Durham Miners Gala

Colour in the Cathedral

#1
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#2
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#3
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#4
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#5
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It was Durham Miners Gala on Saturday, an annual event dating back more than 100 years. It began when Co. Durham was a huge coal mining area. Now there are no deep mines but trade unionists still support the event.
After the bands, banners and political speeches in the city centre a religious service is always held in Durham Cathedral when the banners are blessed by senior clergy.
This year no fewer than three bishops were there. Members of Durham Photographic Society were given priviledged places inside the Cathedral to record the event. Fellow PU member DOIK (John Attle)and I were among them. John is Durham Photographic Society's link with the Cathedral authorities. I'm sure he'll be posting some of his shots on here.
No flash and no tripods could be used inside the Cathedral. My K5 was working at 3200ISO and the camera was handheld.
David

Well done David, the K5 seems to work very well in those conditions. Showed the pictures to Margaret, who got a bit emotional, I gather her father used to carry the banner for Eppelton.

Well done from me as well. A great set for your first Gala in the Cathedral, I will book you for next year.
I dropped off the photos of the young singers I took on Sat. morning and managed to get a photography media permit I can keep.

John

Hmm. Yet another temptation to buy a K5. Have always been interested in church photography, but have also always been too tight to buy a permit to use a tripod. So am I too tight to buy a K5?

Well, previously mentioned replacements for dishwasher and fridge/freezer have been purchased; car repair mentioned in the same post was significantly cheaper than expected. Tempted, tempted...

EM

A really interesting set David and a very valuable record of the working class history of this area. I particularly like the message on the banner in the first shot "Education is our Future".

Those are really terrific - you really got my attention with the first , and as I looked I went greener and greener .

I'll never get anything half as good as those .

Congratulations - a set that really showed off the banners and the wonderful setting

I was going to comment on this earlier then my internet connection dropped

I think these have come out extremely well for available light photography and just show what the K5 is really capable of, of course David helped a little by pressing the shutter release

A great set with rich colours. What lens did you use David?

Best regards

Well done David looks like you really got their attention with no4

Thanks for your comments.
Barrie: You should have been with us, John and I had a Pentax enclave in the North Transcept, where I was right on the corner next to The Crossing, where all the action was. There was a little Nikon group in the South Transcept, including Neil Maughan and Stephen Bell. The first two pictures were taken near the main door where I was catching the entry of the bands and banners into the Cathedral.
Geordie: I really had their attention in #4 when the Bishop of Jarrow, the Rt Rev Mark Bryant was blessing the banners. He turned from the South Transcept and made his way right over to where I was standing so I quickly retreated bnehind the banners there.
Gary: I travelled light, just the K5+DA* 16-50. No camera bag. I wanted wide angle to get right in among it all. Some of the other photographers had huge bags with kit and were using long lenses.
David

Good shots David, but I'm going to break ranks and say that these look quite noisy, I'd be satisfied if my K7 turned out such a result but perhaps would expect cleaner results from the K5. Are you sure you were working at ISO3200?

They are quite noisy Will, but that's not really the fault of the camera, my post processing skills are not all they should be.
David

'Education is our Future.' Amen to that.

Lovely shots David.

These make super record shots for looking back on. However, they are also so much more than that. They are fabulous.

Some more from The Gala.
[IMG]http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy273/Davidtrout2/Durham%20Miners%20Gala/Clappingoutthebandsandbanners.jpg[/IMG]
After the Cathedral service clergy and choir gathered near the entrance to clap in time with the bands as they marched out.

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Brass bands played in the city centre.
David