GAZETTE Camera Club member Shakiera Jennings is 24 and lives in Colchester.

She is a resin artist and a single mum to two-year-old son Aspen.

Why did you take up photography?

I've always loved nature and wanted to take the most amazing places I've visited with me. The photos I take allow me to do that.

Why do you love taking pictures?

I love taking photos because once that photo is captured it becomes a piece of history, an instant memory that you can look at over and over again.

Halstead Gazette: My son and I xx

Big smiles - Shakiera and two-year-old son Aspen

Where is your favourite place locally to take pictures? How about further afield?

Locally, I love Oliver's Wood and Gosbecks field. Further afield, I love Dorset and London.

What equipment do you use?

I use a Nikon P900.

What is your favourite picture you've ever taken?

My favourite photo is of a leaf that fell from a tree and landed so gently on the flow of a stream that it barely made a ripple.

Halstead Gazette: The leaf that fell into the stream.

Leaf it out - the photo mentioned of the leaf that fell into a stream

Why did you join our Camera Club?

I joined your club as I'd heard a lot about it. It's friendly and welcoming and also very encouraging.

If you could photograph anyone or any place in the world, who/what would it be?

I would love to visit New York and photograph the Statue of Liberty.

Halstead Gazette: Peeping fluff - takes at Castle Park boating Lake

Duckling - this picture was taken in Castle Park

Anything else you think we should know about you?

My son arrived because I met his father in the Gazette Camera Club back in 2017.

What advice would you give anyone who wants to get into photography?

Find your own style and love every shot you take, even if it's a bit blurred or out of focus. Just love it.

Fancy joining our photography club? Just search for Gazette Camera Club on Facebook. We regularly feature members’ pictures in our papers and websites and thought it would be good to find out a bit more about the people in the club. If you fancy being part of our Behind the Lens feature, just send us some details and pictures by heading HERE.

READ MORE: