The Northern Audio Visual Group

Marching On – Back Together at Snods Edge

Over the past few years, we’ve split our meetings between our March get-together at

our original home of Snods Edge and our October meeting at Riding Mill. Riding Mill

has been a great help, especially because the internet connection has allowed us to

bring in speakers by Zoom. But, for whatever reason, our membership has slipped a

little, and the committee feels this is a good moment to give the Group a fresh boost.

So, we’re planning to return to where it all began at Snods Edge and. In  March 2027, in

addition to members sequences, we also intend to enjoy a programme led by four of

our own ‘experts’. We are inviting four of our experienced members to share their

skills, experience, and enthusiasm, with each person leading a one-hour session on

each of these topics:

Creative scriptwriting.

Preparing Images for Audio Visual.

Movement by Modifiers in Pictures to EXE

Da Vinci Resolve, An Alternative.

You’ll hear more about this at our October meeting when we will be hosting the

Return Visit of Malcolm Imhoff FRPS FACI(M) AV-EFIAP. And, of course, we’ll

send out more details nearer the March date, but we really hope you’ll come along,

take part and help make the day a friendly and lively success. And if there are any

other subjects or ideas you think members would enjoy, please do let the Secretary

David Niman at david.niman@gmail.com know.

The Northern Audio-Visual Group’s Zoom meeting on 18 July 2026 began in its customary, gently chaotic fashion. Two or three members temporarily forgot how to sign in, while a few others—somewhat unfairly during David’s place at the top of the AV screening list—forgot the small but mighty ‘mute’ button. Happily, order was restored before anyone was too confused, and we were soon properly underway by ten o’clock.

As usual, Patrick had put together a well-ordered playlist of members’ sequences, and the programme flowed beautifully. There were fifteen AV presentations in all, and, strikingly, everyone kept to the given theme of Photo Harmony. They ranged from Newcastle is Home, which explored the contrast between London and Newcastle from the perspective of a proud Geordie to Andrew’s A Lively Sea at Whitley Bay, where crashing waves, frozen by fast shutter speeds, revealed wonderfully intricate patterns.

Peter’s sombre black-and-white images from a churchyard offered a thoughtful contrast to Val’s vibrant Colours of the Lake District. Ian’s After the Rain brought us beautiful views of Cumbria from the enviable vantage point of his back garden, while Pat’s reverent depiction of the former seminary at Usher College was sensitively matched with beautiful ecclesiastical music.

Not everything was quite what one might expect, however. Kevin’s Dirty Little Zine really did have to be seen to be believed: a YouTube-style exploration of a montage that ultimately became a picture book, accompanied by music that could safely be described as ‘different’—and perhaps best left at that.

The variety continued throughout the morning, from Allan’s flighty Bumble Bee to Gillian’s melodic collaboration with her dad, Flowers of Italy. David’s seven-minute Himalayan Garden sequence sat comfortably alongside Kath and Harry’s concise 1 minute 45 second Forever Flowing. Carol’s bustling modern Liverpool contrasted nicely with Andrew’s tranquil Spring Walk around his village. Taken together, the sequences provided a varied, entertaining, and thoroughly enjoyable two-and-a-half hours, rounded off with appreciative responses and constructive comments from the Zoomers.

When I arrived at Snods Edge to help set up for the NAVGroup Audio Visual day, the sun was shining brightly, not a cloud in the sky. Birds welcomed the first day of spring with cheerful song. It was the sort of weather that usually tempts you outdoors, yet we were preparing to spend the day inside a darkened hall. No
matter—today, we had AV royalty in our midst: Malcolm Imhoff FRPS FACI(M) AV-EFIAP, our fantastic guest speaker. We also had fourteen of our own AV programmes lined up to watch.

Stepping into the old school hall, we were immediately struck by the fresh new paint job that left the space looking pristine. The early birds among us started arranging chairs and inspecting the high-tech equipment now installed. At first, there was no sound. It took a few minutes before we realised that, to paint the walls, the decorators had removed the huge speakers and forgotten to return them. Fortunately, the committee had anticipated such mishaps and brought their own AV equipment in the back of a car. After a brief debate, Patrick Johnston our Treasurer and Techie, selected a suitable set of speakers and soon had everything working.

Despite a slightly stressful set-up, our twenty-four delegates soon settled in, and the event began right on time. Val Johnston, our Chairlady, had scheduled seven members' AV presentations before the coffee break. There’s no need to list each one, but the variety was impressive - ranging from a thoroughly researched and captivating travelogue of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne to a masterful AV of macro images capturing tiny insects. We enjoyed an experimental programme about ten-
pin bowling, a fascinating record of how to build a camera from scratch, a travelogue through Germany in 1979 brought to life via old slides, a Scottish take on the Bayeux Tapestry, and a series of breathtaking wildlife images set to music.
Malcolm Imhoff offered constructive and insightful feedback on every programme, which the authors gratefully received.

After coffee, Malcolm Imhoff truly warmed up the proceedings—both figuratively and literally, as we also tracked down the thermostat to take the chill off the hall.
Malcolm’s presentation featured his award-winning audio-visual works themed around mountains. One particularly memorable sequence transported us to the snow-capped peaks of the Alps, where Malcolm recounted a harrowing ascent in pre-dawn darkness. His images captured the golden light breaking over jagged ridges, with clouds swirling far a scene both awe-inspiring and humbling. His storytelling made us feel as if we, too, were clinging to the mountainside, breathing in the thin, crisp air. It was the closest many of us would ever come to such heights, short of being in an aeroplane.

Lunch, often just a necessary pause, was a true delight on this occasion. The beautiful weather and the recently constructed outdoor seating area turned lunchtime into a very pleasant interlude. With conversations flowing easily in the
sunshine.

After lunch, we returned to the hall and once again scaled metaphorical
heights with Malcolm. This time, he explained the preparations and mindset required for an epic climb, sharing anecdotes about the physical and mental challenges he had faced. His next AV presentation lifted us above the cloud line, plunging us into a world of dramatic vistas and dizzying perspectives. The combination of stunning visuals and Malcolm's passionate narration left us exhilarated and inspired if somewhat breathless, both physically and artistically.

Unfortunately, the day took an unexpected turn when a medical emergency arose in the hall. Swift action from attendees ensured that the person received prompt care. Several members coordinated to call for assistance, while others offered support and comfort. The atmosphere was tense during the anxious hour that followed, but everyone rallied together until it was clear the situation was under control. Thankfully, the outcome was positive, and we could all breathe a sigh of relief. Malcolm, ever calm and compassionate, was on hand to reassure those present and became a hero in every sense of the word.

It was an eventful day—unusual at the start and worrying at the end—but in between, it was filled with learning, inspiration, and camaraderie. A memorable day by every measure.