Wednesday 31 October 2012

From the front line of Assignment Teesdale

With an unseasonably heavy fall of snow across most of east and central Co Durham it seemed madness to set off for the upper reaches of Teesdale where conditions can surely only be worse. However, it cannot be said that we do not have plenty of mad, sorry intrepid members. So it was that a goodly number turned up at the appointed hour, properly kitted out (some had Nikons too) only to encounter the balmiest of conditions. Just above freezing and bright sunshine.

Working upstream towards Gibson’s Cave proved rewarding and many an hour was spent capturing the glory of the autumn colours and light. It was fascinating to observe the sheer skill sets openly on display. People were using ND filters and 10 stoppers! And even varying shutter speeds! The Pres was heard to say, “This has been an education”. More delights abounded at Low Force and further afield.

As always, there was conviviality and friendly banter but also, outsiders may find this hard to understand, generous sharing of knowledge. Competitive elements did creep in when it came to the wily Colin’s Challenge which was Red and Green. Luckily the French ambassador, Lilian, who wondered for a while why cameras seemed to be pointing surreptitiously in his direction, had turned up in a stylish jacket satisfyingly red, very red, in colour.

Altogether it was a great day out. Everyone looks forward to the follow up session when we will see what has been created. The only certainty is there will be some great photography and few pictures looking the same.

TG

This bit goes here somewhere

              Alison spots a vole in the far distance I  'ave been set up for ze Red and Green challenge!

               Lilian wishes he'd remembered the sugar

               Nicely accessible lens in the back pack

               The D800 combo makes an ideal walking stick

               This beats fishing

INTERNATIONALS NEWS: Joe Strikes Gold

Congratulations to DPS member Joe Grabham who has won an Association of Danish Photographers Gold medal in the 3rd Golden Digital International Salon. Joe's winning shot was "Above the Crowd". Well done Joe, a terrific achievement.

Above the Crowd. Joe Grabham

Final 2 UK based Internationals for 2012.

The closing dates for the final 2 UK based salons are fast approaching.

The Wrekin Salon (for pdi's only) close on 3rd November. Go to http://www.wrekinarts.com/ for more details.

The 38th Smethwick International closes on 15th November and this is for print and pdi workers. More details at http://www.spsinternationalexhibition.com/

A final word

There are hundreds of International Salons each year, so if you want more details just let me know. I'll continue to post information about most of the UK based Salons and the really prestigious foreign salons on the blog and, from now on, our fb page. If you do enter anything and are successful, please let me or Tony know so we can tell the club about your success on the Blog and fb page. Also send a copy of the relevant picture so we can publish that too!

Neil Maughan AFIAP ARPS DPAGB

Assignment Teesdale Picture on TV

Yes, Durham PS member David Forster’s glorious Colours of Autumn was shown on Tyne Tees TV yesterday, the image was taken on our Assignment Teesdale outing on Saturday a few hundred yards up-stream from the Bowlees car park. What a great day we had as you can see

Colours of Autumn, Tyne Tees weather picture. David Forster

Sunday 28 October 2012

UPDATES to the NCPF WEB SITE

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

www.ncpf.org.uk

1. Diary

General updates including a number of additional lectures in November and December. (posters attached for club secretaries)

2. News Items

Information and pictures regarding the recent award by PAGB of their Associate Award (APAGB) to Richard Speirs

3.   PAGB e-news

Issue No.77 is now uploaded, once again with much useful information.

4Directory Updates

A new Secretary for Winlaton CC 

Dave Coates
(NCPF Webmaster)

Friday 26 October 2012

Club Night News: 25th October

Robin Wallace on TV!

Yes, Robin’s picture of a rain drenched spider’s web taken in his back garden appeared on Tyne Tees Weather in the week. He simply emailed the image to: pamandian@itv.com

Picture Robin Wallace

Internationals success for Angy and David

Well done to both Angy Ellis and David Trout who had acceptances in the 1st Oxford International Salon 2012. Notifications are going out so there may be more. http://www.oxfordsalon.com/

The Horse Washer 2. Angy Ellis 

                Arctic Tern 2. Angy Ellis

Blizzard. David Trout

Assignment Teesdale Re-visited!

