Alex Henderson still leads the way in Thurso Camera Club’s weekly photo challenge series, with James Gunn and Neil Buchan close behind.

A different theme is chosen each time and the subject for week four was natural textures.

The top six were: 1 James Gunn, Tulip crown; 2 Alex Henderson, Have you ever seen the rain?; 3 Neil Buchan, Lichovid-19; 4 Jane Foster, All spruced up; 5 Grant Coghill, Stonewashed wool; 6 Neil Holden, Washpool tree.

Overall league standings after four rounds: 1 Alex Henderson, 34 points; 2 James Gunn, 28 points; 3 Neil Buchan, 26 points.

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The weekly challenge was introduced after the club’s outdoor summer field trips had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 crisis. Voting is carried out online and first place gains 10 points, down to one point for 10th.

Club chairman James Gunn explained: "The club's weekly challenge is a speeded-up version of the normal monthly competitions held over the autumn and winter. The members that participate are fully embracing the opportunity to keep their hobby going through these strange times and to use their imagination to produce eye-catching images.

"The voting by fellow members gives a competitive edge, but the main aim of the voting is to give direct feedback on the impact that their images have. This should help members to improve their technique and photographic eye for producing that elusive perfect image with a big wow factor.

"Once the Covid-19 crisis is over, I hope that the images, published online and in print, will encourage people to come along to the club's indoor sessions in the Pentland Hotel and outdoor summer field trips, so that they can learn to improve from fellow enthusiasts and attain their full artistic potential. Photography is mainly an art and not a science."

James added: "Going by the amount of photos on social media of a high standard, there are hundreds of budding photographers in the north with great potential. Fancy, expensive gear is not required as a good image can be produced using any camera, including mobile phones."

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