Ilkley Camera Club Friday 5 September 2025. Alex Hare “The A to Z of Landscape Photography”
On Friday 5th September, Ilkley Camera Club kicked off the new season with a Zoom talk called “The A to Z of Landscape Photography” with Alex Hare.
Alex is a well-known landscape and commercial photographer from Kent. Before going full-time with photography, he spent time in the Royal Marines and even worked as a solicitor – quite a career change!
His talk covered all sorts of tips and techniques to make landscape photos stand out – things like using filters, colour theory, lighting, long exposures and composition. When he spoke about composition, he mentioned what he calls “JCBs” – short for “Joe Cornish Boulders.” This is a trick made popular by photographer Joe Cornish, where strong foreground elements (like big rocks) are used to add real depth to a shot.
He also had some really practical advice – for example, if you’re out photographing in the rain, just carry a cheap shower cap to cover your camera. Simple but clever!
When it comes to judging photos, Alex said he looks for originality and creativity. Too often, photographers copy each other by going to the same famous spots. Instead, he encourages people to really connect with the landscape, look for fresh viewpoints, and show the world in a way that feels unique.
Alongside his own photography, Alex runs workshops, photo holidays, creates video training and e-books, and regularly works with the Royal Photographic Society as both a speaker and judge.
If you’d like to find out more about him or his work, you can visit his website: alexharephotography.com.
Ilkley Camera Club is currently meeting on Friday evenings at 7.30pm. Some meetings are held at St Peter’s Church Hall in Addingham and others on Zoom. For more information visit the Club website at ilkleycameraclub.co.uk or their Facebook page, facebook.com/ilkleycameraclub. Visitors and new members are welcome.