Royal Photographic Society Digital Imaging Group News May 2017

DIG News - May 2017

‘It’s just a Window’ by Peter Stickler ARPS

Winner of the forum competition this past month.

DI EXPO 2017 All DIG UK members received an email a few weeks ago in respect to DI Expo 2017 and the dilemma the DIG Committee were facing, given the low response to ticket sales in comparison to the 2015 DI Expo sales.

At the recent committee meeting this was discussed in depth and the committee agreed that we would continue towards DI Expo 2017 but that we perhaps needed to ramp up the marketing activities. Action is already being taken in this respect but anything you, our DIG members, can do to help promote the event would be very welcome. There is a downloadable poster HERE on the web site. Share it with your friends, on Social Media, on club noticeboards. Thank you. We do believe we have put together a highly interesting and diverse day for you –

‘It is

all about knowledge’ so we have every faith that DIG members will book and come along to enjoy this national biennial event that was so popular in 2015.

One new ticket bundle that has been introduced is a very attractive offer – 4 x tickets for £100 regardless whether the attendees are all DIG members or not. 4 tickets have to all be booked by one person at the same time. The idea is to attract a car load of friends or club colleagues; share the fuel costs, enjoy a day out together.

Our key note speakers are really top notch.

Nick Turpin was a highly acclaimed presenter at Arena in 2016. A street photographer who will share some tips with you and help you towards enjoying this exciting genre. Take a peek at his web site and see how inspiring he will be http://nickturpin.com We addition to Nick we have the Photoshop guru Glyn Dewis, Paul Sanders showing and talking to us about using filters, David Clapp on architecture and Gary Evans on high speed video. There really is something for everybody and loads to learn. Go to www.rps.org/DIGExpo for more information and to book your tickets.

NEW DIG DISTINCTIONS We have a nice little list of members this month who have all recently achieved their RPS Distinctions. I reckon something special is going on up in Aberdeenshire as last months ARPS achiever was from there also.

So if you have got a secret of success to share guys then do please get in touch.

Congratulations go to…

Chris Elliot LRPS Catriona Sutherland LRPS Stephen Wright LRPS Peter Lillywhite LRPS Liz Cooper LRPS Yvonne Mitchell LRPS

-

Aberdeenshire Aberdeenshire West Yorkshire Buckinghamshire Wiltshire Dorset

Brian McCarthy ARPS

- Lincolnshire <<<<<>>>>>

As already said last months ARPS achiever is from Aberdeenshire – please stand up Adrian Robbins ARPS and show us your super panel.

Adrian and I got into deep email conversation about his work and printing. To such an extent that he even went to the trouble of printing them out for me and sending me prints to see – so I can personally vouch that this man can print! So here is his story.

Adrian P. Robbins ARPS Originally from Birmingham, I now live in the North-East of Scotland and have been interested in photography since the early 1980's, but only took it up more seriously after joining the Bon Accord Camera Club in Aberdeen in 2014. Initially interested in natural history and landscape, I more recently discovered architectural dereliction and I now like photographing anything that doesn't move fast!

In December 2015, I decided to start working towards my RPS Accreditations, primarily because I wanted to challenge myself to progress and expand my photography and printing skills within a world recognised standard but also to work with like-minded photographers and learn. I very much like the RPS way of doing things and found the Advisory Day process incredibly helpful and beneficial to me achieving my accreditations and I was successful with my LRPS in November 2016 and my APRS in March 2017.

Working on my LRPS throughout 2016, allowed me to demonstrate and confirm that I had the required technical expertise to attempt my Associateship With my Associateship panel, the aim was to create a body of work, that presented the beauty that I see in architectural dereliction, which is so often missed in these once distinguished and abandoned buildings.

I very much enjoy photographing and exploring these places because I can take my time and find interesting viewpoints and different angles and really work a location. When you go to a site for the first time you never really know what you are going to discover. I frequently visit a location multiple times to allow the shots to "evolve"! I find the more times you visit, you discover more about what the location has to offer.

Often you find you are able to shoot a "unique" image that has not been seen before and that totally inspires me. Each time you visit a location, the dereliction will be different by default, because the building is in a continual process of decay and effectively dying, so no two visits are ever the same and therefore no two images will be the same.

The way the light and shadows interact within the dilapidated spaces is a constant challenge because of the way it is changing and with my panel I wanted to accentuate this effect.

