CLUB NIGHT NEWS 1.1.11

With 2011 pictures yet to be taken, with 2011 competitions yet to be won and our 2011 programme yet to be experienced, Happy New Year from your Blogger team! The exciting programme for 2011 has already been posted on the website.

FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR – 6^th JANUARY

By tradition it’s President’s Night and David Trout will surprise and delight us with his outstanding photography.

Angy’s pre-payment of subs and award dinner money scheme should ease the pressure on the night of having to queue. The subscription of £35 has been the same for many years and is fantastic value.

If you haven’t done so already, please return 2009 trophies January 6^th latest – we need to have them engraved with the names of the 2010 winners in time for the Annual Presentation Dinner on the 28^th January.

ST CUTHBERT’S HOSPICE CALENDAR 2012

Top pictures needed. Ideal spec: high resolution jpegs, Durham related, reflecting the seasons, could include iconic events. Images on disc and captioned with the photographer’s name. Please drop them off at the club on 6th January if possible. Full photo credit will be given.

DPS BOTANIC GARDENS EXHIBITION: Folio 2011

Still time to put your name down at the club but hurry to avoid disappointment. Bring in your print in a 20x16 inch mount any time until 3^rd February. 20x16 because that is the size of the club frames.

DIGITAL NIGHT

There is no meeting in January. Next meeting will be Wednesday 2^nd February.

COMPETITION COUNTDOWN

The closing date for 1^st Progress Projected Images is 13^th January. You can email Roger ahead of time (preferred option) or bring them in on the night. If you don’t have your new membership number by then you can caption your (up to three) entries with your name. Roger will then put your number on when issued by Angy (assuming you have paid up!). Please take care to re-size and prepare your pictures correctly! How to do it is on the Notice Board on the Home page of the website.

The closing date for 1^st Progress Prints is 27th January.

The set subject for the Fillingham Trophy this year is “Juxtaposition”.

Please check the rules in your programme carefully including General Competition Rules.

e-news of the PAGB issue 38

The latest issue of enews of the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain is a picture special of the PAGB Inter-Federation Projected Image Championship.

There is also an excellent article by Christine Widdal, the L&CPU President, on the subject of Photographic Plagiarism.

Interested members can join the 10,000 strong e-news of the PAGB mailing list simply by emailing Rod Wheelans: rod@creative-camera.co.uk .

If you would like a copy of issue 38, email your request to tonygriff@gmail.com

65th BRISTOL INTERNATIONAL SALON OF PHOTOGRAPHY 2011

DPS members interested in venturing into the world of International Salons may like to try their hand at this one. Entries can be on line and the closing date is 11 weeks away.

http://www.bristolphoto.org.uk/pages/bristol-salon/2011-bristol-salon--entry.php

Don Morrison HonPAGB, HonEFIAP

It is with great sadness that I have to report that Don Morrison passed away on Christmas Eve.  Don was a former member of Newcastle PS, and President of NCPF from 1965 to 1967. He also served the PAGB with distinction over many years, being its President from 1975 to 1977 and was a Honorary Life Vice-President of PAGB.

I have not yet received any details of funeral arrangements, but will pass them on as soon as I have them to hand.

I would be obliged if you could bring them to the attention of your fellow members and if possible ensure that the information is displayed on your club notice board.
Dave Coates
(NCPF Publications Officer)

HOT DATES 2010 – December update 2

WINTER CARNIVAL PARADE: 31^st December, Newcastle, 2.30 to 6.30 pm

http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/site/whats-on/new-year-s-eve-winter-carnival-p465211#ProductList-/site/whats-on/new-year-s-eve-winter-carnival-p465211

2011

NEW YEAR’S DAY SWIM: Whitley Bay, 11.00 am

CHINESE NEW YEAR, NEWCASTLE: 3^rd February

FOCUS ON IMAGING 2011: NEC, 9-11 March www.focus-on-imaging.co.uk

WHITBY GOTHIC WEEKEND: 25^th to 27^th March

Bikewise Easter Egg Run: Sun, April 24,

New entries in red

Share a Hot Date! Email tonygriff@gmail.com

NEWS REPORT: PRESIDENT CAPTURES FALLSTREAK HOLES

DPS President David Trout recently photographed an unusual and dramatic cloud formation. David said, “I took the picture from Frankland Lane recently and posted it on the Pentax User Forum. An airline pilot commented that they are Fallstreak Holes caused by aircraft punching through and that to get two side by side is unusual”.

