Royal Photographic Society Digital Imaging Group News March 2017

DIG News - March 2017

‘Blue Lily by Dennis Russ’

Winner of the forum competition this past month.

DIG AGM The meeting went well – the minutes of the meeting will be posted on the DIG Forum in due course.

A proposal for a new DIG Online Membership was put to the meeting and ratified. From March 2017 DIG will offer two levels of membership DIG Membership - £15 p.a.

DIG Online Membership - £8 p.a The only difference is that Online members will not receive printed copies of DIGIT or competition catalogues. They will read these online using the ISSUU page turning software and on ‘hidden pages’.

Hidden pages are revealed on the RHS list on the ‘DIG About Us’ page when a member is logged in. This area is also available to all DIG members who might wish to read DIGIT online – the last 2 years DIGIT issues are stored there. However the entire back library of DIGITs is always available to download from the DIG Forum area. It is our policy to ensure that DIGITs are a main benefit of DIG membership, with only a few being used as promotional items to encourage new membership.

Hence why they are stored either on the hidden pages or the Forum.

Online members will be treated exactly the same as full members, being able to enter competitions and fully participate in all DIG activities, whether centrally run or through the DIG Centres.

A good turn out of members for the AGM

DI EXPO 2017 Bookings have started to roll in – some early birds who didn’t want to miss out. Good for them.

As from the beginning of March we will be rolling out the advertising for DI Expo outside of DIG. But this is an event which we put on primarily for our members, so do take advantage of getting your place booked and in your busy diaries. Saturday September 23rd 2017.

There is a good overview of what is on offer on the DIG web HERE We even have a downloadable Resource Pack; just scroll down the web page to find the link. We have a wide variety of speakers, studios and a chance to attend a Distinctions Advisory session.

Each month in DIG News we will give you information about one of the speakers – this month it’s Glyn Dewis. If you are a member who likes fiddling and diddling in Photoshop then you will enjoy learning from Glyn. He is down to earth, entertaining and shows us how to achieve things we thought were only for the experts.

Here is our short cut QR code to take you to the web page

DIGIT A4 POSTER – YOUR HELP IS NEEDED PLEASE By now most of you will have received your latest DIGIT. Inside you will have found an A4 DI Expo poster – this is very important and we would ask you not to throw it away!! We are asking you, our UK DIG members to be our ambassadors and to take the poster along to your local club or photographic group to put on their notice board to advertise the event.

DI Expo is open to everyone but reaching camera clubs proved very difficult two years ago, so this time we decided to use you, our good members, to spread the word. You may even want to consider car sharing with some of your club members – that would keep everyone’s costs down and make for a fun day out together.

If your club has a web site and are happy to put up an ad for us then there is an A5 ad and the A4 ad that can be downloaded from our web site HERE (Just below the Event Overview)

FORUM This month our forum competition was won by Dennis Russ with ‘Blue Lily’ (see the front page). Here is what he has to say about the image…….

My Good friend Susan Ashford gave me the Blue Lily.

I decided to photograph it against a White Paper background with Flash Gun on camera (Canon 5D3) bounced off of my ceiling in the living room. I then layered one of my own textured background into it via On1 8.5. (Perfect Photo Suite). I then layered another texture over top and blended them in.

Sharpened in On1 8.5 via one of my presets.

Second place went to ‘Cwm Oldwal’ by Richard Hainsworth

Third place - ’Working the Land’ by A Williams

OUR ANNUAL WINNER IS ………..

For the past 12 months we have been running a cumulative scoring for all images entered in the monthly competitions with the aim of awarding the top scoring member a prize of a RPS Portfolio 3. Paula Davies FRPS was, in her absence, awarded this at the AGM. She got a hearty round of applause, which we hope she could hear at home in Stokesley, North Yorkshire. Congratulations Paula – your Portfolio is in the post.

DIG PRINT EXHIBITION With thanks to our three selectors, Viveca Koh FRPS, Robert Albright FRPS and Barry Senior HonFRPS, the selection process went very smoothly as they quickly assessed the submitted prints and chose your one print that will be included in the 2017 DIG Exhibition.

Taking a closer look

Choosing their individual Ribbon winners

The overall winner was David Thomas ARPS, with ‘Grace’ – a unanimous decision by all three selectors.

Ribbon Winners were Janice Payne ARPS – Marking the Way Alan Bousfield ARPS – Skeletal Tree, Rannoch Moor Carl Mason ARPS – Skipping School Bill Power ARPS – A Secret Place Peter Stevens ARPS – Lone Tree Roy Enser ARPS – Sea Horses We congratulate all the winners. Their images can be seen on the slide show on our web page HERE

This year is was particularly gratifying to see a far higher number of prints submitted by our OS Members. Primarily this can be attributed to the ‘offer’ our Exhibition Organiser, Marilyn Taylor, made to have prints made by a lab for OS members. A small charge was made for this service but it did entail Marilyn doing extra work, so we thank her for this.