In dereliction I believe there is beauty, if you take the time to look for it.

Over the course of 2016, I had explored a number of locations and once I started to assemble and process the images, I realised how well they sat together as a body of work and this spurred me on to create an "embryonic" panel in October 2016, which I presented for the first time at a Forum Day in Dingwall.

Right from the start on working on my project, I knew I wanted to print the images relatively small (140mm x 140mm) and in monochrome. So the challenge was always to present a range of images that were different, but yet had a coherence that fitted the subject. All the images were shot in natural light and because of the interesting light and shadows in the buildings, I felt that a dark and moody atmospheric look could work well with the panel. But this then presented me with the biggest technical challenge, which was to maintain a consistency of tones throughout the images, even though they were shot in a variety of conditions and at different locations.

My ultimate goal was to maintain the minute and finest detail in the shadows and highlights. By printing at the smallish size, I really wanted to draw the viewer in to explore the image and look at the dereliction.

From the outset, I felt it was very important and also challenging to print my own images as I feel this is a very important part of meeting the standard. In early 2016, I explored a number of different papers during the process of attending the advisory days and eventually opted for Permajet Distinction, which I felt best suited my LRPS panel.

I experimented with many high quality papers before finally settling on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Bright White 310, which in my opinion is a stunning paper. Once I had tweaked my post-processing to get the best from the paper choice, the transformation in terms of contrast and detail, which is exactly what the panel was all about, was nothing short of remarkable. Just by simply selecting the most appropriate paper it gave the quality of the images and the way they looked a huge boost!

By printing my own images for both Accreditations, I have gained huge experience in paper choice and also printing techniques. Getting the right paper for an images is absolutely fundamental to achieving success.

I am extremely delighted to have achieved my Associateship, but I am even more pleased with the advances I have made in my photography.

To think I had not processed a monochrome image when I joined the Bon Accord Camera Club in May 2014, I am very proud to have achieved my ARPS with a monochrome panel.

The help and support, along with constructive criticism which I received through the Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advisory day system, has been an extremely fulfilling experience.

FORUM Congratulations to all the Forum comp winners. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget this is open to all DIG Members to enter or even to just vote each and every month.

We had a run-a-way winner this month - You will have seen the delightful image on the front page that was this months Forum Comp winner. When I contacted Peter Stickler ARPS for his few words to

accompany the image I got back a small article, but it is really interesting to know how Peter put this work together……

I recently went on a short break with my wife Lynda to La Rochelle and Cherbourg (it was my 68th birthday).

While walking on the water front at Cherbourg I photographed some glass screens in front of a bar with grapes painted on them “I thought that these could be used to add interest on another image” see fig 1.

We spent some time walking the back streets of the town which in the main was quite run down; I then saw a window with wooden shutters and some interesting pots inside the glazed window.

When home in the UK I opened the raw file of the window first for the exposure of the items behind the glass and then for the rest of the image (see fig 3) the two files were then place in a stack (see fig 4 ) I used a layer mask to get the better exposure on the window and the rest of the image.

The window looked too central so the image was expanded on the left hand side (see background layer fig 4) some cloning was necessary to fill in the gap (see background copy). Still not satisfied with the image toot selections of the glass file (fig 1) and place them as a layer in the stack layers 3, 3 copy, 4 and 5; soft light blending mode.

The final touch was texture screen (layer 7) 50% opacity on soft light.

In addition some dodging and burning was used (layer 9 ).

Fig 5 is the final image.

<<<<<>>>>> 2nd placed was

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;So what- Mr Turnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Alan Dedman LRPS

and 3rd place was a new comer to the Forum Comp “Tulip’ by Andrew Williams LRPS

QUALITY SPEAKERS AT DI EXPO….

I spotted this a couple of days ago on Glyn Dewis’ web site. It just goes to prove the very high calibre of speakers we have booked for you to enjoy at DI Expo.

MEMBERS GALLERIES Last month we congratulated Geoffrey Beer on his recent LRPS (March 2017). When we spotted that he had put it up on the RPS Gallery we contacted him to ask if he was happy for us to share this with you all.

It is always useful to those planning on doing their Distinctions to see recent passes. In Geoffrey’s own words “after all the worry it now seems good (to have his LRPS). It also taught me how to look at images with a different out look”.

