TWO of the North East's top photographers have released their own movie in a bid to pass on their expertise.

Northern Echo photographer and radio broadcaster Brian Clough and boss of the Northpoint Multimedia company, Dave Foster teamed up to make a 45 minute film, which is the first ever instructional video/DVD to help compact digital camera users.

Filmed in and around Durham, Mr Foster shot the film while Mr Clough acted as the front man explaining the do's and don'ts of digital photography.

Mr Clough and Mr Foster carried out an extensive survey to help them to assess where the number of digital camera users were having the most problems.

Among the many people they interviewed was retired midwife Maria Jopling from Blackhill, who was invited take part in a sequence of the film shot at Crook Hall in Durham City.

On-screen lessons include sections on how to get better holiday snaps, advice on framing, focusing, when to use flash, close-ups, portraits and angles.

The new film is available at Durham Tourist Information Office in the City's Market Place, Crook Hall, in Sidegate, Durham, Hall Hill Farm in Lanchester and the Discovery Centre at Seaton Holme in Easington Village.