News: HMS Bulwark Freedom Parade

Durham PS photographers were on hand to capture the magnificent sight of the 180 strong crew of HMS Bulwark, led by the Band of HM Marines (Plymouth), exercising their right to parade through the streets of Durham. This was followed by ceremonies on Palace Green and a service in the Cathedral. HMS Bulwark, County Durham’s adopted ship, is the recently appointed flagship of the Royal Navy. The ship is berthed at North Shields until, it is believed, Sunday.

 

 

LINK to all photos

http://www.hmforces.co.uk/education/articles/281

Members will be out again on Remembrance Sunday to photograph events for the Durham Light Infantry Association veterans. Details from John Attle

CLUB NIGHT NEWS 3.11.11

WEAR AREA BATTLE

The Society is competing with other clubs in the Wear area of the NCPF, Friday 4th November 7.30 pm at Washington Camera Club, Harraton Community Centre, Fatfield, Washington.

Quote from Washington CC website, “This Annual Competition is the only official function hosted in the Wear Area and we are proud to have maintained it for so many years. The Judge for this year’s event is ALAN McCORMICK.DPAGB. of Hexham and we warmly welcome all Members of the fellow Clubs in the Wear Area”.

VALENTE CUP

We will be projecting digital versions of the prints on results night. If you would like your own files to be used, email to Alan Stott

BIRDS OF PREY PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

The names are now in for the day photography workshops exclusive to DPS members at the Swinton Park Birds of Prey centre. Tony Griffiths has the list. Email him (the gmail address) if you want to check if it is possible still to sign up. The dates are Wedneday 14^th December and Saturday 17^th December. See Blog item “For the Birds …” for more information. The next step is to organise car sharing travel arrangements

GB CUP

We will be taking part in this inter club competition. A panel, led by Joe Grabham, will select our entry from those seen over the year. You can still submit images for consideration for the club entry if, perhaps, you have a cracking image not yet seen in competition. Closing date to Joe is 17^th November. Image size can be the new PAGB standard of 1400x1050 px, with 1050 being the maximum vertical size. See GB Cup Blog 26^th October

ASSIGNMENT NATIONAL GLASS CENTRE, SUNDERLAND RIVERSIDE

The review meeting to look at and discuss prints of pictures taken (one of the many enjoyable aspects of assignments), will be 15^th November, County Hall, 7.00 to 9.00 p.m

ZOMBIES STAGGER THROUGH STREETS OF DURHAM

An eye witness account from the blood spattered notebook of our Chief Dark Side Reporter:

“Well, Durham was taken over by a sub-breed of semi-intelligent zombies in the dark of night this Halloween; and we, the brave members of the DPS, are the living witnesses and survivors. While they appeared to have retained some of their brain capacity, walking to instruction around the city, their unearthly screaming and groaning sounded like a chilling cross between a tired drunk and Beyonce.

Do not miss this event next year - but it’s not for the faint hearted. I have never seen Stephen Bell sweat with fear before tonight. Remember they are not sympathetic creatures, and still only want to eat human brains.”

Angy Ellis

31^st October 2011

www.zombiepalooza.co.uk

More photos LINK

MORE LIMOURS!

Neil Maughan, Lilian Blot and Joe Brabham had 11 acceptances (and a highly coveted ribbon!) between them at the 7^th Limours International (France) 2011 as previously reported (see October Blog: INTERNATIONALS – DPS members achieve success at Limours). Here are more of Lian’s and Joe’s successful images (place cursor over images to see captions):

Next up – Swansea! The full results of the Swansea International 2011 are due 5^th November. Already your Blog Intelligence service (BloggIntel) has wind of more success for at least four Durham PS members. Watch this space!

DIGITAL NIGHT: 2nd November - Portrait Special

He’s Back! Alan Clarke will lead on the last Digital Night of the year. The main topic is Portraits including using 3rd party actions and tips and tricks to do with retouching.

Alan will also have an open session, dealing with your pressing PS issues.

Members’ pictures: Bring in any you need help with

All members very welcome. Don’t miss it!

Wednesday 2^nd November, County Hall, 7 to 9 pm

CLUB WORLD CALENDAR - November Update

4^th November

NCPF Wear Area Battle: Washington CC, Harraton 7.30 p.m

13^th November

NCPF: Fotospeed NCPF Annual Awards Presentations, 2.30 p.m, the Novotel, Kenton. Free but members must pre-register

2012

6^th January

RPS Northern Region: Safari with Andy Rouse. 7.30 p.m, Old Town Hall Gateshead, £9

9^th January – closing date

PAGB Great British Cups 2012: club entries

29^th January

NCPF: Fotospeed NCPF Spectacular, Novotel Hotel, Kenton, Newcastle. Reception 8.45 to 9.30 a.m

12^th February

NCPF: Club Championship, Washington CC, Harraton

11^th March

NCPF Annual General Meeting, Swalwell

www.ncpf.org.uk

www.pagbnews.co.uk

www.rps.org/region/northern

INTERNATIONALS – CLOSING DATES

5^th November: 1st Wrekin Salon 2011 www.thewrekingallery.com

24^th November: 37^th Smethwick International www.spsinternationalexhibition.com

31^st December: 1st Port Talbot International www.porttalbotcameraclub.org www.spsinternationalexhibition.comwww.spsinternationalexhibition.com

Advice about entering Internationals can be obtained from our Internationals guru, Neil Maughan

New entries in red

THE STORY BEHINDTHE PICTURE: The Conversation

The Conversation by Christine Oliphant has been much admired on the i-witness Photo Forum and helped her win the Pixel Trophy in the PDI Progress competition 2011.

“Taken in the Portuguese village of Barao de Sao Joao, a sleepy little village that sits in the foothills of a National Park . The facade of this bar/cafe is very interesting, great colours, good textures. This was taken when the sun was quite high and the light very harsh, but the canopy over the front of the building was casting some great shadows. Candid street photography is not my genre, but I did like the relaxed position of the man smoking the cigarette, and thought the other guy was an interesting character too, the dog was the bonus, as I felt he tied the two characters together. A fairly fast shutter speed ensured there was no movement in the characters. The walls of the building are extremely vibrant in colour and highly textured, and at the point of capture I did think that the figures fought for attention with the backdrop, so always had an idea that during post processing I would desaturate the yellow and blues, and soften the textures in the walls, to allow the characters to grab the viewers attention.

Taken with a Nikon D300s and a Nikkor 16 – 85 VR lens @ f6.3, shutter speed 1/160 using a circular polariser to cut down on the glare of the cobbles.”

Christine Oliphant