MANY people have enjoyed photographing wildlife during more than a year of limited freedoms – and Knutsford Photographic Society (KPS) members have showcased their best efforts.

A spokesperson for the group said: "Countryside walks have yielded an abundance of natural flowers, and even more opportunities to photograph wildlife in its natural surroundings.

"KPS members have embraced the challenge of photographing nature at its very best and for their final Zoom meeting of the season they hosted a competition depicting the natural world.

"The judge for the evening was award winning wildlife and landscape photographer Ben Hall.

"Back in May, Ben inspired club members with a fantastic talk entitled 'Moments in Nature' and as a result was invited back to comment and appraise the KPS competition entries.

"Overall, members contributed some forty images, all carefully selected to portray the natural world at its best.

"Ben had a clear definition of the genre and was keen to see images that captured the character of the subject in their natural surroundings.

"With a very strong field of images to choose from Ben made fourteen commendations outside of the top five.

"The overall winner on the evening was Nigel Wells (Red Spot Frog in Rain)."

Other placings included:

  • Second, Gordon Spruce (Barn Owl Flight)
  • Third, Nigel Wells (Trio of Puffins)
  • Fourth, Wayne Clake (Tempting, Red Deer, Cervus Elaphus)
  • Fifth, Bill McCaig (Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus Leucocephalus)

And there was more good news to follow.

Karl Creaser, club president, announced that photographer Bill McCaig had just been awarded his LRPS (Licentiateship of the Royal Photographic Society).

Bill, a photographer renowned for his love of motorsport and nature photography, has contributed massively to KPS for the past several years and is described as a 'great asset'.

KPS hope to be back at its Adams Hill meeting room on September 7, where all new members will be welcome.

Further updates and information about the club can be found at knutsfordps.org.uk.