I became interested in photography in the late 60′s and the hobby took over my life when I became a darkroom technician for the County Council and later an Assistant Photographer at the National Museum. I joined Beddau Camera Club in 1980, have held almost every committee position since and was one of the instigators of the name change to Gwynfa. My own photography developed both as an amateur and professional when I gained my FRPS in 1987 in the applied category and achieved an MA in Documentary Photography in 2001. In 2006 I jointly published ‘Moods of Kilvert Country’ (Landscapes in Radnorshire) with Nick Jenkins. I get motivated by moments in time and by looking at the inspirational work of many of my fellow workers at club level but also by the many great figures from the history of photography.

I was first introduced to the world of photography by one of my Dad’s friends who took me birdwatching. He owned a Zenith E camera with a telephoto lens. This sparked my interest and at about the age of 13 I became the proud owner of a Zenith EM camera. 2001 saw me purchase my EOS 3 which I still use today (yes that involves film). My passion is wildlife and I became serious about my photography and wanted to improve. As such I joined Gwynfa and started to take part in competition. I have not looked back since, the people at the club are warm and friendly and give help and encouragement freely. My photography has improved but more than that I have made some great friends.

I started photography with a Kodak Brownie 44B at 15. Not long ago then! Printed my own pictures in school and from then I was hooked. Got serious with my first SLR in 1983, a Minolta X700. I tried all kinds of film initially, but settled on Kodachrome and latterly, Velvia 50 in the end. In 1999 I bought a Mamiya RZ 67 Pro ll, on the basis, better camera, better photographer. Right and wrong in that order! I now use a Canon 5D (fantastic piece of kit!), but I still love the Mamiya. Wide range of interest, some commercial work too. Gwynfa club nights are an inspiration when the imagination is flagging or I need to learn something new.

This Biog by ‘The Mole’.

RobBob Beynon (or Robbey Bobbey Non) is one of the hardest working members of the Gwynfa team and his prowess at securing raffle prizes is only surpassed by that of his other half, Lynda, who sells the tickets.

Robbey Bobbey Non likes to photograph small teensy tiny bugs and big blokes with very large forearms, tattoos and beards. His next project is rumoured to be teensy tiny bugs with tattoos and beards. He once scored two maximum scores of 15 in the National DPI Championships at Warwick, one of which was for a photo of bonking bugs.

RobBob was Gwynfa photographer of the year in 2012 and gained hi AWPF in 2014.

My interest in photography started at a very young age and at 11 years old I had my very first camera bought for me, a Kodak instamatic with 110 format and Magicube technology too! Years later I left school and started work in a professional photographic lab that developed and processed commercial and school photographs. A year later I bought my very first 35mm SLR, an Olympus OM10. My main passion really is photographing the landscape and everything in it. Since joining Gwynfa in 2010 my photography has come on in leaps and bounds. The encouragement and support from other members, who have now become true friends, has helped immensely giving me the courage to move forward, so much so that I have now created my own website and published a book! I now use a Canon 5D Mk11 with various lenses.

Biog by ‘the Mole’.

Neil is a relative newcomer to the Gwynfa Committee but was volunteered for the job of Internal Competition Secretary when he wasn’t paying attention. Neil has spend the last 3 months learning how to drive the Gwynfa competition scoring system and can be often seen sitting in a corner muttering ‘I hate Excel, I hate Excel’.

I’ve been interested in photography for as long as I can remember (and rubbish at it for most of that time). I’ll have a go at photographing anything but landscapes are my passion. In recent years I’ve been lucky enough to visit Iceland on several occasions and have fallen in love with that mad, cold, hot, bonkers, beautiful, ugly island! I use a full frame DSLR and one of four lenses (one of which is white). Away from photography my interests include Rugby Union, Formula One, Jaguars, take away deliveries and really bad disaster movies.

I really enjoy devoting my spare time to Gwynfa Camera Club and the friends I have made over the years are my reward. (Stop sobbing!) It is my goal in life to make committee meetings last as long as possible and to find paper cups at the lowest possible price.

I’ve been interested in photography for a long, long time I would say about ten years from the time I hatched.

