The 1st Open Print Competition of the year was held at Cramlington Camera club on the 19 0ct 2017.  Bob Finlay, the President of our club, introduced the Judge for the night Steve McDonald of Morpeth Camera Club. Steve commented on the high quality and standard of the Prints.

COLOUR                                                          MONO
1) Apricot Rose = Peter Moody                      1) Rowley 47 = Jamie Welsh
2) Roughting Linn = Lauren Clayton               2) Twin Peaks = Jim Meikle
3) Colour Palette = Jamie Welsh                    3) Daisy Rain = Alan Lockey
4) Azalea = Pauline Wilson                             4) The Watchman = Jamie Welsh
5) Kingfisher = Phil Conroy                              5) Popular Brownie = Janet Leadbitter
 
HIGHY COMENDED                                         HIGHLY COMENED
Wind beneath my Wings = Alan Lockey         Roughting Linn = Colin Livingstone
A Gap with a View = Lauren Clayton              The Good Book – Chapter 6 = Tom Wilson
Blue Dahlia = Jim Meikle                                The Castle and the Kiln = Alan Lockey
Cactus Flower = Peter Moody                                    Whitby Steam = Terry Cookson
Resting Shag =Ray Thomson                           Fountains Palms = Lauren Clayton
 
The wining images can be viewed...(HERE)

Richard Curry (Print Secretary)

Joe Sheridan......'From Start to Finish'
12/10/2017
Our guest speaker tonight was Joe Sheridan. F.D.A. BA (Hons). A.R.P.S, who after being introduced explained to the audience that the 'From Start to Finnish' was the process from inception through to exhibition of the prints he submitted to obtain his degree from "The Northern Centre of Photography" at Sunderland University. He went on to explain his passion for the 'Old Masters' style of painting, in particular Vermeer and how he wanted to recreate this style by using only natural light, using his camera and without the use of flash, reflectors or filters.

Joe showed a short slideshow of the many early morning visits to Beamish Museum, to avoid the crowds at his chosen location, Pockerley Old Hall to capture images of the folk suitably dressed in period costume within the dwellings.

Joe explained how it took him 3 months of trial and error before finally managing to 'nail' the exposure to ensure no blown highlights or lost detail in the shadows.
From the many images taken Joe picked his 5 favourites and with the help of a 'friend' had them printed on quality museum archive matte paper and mounted in period gilt Frames and submitted them to the degree committee for consideration.

The  exhibition space allocated to him needed a certain amount of  'TLC' to bring up to standard before hanging his prints.  He only had a week to prepare and display his work.  His exhibition was a great success and he was asked to take his prints to Brick Lane for a national exhibition.  One comment Joe overheard whilst setting up, from two girls - " I thought this was a Photo exhibition, not paintings". This proved to Joe his idea and process had worked.

Joe brought the 5 successful prints to the club which were greatly admired by all.
After a brief question and answer session Joe was thanked for an interesting and entertaining presentation and the evening was brought to a close.
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Bob Finlay..(President)
 

  IT'S A KNOCKOUT FLOWER COMPETITION 5th October 2017

The first of our " it's a knockout competitions " took place on Thursday evening, and, as expected, there was the usual high standard of entries submitted by 17 members. There were a lot of " oooooo's and aaaaa's " and quite a few close counts on the voting.
 
The competition was whittled down to the final 3 shots, and the winner WAS...........John Ridley, with a stunning shot of a blue flower. Runner up was Julia Robson, and the final placing going to Jamie Welsh.
 
MANY THANKS to all the members who took part in this competition, and a huge congratulations to John, Julia, and Jamie.
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Click on images to view full size.
 
Alan Lockey  PDI secretary.

First Place......John Ridley

Second Place.......Julia Robson

                Third Place........Jamie Welsh