NEW DIG DISTINCTIONS Our congratulations must go to some DIG members who have achieved their Distinctions over the preceding months of 2017.

Ton van der Laan LRPS Anthony Chivers LRPS Paul Mason LRPS Stephen Waters LRPS Martin Gerling LRPS

- Netherlands - Buckinghamshire - London - Worcestershire - Germany

Bill Power ARPS

- Ireland <<<<<>>>>>

It is good to see two overseas members gaining their Distinctions as it is always more difficult to do it when often their native countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s images can have a different look-and-feel to them than that which we are used to in the UK. Because they are being judged by UK assessors they need to consider this when submitting work.

This month we are featuring a recent LRPS success from one of our overseas members Ton Van der Laan (Netherlands).

About 4 years ago I became member of the RPS. For many years I had already been a member of a Dutch Photo Club and two nature/landscape interest groups within the Dutch Federation of Photo Clubs. The Benelux Chapter of the RPS, which I joined, seemed dormant to me. That changed dramatically for me about two years later when Janet Haines started a Chapter study group in The Hague to stimulate (potential) members of the Chapter to work towards one of the RPS distinctions and more members became actively involved.

My wife and I joined the study group and decided to begin with the LRPS distinction. It was tempting to go directly for ARPS but we wanted the benefits of trying to climb the whole ladder including the rigor of attention to technical details and variety of photographic techniques and categories. This was useful because Dutch clubs tend to overlook minor technical shortcomings in favor of content and originality. Dutch clubs generally donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put images in categories and in fact have many fewer competitions than what I see in British clubs. It was therefore useful for me to give more attention to these aspects.

The constructive feedback we shared in the study group helped me a lot to find the balance, quality and diversity in my LRPS panel. After working in the study group for a year and attending a distinctions advisory day in Brussels my panel was submitted for assessment. The assessors see absolutely every little detail (and of course faults) in an image. Two of my images each had a minor technical issue our study group had not noticed before. After replacement of those images and slight tonal improvement of two other images the panel was resubmitted and recommended for LRPS in February 2017.

Now, with the extra baggage provided by my LPRS experience, it is time to look for a challenging subject for a successful ARPS panel.

Ton van der Laan Rotterdam

DIG ON FACEBOOK We have been delighted with the response from our members for the new DIG Facebook Group. We are now at over 100 members and it is proving to be a good place for people to post images for comments, ask general questions and generally to interact. It is a mature and respectful closed user group for those of you with concerns over the some of the more unacceptable ways people use Facebook.

Only members of DIG will be able to join. But unlike the RPS main FB page, which is information from HQ, ours is interactive and anyone can post and comment. It will be moderated, but we would hope most sincerely that everyone will respect each other and that moderation will not be necessary.

To join just go to the site HERE and click the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;joinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; button. You will be validated as a DIG member and given access. This is a manual process so please do not expect instant access.

This is a great opportunity to engage with your fellow DIG members from the comfort of your armchair. So we hope to see many more of you joining up and making it a lively place to be.

It was particularly pleasing to see that as the AGM and Print Exhibition progressed committee members were posting to the Facebook page and getting instant responses, thus extending our reach to members unable to attend.

MEMBERS GALLERIES

Mike Oakes takes many of his photos using his iPhone. These gallery images just go to prove to us that we don’t need to be using elaborate expensive cameras – the one in your pocket can serve you just as well if you learn how to use it’s camera function to advantage.

Click on gallery images to go through to the web site to view.

DIG CENTRE ROUND-UP Links to all the Centres web sites can be found HERE and look down the right hand side at the bottom THAMES VALLEY

PICTURES ON A PAGE An in-depth behind-the-scenes journey through what it takes to work as a photographer and picture editor of The TImes, including a brief history of the contribution The Times has made to the photography world. This presentation is accompanied by some hard hitting and stunning images from The Times, as well as anecdotal insights into the stories behind the images.

THE MIND'S EYE Paul's personal journey from Times Picture Editor to Landscape photographer. He discusses the therapeutic effects of photography, the spiritual and emotional connection you must have with your work. He explains his reasons for moving to mirrorless, and the way it changed his way of shooting almost overnight http://www.paulsanders.biz/

THE ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY This presentation talks about contemporary artists who use photography, and photographers who are artists. This comes with a basic discussion on understanding art photography and an overview of the broad range of styles and approaches taken by art photographers, with many examples. The talk gives an insight into alternative and thought-provoking imagery which can inform and stimulate ideas for our own work.

