A picture is worth a thousand words.
That was the basis behind the latest Leader Camera Club photo challenge.
Given the theme of 'storytime', members shared photos that had their own story.
Some are powerful and personal, others capture memorable and special moments.
Each of the these images tell their own tale, emotional, whimsical or fun.
• Rachael Upton: This is a very special poem I wrote when I managed to ring this extremely important special silver bell.
The bell you ring after having your cancer treatment.
It’s not a story but it’s a very special poem, I love writing poems and taking photos.
Silver bell poem written November 2020 by Rachael Upton
I’ve been looking at you
for so long over there.
I’ve got a great view
from my chemo chair.
I’ve been wanting to ring you for many months now.
I really didn’t know
when, if or how.
You are shiny
and gleaming
and looking at me.
Many more people
have rang you with glee.
It was my turn today
to do you proud.
So I rang you
again and again
so very loud.
Couldn’t have done it without my family
being strong and supportive
and standing by me.
Lots of my friends have done it already
their lives back to normal
everything steady.
That silver bell on the wall today was mine
to ring hip hip hooray
• Sue Hutchings: It was July 2012 and my parents, son and I were walking around Victoria Park, one of the big Olympic parks that had been set up around London with giant viewing screens of the events for people without tickets. Boris was there too, to thank all the Olympic volunteers. He also decided to try out one of the attractions. I just happened to be standing right underneath the zip wire when this very famous moment happened! Luckily I got the picture.
• Michael Stenson: The Royal Welsh Show, 2012. With summer temperatures in the mid 80s the handler of this beautiful 'Lady' paused directly in front of me to gently place his hat between her ears to afford her a modicum of shade. But that is merely the start of my true story!
I commissioned a watercolour of her head and rosette trophy by an artist I had encountered in an exhibition held in a small chapel, directly alongside the internationally famous York Minster Abbey, with that original currently hanging in my home near Wrexham.
Shortly after receiving my watercolour the National Press announced that the Queen had purchased a new bull for Balmoral Castle and, appreciating that all newcomers can feel a tad lonely on such occasions, I had framed a very limited print of my watercolour and posted same for the attention of the senior herdsman at Balmoral Castle to keep their new bull company on his 'quiet' days!
And the title I gave to my watercolour? ‘Shady Lady’ of course!
• Simon Dean: I went up Snowdon with one plan, photographing the sunrise and hopefully catch the cloud inversion at the same time. What I didn’t plan on was photographing a wedding!
While getting ready, I noticed Toby and Niki getting changed and taking their wedding clothes out of a bag. I then spotted another photographer and realised they were starting their wedding day right there on the summit.
I thought, well, it would be rude not to ask! So I approached them and asked if they’d mind me taking a few photos too. Thankfully, they were more than happy.
And what a moment it turned out to be, Toby and Niki, above the clouds, with the sunrise lighting everything in gold.
I showed them the photos afterwards and they were absolutely thrilled, and so was I.
I’d gone up hoping to photograph a sunrise and a cloud inversion, and somehow came away with a wedding story as well.
Three amazing things in one morning, and absolutely none of it was planned. I came home with a wedding story I never expected to be part of.
Sometimes the best photographs are the ones you never planned to take.
• Focus Pocus by Laura: This is Pip, a very curious and friendly robin who lives in my garden.
As I began tidying up the garden this spring, I noticed he would land nearby, looking where I had disturbed the ground, for food. He didn’t seem to bothered by my presence, but would fly away as soon as I moved any closer. I wanted to gain his trust and see if I could get him feed from my hand. This took a several weeks of me staying still with his favourite snack (mealworms!!) crawling along my hand, but my patience paid off and it worked!
Since that moment on, I have fed him multiple times, each and every day, and we always have a little chat! I watched him help raise three broods alongside his partner (the very shy Squeak) and he’s had his fair share of drama - he’s recently only just grown back his tail feathers after losing them in battle and there was also the time he let himself inside my kitchen via the open window in search of more snacks!
He has become a muse of sorts to me, often featuring in my photography and he’s taught me a huge amount about robins just by observation. This is one of my favourite images I have taken of Pip from a series I did using my remote shutter release.
• Dawn Moore: 10 weeks and 4 days post total left knee replacement and my first proper walk with only two trekking poles. Pre-op would have been a wheeled walker and not at this spot, as way too steep. This was a new find about 10 minutes from home, that I never knew existed. At the 'Top of the World' you can see Lincoln Cathedral on a clear day. Poulter Country Park, Langwith.
The Leader Camera Club is a friendly and welcoming group, made up of more than 1,800 amateur and professional photographers.
Members share images daily on all manner of topics, and take part in regular themed photo challenges.
Recent topics have included steps, horizons and silhouettes.
To see more from this challenge or to join, visit the Leader Camera Club Facebook page.
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