THE future of photography in Ilkley and the surrounding area is assured if the standard of entries in Ilkley Camera Club’s Young Photographers Competition is anything to judge by.

The winning entries were announced at the Manor House Museum on Sunday as the club’s Creative Light Exhibition came to a close.

The winner of the first prize of a Panasonic Lumix digital bridge camera worth £250 was Miles Charlesworth with Yorkshire Skies.

Miles, who is a 15-year-old pupil at Ilkley Grammar School, placed his image near the Cow and Calf rocks and cleverly showed the apparent movement of the stars in the night sky by taking about 100 shots at a 30-second exposure then merging them to create his stunning image. Miles, who is a keen and regular photographer, said he had a particular interest in photographing skateboarding and wildlife subjects. The first prize was generously donated by Annings of Ilkley, the camera shop, and Paul Anning was on hand to present the award and commend the skill and imagination that went into the winning shot.

Erin Brown won the second prize of a large mounted print of an image chosen by her. This was donated by the photography chain Jessops. Erin, who is a 13-year-old student at Benton Park School, likes art and photography.

Her photograph, Walk in the Light, set a figure on Morecambe beach against the sun to create an atmospheric silhouette.

Gillian Duckett from Ilkley Camera Club, which organised the competition, said that Erin’s photo was taken on an iPhone, proving that great shots can be taken with relatively simple equipment if the camera is in the hands of an inventive photographer with a good eye.

Picking up third prize, a £20 voucher donated by Ilkley Camera Club, was 16-year-old Bella Forbes whose Light and a Lemon showed mastery of close-up work and an impressive use of light.

“I took the image in my blacked-out bedroom,” she said, “and used the torch on the back of an iPod to throw light creatively onto the lemon.”

Bella shot the image as part of a food photography project at Ilkley Grammar School.

Sandra Burras, from Ilkley Camera Club, said: “The club is delighted that our competition attracted so much interest.

“We had 71 images submitted from 29 different young photographers.

“The standard was very high and it was wonderful to see how the entrants responded whole-heartedly to our theme of Creative Light.

“It was great to see that many of the entrants are studying photography at school.

“We hope their experience with the competition will encourage them to build on their photography skills and that they eventually become professionals or gifted enthusiasts very much like our own club members.”

Club vice president, Peter Farmer, said: “We’ve been bowled over by quality and imagination shown in the images.

“The theme was Creative Light and the youngsters have responded really well to this.

“Not only have they gone outside and captured some wonderful effects from sunlight, but they have also been inventive with artificial light.