​Our models where three lovely ladies, Sophie Nixon and Louise Lisle from “Beauty and the Ballgown/MW Events. This is Sophie’s own company and you can find more information on Facebook.  Sophie dressed as “Aurora” from Sleeping Beauty, Louise dressed as “Belle” from Beauty and the Beast. Our third model, a great friend of mine Amy Harkness who is a freelance  “Bridal Catwalk” model. The ladies swapped around the two sets, during the night and a good number of images were taken by our members.

​Part of the purpose of these events is for our members to learn new skills and ‘techniques , and I was aware that a few members learned new settings to try and also what setting to use for portraits. Thanks also to Paul Kidd for helping adjust lights and angles during the night, and other members for assisting each other with camera setting and menu adjustments, etc.
Overall a good fun night had by all.
 
Colin Livingstone
president

​Dave Best travelled from Hexham to deliver his talk, Monochrome and Me, to CCC members. He explained that whether or not he produced images in colour or black and white depended on the subject matter but that some subjects, he felt, were more effective in monochrome. Dave had with him a book for us to view which he has produced on this subject. 
 
Dave showed us his images from a wide range of genres. He is widely travelled, often to visit close relatives, and this was reflected in his shots which were from across Europe, South-East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. His monochrome subject content included architecture (he thought that portraying the essential symmetry of architectural images was often aided by monochrome), statues, sports, bands performing at gigs and people (including close family members). He believes that black and white photographs often emphasise the textures on display.
 
Of particular interest was Dave's explanation of what was going through his mind when he took individual shots. He often spotted incongruity between different elements within the scenes he captured and was attracted to the stories and inconsistencies which they suggested. His images often invited viewers to use their imaginations about what was going on. Although he had himself spent 15 years as a photography judge (he is currently taking a break from judging), Dave admitted that he was sometimes frustrated by judges when they failed to understand the points he was trying to capture and to make in his images which had been submitted in competitions. However, he also showed some of his images which had won competitions.  
 
Dave is an articulate, warm and engaging speaker and his presentation was appreciated and applauded by all members in attendance.
 
Ray Barnes
CCC Programme Secretary  

​The competition was a little smaller than normal with 35 images entered, but we did have a good selection of fine images.
We had the pleasure of welcoming Mike Allport as the judge this time, his critique did bring up questions afterwards but that is expected with any judges’ decisions.
Well done to the top 5 and 5 Highly commended.
1st – Kaleidoscope - Chris Houghton
2nd – Fading Away – Colin Livingstone
3rd – Tall Ship Blyth – Bill Leadbitter
4th – Ring of Brodgar – Brian Sidney
5th - Woodhorn – Donna Gibson

​Highly Commended
Just a Sketch – Colin Livingstone
Tam Hows – Bob Finlay
Landing Gear Down – Colin Livingstone
Holy Island Ruin – Donna Gibson
West Bay – Ray Barnes

Colin Byrne
​PDI Competition Secretary

A few members battled the rain and travelled to Cambois Camera Club to represent Cramlington in the interclub competition.
The 4 clubs taking part were Blyth, Cambois, Cramlington and Whitley Bay and was judged by Alan Wilson ARPS AFIAP.
1st place was awarded to Cambois with 272pts.
2nd place was Blyth with 263 points.
3rd place was Whitley Bay with 262pts.
 4th place was Cramlington with 248pts.
​
There were 4 x 30pts awarded to:
The Underpass - Shauna Hogg (Whitley Bay)
How much is that doggy in the window - Elaine Wylie (Cambois)
Misty Mountain Tops - Neil Benison (Cambois)
​Heart to Heart - Alison Leddy (Blyth)

The top two images from Cramlington were both awarded 27pts and were from  Colin Livingstone with 'Sunset on a rock' and Colin Byrne with 'Looking down at you'.
​Well done!

PDI Competition Secretary
Colin Byrne

Tonight's guest speaker was Phil Benton, a long standing friend of Cramlington Camera club.
Phil’s talk was entitled “My View of the World” which started of an image from Crosby Beach near Liverpool of one of Anthony Gormley’s statues sunk into the sand. Which Phil has now renamed his talk “Rear View of the World.

His talk is based on a project started during and the period during the Covid crisis. Phi was very ill at the time and like may could not get out much. He started with some images of the Northumberland coastline, from “Mirrored” a view of the Holy Island peninsular looking north to “Golden Light” a view of the castle and old boat huts on the island. As Phil progress his talk each image had an anecdote to indicate its meaning to him and to point out that the unusual viewpoint he takes his images from.

​Moving on to his time as COVID confined him to his garden images of two starlings “chatting” entitled “Bath time” to a “Flight of the Foxglove” showing the unusual angle of the bee coming in to gather pollen.

​Phil also works with a variety of Care homes and Hospitals, sharing his images as decoration in their wellness clinics and public spaces. Offering a bit of peace and tranquillity to residents and patients.
Phil has branched out to interior design, working with designers on projects such as Wallpaper and Splashbacks. All of this adding to his variety of outlets for his images. He also spends a good part of his year at local country fairs where he sets up his Stall. All of his images are free to view on his website.


http://www.philbentonphotography.com/


Colin Livingstone
President

Tonight we had our 2nd PDI battle of the season, this time we mixed it up a bit and only allowed mobile phone pictures.
It's quite surprising how good a picture can be created using a phone these days.
With 30 images in the competition we managed to whittle it down to the last two with 'Thaw' by Donna Gibson winning first place and 'Starters Orders' by Brian Sydney coming a close second.
​Well Done.

Colin Byrne
PDI Competition Secretary