DIG News - July 2016
Faded Glory by Paula Davies FRPS
DIG PROJECTED IMAGE COMPETITION We have got off to a good start with entries coming in already. Also the PI Comp Organiser, David Taylor, has made some ‘help’ tutorials for those members who find the process of entering the competition a bit of a challenge. There are 4 in all as follows Welcome Getting started Forgot my password Changed my mind All can be found on the DIG PI Comp web page HERE along with the pdf downloadable information and the web link to the entry server. So if you haven’t done so already then do make a start on preparing your images for the competition – you can submit 4 in all across the two classes, or all in one if it suits your work best. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONGRATULATIONS It has been a great month for some of our DIG members, all of whom are to be congratulated for their Distinctions. I don’t think we have ever had two FRPS achievements in one month. At any level it is a fine achievement but no more so than to get in to the elite club of a Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society. Susan Ashford LRPS Colin Robb LRPS Sarang Bhand LRPS David Manning LRPS Colin Nash LRPS Lesley Taylor LRPS Matt Walkley LRPS Darren McDonald LRPS
Swansea Glasgow Navi Mumbai Milton Keynes Worcester Camberley Weston-Super-Mare Driffield
Fiona Cadger ARPS (Creative)
Lauder
Andrew Marker FRPS Clive Arrowsmith FRPS
Bristol Driffield
Fellowship panels will be featured in the Journal as normal.
This month we will feature the recent successful LRPS panel from John Livy. John Livy - LRPS My wife and I were due to travel to New Zealand in 2006 and tour the two islands in a motor home. Prior to travelling and after researching the market I went to a local dealer and purchased a Canon 300D. The seed was sown for my journey in Digital Photography. Having arrived back home there was many hundreds of images to process and learn about RAW. This was prior to Lightroom’s existence. After a short while I joined a local Photography group in Marlow which got me on the road to club photography. In 2008 we moved to Lymington in Hampshire and, I joined Highcliffe and Infinity Photography Club where I have made many friends who have both inspired my photography and encouraged me to improve. I also started to attend RPS Digital talks at Ringwood which is organised by Barry Senior. It was on one of these visits that I joined the RPS and the Digital Group. I enjoy many different genre of photography as will be seen from my panel. This has enabled me to learn new skills so that I can portray the image that fits the subject being Street, Action or Landscape. I will need to narrow down my focus in the future to enable me to try for my ARPS. Prior to my assessment I was unable to book an advisory day and relied instead on friends, who had all obtained their ARPS distinctions, so were familiar with the process, for advice. Thanks to Jim and Nicky Pascoe and Fay Bowles.
I attended the assessment of my panel at Bath and found it very interesting and was amazed at the variety of panels presented. As any one knows who has been to an assessment, there is a lot of scrutiny of your images and discussion between the assessors. I must say I was relieved and very pleased to be told that my panel was being recommended for acceptance. There was one important point that I learnt from the day, and would advise anyone considering trying for their LRPS distinction to make sure that none of your highlights are clipped, as this was the most common cause of failure.
Industrial Past
Clevedon Pier
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------DIG FORUM This month’s winner of the Forum Competition is Paula Davies FRPS. You can see her delicate ‘Faded Glory’ composition on the front page. Congratulations Paula. You are doing well in the annual accumulator to win the RPS Portfolio. But there is still plenty of time for others to catch up and snatch the prize. A few words from Paula about her winning image…. I do like to photograph flowers, particularly when they are beyond their best or completely dead. I thought this oriental lily was beginning to look attractive so set up my mini studio, aka conservatory, to take some still lifes. Processed initially in Lightroom, then in Nik Silver Efex choosing the antique preset, with adjustments, and finally added a border.
We had a tie for second this month, so we will show you both. Firstly we have David Pearson ARPS with a perfect example of how to shoot a waterfall. Then a super colourful composition from Max Green LRPS.
Aberdulais Falls 2
Weeping Cherry Impression
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TUTORIALS FROM KEN PAYNE This month I have picked two for you that I hope you will find useful. First a Polarizing Filter Effect that you can apply in LightRoom or Photoshop. With summer here I felt this might be especially useful given the shooting conditions many of us face when out and about in the middle of the day and no chance to return to the scene in more obliging lighting conditions. So Ken has made us a useful six and a half minute tutorial HERE
The second tutorial is Smart Objects and Masks, using Photoshop. TO view this one HERE is the link.
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DIG EXHIBITION Swindon Library have been host to the 2016 Print exhibition for the past month but from July 4th it will be moving to Taunton Library – there till the 23rd of the month. So for those of you in the SW why not get along to Paul Street, Taunton TA1 3XZ to view for yourselves that beautiful prints of our talented members. We do get requests for the Exhibition to be shown in other parts of the country, which we would love to do. But this means we need you, the members to get involved to make it happen. If you know of a venue, with space and sufficient exhibition boards that would take about 140 40x50cm prints AND you would be prepared to volunteer to put them up and take them down again for us, then do please get in touch. Your committee, especially the Exhibition Organiser, work really hard to find new venues and make it happen but we do not have the local knowledge and contacts that you do. So please help us if you can. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DIG MEMBERS SURVEY Within the next few days you will be receiving an email from DIG Committee inviting you to participate in our members’ survey. We try to do these on a regular basis every 18 months to 2 years so that we can monitor and respond to changes in the membership profiles. The information gets used by both Committee and Centres when planning meetings such as the DIG Expo, which we anticipate holding again in 2017. It influences DIGIT articles and speakers. Helps us to understand you – our members. So please do take a few minutes to complete the survey. It is how You help to shape the DIG in the future. Thanks. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Len Deeley FRPS, AV-DPAGB, EFIAP, BPE3* It was with great sadness that we learned of the recent and sudden death of Len Deeley. Len will be known to many either personally or through his photography, especially his underwater work. Len was a skilled diver and was passionate about the underwater world. It was in fact this that first brought Len to photography when in 1981 he joined the British Society of Underwater Photographers.
