Co-op Camera Club efforts pay dividends
Jan 17 2009 by Dave Black, The Journal
A STUNNING collection of photographs taken in all corners of the globe by members of a tiny North East camera club has gone on display at a leading visitor attraction.
Pictures shot in Africa, Russia, Australia, Canada and all over Europe by amateur enthusiasts at the Co-op Camera Club in Ashington form the centrepiece of the exhibition at the Woodhorn Museum and Archives Centre.
The images range from wildlife, spectacular sunsets and Masai tribesmen in Kenya, through snow-capped mountains in the Dolomites to the canals and lagoons of Venice.
They sit alongside a variety of photographs taken in local settings such as Gateshead Quayside, Bamburgh Castle, the Farne Islands and Whitby.
Members of the 31-strong camera club, which was established in the early 1930s and still meets every Thursday night at Ashington Leisure Centre, have spent two years putting together the exhibition, which is called A Celebration of Photography and runs until April 19. Many of the 128 images were shot on holidays in various locations around the world, and all of the pictures have been specially enlarged and framed for the exhibition. Yesterday club chairman Bob Shell said members were thrilled at seeing their work go on display to visitors to the museum.
“With digital cameras we believe that more photographs than ever before are being taken by everyone, not just our members, but few ever make it to print. A photograph is a wonderful way to capture one fleeting moment for eternity and so we are very happy to be able to share a few of our special moments with visitors to Woodhorn.”
Deborah Tate, marketing officer at Woodhorn, said: “This is the Co-op Camera Club’s first exhibition here and they are very proud of their work.” During the three-month run there will be a number of photography workshops at the museum for the general public, details of which will be available at www.experiencewoodhorn.com
Also starting at Woodhorn this week, and running until May 17, is Above and Below – A Legacy of Mining Life, an exhibition of paintings by professional artist William Hindmarsh depicting the life of a North East coal miner.
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