Club Meeting,' If it wasn't for the People' - Tuesday 3rd January 2023.

    

On the first meeting of the New Year, Morpeth Camera Club were pleased to welcome as our guest speaker Peter
Walton ABIPP AMPA Dip.PP with his presentation entitled ‘If it Wasn’t for the People.’ He opened the evening with
a short biography, saying that he learnt the skills of photography in his work as a police photographer at murder
scenes in the 1970’s.

This led to a career in forensic investigation, together with teaching and lecturing in the subject in many parts of
the world. On retirement he transferred the discipline learnt from his police work into his professional life as a
wedding photographer gaining Associateships with the British Institute of Professional Photography and the MPA,
Master Photographers Association. He is a member of Durham Photographic Society and an NCPF Judge.

Showing his early monochrome work we saw atmospheric smoke filled pub scenes and dark portraits of miners
after their shifts. This contrasted completely with images of New York street life, colourful characters, parades
and café culture. A trip to Cuba enabled him to visit towns away from the tourist destinations which he illustrated
by a short Audio Visual (Av) presentation capturing the atmosphere with classic cars, architecture, street life and
poverty. The Edinburgh Fringe is a gift, he said, where extrovert people are there hoping to be photographed and
we saw colourful portraits, musicians and animated characterful people.

Durham Photographic Society set themselves a project to photograph famous people who had been born in the
region; people who had found success and fame in their lives. The idea was to have an exhibition to hopefully
inspire young people who didn’t have a very good start in life. Politicians, musicians, local businessmen, a war
correspondent, a Judge, footballers, athletes, the clergy and entrepreneurs were all approached. Some were
reticent until they were told what the aim was and then fully came on board with the idea. Together with great
portraits were heard anecdotes and conversations with the subjects and it was evident that Peter had engaged
with them fully.

An AV sequence of Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore followed with misty harbour scenes, fruit sellers, guards,
fishermen, and crop fields, people, young and old, which captured the atmosphere of these fascinating countries.

Following on Peter showed images of his wedding photography which has taken him to wonderful venues including
the Palace of Westminster. He explained the psychology of gaining trust, remembering that this is a bride’s special
day and who had probably never been photographed by a professional before. His aim, he said, is to make use of
great light, to portray emotion, to create story telling images and to capture the couple, family and guests in their
best possible light. In his final excellent AV Peter included all his favourite wedding images, some dreamy, some
playful, set in wonderful locations, accompanied by romantic music.

Peter took us on a journey through his experiences as a portrait and people photographer, which is his passion and
he concluded by saying ‘If it wasn’t for the people, I wouldn’t have so much fun.’ A short Q & A session concluded
the evening where Peter shared his techniques and editing tips. Club Co Chair Roseanne Robinson thanked Peter for
his varied and interesting presentation after which club members were able to view some of his prints over coffee.

Steph.