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.