Club Meeting Report, A feast of AV 's - Tuesday 21st January 2014.
The theme for the night was ‘A Feast of AV’s’ and Chairman, Steve McDonald opened the evening with a before and after
session of his own AV entitled ‘Sheep’. The first version was a series of photographs, put to music using default transitions
which lacked continuity and interaction between slides, resulting in a long, drawn out AV.
His second version, using the same images but in a different order, was an example of story telling, using movement,
panning and zooming creating a much more entertaining show. His use of smooth transitions, the use of masks which
interact with the back subject, and matching the music to the images illustrated what can be achieved to create an
entertaining audio visual presentation.
Chris Hills followed with his AV entitled ‘Fares Please’ which was photographed in London in the 60’s and set to humerous
music. His images of vintage buses, trolley buses, and red London Transport buses in different locations highlighted the
fashions of the day, showed an apparent lack of traffic in the capital and with many classic cars took the audience on a step
back in time.
Next on to John Thompson with ’Harbour Light’, photographs taken on trips to Blyth South Beach especially for the pleasure
of walking and his observations of people, families, lone walkers, dogs and more dogs. Set to soft, gentle, serene music he illustrated the peacefulness of the beach, birds, surfers, fishermen, the lighthouse and boats. Great photographs of waves,
clouds, groynes, beach huts, horse riders and people just looking out to sea. His AV concluded with an unexpected video
clip of a boat entering Blyth harbour.
Third presenter Mark Harrison explained that this was his first attempt at sports photography and at making an AV, so it
was quite a challenge when his friends, who had arranged to play a match at St James’s Park, Newcastle asked him to be
the photographer for the day. Mark succeeded in producing some great action shots of the players, and followed this with
a selection of images showing motor cross and speedway racing.
Then on to member Mike Weighall, whose work was entitled ’Nice, Cote D’Azure set to flowing French music. Images of
the bay, bathers, the attractive buildings, wooden shutters and the marina were followed by the old streets of Vielle Ville,
steps, doorways, colourful shops, markets and lavender stalls. Artwork, contemporary buildings & sculpture and naïve art,
all in glorious colour. In Eze, Mike had included shots of cacti, roof tiles, street scenes in which he succeeded in capturing
the atmosphere of the area.
Yvonne Fisher followed with her presentation set in Kenya and South Africa. Stunning Images taken at the Kruger and
Tsavo National Parks showed animals including warthogs, giraffes, emus and zebra. Distant shots of Mount Kilimanjaro,
local people in national dress, elephants , hyenas, lions and then views of Blydde River Canyon and scenes of the Cape of
Good Hope rounded off her travel AV.
Stephanie Robson then presented her AV entitled My Garden which started off with traditional photographs of her garden
but quickly, changed course and turned into a very contemporary presentation. Colourful photographs of graffiti, street art,
posters and photographs of everyday items which she had manipulated to resemble graphic images were all combined to
good effect in an AV with a ’twist’ and a soundtrack to match.
Watson Warren was next in line to present his work entitled ’The Snows of Morpeth’, all photographs having been taken
within half a mile from his home. Lovely snow scenes of the River Wansbeck, the Stepping Stones, snow laden trees and
branches, the frozen river Wansbeck and sunset on snow, all set to a haunting theme.
Alan Harle, with his obvious passion for locomotives presented an AV with photographs taken at an exhibition featuring
famous old loco’s which were being displayed together for the first time. Set to an appropriate railway soundtrack, Mallard,
Dominion of Canada, Sir Nigel Gresley, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Union of South Africa, and Bittern were all photographed at
the York Railway Museum. Detailed images of brass name plates, wheels and carriages were all captured with the author
overcoming the difficulty of recording shiny, immaculate locomotives in bright sunshine whilst avoiding reflections.
Chris Hills returned with an AV showing a visit to a paddle steamer museum and restoration centre in Echuca, Australia.
River Steamers were he main choice of transport for wool exporters and set to typical Australian music, there were shots
of paddle boats, The Adelaide, Alexander Arbuthnot, The Pride of the Murrey and the Canberra, alongside huge piers which
were built to accommodate fluctuating water levels. Detailed images of old equipment, wheels, engines and spare
parts piled in ancient rail stations and boat yards were included in Chris’s presentation.
John Thompson’s second AV was entitled ‘Colours of Lowry’ featuring the Lowry Centre at Salford Quays, Manchester. His
show detailed the interior structure of the building, all surfaces being painted in strong, vibrant colours. Abstract images of stairways, corners and pipework of bold but contrasting blocks of colour all placed in a picture frame format. Smooth and
carefully faded transitions so that one image blended into another resulted in an original and imaginative audio visual.
Finally, Mark Harrison returned to close the evening with a set of images taken on several of the camera clubs walks
and visits. He had secretly photographed fellow members from different angles and aspects which was set to matching
music. This resulted in a very humorous presentation, confirming without doubt what a great time members have during
the summer meetings.
Steve thanked all members who took part in the evening, stressing that this is a perfect opportunity for participants to
display their own personalities and styles without the restraint of criteria set in the competition environment. After a full
evening of presentations, everyone was aware that there was maybe more to making a good AV show than was first thought.
