Club Leader – Malcolm Yates

As Club Leader, I bring over forty years of passion and experience as a keen amateur photographer. My photographic journey began in the early 1980s with a Minolta XGM 35mm SLR, capturing black and white images across a wide variety of subjects. Over time, my interests developed further, leading me into the world of colour slide film.

In more recent years, I have become particularly drawn to landscape photography. Like many enthusiasts, I can often be found exploring the countryside in search of striking scenes and atmospheric moments. I quickly learned that creating impactful landscape images is far more challenging than it initially appears, and it is an area in which I continue to grow. Through practice, patience, and ongoing learning, I aim to keep refining my skills.

I have been fortunate to attend several short photography courses, each of which has inspired me to experiment with new approaches and expand my creative boundaries. One area I hope to explore further is urban photography—particularly at night or during twilight—where low light and artificial illumination offer dramatic and expressive possibilities.

Artistic creativity has always been important to me, and photography provides a rewarding outlet for that expression. The transition from film to digital in the early 2000s was a turning point; the flexibility and reduced costs of digital photography encouraged me to pursue the craft more seriously from 2002 onward.

While my abilities may not yet rival those of some of our club’s highly skilled photographers, I take photographs simply for the enjoyment of the process. Photography can be equally frustrating and fulfilling—but it is the continual learning, experimentation, and shared enthusiasm within our club that make the journey so rewarding.