Twenty-four photographers (around half the members) from the IWDIG turned up for the Quarr Abbey photoshoot kindly arranged by Lorraine Skipper on Saturday the 30th January.  The group were met, in the car park, by a one-eyed ginger cat named Cruikshank who led them to the assembly point at the Abbey’s Bookshop.

Divine intervention or luck who knows but the light was perfect or according to Cruikshank purrfect!

The tour started with a very informative talk from Father Luke about the lifestyle of the monks and a brief history of the buildings backed-up of course by Cruikshank and a little Robin who had just decided to join the tour.

We are very grateful that our photographers were allowed to snap away to their hearts content throughout the visit and we are very much looking forward to seeing the results.

Although we had hoped for greater access to the Abbey we still had plenty of opportunity to take photographs of the Chapel, the Church and the grounds not to forget Cruikshank, the Robin and a Red Squirrel that had now joined our party. 

Thanks to Father Luke, the cat, the robin, the squirrel and  the photographers for turning up and making this shoot so successful, we look forward to seeing your images and to our next photographic outing. A very Special thanks to Father Luke for allowing us access to the Abbey.

“Abbey” photograph above copyright IWDIG – “Statue & Robin” copyright Lorraine Skipper (all rights reserved).

We guess that the novelty of heavy snowfalls is beginning to wear a little thin for most of you by now. Still a prisoner in your home, suffering from cabin fever and running out of snow photographs? So we thought now would be a good time to set the first Extreme macro competition for 2010.

As before IWDIG members may have as many guesses as they like, emailed in please. The competition winner to be announced at the 27th January meeting. Thanks again to David for the photographs and Island Photo Centre for the Gift Voucher prizes.

We have been trying unsuccessfully since 6 a.m. this morning to book a sleigh for this evening to collect you all for Dimbola. Unfortunately, all forms of snow transport have already been booked and so we have no alternative but to cancel this evening’s meeting due to lack of sleighs and the adverse weather conditions.

On the brighter side this does give you the opportunity to shoot some wonderful winter scenics which we thought might be nice to look at next week along with your Christmas task shots – email in if possible please!

We hope you are all safe and warm and not stranded! Take care, we look forward to seeing you all next week…