After a busy summer of preparation it is great to have this new terms' classes underway and feel a sense of ease as we settle into the routine.  Perhaps I am just feeling the natural relaxation that often comes at this time of year. The word Autumn felt like an exaggeration only a few weeks ago  yet there is simply no denying it now. The geese are flying high above, honking to one another on their journey, the ground has more than a smattering of colourful leaves and some trees, albeit not many, are already bare.  
Through October we have a range of walks available to join in with, we will be exploring some of Northumberland's beautiful sites and talking photography and tips while we go. A lovely way to celebrate the season.  
​Full details are here. 
I LOVE the changing seasons and relish any opportunity to really pay attention to the signs, that's why on our social media channels I am giving regular timely suggestions of what to photograph each week and some tips to make work you are really proud of.  If this sounds like something you would enjoy, make sure you follow our Facebook and Instagram pages (links below). 

Well its September tomorrow and I think for me and lots of other people the start of the new school year always seems to bring on the same reflective mood that the January new year is known for. The distraction of Covid has perhaps emphasised this even further but I certainly feel this year, and last, has gone very quickly- looking back its all a bit of a blur. 
Its times like this I love having good photos to look back on- not least of all to remind me what I’ve been doing. My favourites, of course, are always the ones taken when surrounded by friends or family. Also incredibly precious to me are the nature photographs, I love the way the act of photography necessitates slowing down and observing the world. This year I paid especially close attention to the spring wildflowers, so welcome after a long and cold Northumberland winter.  My catalogue of images is an accidental story of the seasons, my own small way of celebrating and noticing the changes and the passage of time. I feel better knowing that I appreciated those changes and used the opportunity to capture a record of them while I could.  

I love the video below and the take it has about how the way we experience life and memory seems to have been fundamentally altered by photography. 

If you're like me and you treasure your images, you'll want to make sure they are as good as the moment deserves. If you would like help brushing up your camera skills and would relish an excuse to get out creating work and helping those passing days count, you are sure to love our beginners photography course. 
Perhaps like me you’ve also started looking back through this years photos, I don’t want them to waste away unfinished, unloved and unseen. I want to make sure they are as good as the moment deserved. If you would like help polishing up your images and learning to edit (and USE) your own work you are sure to get a helpful boost from our photo editing courses. 
​
Just like schools up and down the country our term starts soon so enrolment is already open. Our most popular and fun courses run in small groups- this means limited places to ensure personal attention. Get in early to secure your choice of weekly calltime.

I am delighted to be offering a number of photo walks beginning over the summer and most likely continuing for many months to capture the changing seasons. This week a small band of dedicated photographers strapped on their camera bags and ascended to Hareshaw Linn in Bellingham. Taking in the wonderful history and ancient woodland, we enjoyed a variety of flora and fauna as we crossed the six bridges that guide you up to the largest waterfall. It was wonderful to be in company again and able to talk about all things photographic, sharing ideas as we each made our own set of images. Here are some of my favourite photos from that time, I chose to focus on the ferns and the flowers that florish in the magical, verdant dene.

Just as I offer photo clubs for using the camera I have several classes of learners who meet weekly to discuss and improve their editing skills. For learners who benefit from the structure and social element that an organised course brings this Editing Club is a welcome way to continue to practice doing their digital enhancements and creations. It’s advisable to have undergone the editing tuition before joining so you can dive in with what are sometimes complex edits. 
After Easter we began working on the theme of photographic art and spent six weeks experimenting with various ways to alter the images changing their style. As always the learners responded with creativity and ingenuity pairing the techniques with suitable images and often painstakingly ‘painting’ their images digitally transforming the feel of the work. Here is a small selection of what was produced.

I am blessed to have lots of lovely learners subscribed to our photo clubs. Generally these are folks who have been through my beginners (or in some cases advanced) courses, or came to me with prior knowledge and the club is a way for them to keep up their photography practice and continue to get feedback on their work. Thinking of new projects to interest and challenge them is a really fun part of my job. We vary not only the theme but the length and the style of the projects, mostly they are open briefs that can be interpreted differently according to each photographers interested and strengths- it is endlessly fascinating to me to see what people come up with. 
The 6 week project we recently finished was titled “Culinary” so taking pictures of anything edible was on the menu (sorry I couldn’t help myself). Pinterest is, of course, a great resource for ideas, if you are interested to see the board created especially for this here is the link (https://www.pinterest.co.uk/christinew5001/culinary-creativity/). 

I have uploaded here for you to enjoy, just a selection of what the talented learners have produced.