A Contemporary Group North Activity
Members’ Showcase provides a platform for contributors to our monthly meetings to display the work they have shared. Contributors have curated their own images and provided the accompanying text making this a collaborative group venture.
Designed
and
compiled by Lyn Newton
Cover image Somehow I don’t think this is going to end well -
by Chris Houghton
21st March 2026 —Meeting in person at Clements Hall, York
Chaired by Patricia Ruddle
Contributors:
Jackie Fisher
Howard Fisher
Ian Sayce
John Elvin
Chris Houghton
Andrew Hersom Images and content of this publication are the copyright of the photographer unless stated otherwise
Jackie Fisher ….. Photo-Psychogeography
Recently I attended an evening Zoom meeting and day workshop led by Stewart Wall, the East Midlands Regional Organiser, on behalf of Rushcliffe Photographic Society. The purpose was to explore street photography projects using Photo-Psychogeography a term, registered by Stewart, to describe a method using creative camera craft for visual communication. The concept is broken down into four elements:
1. Encounter - where we walk without hunting, observing how the space affects us emotionally and physically, sensing the place before attempting to capture it.
2. Respond - photographing our reaction with meaning guiding the frame, not just simple action.
3. Shape - selecting and editing images into a short sequence. We were encouraged to work in five image sequences looking for connection, rhythm and developing themes.
4. Reflect - stepping back and asking what our sequence reveals considering both the space and our way of seeing it.
It was interesting and I came away with a slightly different approach to my usual method of working in that my thinking has become a little more sequence based rather than taking a single image.
I used double exposure in the camera and slow shutter speeds to portray meaning, movement and also the view through windows, particularly in the area of Nottingham Trent University where we spent the first part of the day. We moved on to the Arboretum where a group of students were practising for their medieval group displays. That was followed by a visit to The Forest area then lunch at the New Art Exchange. The afternoon was spent at the Lakeside area of the University of Nottingham although Howard and I went across the road from Lakeside to photograph in the Science Park where there are interesting buildings sited amongst bog rushes and where boardwalks take pedestrians across the boggy areas to a small nature reserve and a bridge over the railway.
Stewart has produced a zine of the day which I will bring to the next York meeting.
Howard Fisher
Over many years I have photographed signs which have caught my attention, mostly humorous although some are more direct. Working through my 80,000 images in Lightroom in order to cull them I wondered whether the signs could form a book project.
I wanted the group’s view on whether this was viable or not.
As an introduction I researched signs, how they were designed to attract attention and what the originator intended. I looked at how colour and design affected them and their ultimate purpose.
My main concentration has been on handwritten signs and the intentions hoped for by the originators.
Shown here are a small selection of those I showed and without the initial sequencing proposed in my presentation which I titled the Psychology of Signs.
I remain unsure about taking this project forward in any way and maybe the signs I photographed say more about me and my sense of humour than anything else.
Ian Sayce
My photos were taken while on a Black Cab tour of Belfast, travelling from Falls Road/Shankill Road to the Peace Wall. It was a real experience hearing stories about the troubles.
My images include the pedestrian entrance on Townend Street near Falls Road, interesting carvings on the side of a fence and murals from the troubles.
John Elvin
The Trans Pennine Trail crosses the country from Southport in Lancashire to Hornsea in East Yorkshire, passing through Hull on the way. I followed the path from the Fishermen’s Memorial near Hessle to Prince’s Quay in the City Centre, passing the derelict Lord’s Line buildings, the Albert Dock and Hull Marina, encountering a very fierce sea monster on the way.
Chris Houghton …. On humour in the times of Covid
Running low on toilet paper
Plenty of shower gel
In training for a cross channel swim
Today is Sunday
Humour—part two outside of Covid
are here
Lost Soul You
Role reversal
Saves carrying it downstairs
XXXXXXXL Knickers
David and Goliath
Automatic door
The treachery of Images
Andrew Hersom …..A few pictures taken at a recent RUFC Otley and Hull Ionians match. A very close game!
Scrum down
Touch down
Contemporary Group North Activity Group Meetings
Saturday 18/04/26 13.00 BST Online
Saturday 16/05/26 12.00 BST Clements Hall, York
Saturday 20/06/26 13.00 BST Online
Summer Break
Saturday 19/09/26 12.00 BST Clements Hall, York
Saturday 17/10/26 13.00 BST Online
Saturday 21/11/26 12.00 GMT Clements Hall, York
Saturday 12/12/26 13.00 GMT Online