Taking ones Distinctions is always a learning curve and an excellent way to help ourselves to improve our photography.

Click the image to go to the gallery.

I went to Hoxton the day after the attack on Westminster Bridge. I was determined, like most Londoners, to demonstrate that we would carry on our lives the same regardless.

I wanted to take a photo of the mosque there. East London has changed so much and I wanted to take photos of it before it changes completely. I saw that there was a canal and thought that I might get a more interesting photo of the mosque from the canal. I had no idea what was there. Noting that the canal went to Islington it felt like it might be an interesting walk. The photos on my gallery are ones that I took whilst walking around Hoxton and walking to Islington along the canal. They were all taken on the same day.

Rather than concentrate on the boats on the canal I wanted to take photos of people enjoying the canal - walking, cycling and running along the canal path.

Philip Pound

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

KEN PAYNE ONLINE TUTORIALS Two more tutorial videos for you from Ken this month. First is one produced in Elements 15 and shows a very easy method of dealing with burnt out skin tones. Run time 12 minutes

In previous versions of Photoshop the Select and Mask tool was known as Refine Edge. There have been few changes so if you would like to see how it works then please click the image below.

Thanks to Ken for allowing us to use his tutorials for the benefit of our members.

DIG ONLINE Did you know that DIG is now offering a new membership – DIG Online?

This was agreed at the AGM and is now available. Indeed we already have new Online members. But what does being an ‘online member’ mean?

First the cost - £8 p.a. as opposed to the normal £15 p.a. We can reduce membership fees simply by not printing and posting our DIGITs and exhibition catalogues. Those associated cost savings we can pass on to online members.

However an Online member gets everything DIG offers to all members.

The only difference is that online members will read DIGIT and catalogues online, using the easy to read page turning software ISSUU. We have been testing out ISSUU for many months now by using it for DIG News each month and also uploading recent issues of DIGIT. We have found the majority of members are now choosing to read DIG News using this method, in preference to reading it on the web page.

So let us be clear â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is DIG full membership, with all the rights that members to enjoy, for all DIG activities. That includes your reduced ticket price to DIG Events and Centre Meetings. The only difference is no printed magazines. So if you are someone who is happy reading on your tablet or mobile it is a perfect fit to your lifestyle.

Migration â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this is the one element that you need to be aware of if you are thinking of moving over. If you are an existing DIG member you can only migrate to becoming a DIO (DIG Online) member at the time of your RPS annual renewal. If you are a new DIG member then you can elect to join DIO from day one.

DIG are proud to be the only RPS special interest group offering two levels of membership for the benefit of our members.

We now have 23 Online members so welcome to you all.

RPS NOMINATIONS In the April edition of the Journal we all received a separate insert about the Society’s Election 2017. Please do consider whether you are willing to volunteer for nomination to either the Council or the Advisory Board.

Everyone has something to give to this Society we all belong to – without volunteers it cannot survive.

Members have many life and business skills so why not use them to the benefit of the Society. Getting involved is very fulfilling and interesting.

For overseas members please do not think that this excludes you. The Council currently has one co-opted member who lives in Switzerland and represents all overseas members.

Nominations close on May 15th – for more information go to www.rps.org/election2017.

BOUQUETS AND BRICKBATS This month the DIG Committee would like to thank Ian Wilson who works hard on the DIG Forum as one of the mentors and ‘house keeper’.

Each month Ian takes down older images that need to be removed.

Admittedly being a mentor on DIG Forum is a pretty easy role as everyone is so polite to each other, but this doesn’t mean it is isn’t a very necessary volunteer function. So thank you Ian for your invisible but important work.

DIG Forum is not just all about the monthly competition. It is the most active on the RPS Forum area and has some lively and interesting discussions on many aspects of the Society and photography. Here is a screen grab to show you the various sections.

DIG CENTRE ROUND-UP Links to all the Centres web sites can be found HERE SOUTHERN CENTRE

RPS Digital Imaging Group, Southern Centre

Sunday 21st May 2017 10.30 am to 4.00 pm Doors open 10.00

Greyfriars Community Centre 44 Christchurch Road Ringwood, BH24 1DW

Altered Reality …..Better than the Real Thing?

Adrian Lines MPAGB FBPE EFIAP ARPS

Going Solo Jane Lines MPAGB BPE5 LRPS Adrian will be discussing concepts and techniques and deconstructions of a range of successful competition images including some of his more recent/new images.

