What happens when you combine three very talented photographers, two of them professionals, in one exhibition? The answer lies in the title of their show: ‘Three Points of View', which opens to the public on Saturday.

The concept arose out of a discussion between Lenore Leitch and Amanda Temple over the merits of digital photography. Professional Amanda Temple is a devotee of the 35mm camera, while amateur Lenore Leitch is strictly a digital fan.

So they decided to have a small competition between friends, and invited Charles Anderson, another professional, to join them because he favours a larger (medium) format camera.

“We thought it would be fun to put together a show that would compare and contrast the aspects of each format, and also showcase the different techniques that each of us uses,” Miss Leitch says.

The outcome will doubtless make fascinating viewing.

The photographers agreed on a central modus operandi: Each would separately interpret three categories: architecture, flowers and reflections, plus taking a portrait of a live model, 12-year-old ballet student Courtney Lopes, as their “control”.

There would be no consultation between the photographers, each of whom was free to interpret the categories as they wished, and none would see the other's work until the day they met to hang the show in the Edinburgh Gallery. Each photographer would exhibit seven pieces in total, two from each of the categories, plus one of Miss Lopes.

With their missions now accomplished, the trio are very much looking forward to the opening.

“This will be an interesting show, not only from the aspect of the three different formats, but our styles are also very different from each other,” Miss Leitch promises. “(On a personal level) it is exciting because Charlie and Amanda are two experienced, professional photographers whose work I admire very much.”

Explaining why she is such a digital photography fan, the former devotee of single lens reflex (SLR) cameras says “the benefits are endless”, and include instant feedback; being able to hone and refine her technical skills as a result; control over processing; and the negligible time between taking the photograph and having a print in the hand.

Miss Leitch also likes being able to subtly manipulate a photograph with endless filers and effects to give them a one-of-a-kind, artistic or painterly look.

“More than anything, digital photography has given me a new, creative way of seeing, and helps keep me excited about the visual world around me,” she says. “The long process of shooting with film, having it developed, and then being happy with maybe two out of 24 shots can't compare to the ability to shoot 200 photographs in very short order and end up with 75-100 perfect pictures, all without the expense of photo processing.”

Miss Leitch admits, however, that there is one drawback to digital photography: she now spends many hours sifting through, cropping and colour correcting her work as opposed to dropping film off at the developer's. “However, I love every creative minute of that process. I want to be able to control the photograph (from start to finish,” she says. “It is the emotion elicited by that final photograph that makes or breaks it. If you can produce an image that the viewer relates to, if it makes them smile, or gasp, or cry, or even look away in disgust, then as a photographer your job is done.”

Amanda Temple, on the other hand, says that although she has experimented with digital photography for sports and magazine assignments, she is not ready to make a total transition.

“For my flowers and water, I don't think the quality is there just yet,” she says. “Also, part of what I love about photography is not knowing what the final images will look like. It's a game. I shoot what I see, yet often when I get them back they are something else entirely.”

Miss Temple's eye is attracted to “the incredible shapes and colours” around her.

“When I look at the world, I don't see the bigger picture, I see details. I see one tiny pebble on the beach. I don't see the landscape, I just see the forgotten flower or ripple in the bottom corner that I focus on and bring to everyone else's attention.”

She has followed these principles in shooting the architecture segment of her ‘Three Points of View' assignments.

“I have not really photographed much architecture in the past,” she admits. “I don't really see whole buildings or scenes, but the tiny bits of them that catch my eye - the texture in the stone, or the curve of a window.”

Miss Temple also found ‘Reflections' a challenge until she returned to her passion: flowers, shooting one roll in colour and the other in black and white.

“The colour shots were amazing,” she says, “the vibrancy was incredible. It was difficult to make a selection so I will include one of each. In the black and white image one is not distracted by the colours, but focuses on what is happening.”

Water droplets are a particular favourite of this photographer, and she chose to incorporate them in her shoot of Miss Lopes.

“Water droplets are a reminiscent of what one sees through a kaleidoscope; how the colours meld into each other, how the subject behind is stretched and skewed in some droplets, and then a perfect reflection in others. I am to make images that make people think.”

Charles Anderson's interest in photgraphy goes back to his childhood. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and is also an artist who exhibits at the Bermuda Society of Arts, where he is also on the board, and the Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard. In addition, he is a sculptor and filmmaker. He has been a professional photographer for 17 years and has his own studio. His work is wide-ranging and includes portraits, magazine assignments, sports and events.

“The biggest advantage is that you can blow the 2 -inch images up larger,” he says of his preferred medium. “I also like it for its quality.”

No stranger to any of the designated categories for this exhibition, Mr. Anderson is delighted to be participating with his fellow photographers in this exhibition. His work will include both black and white and colour Cibachrome images.

“I think there should be more of this type of event in the future,” he says.

‘Three Points of View' will be in the Edinburgh Gallery on the upper level of City Hall from July 12 to 24. See the Bermuda Calendar or 292-5384 for further information.