MEMBERS of Holmfirth Camera Club have mounted a splendid exhibition at the North Light Gallery, Armitage Bridge.

Both landscapes and portraits show a high degree of observation and technical skills, whether we are looking at some picturesque images of the countryside around Huddersfield, or at scenes in more distant places.

In Steve Savage’s Young Monk and Angkor, Cambodia, the red robes of the monk contrast delightfully with the dark background of the buildings, while black and white treatment admirably suits the Lesser Yangtse Gorges – assessing the Rapids, by Gill Newbould.

Julie Jessop’s natural images are outstanding, whether she’s picturing the Green Black Poison Dart Frog or the Crested Crane.

Ian Gold captures the Winter Wonderland of the snowbound Digley Wood. Melvyn Gibson has a highly atmospheric shot of Sunrise, Holme Village, and found some colours for his Sunset at Port Erin.

Valerie Hirst’s Andalusian Bell Tower has nice shades and the feel of a painting, and there’s delicious morning light in Peter Bartlett’s landscape of Marsden Clough and evening light in Marsden Chimneys.

The exhibition concludes this weekend, but Saturday and Sunday are “digital drop-in days,” when club officers and members will be on hand to help visitors learn how to get the best use from their digital camera.

Colne Valley Art Society has only a few members, but they can produce some good work, as their annual exhibition at Colne Valley Museum, Golcar, clearly shows.

Veteran artist Ron Ellis is again working successfully in unnatural colours in his watercolours of Weavers Cottages and Four Churches, and Ron himself features in a characterful and realistic portrait by Christine Pearcy.

John Thornton’s Body Language (oil) with figures in a boating scene, is a nicely conceived piece of work, and he has some well-handled reflections in Canal at Golcar (pen and watercolour).

Doug Holt shows nice treatment if buildings and boats in his watercolour of Tunnel End, Marsden, while Phillip Horn displays fine lighting in his acrylic, Slate Cavern, Cumbria.

Joan Wadsworth has executed an exotic scene with elephants in On Safari (water-colour) and Jean Coulthead contributed a fearsome Tiger (pastel pencil).

Christine Pearcy’s Girl on an Italian Lake (acrylic) is a strong piece of portraiture in a scenic setting, while Allen Horne’s, Moorland Scene (watercolour) has excellent treatment of hills and water.

A splashy watercolour, Autumn on the River Holme, works well in the hands of John Lawton. John Mitchell demonstrates good attention to detail in his watercolour, South Crosland – Castle Hill.

Christine Pearcy’s On a Bouncy Castle (oil) is a lively portrait, while John Lawton takes us back to the past with his pastel of The Old Packhorse Yard, with monochrome treatment working well.

The exhibition runs until May 31.