The picture, also seen below, has now been published on the Cloud Appreciation Society website.

http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/gallery/index.php?showimage=7025

The Cloud Appreciation Society was founded by Gavin Pretor-Pinney from the UK in 2005. The society aims to foster understanding and appreciation of clouds and has nearly 25,000 members from over 80 countries.

The website is quirky: “At The Cloud Appreciation Society we love clouds, we’re not ashamed to say it and we’ve had enough of people moaning about them …. we are fighting the banality of ‘blue-sky thinking’”

It’s a must for landscape photographers and anyone interested in learning more about clouds.

The picture gallery contains a large number of fascinating images of clouds taken by photographers from all over the world. As David has discovered, it is a simple process to post images.

 

NEWS FLASH: Photography Opportunity Alert

Wednesday 22^nd December, Durham River freezes over!

The snow last night fell on top of the ice on the river which made for unusual landscape photography sights not seen for many years. Happy, enthusiast photographers, including your intrepid blogger, were out and about making the most of the spectacular conditions.

With no sign of a thaw, tomorrow should also be good. Around Prebends and Framwellgate bridges seem to be best.

CLUB NIGHT NEWS 16.12.10

PROGRESS COMPETITIONS

The closing date for 1^st Progress Projected Images is 13^th January. As always you can email Roger ahead of time or bring them ion on the night. If you don’t have your new membership number by then you can caption your (up to three) entries with your name. Roger will then put your number on when issued by Angy (assuming you have paid up!). Please take care to re-size and prepare your pictures correctly! How to do it is on the Notice Board on the Home page of this website.

The closing date for 1^st Progress Prints is 27th January. Please check the rules in your programme carefully including General Competition Rules.

COMPETITION TROPHIES

Please return 2009 trophies January 6^th latest – we need to have them engraved with the names of the 2010 winners in time for the Annual Presentation Dinner on the 28^th January.

DPS BOTANIC GARDENS EXHIBITION: Folio 2011

Still time to put your name down at the club when we return in the new year. Bring in your print in a 20x16 inch mount any time from then until 3^rd February. Hon Life Vice President Don Bennett DPAGB is organising and will answer any queries.

ST CUTHBERT’S HOSPICE CALENDAR 2012

Top pictures needed. Ideal spec: high resolution jpegs, Durham related, reflecting the seasons, could include iconic events. Images on disc and captioned with the photographer’s name. Please drop them off at the club on 6th January if possible. Full photo credit will be given.

NEXT MEETING – PRESIDENT’S NIGHT, 6^th JANUARY

Our President, David Trout, has had a hugely successful year with his photography topped off by winning the Valente Cup. How does he do it?! Find out on the 6^th January. Not to be missed.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS!

 

COMPETITION COUNTDOWN: 2011 SEASON KICKS OFF SOON

1^st PROGRESS PROJECTED !MAGES

Closing date is the second week back after the break, 13^th January. Please check the rules carefully including General Competition rules. Also be sure to size the images correctly. In summary: maximum width 1024 pixels, maximum height 768 pixels, sRGB colour space and saved in medium (7) compression. Many members are getting this wrong! Exactly how to do it can be found on the Home page of this website under the Noticeboard. Click on “Prepare image files for competition”.

1^st PROGRESS PRINTS

Closing date is 27^th January. Like the Progress Projected Images, this competition is in three parts spread through the year. Uniquely, the Progress Prints has a B section for beginners and less experienced workers as well as an A section for more experienced members. Therefore a golden opportunity for new members to venture into the exciting world of club competitions. Again, check the rules carefully!

e-news of the PAGB issue 37

The latest issue of enews of the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain contains the results for the Awards of Photographic Merit held in November and December 2010. There is also some discussion around frequently asked questions that will be of interest to anyone thinking of applying for APM.

