A camera club has teamed up with St Leonard’s Hospice to produce the charity’s 2012 Calendar. MATT CLARK was given a sneak preview.

ROGER POYSER is never happier than when he’s out and about with his trusty camera, so when the chance came to shoot images for the new St Leonard’s Hospice calendar, he didn’t need asking twice.

Roger is club president of York Camera Club (YCC) and over the past few months, he and his members have been out and about producing photos of locations in and around the York, Pocklington, Tadcaster and Selby areas for use in the calendar, which helps to raise funds for the hospice.

“The club was delighted to be asked to contribute to such a worthwhile cause,” says Roger. “The brief to photograph locations closer to home for the new calendar provided fresh impetus to really look at our surroundings and try to capture the beauty and history that is on our doorstep.”

A good example is April’s picture of Burnby Hall Gardens in Pocklington. Always a spectacular place to visit, this photo shows the importance of choosing the correct light. At midday, the sun is too bright and casts harsh unflattering shadows. Getting up early, or waiting for softer afternoon light always pays dividends. And the result here is picture perfect.

Trying to shoot a picture of York Minster is always tricky. It is so well known, so iconic, that finding an unusual shot is well nigh impossible.

Unless of course, you know someone with a plane. The calendar’s cover image is a spectacular study which shows the minster in all its majesty.

Then there is the striking picture of the West Door with Emperor Constantine in the foreground for taken on an ultra wide-angled lens. The distorted perspectives such lenses afford add a great sense of drama as the lofty towers appear to lean into the hasty, scudding clouds.

“There was such enthusiasm for the project,” says competitions secretary Trevor Richardson. “We short-listed more than 50 images from more than a dozen members and St Leonard’s Hospice and the club are very pleased with the calendar.”

In fact, the hospice is so pleased it has asked the club to produce another set for the 2013 Calendar.

So if you see Roger and Trevor out and about with their trusty cameras slung around their necks, you’ll know why.

• The 2012 calendar will be formally launched later this month and can be bought at St Leonard’s Hospice shops and the hospice reception. It can also be ordered via the website stleonardshospice.org.uk

• York Camera Club formed in 1952 and is affiliated to the Yorkshire Photographic Union. It organises local photographic trips, as well as outings to Europe and over the years has established a reputation for producing a high standard of colour and monochrome images in digital and 35mm format.

Its new season began this week and there will be a programme of photographic talks, as well as monthly in-house competitions and days out around the county.

The club meets every Thursday at 7.30pm in St Lawrence’s Church Hall, Lawrence Street in York and anyone with an interest in photography, is welcome, regardless of experience.