Website: http://adrianlines.com Jane will be showing and discussing her competition images plus travel images form the Camargue.

Website: http://janelines.com All welcome: DIG Members £8 All others £12 Tea and Coffee on arrival, Bring a packed lunch

Advanced Booking Strongly Recommended Forms available by download from www.rps.org or from

Barry Senior: email: digsouthern@rps.org T: 01425471489

THAMES VALLEY CENTRE New committee member at Thames Valley Centre.

After many years as the Web Master Alan Cross has decided to take on an assistant, Chris Tank has kindly offered to assist Alan with the intention of becoming Web Editor later in the year.

We welcome Chris to the committee and we all look forward to working with him.

Chris was introduced to photography and darkroom practices at teacher training college. After 20 years teaching design and photography in Secondary and Further Education, Chris moved into professional practice, working as a photographer for the Corporation of London Data Imaging Project. The biggest project of its type at the time, Chris and his assistant photographed over 25,000 paintings, maps, engravings, sculptures, and historic documents for display on COLLAGE, the London Picture Archive.

Moving to RHS Garden Wisley to head the Royal Horticultural Society's Information and Interpretation Department, Chris relished the opportunity to work in a greener environment. Production of on-line information played a key role in the work of the department. Now enjoying early retirement, personal photography is taking centre stage.

A Past President of Woking Photographic Society Chris has a passion for printing, particularly monochrome, and after some years mourning the loss of access to a darkroom is enjoying the opportunities offered by the latest generation of inkjet printers for producing high quality prints.

BIRMINGHAM FOR THE WEEKEND We thought it might be interesting to some of you considering whether to go to DI Expo or not, but finding the journey a bit too far in day, to think about making a weekend of it. So we asked John Bull if he would write us a short article and include some of his images that he has shown on the DIG Forum from time to time.

My photography in Birmingham I greatly enjoyed the DIG expo 2015 and hope to attend this year. I am lucky to live near enough to Birmingham to get there and back in a day, which I do from time to time just to take photographs there.

I have been asked to write about a few of the images I have taken in Birmingham for the benefit of anyone who is extending their visit to the DIG expo to a weekend break.

Birmingham Selfridges is a challenge because it has been photographed by so many people already. Of course I took a few of the “standard” shots showing the “buttons” and curves of the roof, but I wanted to do something more original. One trick for making creative images is to change the scale. I saw the buttons as the keys a

typewriter and added the letters of the QWERTY keyboard. I wanted to show where the buttons came from, so I added a computer screen showing a classic view of the building. I was pleased that the resulting image was accepted for the DIG projected competition and to see it displayed with all the others at the 2015 expo.

While trying to get a different angle on the Selfridges building I went to the top of the multi-storey car park opposite. From there, I noticed a waitress putting out chairs on the balcony outside the storeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cafĂŠ. Fortunately she went backwards and forwards several times, giving me time to move to the nearest corner of the car park and fit my longest lens. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the colour combination so I converted to black and white then restored the red of her apron. Colour popping is a technique to be used sparingly, but I think it works here.

The opposite end of the Bullring shopping centre leads to the recently refurbished New Street Railway station. There is a tilted reflective façade all the way round offering unlimited distorted reflections of trains, rails commuters, taxis and surrounding buildings. No two images are the same. The challenge is to select just the right bits to make a satisfying composition. This is my wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite.

Another favourite location is the Library of Birmingham. The inside of the building offers photographically interesting views. Photography is permitted within the Library of Birmingham provided it is for personal use only.

Here is an example:

There are two balconies at different heights. The views from them are constantly changing. This example was a joint winner of the DIG forum monthly competition.

The opening hours have been reduced due to the financial cutbacks, so be aware that, at the time of writing, the library does not open until 11 in the morning.

I realise that I have barely scratched the surface of what Birmingham has to offer the photographer. I am sure that locals could list many other possibilities and I look forward to discovering more in the future. I hope that this gives a flavour of the city from the point of view of a visiting photographer.

John Bull LRPS

We hope you have enjoyed this months DIG News. If you have anything to contribute or to have your say then please get in touch. The email address is at the end of this document.

Regards

Janet Janet Haines ARPS DIG Chair digchair@rps.org