Picture perfect! Photography winners announced by Mike McCartney

Picture perfect! Photography winners announced by Mike McCartney

Councillor Mrs Rita Crowe, Mayor of Newark attended the event, alongside the regional winners of the East Midlands Postcards in the Park competition.

The East Midlands Postcard in the Park competition was one of a series events marking the 15th anniversary of the National Lottery. Local people from across the East Midlands were asked to send in photos of their favourite parks, with the best from across the region being exhibited as part of the Postcards from the Park exhibition that will be held in Newark Castle Gardens throughout December.

Sue Hartley's photograph, Fireworks at Newark Castle was chosen by judges Mike McCartney and Christopher Pennell, Chair of HLF committee for the East Midlands, as the overall winner of the competition.

After the announcement, Sue said: "I am absolutely amazed and delighted. I am a member of Newark Camera Club and heard about the competition when our president sent an email with the details so I thought I would give it a go.

“The photo was quite difficult to capture because of the timing and trying to leave enough exposure and space for the fireworks.”

Mike McCartney was particularly impressed with Sue’s photograph and said it was a difficult shot to capture.  Mike said: “The thing about photography is not to be afraid of it and just go for it. The great thing about digital photography is if it goes wrong, you can just wipe it."

Mike, who has published books of photographs he took of The Beatles backstage and on tour, achieved chart success in the 1960s and 1970s with his band, The Scaffold.

He became interested in photography after secretly borrowing the family’s box Kodak camera - used only on special occasions - while his parents were out.

Mike said: “Paul would be in one room playing the guitar and I would be in another playing with a camera.”