Club Meeting, Club Exchange Visit - Tuesday 21st November 2023.
On Tuesday 21st November, Morpeth Camera Club welcomed members of Tynemouth Photographic Society in
an exchange meeting where visiting members gave short presentations which showcased examples of some of
the best projected digital images and audio-visual shows produced at their club.
To open the evening Howard Wilson introduced Margaret Warren who showed images taken whilst on a trip to
Namibia. Describing her route from the Windhoek region through dirt and sand roads to the coast, she showed
images of the drought-ridden area with its unusual strata and ubiquitous car wrecks along the way. Then, she
took us to Sossusulei National Park, showing its dramatic 300ft red sand dunes, clay pans and trees dating back
over 1,000 years. Swakomund provided a complete contrast; with its Germanic architecture, sea fogs and rough
waves; included were images of fur seals, flamingos, cormorants and pelicans. Along the Skeleton Coast, we saw
images of salt pans, many abandoned shipwrecks, the Cape Cross seal colony, Damaralands petrified trees and
ancient rock carvings. Margaret concluded her set with images taken in Etosha National Park with stunning shots
of Wildebeest, Ostrich, Giraffe, Lionesses, and Zebra with Gazelles at a waterhole.
Linda McGregor opened her presentation by explaining that she leads a nature group at the club who are given
monthly assignments. She included images which had been taken by the group following the themes of Colours
of Nature, Geological Formations, Nature as Art, Patterns and Text in Nature, Water in all its Forms, Weather
conditions and Wildlife. She explained that these meetings provide inspiration to her fellow members to produce
something different. When starting out in wildlife photography it is good to explore your own garden, she said;
to train the eye to spot detail which puts you in good stead for when venturing out in countryside walks. She
concluded with images depicting the four seasons; spring, with its snowdrops, new buds and blossom, summer
raindrops, vibrant woodland and butterflies, Autumn’s golden leaves, fungi and warm light and in winter, snow,
frost, frozen puddles and bare trees.
Alan Forster came next with details of the clubs’ Urban Group. The aim is to get out and about, have fun, talk
about and share ideas. This group also are set assignments on a theme or consistency, for instance, all using
the same locations, lens etc but all projects stem from the urban environment. He explained assignments,
project sheets and outcome and we saw examples of images taken on themes of Beauty in Imperfect Things,
Looking Up, Lit Buildings, Symmetry, Geometric Shapes, Chiaroscuro, Brutalist architecture, Windows and
Reflections. We saw lots of creative ideas, which Alan concluded was what the clubs’ aims were; inventiveness
which gives encouragement to other members to try something different, to be more adventurous and to think
out of the box and away from competition photography.
Last up was Howard Wilson with two audio-visual presentations. The first one covering Crich Tramway Village,
near Matlock and Howard explained its history and how a disused quarry formed the base for the new museum.
Colourful images of trams, livery, signage, buildings, and artefacts, were followed by scenes of picnickers, tram
operators and passengers. His next audio-visual was a tongue-in-cheek account of how photographs were/are
judged at competition level. Entitled Judgement Day it was a mock-up of what photographic judges might have
said or certainly what they might think about someone’s work. Filled with insults, negative comments and then
showing the author's disgruntled reactions; this hilarious piece of work certainly had the viewers, especially the
photographic judges in the audience, laughing out loud.
Exchange evenings give everyone the chance to see the standard of work that is produced by other clubs and a
chance to meet other photographers. We certainly enjoyed seeing some of Tynemouth’s work, witnessing their
enthusiasm for photography and look forward to our reciprocal visit in the new year. Peter Downs thanked the
visitors for providing a very entertaining evening after which a buffet supper was enjoyed.
Steph.
an exchange meeting where visiting members gave short presentations which showcased examples of some of
the best projected digital images and audio-visual shows produced at their club.
To open the evening Howard Wilson introduced Margaret Warren who showed images taken whilst on a trip to
Namibia. Describing her route from the Windhoek region through dirt and sand roads to the coast, she showed
images of the drought-ridden area with its unusual strata and ubiquitous car wrecks along the way. Then, she
took us to Sossusulei National Park, showing its dramatic 300ft red sand dunes, clay pans and trees dating back
over 1,000 years. Swakomund provided a complete contrast; with its Germanic architecture, sea fogs and rough
waves; included were images of fur seals, flamingos, cormorants and pelicans. Along the Skeleton Coast, we saw
images of salt pans, many abandoned shipwrecks, the Cape Cross seal colony, Damaralands petrified trees and
ancient rock carvings. Margaret concluded her set with images taken in Etosha National Park with stunning shots
of Wildebeest, Ostrich, Giraffe, Lionesses, and Zebra with Gazelles at a waterhole.
Linda McGregor opened her presentation by explaining that she leads a nature group at the club who are given
monthly assignments. She included images which had been taken by the group following the themes of Colours
of Nature, Geological Formations, Nature as Art, Patterns and Text in Nature, Water in all its Forms, Weather
conditions and Wildlife. She explained that these meetings provide inspiration to her fellow members to produce
something different. When starting out in wildlife photography it is good to explore your own garden, she said;
to train the eye to spot detail which puts you in good stead for when venturing out in countryside walks. She
concluded with images depicting the four seasons; spring, with its snowdrops, new buds and blossom, summer
raindrops, vibrant woodland and butterflies, Autumn’s golden leaves, fungi and warm light and in winter, snow,
frost, frozen puddles and bare trees.
Alan Forster came next with details of the clubs’ Urban Group. The aim is to get out and about, have fun, talk
about and share ideas. This group also are set assignments on a theme or consistency, for instance, all using
the same locations, lens etc but all projects stem from the urban environment. He explained assignments,
project sheets and outcome and we saw examples of images taken on themes of Beauty in Imperfect Things,
Looking Up, Lit Buildings, Symmetry, Geometric Shapes, Chiaroscuro, Brutalist architecture, Windows and
Reflections. We saw lots of creative ideas, which Alan concluded was what the clubs’ aims were; inventiveness
which gives encouragement to other members to try something different, to be more adventurous and to think
out of the box and away from competition photography.
Last up was Howard Wilson with two audio-visual presentations. The first one covering Crich Tramway Village,
near Matlock and Howard explained its history and how a disused quarry formed the base for the new museum.
Colourful images of trams, livery, signage, buildings, and artefacts, were followed by scenes of picnickers, tram
operators and passengers. His next audio-visual was a tongue-in-cheek account of how photographs were/are
judged at competition level. Entitled Judgement Day it was a mock-up of what photographic judges might have
said or certainly what they might think about someone’s work. Filled with insults, negative comments and then
showing the author's disgruntled reactions; this hilarious piece of work certainly had the viewers, especially the
photographic judges in the audience, laughing out loud.
Exchange evenings give everyone the chance to see the standard of work that is produced by other clubs and a
chance to meet other photographers. We certainly enjoyed seeing some of Tynemouth’s work, witnessing their
enthusiasm for photography and look forward to our reciprocal visit in the new year. Peter Downs thanked the
visitors for providing a very entertaining evening after which a buffet supper was enjoyed.
Steph.