The galleries on this site inspired me to join the club at the end of 2006, and I put up this portfolio in October 2007. If you are looking at this, wondering whether to join Southampton (or any other camera club), I'd urge you to do so. I have learned so much from seeing the work of other members and visiting speakers, talking to members, and from the constructive comments of judges assessing my images and those of others.

My first SLR, many years ago, was a Russian Zenit E, which I soon changed to an Olympus OM1 and later an OM4. I stayed with Olympus when I first went digital, originally with the e300 in 2006, and I now use an e510. I enjoy the immediacy of digital photography, and the control it gives me over the production of the finished picture. I also enjoy using the power of the technology in a modern camera and the ease with which it deals with so many of the technical aspects.

I take photographs purely for fun. But the club competitions and my web gallery give me more of a purpose than I might otherwise have.

I now have an on-line gallery - http://www.pbase.com/niekirk