Club Meeting, 'What Pleases Me...' with Jim Welsh - Tuesday 22nd January 2019.
On Tuesday 22nd January 2019, Morpeth Camera Club gave a warm welcome to Jim Welsh LRPS APAGB CPAGB from Blyth
Photographic Society. A good friend of the club, he had visited on many occasions to look at our members work in his role
as a photographic judge, but this evening it was our turn to look at his photographs. He stated that he intended to present
a selection of digital images covering many genres entitled " What Pleases Me... " whilst explaining the stories behind some
of the images.
Starting photography in the early 80's with his first camera and colour film, he followed a path taken by many, buying and
reading books on the subject, practising every spare moment and taking photos of anything and everything. Realising that
this was something that he really enjoyed he decided that he needed more practical help and took the huge step of joining
his local camera club. This was the start of his photographic education, using monochrome film, building a darkroom and
printing his own photographs, moving to slide film and slowly upgrading his cameras and lenses whilst at the same time
learning from others, meeting new people and forming lifetime friendships through his hobby.
Family and friends had played a huge part and this was seen in a number of images where he had recorded everyday shots
of them growing up, social events, things which at the time were taken without thought but now provide an important record
of times past. Jim had always liked people and portraiture, from catching expressions on faces of naughty grandchildren to
waiting for the right moment as two boxers worked in the gym, this was a subject that he relished and it was evident in the
images shown.
Another landmark in his photographic history was the change to digital cameras and everything that came with it. Computers,
flash cards, printers, software etc etc. A whole new world to be learned, but Jim stated that he had been up for the challenge
and as his confidence grew his photography took off in another direction. He was again drawn to photographing people and on
visits to re-enactment weekends like Pickering, he explained that he liked watching what others around him were doing and this
resulted in him recording expressions and humour that could not be staged. This was followed by images taken at Wallington
Hall, Beamish Museum, Tanfield Railway, and on club trips to Thorpe Perrow and Ushaw College.
Images of birds, butterflies, animals and flowers were all included in his presentation and each prompted a story or something
practical that he had learned at the time. He explained what he was thinking when taking an image and if the result matched
his vision or expectations. Several shots taken of the same subject in both colour and monochrome again asked questions as
to which was preferred and that this should depend on the message the author was trying to convey.
Landscapes were another genre that featured in his presentation and with wit and good humour it appeared that the weather
also had a bearing on a lot of his outdoor work as he recalled numerous occasions where it rained every time he and his wife
Margaret went out to take photographs. However fine views of Hebdon Bridge, the Yorkshire Dales, the Lake District, Black
Rock Cottage and The Kelpies showed that this was not always the case.
Jim had started the evening by stating that his show was based around the images or subjects that please him. After viewing
his show, listening to his stories and descriptions behind the images, it was clear to all that what pleases him is 'Photography'
and everything that it entails. Through his observations and enthusiasm we had enjoyed a very pleasing evening where the
warm applause and vote of thanks were well deserved.
Davy Bolam.
Photographic Society. A good friend of the club, he had visited on many occasions to look at our members work in his role
as a photographic judge, but this evening it was our turn to look at his photographs. He stated that he intended to present
a selection of digital images covering many genres entitled " What Pleases Me... " whilst explaining the stories behind some
of the images.
Starting photography in the early 80's with his first camera and colour film, he followed a path taken by many, buying and
reading books on the subject, practising every spare moment and taking photos of anything and everything. Realising that
this was something that he really enjoyed he decided that he needed more practical help and took the huge step of joining
his local camera club. This was the start of his photographic education, using monochrome film, building a darkroom and
printing his own photographs, moving to slide film and slowly upgrading his cameras and lenses whilst at the same time
learning from others, meeting new people and forming lifetime friendships through his hobby.
Family and friends had played a huge part and this was seen in a number of images where he had recorded everyday shots
of them growing up, social events, things which at the time were taken without thought but now provide an important record
of times past. Jim had always liked people and portraiture, from catching expressions on faces of naughty grandchildren to
waiting for the right moment as two boxers worked in the gym, this was a subject that he relished and it was evident in the
images shown.
Another landmark in his photographic history was the change to digital cameras and everything that came with it. Computers,
flash cards, printers, software etc etc. A whole new world to be learned, but Jim stated that he had been up for the challenge
and as his confidence grew his photography took off in another direction. He was again drawn to photographing people and on
visits to re-enactment weekends like Pickering, he explained that he liked watching what others around him were doing and this
resulted in him recording expressions and humour that could not be staged. This was followed by images taken at Wallington
Hall, Beamish Museum, Tanfield Railway, and on club trips to Thorpe Perrow and Ushaw College.
Images of birds, butterflies, animals and flowers were all included in his presentation and each prompted a story or something
practical that he had learned at the time. He explained what he was thinking when taking an image and if the result matched
his vision or expectations. Several shots taken of the same subject in both colour and monochrome again asked questions as
to which was preferred and that this should depend on the message the author was trying to convey.
Landscapes were another genre that featured in his presentation and with wit and good humour it appeared that the weather
also had a bearing on a lot of his outdoor work as he recalled numerous occasions where it rained every time he and his wife
Margaret went out to take photographs. However fine views of Hebdon Bridge, the Yorkshire Dales, the Lake District, Black
Rock Cottage and The Kelpies showed that this was not always the case.
Jim had started the evening by stating that his show was based around the images or subjects that please him. After viewing
his show, listening to his stories and descriptions behind the images, it was clear to all that what pleases him is 'Photography'
and everything that it entails. Through his observations and enthusiasm we had enjoyed a very pleasing evening where the
warm applause and vote of thanks were well deserved.
Davy Bolam.