Saturday 27th October meeting in the Bowlees car park at 10.00 am. Colin’s Challenge: RED and GREEN

More info about assignments and galleries of images from past outings are here: http://www.d-p-s.org.uk/assignments.htm

Teesdale 4 David Forster

              Teesdale 1. David Forster

Remembrance Sunday

Contact John Attle if you would like to take part in photographing Remembrance Sunday events in Co Durham. Sunday 11th November.

AGM 15th November

Because our normal meeting hall will be a polling station that day, we will be meeting in County Hall at the earlier time of 6.00 pm with the AGM starting at 6.30

Notices about the event are on the notice board at the club

Beamish Museum events

There is a Halloween weekend this weekend at the museum. We gather there are still a few tickets available for tonight Friday 26th 6.30 to 9.30 pm

There is also a Bonfire Night celebration 5th November 6.00 pm

http://www.beamish.org.uk/events/

Moving the Goal Posts Exhibition

An exhibition around the theme of women’s football, including pictures from Durham PS member Silvie Reid, will be on at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, 12th November to 1st December. Details to follow

Results 3rd Progress Prints

A Section Judged By Henrietta Byrne LRPS, DPAGB

1st Place

 1st Place  Experiment X  Joe Grabham

2nd Place

2nd Place Reed Buntings  Alan Sharpe

3rd Place

3rd Place  Bobcat Hunting  Michael Watson

4th Place

4th Place. Not Something you do every Day.  Tony Griffiths

5th Place

5th Place Storm over the Kiva  Michael Watson

 

B Section Judged by David Trout LRPS

1st Place

 1st Place Angst  Su Stewart

2nd Place

2nd Place C&A  John Carter

3rd Place

3rd Place Sam Joanne Gray

4th Place

4th Place Morning Ride Out  Joanne Gray

5th Place

5th Place Worm Casts  Su Stewart

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Assignment Teesdale Re-visited

By popular demand we are returning to Middleton in Teesdale, Saturday 27 Oct meeting at the Bowlees picnic area car park, with access to Gibsons Cave. 10 am. Location is about a mile past Middleton on the main road west near to Low Force. Lunch will be at the Teesdale Hotel in the centre of Middleton at 1pm. Let’s hope the autumn spell lasts.

Challenge: RED AND GREEN

Colin Armitstead

More about Assignments and galleries of members’ pictures are here: http://www.d-p-s.org.uk/assignments.htm

Gibson's Cave

What it was to be English 2

More from Pickering Wartime Weekend

WAR WEEKEND _1. Neil Maughan 20121013-Pickering War Weekend-092. Ian Stafford caught out. Stephen Bell See You Soon. Joe Grabham

John Cogan reviews: The Harry Holder Memorial Lecture

Twuchu (Leaving): a study of a traditional nomadic community in the changing world by Harry Hall FRPS

The following is an extract from a review by John Cogan:

“In honour of Harry Holder's memory as a pillar of the Durham Photographic Society, and at his bequest, an annual lecture is held to help the imaginations of the DPS members to soar.

The lecture of 2012 was given by Harry Hall FRPS and was the premier outing (after his daughter) of his Doctoral Thesis.

In what, to many of us, would be inhospitable terrain live the Karnack peoples. Nomadic goat herders dependent upon their flocks and the fine Pashmina wool they give, these small clusters of families roam the mountains and passes of Ladakh, North India, settling briefly in traditional tribal areas while their flocks graze what passes for vegetation. Season-dictated, they move to fresh pastures once the pitiful vegetation is cropped.

In Leh, the Karnack people gather in communal safety fearing their strange neighbours (The Others) and trying to find ways of making a living with what skills they have. All this Harry has recorded in both words and pictures, a fluent and mutually supportive combination. The slow disintegration of an ancient way of life has been placed before us in all its starkest detail; like a living history lesson reflecting our own move from the pastoral to the urban. There is no doubt that Harry cares for the people he befriended though, as with all good Qualitative Researchers he must have found it hard not to cross the invisible boundaries that separate the participant observer from the object of his/her research. That dichotomy between staying sufficiently apart from the subject yet being appropriately involved will always be a researcher's dilemma. It's one we also face as photographers: how far can we remain distant from what we hope to photograph and yet not alter the way the subject reacts to our presence?”

Read John’s whole insightful review in Articles on the Durham PS website: http://www.d-p-s.org.uk/articles.htm

Tuesday 23 October 2012

News: Durham PS Facebook Group

Come and join us!

