A PONTELAND photographer's sporting shots have seen him receive a prestigious distinction award from a national organisation.
Keith Robertson, who has been taking pictures for the Morpeth Herald and Northumberland Gazette for the last 24 years, now has the Associateship of the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) in Applied Visual Journalism.
The 15 photographs submitted to the judging panel covered a wide range of sports and met the high standard required – with all five of the judges approving them.
Mr Robertson, who can now use ARPS after his name, also had to include a statement of intent and his said that the photos represented the concentration, intensity and aggression of sport.
"I'm delighted to receive this accolade and it's a great achievement because they are looking for a high standard of technical skill," he said.
"It took quite a bit of time to get everything ready, as each photograph needs to be perfectly presented on a board and they had to be sent off in a special case, but it was definitely worth it.
"I have to thank the Morpeth and Ponteland sports clubs as they have given me a lot more access than other photographers get because of the relationships I've built up with them over the years, as well as the Herald and Gazette for giving me the opportunity to take pictures for them."
The Associateship is the middle of the three distinctions photographers can get from the RPS.
The 66-year-old Darras Hall resident achieved the first level Licentiateship 15 years ago and he said he may try to get the highest distinction, the Fellowship, in future years.
Mr Robertson is President of the Hexham and District Photographic Society and a photographic judge appointed by the Northern Counties Photographic Society.
His wife, Olive, is also a keen photographer and she successfully achieved her Licentiateship last year.
Source: Morpeth herald