The raffle and coffee concluded another very entertaining night at the club.
session of his own AV entitled ‘Sheep’. The first version was a series of photographs, put to music using default transitions
which lacked continuity and interaction between slides, resulting in a long, drawn out AV.
His second version, using the same images but in a different order, was an example of story telling, using movement,
panning and zooming creating a much more entertaining show. His use of smooth transitions, the use of masks which
interact with the back subject, and matching the music to the images illustrated what can be achieved to create an
entertaining audio visual presentation.
Chris Hills followed with his AV entitled ‘Fares Please’ which was photographed in London in the 60’s and set to humerous
music. His images of vintage buses, trolley buses, and red London Transport buses in different locations highlighted the
fashions of the day, showed an apparent lack of traffic in the capital and with many classic cars took the audience on a step
back in time.
Next on to John Thompson with ’Harbour Light’, photographs taken on trips to Blyth South Beach especially for the pleasure
of walking and his observations of people, families, lone walkers, dogs and more dogs. Set to soft, gentle, serene music he illustrated the peacefulness of the beach, birds, surfers, fishermen, the lighthouse and boats. Great photographs of waves,
clouds, groynes, beach huts, horse riders and people just looking out to sea. His AV concluded with an unexpected video
clip of a boat entering Blyth harbour.
Third presenter Mark Harrison explained that this was his first attempt at sports photography and at making an AV, so it
was quite a challenge when his friends, who had arranged to play a match at St James’s Park, Newcastle asked him to be
the photographer for the day. Mark succeeded in producing some great action shots of the players, and followed this with
a selection of images showing motor cross and speedway racing.
Then on to member Mike Weighall, whose work was entitled ’Nice, Cote D’Azure set to flowing French music. Images of
the bay, bathers, the attractive buildings, wooden shutters and the marina were followed by the old streets of Vielle Ville,
steps, doorways, colourful shops, markets and lavender stalls. Artwork, contemporary buildings & sculpture and naïve art,
all in glorious colour. In Eze, Mike had included shots of cacti, roof tiles, street scenes in which he succeeded in capturing
the atmosphere of the area.
Yvonne Fisher followed with her presentation set in Kenya and South Africa. Stunning Images taken at the Kruger and
Tsavo National Parks showed animals including warthogs, giraffes, emus and zebra. Distant shots of Mount Kilimanjaro,
local people in national dress, elephants , hyenas, lions and then views of Blydde River Canyon and scenes of the Cape of
Good Hope rounded off her travel AV.
Stephanie Robson then presented her AV entitled My Garden which started off with traditional photographs of her garden
but quickly, changed course and turned into a very contemporary presentation. Colourful photographs of graffiti, street art,
posters and photographs of everyday items which she had manipulated to resemble graphic images were all combined to
good effect in an AV with a ’twist’ and a soundtrack to match.
Watson Warren was next in line to present his work entitled ’The Snows of Morpeth’, all photographs having been taken
within half a mile from his home. Lovely snow scenes of the River Wansbeck, the Stepping Stones, snow laden trees and
branches, the frozen river Wansbeck and sunset on snow, all set to a haunting theme.
Alan Harle, with his obvious passion for locomotives presented an AV with photographs taken at an exhibition featuring
famous old loco’s which were being displayed together for the first time. Set to an appropriate railway soundtrack, Mallard,
Dominion of Canada, Sir Nigel Gresley, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Union of South Africa, and Bittern were all photographed at
the York Railway Museum. Detailed images of brass name plates, wheels and carriages were all captured with the author
overcoming the difficulty of recording shiny, immaculate locomotives in bright sunshine whilst avoiding reflections.
Chris Hills returned with an AV showing a visit to a paddle steamer museum and restoration centre in Echuca, Australia.
River Steamers were he main choice of transport for wool exporters and set to typical Australian music, there were shots
of paddle boats, The Adelaide, Alexander Arbuthnot, The Pride of the Murrey and the Canberra, alongside huge piers which
were built to accommodate fluctuating water levels. Detailed images of old equipment, wheels, engines and spare
parts piled in ancient rail stations and boat yards were included in Chris’s presentation.
John Thompson’s second AV was entitled ‘Colours of Lowry’ featuring the Lowry Centre at Salford Quays, Manchester. His
show detailed the interior structure of the building, all surfaces being painted in strong, vibrant colours. Abstract images of stairways, corners and pipework of bold but contrasting blocks of colour all placed in a picture frame format. Smooth and
carefully faded transitions so that one image blended into another resulted in an original and imaginative audio visual.
Finally, Mark Harrison returned to close the evening with a set of images taken on several of the camera clubs walks
and visits. He had secretly photographed fellow members from different angles and aspects which was set to matching
music. This resulted in a very humorous presentation, confirming without doubt what a great time members have during
the summer meetings.
Steve thanked all members who took part in the evening, stressing that this is a perfect opportunity for participants to
display their own personalities and styles without the restraint of criteria set in the competition environment. After a full
evening of presentations, everyone was aware that there was maybe more to making a good AV show than was first thought.
The raffle and coffee concluded another very entertaining night at the club.