Mavis Ord

Mavis Ord was born in South Shields in 1932.  She worked for the Civil Service before starting up in business and was a Driving Instructor for 13yrs. Now retired and living in Boldon, she has been a widow for 5 years, has two children and four grandchildren. A former President of the Society, Mavis is well known throughout the Northern Counties Photographic Federation for her photography, her lectures and her outstanding Photoshop digital processing skills. For many years she ran the Digital Nights for the Society and has started many grateful members on the road to success.

MY PHOTOGRAPHY

Over the years I covered most subjects - portrait, reportage, landscape. Graphic I find interesting too but I get most pleasure capturing moments in time that have to be seen and taken immediately.

THE  BIGGEST INFLUENCE

When buying a camera from Ray Dickinson from Washington C.C. I was advised to take a short evening course.  When he did a darkroom evening I was hooked when I saw the image come up in the tray. Many happy years have passed since them.

MY FIRST CAMERA

The very first camera was a Pentax Spotmatic F.

MY FAVOURITE CURRENT KIT

I have progressed to the Canon Eos 5D, full frame DSLR, which will now be my friend forever.  Software: Photoshop CS4 and latest 'Pictures-to-exe'

MY FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ansel Adams was my favourite for his quality work & the Zone system which we needed for good quality negatives. Henri Cartier Bresson for seeing the moment, Robert  Mapplethorpe for imagination.  Platon, British born New York based photographer, for his unusual portraits and insight into the cult of Celebrity, and David Doubilet showing the world underwater, landscapes species etc.

ME AND THE DPS

I joined the Society in 1990. I was Programme Secretary, and a committee member until recently, and had the honour of being President in 2004/5

THE THING I ENJOY MOST BEING A MEMBER OF THE DPS

Just seeing and helping new members and enjoying the improvement in their work as I have over the years.

AN AMBITION

Ambition?  Well time is moving on.  I now just want the opportunity to take more images that get through to my heart.

THE PEARL (Advice to budding photographers)

Produce and keep the quality image, work to a high standard. After gaining the ARPS I allowed it to slide but would recommend trying for a distinction.