​Our third Open Print competition took place on Thursday 6th March judged by Stephen Fowler and in the judges' words it was a high standard of prints he had to decide on.  In total there were 27 prints in the competition, a mix of colour and monochrome despite the relatively low number of entries it was a successful evening with some outstanding work on display. 
Congratulations to all the highly commended and to the eventual top 5 prints also to all the others that entered their work.
​
1st Place Colin Livingstone with Jules in Blue
2nd Place Bob Finlay with Little Red Enjoying a Nibble  
3rd Place Ray Barnes with Across The River Douro
4th Place Paul Dunn with Falls of Falloch
5th Place Peter Moody with Iris

Highly Commended
Paul Dunn with Foothills
Paul Dunn with Darnell
Bob Finlay with Roughting Linn
Colin Livingstone with Robin             

Chris Houghton
President

On 3rd March Colin Livingstone and myself travelled to Ponteland Photographic Society who hosted the North Tyne Area PDI Competition. Cramlington one this competition in 2024 and we knew it would be a tough competition this year. The judge Bill Broadley explained the level of images was very high and there seemed to be a theme of images with water reflections this year. The best image in the competition and awarded 30 points was 'Taxi' by Shauna Hogg from Whitley bay. Out of the 10 images Cramlington entered Colin Livingstone was our top scorer with 28pts with Jules Attacks. 

There were 6 clubs in the competition and the results are as follows:
!st North Shields with 213pts
2nd Gosforth with 212pts
3rd Tynemouth with 211pts
4th Whitley Bay with 207pts
4th Ponteland with 207pts
6th Cramlington 196pts

After the results there was a raffle followed by a lovely buffet with tea and coffee.

Colin Byrne
​PDI Competition Secretary

​Peter Downs, the Programme Secretary of Morpeth Camera Club, presented his talk about abstract photography to CCC members on 27th February. He explained that he has had a lifelong love for and background in art, and this appeared to inform and inspire his approach to creating abstract images from the photographs he takes. Peter explained that he captures photographs using the Automatic setting on his camera and then spends time manipulating them in a variety of computer software programmes, including Photoshop 25, Nik and a range of Topaz programmes. Sometimes Peter spends many hours creating a single abstract image from a either a single original photograph or from a composite of multiple photographs.
 
Peter explained that he does not use a single process to create his abstract shots and that it is at varying stages of the processes that he decides the theme which he will adopt to produce his final creation. This is a freewheeling approach in which he finds himself totally engrossed!
 
It was acknowledged by Peter that his abstract creations do not appeal to everybody, including all photography judges. Some photographers tell Peter that they would struggle to find the courage to manipulate and display the images he produces. However, Peter told us that he produces images, first and foremost, for himself and so this empowers him to not be overly concerned about how others view them.  
 
Our members enjoyed Peter's talk and his images as he challenged and informed our views of photography. Some of his concepts, shapes and colours were striking. Inevitably, as individuals our members liked some of Peter's images more than others, but we all felt that his talk was really interesting, and it was well appreciated.
 
Ray Barnes
Programme Secretary