Annual Exhibition

Friday 9th and Saturday 10th June (10am to 4pm)

Please come along to visit our free annual exhibition at The Methodist Church, Newport Pagnell, you can see all of the images produced for internal competitions projected to Jean-Michel Jarre's "Equinoxe" album, as well as over 80 mounted prints that you can choose a favourite from. There's also a section dedicated to our recent win at the Photography News "Camera Club of the Year" competition

There will be people on hand to show you around and discuss our favourite hobby! 

Venue : The Methodist Church, High Street, Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes MK16 8AQ

Doors open at 10am and close at 4pm on both days

Thursday 1st June : Caldecotte Lake walk and shoot

This Thursday, we are going for a walk around Caldecotte Lake in the south of Milton Keynes.
Meet at the Caldecotte Arms car park, Bletcham Way, Caldecotte, Milton Keynes MK7 8HP at 7:30pm.
Quick Link http://goo.gl/9UiDmq

Sunset is at 21:13 and sets in a north-westerly direction

 

North Lake

Approx 1.4 miles around the north lake. Use the map below to find interesting spots for photographs

  • A – Jetty. You may be able to use this to get a nice lead in line to the lake itself. Ry from either side of the jetty, perhaps with a long exposure
  • B – A bird platform, you’ll need a telephoto lens though!
  • C – A weir type thing. Water cascades down into the Ouzel river here. You can see it wind along towards Simpson from the bridge here.
  • D – More concrete, but it offers quite nice views across the lake to the south.
  • E – A higher vantage point over the lake. Use the Windmill as a focal point
  • F – Another clear spot offering views over the lake to the west
  • G – This area is often quieter and more sheltered. Here you’ll find ducks.
  • H – A nice little area here, tall reeds with views towards the west of the windmill
  • I – Another sheltered area with wildfowl and reeds with some steps down to the lake
  • J – A nice little bridge over the water. Ducks and swans are often seen here.
  • K – A nice spot for a sunset shot over the water looking west towards the windmill
  • L – Another little bridge with reeds all around
  • M – A great spot for sunset and it will set directly behind the windmill pub

What to bring

The most important thing is to bring yourself with whatever camera you have. Even a smartphone can capture some lovely images. But, if you have them…

  1. Insect life – You’ll probably want to bring macro lens. There should be plenty to see in this respect.
  2. Birdlife – Bring a telephoto lens if you have one, although there are quite a few goslings and small cygnet around at the moment. Careful though, mum and dad usually aren’t too happy about you getting close.
  3. Landscape – A wider lens would be most suited, something under 35mm full frame equivalent. A tripod would be advisable too if you have one. Also, filters to darken a brighter sky
  4. Portraiture – Why not bring along a few family members for some lovely sunset shots? A flash unit for some fill flash and a portraiture lens (between 50 and 200mm should be lovely)

Interesting facts
The place name is fairly common in England, and is Old English meaning "cold cottage". This refers to a resting place for travellers or other strangers on the road. The original Northampton to London road (modern Brickhill Street) runs nearby, just short of its junction with Watling Street (itself a major route in continuous use since Roman times). The village declined when the Northampton road was rerouted in 1728 through Broughton and Woburn to join the Watling Street at Hockliffe.

Did you know that the lake is famous for the huge skeleton of an Ichthyosaur discovered during the lake’s excavation? Thought to be 150 million years old, the fossilised dinosaur can now be seen at Milton Keynes Central Library.