The Rules for the GP Cup 2011, which we will be entering as a club, are also attached.

Interested members can join the 10,000 strong e-news of the PAGB mailing list simply by emailing Rod Wheelans: rod@creative-camera.co.uk .

If you would like a copy of issue 37, email your request to tonygriff@gmail.com

CLUB NIGHT NEWS 9.12.10

ASSIGNMENT METROCENTRE

Saturday 11^th December, meeting at Town Square, Green sector (House of Fraser) 8.00 to 8.30. You will need a photography permit which you can obtain from the Information centres (I.D. needed e.g. club programme). Lunch at The Poacher’s Pocket, Market Lane NE16 4TJ, 12.30 to 1.00.

Meantime, checkout Assignment Banks of the Tyne images on the Assignment section of this website.

2011 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS

Angy is giving these out. The idea is to streamline things when we return on January 6^th and avoid having to queue. Simply fill in the form and return with cheque or cash to Angy next week (or on the 6^th). You can also pay for the Awards dinner this way. Cheques will not be cashed until mid January. Your programme and new membership number will then be issued on the 6^th. Note that the closing date for the first competition of 2011, the First Progress Projected Images, is 13^th January and you will need your new membership number to enter.

COMPETITION TROPHIES

Will the proud 2009 trophy winners please return them next week, 16^th December. This is so we can have them engraved with the names of the 2010 winners in time for presentation at the Annual Awards dinner, Friday 28^th January 2011. If you have the chance, have a look at them and check out the roll calls of honour going back many years. They are part of our history and heritage.

With the Valente Cup and Leslie Buss Trophy now decided there is just one award remaining for 2010 – the Vice President’s award for service to the Society. Still time to influence the decision!

RPS INTERNATIONAL PROJECTED IMAGE EXHIBITION

Sadly, we had to cancel the club night last week due to the bad weather so could not show the RPS 2010 exhibition. However, copies of the DVD are available at £5 each from Paul Ritchie.

DPS BOTANIC GARDENS EXHIBITION: Folio 2011

There is space for only 47 framed prints so members need to put their name down at the club ASAP if they would like to take part. It will be “First come, first served”. It will be your choice of print, something you are proud of, something with the wow factor, and of course it does not have to be a botanical subject. Bring in your print in a 20x16 inch mount any time from now until 3^rd February. Hon Life Vice President Don Bennett DPAGB will be organising and will answer any queries.

ST CUTHBERT’S HOSPICE CALENDAR 2012

Top pictures needed. Ideal spec: high resolution jpegs, Durham related, reflecting the seasons, could include iconic events. Images on disc and captioned with the photographer’s name if possible. Please drop them off at the club by 1^st week back in January. Full photo credit will be given.

THE MUSIC FACTORY EXHIBITION

Some of the prints from The Sage Gateshead have been transferred to the Durham Town Hall entrance. This has enabled us to put some new ones out in The Sage where The Music Factory continues. DPS organiser Alan Stott said, “Our members produced so many great music images for this project and it has been good to have yet more of them on display”.

Check out both exhibitions as soon as you can and be proud!

NCPF IMAGE REQUEST

Needed for the new NCPF website, a panoramic image of Durham cathedral: 1000 px x 260 px. Email to Paul Ritchie if you have one please.Details in the programme.

FOLIO ALERT

Check out dpsdigital on this website (open to all members who have registered with webmaster John Brown) - sudden burst of activity …

The Skies are Crying,The Last Farewell to the Ark Royal

I caught the Ark Royal’s visit to the Tyne in 2008. I was having a pleasant walk along the prom at Shields, with the lady wife, when I saw the carrier approaching the mouth of the Tyne. Walk suspended, back to the car and rocket along to the Groin in the river entrance to await the arrival. A lot of standing about later, and increasing grumbling from the parked car nearby, and I was rewarded with some nice, head-on shots of this beautiful ship. The light was fading so conditions were not ideal but I did submit one shot to a DPS competition and the discerning judge, John Brown, selected it for one of the awards. How chuffed was I, a brand new starter at the club at that time.