LIGHTING FOR STILL LIFE Still Life Workshop The idea of the workshop is to demonstrate how to begin lighting a portrait or a simple still life, and how to use simple lighting at home or on location to achieve stylish and subtle effects. Andrew's experience has shown him that amateur photographers are not always sure where to begin when lighting with artificial sources. Once the basis has been established a whole range of permutations can ensue. Andrew uses professional lighting to demonstrate basic techniques, and then show how simple control and shaping of lighting at home or on location can achieve similar effects. http://www.photomills.co.uk/

SCOTLAND

DI Group North West Region £15 (£13 Group Members) to include light lunch Lowton C of E High School near Warrington, WA3 1DU Sunday 26th March 10.00am to 3.00pm Simon Watkinson ABIPP - Real World Processing with Lightroom Lynne Morris AFIAP, DPAGB, BPE3* Contact…

Peter Jarvis LRPS peterjarvisphoto@mail.com

KEN PAYNE ONLINE TUTORIALS Ken has posted a new video on his web site called Controlling Light.

Although it was done in PSCC 2017 it can be done in Elements. If you would like to watch it then please click HERE

Personally I can never understand why photographers do not all do their own printing. It is such a rewarding thing to see your work rolling out of the printer, reproduced on a fantastic quality paper. But I guess we cannot all feel the same about these things. So the next link is to Kens tutorial â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an update to his SIM Lab Printing video. Click HERE to view.

SIGLINK

TRAVEL GROUP We know from our membership survey that many of you enjoy travel photography so maybe this might be an event that you would enjoy……..

http://rps.org/events/2017/march/25/springboard-2017

DOCUMENTARY GROUP This workshop is being supported by the RPS Documentary Group but we believe it will be of interest to many photographers who have all sorts of different interests. Many of you will already know the photographers involved.

Four members of the Chichester-based Focus Group examine a number of ways that could change the way you approach and plan your photography, and share their experiences of how to get work seen by a wider audience.

Iain McGowan FRPS looks at ways of communicating ideas and themes through the use of collections and collages. From the initial concept, getting the right images, through to producing the final output, Iain shows a variety of innovative ways of displaying his work. No Photoshop involved!

Pete Bamforth ARPS is well known for printing big. He will look at the practical issues, as well as considering some of the technical aspects of how to produce the highest quality large prints. He will also discuss how to produce superb photo books using some of the same techniques.

John Bradshaw FRPS has had his project work exhibited in galleries throughout the UK and Ireland. Not only will he consider suitable subjects for a project, but will offer advice on how to plan and research the project, and the importance of project management. He will also share his invaluable experience on approaching galleries and getting the project hung as an exhibition.

Janey Devine FRPS will be looking at various aspects of documentary photography. After a review of different types of documentary work, she will discuss ways of telling a story through images. Which images work, how to get the images you need and the importance of good editing, will be followed by a look at ways of publishing the completed story. Janey has an exhibition at the same time at the Middleport Pottery.

The workshop will be based at the recently renovated Middleport Pottery Works at Burslem (Stoke-on-Trent) where we have access to a fully equipped spacious lecture room. The weekend will comprise a mix of led discussions, and photographic excursions. The venue is next to the Trent and Mersey Canal, and close to a number of interesting locations, all full of photographic potential. http://www.rps.org/events/2017/october/07/focus-on-the-next-level

OBITUARY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Maureen Albright It is with sadness that we have to advise you all of the death of Maureen Albright, a long time DIG member who served on the DIG Committee for many years and ran the Centre at Aldbourne Village Hall. In addition she organized meetings in her beloved South Wales when visiting the area.

She generously hosted many committee meetings at her house, valiantly put together an emergency web site/forum for us when the DIG one got hacked, in the days before the RPS had anything suitable for us to use.

Maureen was a keen AV worker as well as a very active DIG member in her time.

For the past few years her health has deteriorated and forced her into a less active role.

I am sure many of you will remember Maureen and will join with the committee in sending our condolences to her husband Robert Albright (RPS VP).

The Funeral arrangements for Maureen Albright (1948-2017) 28 March 2017.

10.30am Committal Service at Kingsdown Crematorium, Kingsdown Lane, Swindon SN25 6SG All are welcome 3pm Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration at St Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church, Crooked Corner, Aldbourne, Wiltshire, SN8 2EL Followed by refreshments in the Memorial Hall, Oxford Street, SN8 2DQ Please note: There is very limited parking in Aldbourne Village centre.

