Club Meeting, Trips & Outings Presentation - Tuesday 9th October 2018.
In 2017 a group of Morpeth Camera Club members got together with an idea to organise a series day trips to be held
once a month during the summer break. This was in addition to the successful Tuesday evening walks and would enable
those that wished to go further afield to take photographs at places of interest, with less constraints on time and distance.
Since that time eighteen trips have been held and on Tuesday 9th October 2018 several of those who attended presented
images taken by members at each location.
Glyn Trueman started the evening with a few images from Hauxley and showed that you can plan and be prepared but on
the day the one thing you cannot change is the weather. A dull day with heavy rain had resulted in very few images being
taken at the beach and nature reserve but determined to get something, some of the group had persevered and captured
stormy seas at Amble.
Moving north of the border Gordon Hine presented views of Edinburgh. Local landmarks, architecture and church interiors
was a recurring theme before attention turned to the fringe festival. Here the activities of people and performers on the
street had been well seen and recorded. Berwick was the next location with the lighthouse, river mouth and the famous
tweed bridges all taken from different angles, amongst the favoured subjects.
A spring visit to Holy Island followed as Jeremy Cooper led us around the island with images of the Priory, Castle, Lime
Kilns, and harbour. Bird life visiting a local cafe was a good example of being ready to capture the unexpected. Jeremy
continued the presentation as we moved to the Farne islands with many examples of the amazing seabirds flying, fishing,
feeding, and even fighting. This showed that with a bit of patience and a good eye, excellent results can be achieved. The
natural history aspect was again explored with a separate trip to Beadnell and the Long Nanny where the National Trust
protects the breeding site of Little Terns, Arctic Terns and Ringed Plovers.
Howick Hall, the ancestral seat of the Earls Grey, was another popular visit. Owned by the Grey family, the current hall is
a grade 2 listed building, built in 1782. The group also explored the extensive grounds and photographed a wide variety
of unusual plants and flowers.
Three outings had been arranged to National Trust properties and Karen Jackson gave an account of visits to Cragside,
Wallington and Gibside. A selection of members work included the main buildings as well as the more unusual artworks,
wood carvings and sculptures to be found on the woodland walks.
Dave Bisset followed and he guided us around Harbottle, Alwinton, the Upper Coquet valley and out to Kielder reservoir.
Beautiful landscapes supplemented by views of castles, lime kilns, bridges and rivers showed some of the outstanding
features of the Northumberland countryside.
Several of the excursions had taken on a religious theme as Dave explained that they had followed a Northumberland
churches trail that had led them them to Whalton, Meldon, Bolam, Kirkwhelpington and Cambo. This had been a good
opportunity to record the details and styles of church interiors and although all had a fonts, alters, stained glass and
statuary, the images showed that they were quite different.
The presentation continued with images of the chapels, refectory, exhibition hall and parlour at Ushaw College, giving
a fascinating glimpse into a unique and tranquil place. Stunning ceilings, detailed stained glass windows, wooden pews
and carved church furniture had to be seen, and the pictures would suggest that a return visit would be very popular.
Finchale Priory concluded the evening and again the weather had a bearing on the pictures taken. A dull day with no
light had made members think on their feet and resort to close up photography, concentrating on textures, details and
patterns in the stonework of the remains of the 13th century benedictine priory.
Club chairman Mark Harrison thanked the organisers, presenters and contributors for all their hard work in producing
a successful show.
Davy Bolam.
once a month during the summer break. This was in addition to the successful Tuesday evening walks and would enable
those that wished to go further afield to take photographs at places of interest, with less constraints on time and distance.
Since that time eighteen trips have been held and on Tuesday 9th October 2018 several of those who attended presented
images taken by members at each location.
Glyn Trueman started the evening with a few images from Hauxley and showed that you can plan and be prepared but on
the day the one thing you cannot change is the weather. A dull day with heavy rain had resulted in very few images being
taken at the beach and nature reserve but determined to get something, some of the group had persevered and captured
stormy seas at Amble.
Moving north of the border Gordon Hine presented views of Edinburgh. Local landmarks, architecture and church interiors
was a recurring theme before attention turned to the fringe festival. Here the activities of people and performers on the
street had been well seen and recorded. Berwick was the next location with the lighthouse, river mouth and the famous
tweed bridges all taken from different angles, amongst the favoured subjects.
A spring visit to Holy Island followed as Jeremy Cooper led us around the island with images of the Priory, Castle, Lime
Kilns, and harbour. Bird life visiting a local cafe was a good example of being ready to capture the unexpected. Jeremy
continued the presentation as we moved to the Farne islands with many examples of the amazing seabirds flying, fishing,
feeding, and even fighting. This showed that with a bit of patience and a good eye, excellent results can be achieved. The
natural history aspect was again explored with a separate trip to Beadnell and the Long Nanny where the National Trust
protects the breeding site of Little Terns, Arctic Terns and Ringed Plovers.
Howick Hall, the ancestral seat of the Earls Grey, was another popular visit. Owned by the Grey family, the current hall is
a grade 2 listed building, built in 1782. The group also explored the extensive grounds and photographed a wide variety
of unusual plants and flowers.
Three outings had been arranged to National Trust properties and Karen Jackson gave an account of visits to Cragside,
Wallington and Gibside. A selection of members work included the main buildings as well as the more unusual artworks,
wood carvings and sculptures to be found on the woodland walks.
Dave Bisset followed and he guided us around Harbottle, Alwinton, the Upper Coquet valley and out to Kielder reservoir.
Beautiful landscapes supplemented by views of castles, lime kilns, bridges and rivers showed some of the outstanding
features of the Northumberland countryside.
Several of the excursions had taken on a religious theme as Dave explained that they had followed a Northumberland
churches trail that had led them them to Whalton, Meldon, Bolam, Kirkwhelpington and Cambo. This had been a good
opportunity to record the details and styles of church interiors and although all had a fonts, alters, stained glass and
statuary, the images showed that they were quite different.
The presentation continued with images of the chapels, refectory, exhibition hall and parlour at Ushaw College, giving
a fascinating glimpse into a unique and tranquil place. Stunning ceilings, detailed stained glass windows, wooden pews
and carved church furniture had to be seen, and the pictures would suggest that a return visit would be very popular.
Finchale Priory concluded the evening and again the weather had a bearing on the pictures taken. A dull day with no
light had made members think on their feet and resort to close up photography, concentrating on textures, details and
patterns in the stonework of the remains of the 13th century benedictine priory.
Club chairman Mark Harrison thanked the organisers, presenters and contributors for all their hard work in producing
a successful show.
Davy Bolam.