I promised myself to do better next time and that moment was forced on me a couple of weeks ago when the government, in its dotage, decided to mothball the ship and it returned to the Tyne for a farewell visit. Determined to get the most out of my pensioner’s bus pass I caught the bus to Shields, then ferried across the river and worked my way along to the Northumbria Quay, where the ship was tied up. Nice to see it fairly close up, but the eight feet high barrier fence pretty much knocked on the head any chance of worthwhile photographs (for trivia anoraks, the gap between the metal uprights is 75mm, which allowed me to poke my 8-200 lens through but not to manoeuvre it). The weather did not help as there was a bitter, rain-laden, north wind. By the time I returned to the ferry the sky was getting very dark and there were frequent downpours, not necessarily a bad sign as I have a leaning towards moody landscapes and conditions were certainly atmospheric. The Ark Royal was due to cast off at 3pm so I was firmly planted near the Customs House, opposite the mooring, in good time. As the hour approached, so did the heavy clouds, and by 3pm freezing rain was driving directly into faces of intrepid well-wishers and cascading from the camera lenses. It was so dark that my auto-focus got the sulks and I had to resort to doing the job manually. Being stern-on to the sea, the ship was towed upstream, rotated and brought back down, a process which probably took about 20 minutes but seemed to last several hours. I was frozen and wet through, despite my elderly gortex waterproofs. My sympathy went to the sailors on the ship, who were lined up along the rails and leading edge of the flight deck for this entire period. My last shot was of the carrier vanishing into the darkness of the building storm, like an image of some surface raider during World War II, a great, powerful shadow sliding silently out into the ocean. Then I wrung my camera out and sloshed back to the bus stop for a long ride home, nursing my incipient pleurisy. Between racking coughs, I had an opportunity to review the day. On the whole I was pleased I had made the trip. I felt some kinship with the crew, even if all we shared was a storm, I had a great feeling of sadness and affection for the ship and felt privileged to have been able to wave her on her last journey. Sometimes a song title sums it all up, and Sonny Boy Williamson and I are in full agreement that on this occasion; the skies were most definitely crying.

Dennis Hardingham

 

All Photos Dennis Hardingham.

Results,Valente Cup & Leslie Buss Trophy. Judge - Keith Suddaby FRPS MPAGB EFIAP ABPE.

 

Valente Cup

1st Place David Trout.

2nd Place Tony Griffiths.

 

3rd Place Neil Maughan.

Leslie Buss Trophy

1st Place Jim Horne.

2nd Place

3rd Joint Dennis Hardingham.

e-news of the PAGB issue 36

The latest issue of enews of the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain contains news of four more MPAGB awardees with stunning examples of their work, plus the PAGB calendar of events for 2011.

Interested members can join the 10,000 strong e-news of the PAGB mailing list simply by emailing Rod Wheelans: rod@creative-camera.co.uk .

If you would like a copy of issue 36, email your request to tonygriff@gmail.com

ASSIGNMENT BANKS OF THE TYNE

GALLERY NOW OPEN

The Banks of the Tyne assignment images are now on the Assignments Gallery. Click on Assignments on the home page of this website to view. Next up - Metrocentre here we come!

COMPETITION COUNTDOWN

VALENTE CUP RESULTS NIGHT, Thursday 9^th December

Judge - Keith Suddaby FRPS MPAGB EFIAP ABPE

It’s the last results night of 2010 and this is the big one! Furthermore, prepare for something completely different. The best prints of 2010 and the chance to see the one and only Keith Suddaby in action. NOT TO BE MISSED!

EXHIBITION NEWS - The Music Factory

Now on at the Durham Town Hall entrance gallery

Fresh from The Sage Gateshead, is a further exhibition of photography by members of Durham Photographic Society. Fourteen members took part in the project which was organised by former DPS President Alan Stott who is himself a musician. The aim was to explore aspects of making music through the medium of photography.

DPS President David Trout said, “These pictures are absolutely brilliant. I am once again astounded by the quality and range of photography produced by our members”.

