Royston Photographic Society are delighted to present a series of photographer profiles to feature in The Listing.
Our aim is to provide readers with a flavour of the pictures produced by members and provide inspiration to local photographers. The first member into the spotlight is Bob Coote. Bob has been a member at Royston for 20 years, ever since his brother in law encouraged him to join a camera club after he bought his first camera. Bob says he expected existing members would have expensive cameras and that he wouldn’t fit in. It turned out that members had a wide range of cameras, they were a social group of photographers and Bob very much fitted in. Nothing has changed on that front.
Bob’s photos are distinctive for the action and impact he looks to capture. This is typified in his attached pictures of rugby at Cambridge along with grass track racing from East Anglia. His first love, and the subject which brought him into photography, is wildlife. Bob will photograph the wildlife around his home, out on the coast, as well as taking holidays with friends as far afield as Finland and Yellowstone. Although Bob’s pictures of Gannets at Bempton Cliffs, or Buffalo in Yellowstone are eye catching, his favourite picture, of a Robber Fly devouring prey, was taken on his patio. This picture, attached, was captured in the past couple of years and brought Bob a Gold Medal from a Photographic Association of Great Britain event. This is one of club photography’s highest accolades and something Bob has coveted in recent years as his photography has developed. The award was a great bonus but the real cause of Bob’s pride in the picture is the incredible detail shown on the flies which a viewer would not normally see.
As Bob reflects on his 20 years with Royston Photographic Society, he credits the generosity of members who share information and techniques as instrumental in his own development and sees that early support as having powered him to the eventual gold medal. In turn, Bob is now seen as one of the mentors in the club, freely sharing the secrets of his own success and enjoying social occasions, as well as club photography.
We hope that Bob’s pictures provide enjoyment to readers. If any readers would like to follow in Bob’s footsteps, and sample camera club life, please contact andrewgillborn@gmail.com to arrange a visit to a forthcoming royston photographic society event – roystonphotographicsociety.co.uk | FB
