Thanks Nigel, Bill and i-Berg.
David

PS: I said in the intro 'no flash' but in the final picture with the Bishop of Jarrow and the Leggo model cathedral I used the camera's pop up flash.

You don't get permission to photograph in Durham Cathedral unless its a special event. In the case of the Miners' Gala Durham Photographic Society, which has a relationship with the Cathedral authorities (PUF member DOIK does a lot of photographic work for them) is invited to cover the Miners' Gala church service for the blessing of the banners. In return we give them images for their publicity and website.
Local TV and newspapers are also there.
DOIK, aka John Attle, and I and two other DPS members who were Canon shooters did the job on Saturday.
Sometimes the Cathedral has early morning or late evening sessions for local camera clubs in return for a fee of £10 per camera. That's when all the visitors have gone.
Otherwise the Cathedral stewards are very strict and pounce on anyone they see taking photos.

Thanks for the comment David. I think these are new replacement banners as the old ones would have deteriorated, as you say. That's why they were being dedicated by the Cathedral clergy.
David

The annual Durham Miners Gala has two features - brass bands, huge crowds and political speeches in the city streets and a massive service in Durham Cathedral where banners are welcomed by Dean Andrew Tremlett and blessed by Bishop Paul Butler.
I was with a small invited group from Durham Photographic Society taking pictures inside the Cathedral (along with PUF fellow member John Attle - DOIK) on behalf of the Cathedral authorities. They don't normally allow photography in the church.

Two cameras, K3 and K5 and two lenses, Sigma 10-20mm and DA*50-135mm zoom. ISOs ranged from 4000 - 6400 (no flash and no tripods).

1 Bishop Paul Butler



2 Dean Andrew Tremlett


3 bands marching in



4 banners marching in



5 Cathedral choir



6 Cathedral music director James Lancelot



7 Pelton Fell Colliery banner



8 One of the band masters conducting



9 Bishop of Jarrow Mark Bryant conducting a blessing of miniature banners at the Cathedral's famous Leggo model

Beautiful images from a wonderful region.
David

It got there eventually John and was mobbed by the usual groupies.




K3+D FA*70-200mm lens

I went to York to photograph two steam powered charter trains and ended up doing a mini fashion shoot. It was race day as I found to my cost as I wedged into the three-car Trans Pennine Express at Durham which was already jam packed from Newcastle. Many more elbowed on board at Darlington and Northallerton until there must have been three or four times the number of passengers than there were seats.
A York I got pictures of the Duchess Class loco Duchess of Sutherland arriving from Birmingham and with plenty of time to kill before Flying Scotsman was due I spent time people watching in the massive expanse of York Station. Every train that arrived disgorged huge numbers of fashionably dressed (arguably|) race goers, many clutching bottles and glasses of sustenance.
I set to grabbing 'street' style photos on my K3 and D FA* 70-200mm lens.








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Yes, thanks Andrew after a very worrying time she is now well on the road to recovery, so much so I was able to make my annual trip to Snowdonia at the end of May, an area I know you love as much as I do.
Quite a few photographers I know seem to be downsizing their gear so they can travel light. Mine seems to have got a lot heavier since I bought the new D FA*70-200mm zoom. But it seems worth it, its so sharp I have no worries when doing tight crops and blow ups. The quality is outstanding.
David

Like most of us your photography has progressed since the early days Glyn but I don't think they were dreadful even then.
I think I joined PUF in July 2008 and entered and won my first competition in the September.
David

I've just trawled back through the competitions to find the first one I judged - September 2008 - as a brand new member of PUF. There are 39 entries still in that gallery but in my judge's commentary I refer to more than 40. This may be because some time back when a number of members left PUF they emptied their portfolios as they went.
It was a joy to see the top quality of all the entries and I think I gave a large number of HCs. But for a first time judge it was a nightmare. Having done detailed comments on each submission I then lost the lot when I tried to copy them into the competitions section as I posted the winner - Darkmunk. I had to write them all again and it took me ages. Since then I've developed a better system where I do a write up as the entries start coming in and back it up on my hard drive and on a memory stick. GlynM, Womble and John Riley were among those taking part in that competition.
David