Northern Focus – a young Paul Ritchie makes an impression

In the spring 2012 edition of Northern Focus, the online magazine of the NCPF, there is a fascinating Personal Profile of our old friend from Hartlepool Photo & Digital Group, Dave Phillips who has done a great job for us as a competition Judge and lecturer many times. Dave relates how he went on a Judging course with the NCPF in Tynemouth:

“Just before I got my opportunity to comment on the images, a young gent took the stage hoping to impress, and impress he did. He addressed the audience in such an eloquent,

knowledgeable and almost poetic manner. He read each photograph beautifully. How could he extract that much information from each image? More importantly, how could I compete with that? Quite simply, I couldn’t ... and the name of the young man who made such an impression? Paul Ritchie of Durham P.S. Needless to say, he sailed through.”

Of course the young Dave Phillips was also invited on to the Judging Panel and has been one of the post popular and effective ever since. Meantime Paul, still on the NCPF judging and lecturer panels, went on to be President of Durham PS and is today one of the most highly regarded Programme Secretaries in the photography club world.

In the same issue of Northern Focus, NCPF President Richard Spiers announced there will be a seminar for prospective judges in the Autumn of 2012.

The full article by Dave Phillips can be found here: http://www.ncpf.org.uk/data/uploads/northern-focus-2012-spring2.pdf

From the Front Line of Chinese New Year

Ian Stafford reports ...

Confucius he say ... arrive early for good position and be prepared for rain!

The north-east crowds, DPS photographers amongst them, were out in force in Stowell Street for this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations, this year being the Year of the Dragon. Only early bird photographers were able to be in prime position in front of the Chinese Arch. Ear-splitting firecrackers filled the air with smoke announced the arrival of the dragons (aka Longs). The Lion dancers then slowly meandered down the street, stopping at each restaurant to furnish them with luck for the coming year.

Most restaurants made an offering of lettuce (or should it be pak choy?!) which was ceremoniously chewed up into tiny pieces by the Lion dancers to the thrilling sound of Chinese drums, tambourines and cymbals. When two Lions met, they embraced in friendly manner and not in the more traditional, confrontational way.

There were stalls selling paper dragons and fortune cookies, along with the fair-ground rides and food sellers! Altogether a most enjoyable and colourful celebration and good day out for photographers. Well worth a return visit next year.

Check out Rob Birrell’s blog for more pictures: http://robbirrell.com/chinese-new-year-2012-newcastle-stowell-street/

UPDATES to the NCPF WEB SITE

The following update has been made to our web site since the last update message and all can be accessed via:-

www.ncpf.org.uk

1. Competitions/Annual Competitions

All necessary downloads and information appertaining to the 2012 NCPF Annual Competitions are now available and should be accessed by Competition secretaries

2. Events/Diary:-

Details of NYSD’s 60^th Anniversary Lecture in March
(Posters are attached for Club Secretaries to display on Club Notice boards please).

3. Northern Focus:-

The Spring 2012 Edition of Northern Focus is now on line.

4. Directory Updates:-

And another update to be noted.

5. PAGB e-news

Issue 56 of PAGB e-news is now available and on line.

Dave Coates
(NCPF Webmaster)

Presentation Dinner Tonight, 27th January

It has been belatedly noticed that the Programme section on the DPS website shows the wrong date, i.e. 28^th January. Apologies for that. The printed programme and various Blogs are correct – it is definitely tonight, Friday 27^th January!

Bowburn Hall Hotel, 7.30 for 8.00 pm

Club Night News: 26th January

Members’ Web Galleries

Members’ 2012 gallery: your best 4 images from 2011 to John Brown by email (preferred) or on disc by Thursday 16^th Feb sized 1024x768 px and sRGB colour space!

For the Birds Gallery: images taken on Jed Wee’s Birds of Prey workshops are on line now in Galleries from the home page of the DPS website.

 

NCPF Fotospeed Spectacular

Sunday 29th: NCPF Fotospeed Spectacular: a day of photographic celebration with Des Clinton FRPS FIPF MFIAP, Rod Whelans FRPS MPAGB FIPF MFIAP and Anne Greiner MPAGB. Novatel Hotel Kenton

http://www.ncpf.org.uk/data/uploads/11-08-spectacular-2012.pdf

Digi Night is back!

Wednesday 1^st February, County Hall 7.00 p.m. See poster

Assignment Hexham

Saturday 11^th February. Meeting in at the bandstand 10.00 am. All members are welcome. See Colin for details.

NCPF Championship

The championship itself will be at Washington CC, Harraton Community Centre, Bonemill Lane, Washington, NE38 8BQ 12^th February. Prints are handed in at 12.30 and the event starts at 1.30. All members of NCPF clubs can attend. It’s a fascinating insight into club world competition.

More about the event is here:

http://www.ncpf.org.uk/index.php?id=club-championships

Directions are here:

http://www.ncpf.org.uk/data/uploads/2012-directions.pdf

St Cuthbert’s Hospice

St Cuthbert’s Hospice need images of Durham for their 2013 calendar and this year’s Christmas cards as before. For the calendar, landscape format through the seasons plus a portrait format stunner for the cover. Join top name photographers and contribute to this great cause. On CD to the club by 2^nd Feb or direct to St C please.

Durham Times

They too are needing good images of Durham. You and DPS will be credited if published. On disc to Robin Wallace please

Botanic Gardens Exhibition

3^rd to 30^th March.There is space for 47 20x16 mounted prints from 47 members. First come first served so put your name down asap if you want to take part. Your choice of picture – does not have to be botanical!

CLUB NIGHT PREVIEW, 26th January

An evening with on Assignment

Members’ nights are hugely popular and this will be no exception. A packed house is expected! Images taken by members on the last eleven assignments will be shown and marvelled at. Eleven very diverse locations from North Shields fish quay to Richmond, Stanhope Show to Middlehaven, Metrocentre to Teesdale (pictured) and favorite images selected from the many thousands of photographs taken. Firmly established as one of the Society’s most popular and exciting activities, both from photographic and social points of view, this show will clearly demonstrate why.

              

            

For the Birds ... New DPS website Gallery

A new gallery of fabulous birds of prey pictures has just opened in the Galleries section of the DPS website. The images were taken by members attending the For the Birds workshops run by DPS’ Jed Wee with Sophie Abbott of Swinton Park Birds of Prey. The photography workshops took place at the Swinton Park Hotel, Masham and the nearby Abbott family farm. There was good access to the fabulous birds and a good time was had by all.

http://jedwee.com/

http://birdsofprey.me.uk/