AT Northallerton Camera Club recently, one of the “Country Members”, Peter Mudd, gave a very interesting presentation on his most recent accolade; he has been recognised by the Royal Photographic Society, who have granted him their Associateship” distinction following his submission of a superb documentary panel of 15 images as an Applied Panel.

A superb achievement by one of photography’s really nice people. Peter has always been a popular member of Northallerton Camera Club and for many years served on the Committee as its Hon.Secretary before his career took him to South Yorkshire, where he joined Penistone Camera Club and Yorkshire Monochrome Group.

During his time with Northallerton he was awarded the CPAGB distinction for a panel largely made up of his portraiture work. Since then he has maintained his interest in our club, remaining a “Country Member” to this date, has returned to us periodically to show us his work and in 2016 he won our trophy for the best portrait in our Annual Exhibition.

He continues to pursue his interest in street photography, especially portraiture. His successful panel is made up of 15 superbly sympathetic images of homeless people from a number of cities including Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool and London. Peter says he has got rid of quite a few pound coins to some unfortunate people and has seen quite a few sights in some of the back streets; as he says, a sad sign of the times. One of his panel, “Helping Hand”, was featured by the RPS Documentary Group, of which he is a member and Peter was asked how he went about taking the picture.

He said: “I saw a group of about eight homeless people together and there was some shouting going on amongst them, so I knew there was some tension around. Some looked to be suffering the after effects of either drugs or alcohol. Two others, who eventually moved on, had previously been arguing loudly. I knew it was a real opportunity to photograph a great action shot displaying a very sad situation, one that is becoming all too common in some of our main cities. At first I walked on not wanting to attract any trouble but later my curiosity and determination to get a photo made me return. I was chatting to one of the group and had already taken a photo with their permission when one of them, who was sitting down, collapsed on the floor; one of the others laid him on his side and held on to him so I took the shot. His friend spotted me and told me to 'go away' in no uncertain terms - so I did! “