Don't forget the next Zoom meeting will be this Thursday (4th February) when CCC member Paul Kidd will regale us with stories and photographs from his photographic trip to the Isle of Skye.

As usual you should have received your unique invitation so please check your email inboxes.
Login is from 7.20pm for a 7.30 prompt start.

Jo Howell  

Tonight (28th January) we were delighted to welcome Jo Howell as our ‘Zoom’ guest.  Jo holds a BA (Hons) in Photography, Video & Digital Imaging. Jo describes herself as ’An Analogue Photography Process Fanatic’. Jo is based in Sunderland and is a passionate advocate of the Cyanotype printing process.

Jo started by showing images of some of her commercial work including her work photographing the glasswork art of the artist Ayako Tani for marketing and publishing purposes. Jo has also carried out work for and at the National Glass Centre.

Although Jo has a small studio of her own she admits to her preference for losing the constraints of the studio for the joy she gets working outdoors, especially when teaching groups of people her passions in photographic art. This was evident in the ‘pinhole’ photography project she spoke of. Where under her guidance people made their own simple pinhole cameras from tin cans and cardboard boxes and were then able to take and have printed the images they captured from paper negatives.

A  £25000 commission funded by The Cultural Spring & NEPN was up for grabs, which Jo tendered for and and was awarded the commission.  The ambitious ‘Wear Experimenting’ involved the participation of Sunderland residents to join Jo in creating photographic art. With a gazebo and hydroponic tent Jo traveled Sunderland setting up her mobile workshop in locations such as Schools and shopping centres with the results being displayed on advertising hoardings, digital billboards and shop windows. By all accounts a great success.

Jo’s talk and presentation was a breath of fresh air from the norm and her enthusiasm and passion for her art came over in spades and showed that photography can come in many shades.

A big thank you to Jo for a thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining and thought provoking evening and we wish her continued success in her work.

Bob Finlay (President)

Jo Howell.   BA(Hons) Photography, Video & Digital Imaging.

This coming Thursday (28th January)we have as our ‘Zoom’ guest Sunderland based Jo Howell. Jo is a Professional Photographic Artist and the subject of her presentation is ‘Photography in the Community’.  Please check your email inboxes for your invitation to join.
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Please login from 7.20pm to enable a prompt 7.30pm start.

Simon Allen

This evening (21st January) we had as our ‘Zoom’ guest speaker Simon Allen LRPS EFIAP.  Simon is Program Secretary of Stokesley PS and lives in Hutton Rudby, North Yorkshire.

Simon describes himself as a keen amateur photographer who enjoys both landscape and wildlife photography.  Simon has travelled to many parts of the world to indulge in his passion.

Tonight Simon’s presentation entitled ‘Close Encounters’ was his recollections and photographs from his trip taken in 2019 to Brazil, the North and South Pantanal district to be exact.  Simon explained that the North Pantanal  is home to the worlds largest numbers of wild jaguars. This being one of the main reasons for Simon’s visit.  This was to be followed by his trip to Madagascar.

The South Pantana in Brazil though is where we started and we were shown some beautiful images of the very diverse wildlife that calls this region home.  Hyacinth Macaws, Red & Green Macaws, Green Parrots the huge Rhea and the large beaked Toucan are just some of the birdlife captured in stunning detail by Simon.  And not just birds either. Giant Anteaters, Cayman, Giant River Otters and even the shy and rarely seen Ocelot.

Moving to the North Pantana, the more wooded area with many rivers Simon stayed on a Floatel  on the river with daily up to 5 hour boat trips to try and catch glimpses of the wildlife along the banks, including of course the Jaguar.  Simon managed to capture some absolutely stunning images of this supposedly shy and retiring big cat strolling along the river bank or resting on the bough of a tree. Jabiru Storks and Howler Monkeys also featured in Simon’s presentation.

Madagascar followed. Simon explained that Madagascar was a very poor country with poor infrastructure so travelling on the poorly maintained roads was a challenge.  Madagascar is famous for its large populations of Lemurs, though many Simon tells us are under threat from heavy deforestation for farming.  Once again we were treated to some lovely images of Brown Lemurs, Indri Lemurs (the largest species) and beautiful brightly coloured Geckos and Chameleons.

Many thanks to Simon for a beautiful selection of images beautifully presented.

Bob Finlay (President)

We have speakers booked to give Zoom presentations for the next 3 Thursday's. Two guest speakers followed by our own Paul Kidd.

The meetings are as follows.

Thursday 21st January.  Simon Allen.            Close Encounters
Thursday 28th January.  Jo Howells.              Photography in the Community
Thursday.  4th February   Paul Kidd.                Skye  

Please log in a few minutes before program start time of 7.30pm

​Check out your email inboxes for invitations to join meetings.

The next Zoom Meeting will be this Thursday (14th Jan) at 7.30pm. Please  log in just before start time. Topic? Well! Join in and see.