Mike Hawkridge ARPS, AFIAP

I joined SPC in 2017 when I moved to Sidmouth, having been a member of my previous local camera club in Gloucestershire for many years, and where I had been Chairman. Photography has been an interest of mine for as long as I can remember, but it was only after retirement in 2003 that I had plenty of time to devote to it.

My passion is architectural photography and the abstract shapes in the man-made and natural world, though I will photograph pretty much anything that takes my interest and I do like macro and night photography too, and landscape and street photography.  You can work out what I am less keen on! Printing is another aspect of photography that I really enjoy – so much easier now than back in the darkroom days. I get a lot of satisfaction from transforming the pixels on my monitor into a tangible crafted print, choosing the paper that suits the image and the mount to set it off. 

I have always had one or more photographic projects on the go and find that this has helped me to expand my interest and given me a channel for exploring the wider realms of photography beyond “club competitions”.  As part of this approach I have devoted time to gaining distinctions from the RPS; my “L” in 2015 and my “A” in 2016, both of which I found to be a very rewarding process. I then was awarded my AFIAP in 2017.

I have been Sony “mirrorless” for over thirteen years and a few years ago gave up my full frame kit to reduce the weight on my back!  I mainly use an APSC Sony A6700 and have an RX100 for those occasions where travelling very light is essential. My mobile phone is also getting a much bigger share of the action these days.

Belonging to a camera club is a constant source of inspiration and motivation to my photography and provides a great environment for socialising and outings with like-minded photographers.