Club Meeting, ‘Scales, Wings & Metal Things’ - Tuesday 4th February 2025.
Morpeth Camera Club met on Tuesday 4th February to welcome guest speaker Craig Strawbridge whose presentation
was entitled ‘Scales, Wings & Metal Things’. Craig, from Cramlington, is an ecologist, a wildlife enthusiast, and a self
taught photographer. He began by discussing his passion for aviation, particularly low-level aircraft photography. He
illustrated this using maps of military training areas and their flight paths over Wales, Scotland, and the Lake District.
When capturing low-flying aircraft from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Norway, and Switzerland, he explained that it is not
only about the aircraft, it is also about the dramatic scenery over which they fly. Tornados, Hercules, a Lancaster
Bomber, Typhoons, Hawks and Texan US Special Force aircraft, all featured in several short but very dramatic videos.
We observed his ability to take shots from an open side door, which certainly justified the strict safety briefing he
had received.
He offered insightful accounts of his experiences with pilots he befriended, access to various air bases, and special
commemorative flights, including celebrations for final tours of duty. Following his dynamic and engaging narratives
in aviation, he gracefully transitioned to exploring a more serene genre of photography: ecology.
Craig has a passion for wildlife especially Herpetology, and works on M.O.D land conducting environmental surveys.
His roots are in wildlife and it’s his chance to make a real difference by recording numbers, ensuring animal welfare,
preserving protected land and noting trends of behaviour as proof for further studies. He is very strong on Fieldcraft;
the art of knowing how to behave, consideration for the species and habitat in which it lives and how to blend in so
as not to traumatise.
He uses camouflage and a hide and we saw resulting images which included fox, Long Tailed Tit chicks, a Waxwing
and Kingfisher in the rain, stunning Mountain Hare in the snow and a Short Eared Owl in flight. One should never
write off a dull, rainy day, he said. The advantages are that there a fewer people around, it is quieter and more
atmospheric. There is a lot of questionable behaviour from some wildlife photographers and he advised that one
should report poor behaviour if possible.
He concluded by saying that he helps out at the Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK who are committed to the
conservation of native amphibians and reptiles and their natural environment. The most rewarding thing for him is
to successfully photograph wildlife without causing any disturbance. Club Chairman Peter Downs thanked Craig for
his presentation which demonstrated his passion for aviation and conservation, after which refreshments and much
conversation were enjoyed.
Steph.
was entitled ‘Scales, Wings & Metal Things’. Craig, from Cramlington, is an ecologist, a wildlife enthusiast, and a self
taught photographer. He began by discussing his passion for aviation, particularly low-level aircraft photography. He
illustrated this using maps of military training areas and their flight paths over Wales, Scotland, and the Lake District.
When capturing low-flying aircraft from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Norway, and Switzerland, he explained that it is not
only about the aircraft, it is also about the dramatic scenery over which they fly. Tornados, Hercules, a Lancaster
Bomber, Typhoons, Hawks and Texan US Special Force aircraft, all featured in several short but very dramatic videos.
We observed his ability to take shots from an open side door, which certainly justified the strict safety briefing he
had received.
He offered insightful accounts of his experiences with pilots he befriended, access to various air bases, and special
commemorative flights, including celebrations for final tours of duty. Following his dynamic and engaging narratives
in aviation, he gracefully transitioned to exploring a more serene genre of photography: ecology.
Craig has a passion for wildlife especially Herpetology, and works on M.O.D land conducting environmental surveys.
His roots are in wildlife and it’s his chance to make a real difference by recording numbers, ensuring animal welfare,
preserving protected land and noting trends of behaviour as proof for further studies. He is very strong on Fieldcraft;
the art of knowing how to behave, consideration for the species and habitat in which it lives and how to blend in so
as not to traumatise.
He uses camouflage and a hide and we saw resulting images which included fox, Long Tailed Tit chicks, a Waxwing
and Kingfisher in the rain, stunning Mountain Hare in the snow and a Short Eared Owl in flight. One should never
write off a dull, rainy day, he said. The advantages are that there a fewer people around, it is quieter and more
atmospheric. There is a lot of questionable behaviour from some wildlife photographers and he advised that one
should report poor behaviour if possible.
He concluded by saying that he helps out at the Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK who are committed to the
conservation of native amphibians and reptiles and their natural environment. The most rewarding thing for him is
to successfully photograph wildlife without causing any disturbance. Club Chairman Peter Downs thanked Craig for
his presentation which demonstrated his passion for aviation and conservation, after which refreshments and much
conversation were enjoyed.
Steph.