and the Isle of Skye, one with my brother in law, Paul Skehan and the second also with Paul and Arthur from the GCC. My favourite image was taken from high up on The Old Man of Storr in the Isle of Skye. It was taken on a cold March morning and Paul and I went up early to avoid the tourists as the place is quite famous for walkers and hikers. It was a clear day, something that seldom happens, and the view from above of the unspoiled landscape is magnificent; well worth the walk up.

Another favourite was a black and white image of an idyllic spot called Elgol in the Isle of Skye.

Q4. How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

Pat: I use a variety of ways. I love photography books especially books with landscapes from Ireland and the UK. Some of my photos are based on what I've seen others do and trying to see can I do likewise or improve. I think the internet is fantastic especially tutorials on post processing. In fact, there is a wealth of information easily available on Google for anyone with the interest to look it up, and it costs nothing.

GCC is a fantastic club as the members are all like minded photographers ranging from professionals to novices. Everyone is extremely helpful and the club nights (and outings) are great opportunities to gain and share knowledge and experiences.

Q5. In the field, do you have a preferred shooting mode?

Pat: I always shoot raw except on occasions where I want several images but am not planning any post processing. When I shoot handheld, I usually shoot in aperture priority at about f/9, ISO 200 or less and ensure that the shutter speed is as high as possible (even if this means using Auto ISO). When I use a tripod, I shoot usually in aperture priority at f/9, ISO 100 and whatever shutter speed the camera dictates. I use manual settings for night photography or where I deliberately want a slow shutter speed.

Q6. What kind of tools do you use for post processing?

Pat: I work on an Apple MacBook Air and keep all my images on external hard drive and back it up at least twice per month. I manage all my photography through Adobe Lightroom. I also use Photoshop, Nik Color and Silver Efex but most processing is done in Lightroom.

I am of the opinion that time spent in composing and taking the photo is much better than time spent post processing. I love trying new / different software such as those from MacPhun (focus CK, Intensify CK etc).

Q7. Whose work has influenced you most in recent times?

Pat: Colin Prior, a Landscape Photographer and author of several books has some fine landscape images well worth a visit. Among the images are several from Northern Scotland and the Isle of Skye, places that I have visited and fully intend to revisit as soon as possible. On an Irish front, John Hooton an award winning landscape and seascape photographer has superb images of the Wild Atlantic Way and Dingle in Co. Kerry.

Q8. When you go away on holiday, what camera gear do you bring with you? Why?

Pat: I use a Nikon D610 Full Frame camera and two lenses for the majority of my photographs, a Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 telephoto and a Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 wide angle. I usually take the camera and the telephoto lens on holidays but am planning to purchase a new camera specifically for holiday travel, something along the lines of a Fuji XT1.

Q9. Among the photography gadgets that you own, is there something that you wish you hadn't bought? Why?

Pat: The one item that I bought and have never successfully used are extension tubes. I found that the reduction in light was such that it was virtually impossible to get any decent image. Maybe I'll try again sometime.

Q10. Finally, What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

Pat: If you are serious about photography and intend developing your skills over time then go for quality not quantity. Buy once. Its better to buy a good camera and one lens than something cheap and several cheap lenses. It costs more in the long run.

Take time to learn. There's no hurry especially if its your hobby.

Our thanks to Pat for taking part in this spotlight feature and sharing with us.

If you would like to see more of Pat's work please check out his Photostream over on Flickr. Click hereto view his images and follow his work.

Pat also has his own website. Click here to check it out.

This months featured photographer is Jenny Coughlan, we took a time out to ask her a few questions about her photographic journey. Jenny is currently in her second year as the Chairperson for Greystones Camera Club so we thought it only fitting to put her in the spotlight first...

Q1. Tell us about yourself and what made you join GCC...

Jenny: A long time ago 55 years ago to be precise, my Dad gave me a camera and a roll of film and I went and took the whole roll in about 10 minutes! We then went into the dark room and magic began, I was fascinated with the images that appeared in the tray...none of them were any good but the whole process had me hooked.

So I have always owned a camera and it came out on holidays and when my children were born, the usual. Then for my 50th birthday my hubby bought my first proper camera, it was a Sony a100 and I loved it, I had been introduced to digital a few years before that and owned Fuji point and shoot, but this was different. It really got my creative juices flowing.

I tried to find a camera club nearby but there wasn't any until GCC, so off I went and met the nicest bunch of people you could wish to meet. I guess I joined to make like minded friends and also to learn more about what this camera could do. My second visit to GCC was the competition night and the theme was Transport, and what do you know I won it! I was hooked!

Q2. What type of photography do you do most? What do you enjoy most and why?

Jenny: I like most genres of photography, nature, landscape, macro etc but what I most enjoy is making up picture stories using my many "props" some might call them toys! But they are definitely props. There is nothing quite as satisfying as getting up at an ungodly hour and to be out and about while most people are still tucked up in their beds, then seeing some of the amazing wildlife that has started their day. I tend to do more nature/landscape during the summer months, and then macro and table top during the long winter months.

Q3. Among all the images you have taken, do you have a favourite? Why?

Jenny: I have many favourites, but if I had to pick one it would be an image I got of a young Barn Owl, birds of prey are such beautiful birds and owls in particular are my favourite. I love the Barn Owl image as it was pure luck that I saw it sitting in the grass very early one morning. It was chosen by IPF/MS Ireland for their 2016 Calendar for The month of October.

Q4. How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

Jenny: I love to view images, and would spend a fair amount of time researching "how to" tutorials on the Internet, there is a wealth of information online, but there is nothing to compare to just getting out there and taking pictures, barely a day goes by when I don't pick up the camera, if not to take a picture then to discover what this button or switch does. Still a long way to go, I don't think you ever stop learning.

Q5. In the field, do you have a preferred shooting mode?

Jenny: The majority of the time it would be Aperture priority, or if shutter speed was crucial then Shutter priority, Nine times out of ten it would be Raw files. Auto focus and auto white balance. Manual mode for night shoots.

Q6. What kind of tools do you use for post processing?

Jenny: I have a Mac mini and a mediocre screen, I hope to be able to get a decent set up in the future, but at the moment I am ok with what I have. I use Lightroom for 95% of my post processing, still learning and a long way to go but I found it a lot easier than Photoshop, I would go to photoshop for layers and composites which I don't do a lot of at the moment. I have a Intuos tablet which is good, and I tend to use that all the time.

Q7. Whose work has influenced you most in recent times?

Jenny: I am ashamed to say that I don't know of many photographers by name, if I find something I like I would try to find more but my memory for names is appalling and I wouldn't remember them!

Q8. When you go away on holiday, what camera gear do you bring with you? Why?

Jenny: My Nikon D750 and Nikon 24-70 f2.8 it is all I need, unless I know it will be a wildlife type of holiday then I would bring my 300 f2.8 + teleconverters. Polariser and tripod.

Q9. Among the photography gadgets that you own, is there something that you wish you hadn't bought? Why?

Jenny: Oh yes, it was called a Gorilla Pod and it was the most useless thing I have ever bought. It is a disc with a tripod mount on it and the base is like "magic putty" and is supposed to stick to anything, and in reality it sticks to nothing!

Q10. Finally, What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

Jenny: Don't try to learn too much too soon, take time to properly know your camera so that it is instinctive and your fingers find the buttons and switches without thinking about it. And don't get precious about your images, there is always a better one to take tomorrow.

Our thanks to Jenny for her feedback and sharing with us.

If you would like to see more of Jenny's work please check out her Photostream over on Flickr Click hereto view her images and follow her work.