Residents snap up new skills with photography club

ANDY Warhol was the latest inspiration for a photography club launched at a Saltburn-by-the-Sea care home.

Residents at Hazelgrove Court Care Home, on Randolph Street, have been learning how to handle digital cameras and snapping away at a wide variety of subjects.

The latest meeting of the club saw them using applications on their smartphone and tablet cameras to create bright and colourful photos of flowers in homage to American artist Andy Warhol.

In another session, residents got creative with light, by snapping an egg balanced on a fork over a mirror – which ended in laughter after the egg dropped and cracked.

Resident Joyce Baxtrum, 89, said: “We should have hard boiled the eggs.”

The idea for the photography club came from resident Donald Ingledew, 87, who is a keen photographer and asked if he could introduce his fellow residents to his lifelong passion.

He said: “It has brought back memories of being in my old photography club. I’m looking forward to taking photos on outings when things get back to normal.”

Other members of the club, which has been named the Viewfinders Photography Club, include Jean Caley, 76, Joyce Tibbett, 86, Carol Coppinger, 88, and Dot Paling, 74.

Jean, who is nursed in bed, was still able to participate with support setting up her shot before she took the photo. She said: “I didn’t think I would be very good at this. I’ve surprised myself and I’m really pleased with the pictures I’ve taken.”

Joyce said: “The things you get me to do. I’ve never had so much fun taking photos.”

Sharon Lewis, activities coordinator at Hazelgrove Court Care Home, has been leading the photography sessions, having taken a free webinar course with NAPA (the National Association for Providers of Activities for older people).

She said: “The webinar was delivered by a Canadian photographer called Nicola. She gave us the ideas for six different sessions, each with its own theme. They include plants and flowers, all things green, camera special effects, and using three different photography apps on our digital cameras.

“It was wonderful to see how the residents have evolved in the picture taking. They now look at backgrounds, composition, and reflections. Our next session will be on creating 3-D photographs and residents are planning a Christmas photo shoot.

“We are planning on creating calendars from the photos we’ve been taking to sell to raise money for the residents’ fund, which helps towards activities and outings.

“We have also created a gallery of the residents’ great photos. When we’re able to accept visitors again we will hold a grand opening of the exhibition.

“You’re never too old to learn new skills and, despite national lockdown restrictions, we’ve been putting the extra time we’ve had this year to good use doing something new.”