Meantime, The Music Factory continues also in the Explore Music section of The Sage Gateshead and is on until the end of the year. It was sponsored by Permajet and Cruse Bereavement Care. Printing was by ImagesOn.

a.stott@boltblue.com

CLUB NIGHT NEWS 2.12.10

Unfortunately, due to having to cancel the club night due to adverse weather conditions, there isn’t any! New news that is. Except the following.

DIGITAL NIGHT, Wednesday 1^st December

This also was cancelled, this time due to County Hall shutting down early, again due to adverse weather. Those members with urgent digital processing problems can still seek the advice of the organisers, John Gordon, John Attle and Alan Clarke.

LET SNOW!

Rapidly changing light, sudden blizzards, the great British public in cheerful, stiff upper lip mode – ideal conditions for photography. Remember, St Cuthbert’s Hospice needs calendar pictures of Durham and also Christmas card pictures of the cathedral for 2012. Help this brilliant cause by exercising your photography skills if you can.

Also, if you’re around Palace Green on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, check out the Durham Christmas Market for picture opportunities. Say hello to members John and Louise who have a stall there.

ASSIGNMENT GROUP

Because of the delay caused by the weather, the Assignment Gallery Banks of the Tyne images will now be posted next weekend. If you haven’t already supplied yours to David Forster bring them in next week or email.

FILLINGHAM TROPHY 2011: Set Subject “JUXTAPOSITION”

Juxtaposition noun adjacency, contiguity, contact, proximity, nearness, closeness

Inspired by the recent visit of Will Cheung FRPS, members will no doubt be turning this intriguing challenge into one of their key projects for the next 6 months. Your Blog master can hardly wait to see what the fabulous DPS photographers will make of this one.

DPS BOTANIC GARDENS EXHIBITION: FOLIO 2011

There is space for 47 framed prints so members need to put their name down at the club ASAP if they would like to take part. It will be on the basis, “First come, first served”. Bring in your print in a 20x16 inch mount (We will be using the club’s frames) any time from next week, 9^th Dec, until 3^rd February. Don Bennett DPAGB will be organising and will answer any queries.

ST CUTHBERT’S HOSPICE CALENDAR 2012

Please donate your best pictures! Ideal spec: high resolution jpegs, Durham related, reflecting the seasons, could include iconic events such as the Regatta, Miners’ Gala etc. Images on disc if possible and captioned with the photographer’s name. The cover needs a high impact vertical letter-box format picture, preferably of a summer scene, and the rest, landscape format. Please drop them off at the club by 1^st week back in January. Full photo credit will be given.

NCPF Image request   LINK

+++NEWS FLASH+++ Thursday’s Meeting

Thursday 2nd November.

This weeks meeting has been cancelled because of the adverse weather conditions.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

DIGITAL NIGHT

1st December

Tonight’s digital night  is cancelled due to all of the staff at County Hall been sent home.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

HOT DATES 2010 – December update

BOXING DAY DIP: 26^th December, 10.30 am, Seaburn promenade, Sunderland http://www.sunderlandevents.co.uk/event-detail.asp?EventID=3507

BARFORD RACEWAY: 26^th December, 12.30 start www.barfordraceway.com

2011

NEW YEAR’S DAY SWIM: Whitley Bay, 11.00 am

CHINESE NEW YEAR, NEWCASTLE: 3^rd February

FOCUS ON IMAGING 2011: NEC, 9-11 March www.focus-on-imaging.co.uk

WHITBY GOTHIC WEEKEND: 25^th to 27^th March

EVOLUTION FESTIVAL, Newcastle Gateshead Quayside: 28^th and 29^th May

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY SHOW: BH 30^th May

APPLEBY HORSE FAIR: 2^nd to 8^th June

PICKERING 60’s WEEKEND: 11^th June

PICKERING TRACTION ENGINE RALLY: 6^th & 7^th August

WOLSINGHAM SHOW: 3^rd and 4^th September

PICKERING WARTIME WEEKEND: 14^th to 16^th October

TURNER PRIZE AT BALTIC: 21^st October 2011 to 8^th January 2012

WHITBY GOTHIC WEEKEND: 4^th to 7^th November

NB: Dates subject to confirmation

New entries in red

Share a Hot Date! Email tonygriff@gmail.com