Signed car parking will be arranged at Manor Farm, Aldbourne, just after you enter the village on the B4192 approaching from the north (Swindon direction). The church is about 5 minutes walk from the car park.

Disabled friends may be taken to the church (narrow road) and the car parked after drop-off. No flowers please.

Donations to the Prospect Hospice: www.justgiving.com/pfltd (A donation will be made by DIG on behalf of all the Group.)

FOCUS ON AN OVERSEAS MEMBER We have a very interesting new overseas member who has recently joined us from Ireland. So I asked Bill Power to write a few words for us – but being Irish of course a few words became a few more……..

Someone once wrote a book called ‘If you don’t know where you’re going then you’ll probably end up somewhere else’. That, in many ways, sums up how I came into club photography and how my eclectic photographic styles are evolving and changing all the time. I’m involved in several genres, including nature, artistic nude, portraiture, creative digital and contemporary images. Last year, I was the Irish Photographic Federation’s Photographer of the Year, which regardless of all the international awards I’ve won, is the one that mattered the most to me.

My journey into photography is an ‘ending up somewhere else’ saga. In my early working career I was a news reporter but my primary interest had always been in history, and I now work as a writer and historian. I came to photography because I regarded the camera as a tool for recording places and people or sometimes as the easiest way of copying old documents and old photographs. I joined my first camera club in September 2010, and my photography hasn’t looked back since then.

I did my Licentiateship with the Irish Photographic Federation in May 2012. Six months later, I successfully submitted a pictorial panel of captive butterflies for my Associateship. By the end of 2012, my passion had become fungi photography. I soon realised that I had found a previously unexplored photographic subject (in an Irish context) and spent long periods over the next two years exploring local woods, learning a lot about mycology and eventually forming enough photographs to make the panel that gained me my Irish Fellowship.

‘A Secret Place’ – winner of an RPS Ribbon at the recent DIG Print Exhibition.

On the day I got my FIPF in September 2014, I thought to myself, ‘I’m not a one trick photographer. I don’t want to become known as someone who can take photographs of toadstools and nothing else’. I decided to go outside my comfort zone and give artistic nude and portrait photography a try. That, in turn, led me into creating composites.

In my earlier, innocent days, I frowned on composites and went through all the poo-pooing that many have gone through over the ‘sins’ of Photoshop. But it didn’t take long for me to realise that creative compositions allow me to unleash my vision of how I see things.

Photoshop is now one of my best friends.

‘Chercher’ My mantra is ‘strive to be different - it’s easy to be ordinary’. I sometimes say that my greatest inspiration is the last good photograph I saw. I’m inspired by anything that attracts me. Creativity doesn’t come easily to me; I have to work at it but what I create is primarily for my own pleasure. Over the past couple of years I’ve been competing in international salons and working towards FIAP distinctions (I’ve just applied for my EFIAP Bronze). International competition has helped me hone my skills and also expand my awareness of the work of photographers in other countries. So far, I’ve won four Blue Badges for best author and more recently, I’ve been invited to judge in international salons in Ireland, Varna (Bulgaria), France and Denmark, as well as show my work in the UK and Northern Ireland.

I’m also an assessor for all levels of distinctions under the IPF (licentiate, associate and fellow).

‘ l’Esprit du Faconnier ‘

Recently, the RPS and IPF agreed to a reciprocal arrangement whereby holders of an LRPS or an ARPS can apply for the equivalent distinction in the Irish Photographic Federation, and vice versa. This arrangement between the IPF and RPS, reflects the esteem to which each holds the other in terms of its distinctions standards. As regards going for an FRPS, yes, in time, but I’m in no hurry.

Given where I want to take my photography, the Digital Imaging Group seemed a natural choice. I looked at every group in the RPS when I decided to join but realised that in terms of where I want to take my photography, the DIG was the best option for me.

Bill Power, FIPF, ARPS, EFIAP/b Mitchelstown, Ireland. www.billpowerpx.com

‘Paternac la Deuxieme’

‘La Porte Bleue’

‘Seeking Solance’

‘External Lines’

My apologies that this months DIG News is a week late in arriving with you. It has been a horrendously busy time for me with several UK Camera Club presentations, the DIG AGM, visiting the DI Expo venue and now finally the RPS Advisory Board to attend, before I could return home to the Netherlands and put this DIG News together.

As reported at the AGM the past year has been a very successful one for DIG and your committee are working hard to keep us on a roll. Lots of work currently going in to the DI Expo, that being our main focus at present.

The DIG Exhibition will go to Crosby Library in April. And already we are working on the Exhibition Print catalogue and the June Issue of DIGIT. Regards

Janet Janet Haines ARPS DIG Chair digchair@rps.org