Open to all members, the Durham PS Facebook Group goes from strength to strength. There is a steady stream of great pictures being posted and commented upon as you’d expect (pictured are some of the latest).

Another feature is that members ask for advice on a whole range of topics and boy do they get well informed answers – amazing the depth of knowledge of our fellow members. Recent requests have included suggestions re European short photo breaks, recommended photo equipment insurers, feedback on an on-line import retailer and advice on over-heating lithium batteries.

Frequently, useful info and links are passed on, for instance on an on-line magazine, and on a photo technique called magic cloth.

This increasingly useful and entertaining photography forum is for Durham PS members. You need a Facebook account and our administrators Sarah and Joanne will sign you in.

Seaham storm. walter bulmer Anthony Firmin. Paul Travis Bird in the hand. Angy Ellis Female Red Deer. Michael Watson Lake Como door. Lilian Blot London protest march. Michael Watson Masquerade. Angy Ellis

What it Was to be English

Pickering Wartime Weekend

Once again, Pickering Wartime Weekend was an irresistible destination for many Durham PS photographers and friends from other clubs. Thankfully the cafes and pie shops were not serving wartime rations, otherwise the hundreds of re-enactors were 100% authentic down to the last button. As always there was a relaxed and convivial atmosphere and photography opportunities all around. A good time was had by all

                 1529 Rolling out of the tea room 045 Spot the legends 2 047 Spot the legends 050 Togetherness 273   John C admiring Helga from afar. David Forster 1255 Yah see what I've done here

Friday 19 October 2012

Club Night News: 18th October

Digital Trophy, George Samuel Trophy - Closing dates extended

Good news – still time to get your entries in for the Digital Trophy competition (three images demonstrating versatility). Email to Roger by next Thursday 25th October or bring in on the night. Size must be 1400 px max width, 1050 px max height sRGB. Last chance to bring in slides for the George Samuel Trophy is also next Thursday

Hurry!

Assignments

To put Assignment Seaham to bed we just need participating members to please email their eight images for the Assignment Gallery to David Forster by Monday night. Size must be 1024 pixels max width, 768 pixels max height and sRGB colour space.

Next up: Assignment Teesdale Re-visited! Saturday 27th October meeting in the Bowlees car park at 10.00 am. Last time we went it was springtime so it will be fascinating to see the seasonal changes.

More info about assignments and some galleries are here: http://www.d-p-s.org.uk/assignments.htm

Teesdale 5 David Forster

Volunteer Photography

Contact John Attle if you would like to take part in photographing Remembrance Sunday events for Durham Light Infantry Association. There is also the possibility of being involved in a charity placing former police dogs in family homes.

AGM 15th November

Because our normal meeting hall will be a polling station that day, we will be meeting in County Hall at the earlier time of 6.00 pm with the AGM starting at 6.30

The new, evolutionary and exciting programme of competitions will be announced. Your committee for 2013 will be elected, and more. Do not miss out!

Hot Weekend!

Stacks of photography opportunities: ranging from the grand community opening of Northumberlandia, “the world’s largest human landform” on Saturday from 11.30 am to the UK Prosurf Tour at Tynemouth Saturday and Sunday. Links can be found in Hot Dates on this Blog.

20120908 173 w e

Also, check out the Durham PS Facebook group. It’s a hotbed of up to the minute info, advice and great pictures.

Thursday 18 October 2012

e-news from the PAGB issue 77

Issue 77 is primarily about the forthcoming Inter-Club Print Championship, Connah’s Quay 27th October but also contains an early notification of the results of the Inter-Federation Annual PDI Competition - Open and Nature.

Read the whole issue here: http://www.pagbnews.co.uk/e-news/en77181012_PrintChampionship_InterFedPDI.pdf

Register to receive e-news from the PAGB by email here (it’s free and a must for all keen club photographers): www.pagbnews.co.uk

Friday 12 October 2012

Results 3rd Progress Slides & Digital Images

Judged by Keith Suddaby FRPS,MPAGB,EFIAP,ABPE.

Digital Images

1st Place

     David Forster. Liason on a Wet Afternoon

2nd Place

     John Wise. Great Egret and American Alligator 

3rd Place

     David Forster. Samantha

4th Place

      Angy Ellis. Down on the Farm

5th Place

Tony Griffths. Northumberlandia