My first camera was zorki 35mm, a Birthday present, quite a solid little thing, the first SLR camera   was a zenith E.  I was lucky enough to get a Saturday job in the local chemist Where my sister worked, cleaning up the dark room after the chemist had worked his magic,that’s me not my sister, from time to time he would throw one or two of my films into the pot, and develop them for me, he taught me how to make a contact sheet and from time to time would permit me to use the enlarger under supervision, I guess that’s where this hobby of mine started. I know where it started, don’t know where it will end, my faith tells me there’s a life after death so watch this space, is there something beyond digital?

My interest in photography started in 2002 just as a hobby and I joined the Gwynfa Camera Club in 2010 to meet other photographers, learn how to take better photographs and socialise.

I’m currently using a Nikon D90, but also have a Nikon D70, Canon G9, Samsung NV3 and 2 Fuji 6800z cameras which I use to experiment with 3D Photography.

I also have a Nikon F60 film camera which I used for Photomarathon before they went digital.

Note from the Mole: John also has the coolest photograph here. My name is Winney, Jonathan Winney….

Despite being asked 183 times in the last few years, Jeff has yet to come up with a bio for this space. We have therefore asked our friend and colleague ‘the Mole’ to write it for him. It will remain here until he writes his own.

All round nice guy, Jeff became interested in photography in 1972 on a trip to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (a Chinese takeaway in Gawsi). He likes to live life on the edge by using neither Canon nor Nikon gear. He is often heard to utter “what’s wrong with Halina anyway?” Jeff is particularly well known for ‘hand tinting’ dark room prints. Indeed, since he turned over to the dark side (digital), the price of coffee as a commodity has plummeted. His permanent exhibition in the back room of the New Inn is a triumph of imagery and regulalry attracts comment.

Jeff played first class rugby for a bit but he won’t talk about it much. (Rumour has it he was fly half for Pontypandy!) He now coaches Llantrisant under-65s who finished runners up in the league last season despite losing 183-0 to Holyhead.

If you didn’t already know, you can rent Jeff’s equipment for a very reasonable fee. Oh, he’s got an AWPF too… And a nice cap. And a lovely smile.

Gwynfa’s Archivist is the committee member who can still remember how to load a film into a camera – but can’t remember where he put the camera.  He moves a lot of boxes –  inhales a lot of dust -  and stores the records that he must.

Having been in the RAF, I was able due to my job to go to quite a lot of the UK air shows in the 70′s.  Once the recruitment stand was set and ready to go, I had the rest of the day to myself.  After an Instamatic, I like a lot of other people bought a Zenith camera (can’t remember what model).  From there the seed was planted and I have been into photography ever since. It wasn’t until I moved form London back here to Wales that I got more deeply into photography, joining Gwynfa and getting my AWPF and FDPS.  I have always used Nikon camera gear since way back (is there any other make)? Macro and Motorsport being my favorite subjects.

Photography has been a passion ever since I bought my first camera in 1972. I was immediately captivated both by the images I could create and by the technology now at my disposal. Photography has been at the heart of a life’s adventure. It’s been used to capture family memories, holidays, expeditions and has been the driving force behind many diverging interests and experimentation.

I’ve thoroughly embraced the digital photo revolution and see it as a really positive evolution of the discipline. Certainly it’s allowed my photography to improve and has opened up incredible opportunities for digital presentation, printing and publishing, andfor doing work that would previously have required an army of specialist to carry out.

Throughout my nomadic RAF career (now retired), I’ve been an active member of many camera clubs, and seen them as a hub of knowledge, inspiration, motivation and friendship. The digital revolution has also inspired a whole new generation of people to take up photography and join our camera club culture.

I can’t think of a more exciting time to enjoy this fascinating hobby.

This Biog by ‘The Mole’.

Ennis is one of the longest serving members of Gwynfa Camera Club but a fairly recent addition to the committee. Known for her tact and diplomacy, Ennis is always very quiet and attentive and particularly enjoys praising visiting judges and speakers.

She find Gwynfa a welcome distraction from her demanding, stressful and frankly very messy day job, in which she brings budding new photographers into the world, slapping their bum, cutting a cord and handing them a Canon SLR (just to make sure they don’t go for Nikon).

Ennis is also into cars and has owned many interesting vehicles including a Jaguar XJS and a Mazda MX5. She hotly denies that she has crashed any of them on an icy road!