As an RPS and DIG member for many years Len has entered countless competitions and exhibitions and had many successes. He was an active member of the Thames Valley DIG Group and in May this year took first prize in their annual PDI Competition with his image Two-banded Clownfish in Sea Anemone. Len loved attending TV DIG meetings as he said he always learnt something new. In 2007 Len’s memorable image of a Silky Shark with Pilot Fish was Highly Commended in the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Len co-authored a book Ultimate Diving Adventures and regularly organised diving trips for underwater photographers to many locations worldwide. He was also very active both as a speaker and judge within the Surrey Photographic Association and beyond. For thirty years Len was a stalwart member of Godalming Photographic Club where over the years he served the club in many ways including as Chairman. During this time Len developed interests in other forms of photography, and achieved many awards and distinctions. Len also
developed an interest in Audio Visual production and produced many sequences over a wide range of subjects. Len’s lively presence, uncompromising commitment and invaluable support will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Silky Shark and Pilot Fish
Two Banded Clownfish in Sea Anemone
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------BRICKBATS AND BOUQUETS Following on from my request for feedback following last months member complaint about the quality of the ISSUU DIG publications we had a pleasing amount of positive responses from members who are enjoying the page turning software and find the quality excellent. This is gratifying for the committee as we felt it was progress to offer our publications in this format. Just to reiterate though – DIG News is still provided as a web page for those who prefer to read it that way. Besides DIG News don’t forget that the most recent copy of DIGIT is also available online, using ISSUU software, HERE. You will need to be logged in to the RPS web site to access this as it is on a hidden page to keep it exclusive to members only. Here are just four of the comments we received……. “I normally do not enjoy reading newsletters, periodicals, newspapers on line, as they are mostly hard on the eyes. But the ISSUU version of DIG News is a pleasure to read, perfect quality on my computer and nice airy lay-out.” (Judith Taylor) “In the latest online DIGIT magazine you asked a question regarding members' views on its presentation. Quite simply, I find it excellent. Balance, content and ease of reading are superb. Please do not change it for fear that it might be a retrograde step.” (David Askham) “My splendid DIG News opened immediately (ours is not the fastest broadband here in the village compared to many people) and looks splendid. The picture quality is excellent, though sometimes I find the small scale frustrating as with the cover picture ‘Fence in the Dunes’. But these are normal issues with internet based publications.” (Robert Albright RPS Vice President) “I have just read the latest DIG e-news and have to say that I prefer reading it with the ISSUU page turning software. Never had any problems with it being slow using an iMac and Firefox.” (Paula Davies)
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MIRRORLESS Paula Fernley - A year with my Fuji XT-1. It was towards the end of a six hour rock festival we were photographing last year that I realised I had to give up my wonderful Canon 6D and go for a smaller camera. By 9:30pm the images I was trying to shoot were no longer the images I was reviewing, the DSLR and 70-200mm F2.8 lens were just too heavy. I could no longer hold them up to my eyes and frame properly. My back was aching. It was with a heavy heart I travelled into Exeter to try the latest Fuji at the time, the XT-1. My partner has been using mirrorless Fujis alongside his Canon cameras for a few years, so I was familiar with them. The autofocus was slow, I didn't like the electronic viewfinder so I hoped the XT-1 would be a step up from their previous models. After 30 minutes of handling the XT-1 I was amazed. The autofocus was much faster, the viewfinder much brighter and it was so light with the 18-55mm kit lens attached. My decision was made, a new camera was on order. The 18-55mm lens is beautifully sharp and professionally image stabilised. It is mostly metal, and the optical performance is way above what we usually expect from a “kit� lens. I have hand held it at 1/4 at F4 at ISO6400 to produce usable shots of the production of Macbeth in Beer Quarry Caves. A particular challenge for any camera. The play was illuminated purely by candlelight and torches.
Macbeth
The XT-1 was stretched to its limit. I was surprised at the acceptability of the image quality, and the client loves them. If I had a faster lens my life would have been easier but the results proved the stabiliser is wonderful. This combination is also brilliant for travel as it is very compact and versatile. There are a great range of lenses available for this little camera including the 50-140mm F2.8 which we use all the time in the studio. It’s also superb for live available light work, Fuji’s image stabilisation is superb and allows handholding at much lower shutter speeds than Canon’s comparable lens. We have just got the 100-400mm, which is a large lens and on first trial it seems great but more practice is required to give a full opinion on this. My first love for photography was the outdoors, I now carry two bodies, a 10-24mm, an 18-55mm and a 55-200mm lens, which add up to far less weight than the one body and equivalent lenses for my old DSLR. If I want an even lighter pack to carry up hill and down dale, I can omit the spare body and can't believe how far and long I can carry my gear before my back’s complaining. Having two identical bodies is great for working in challenging situations such as dust and sand filled air, or stormy coastal shoots where changing lenses is going to play havoc with your sensor. The shot taken in North Devon required a 40 minute uphill hike after sunset and I was very pleased to have my new system with me.
North Devon
I have been using my XT-1’s for about a year now. They have been employed in many diverse situations from recording low light theatrical performances to dusty slot canyons in America. They are also frequently used in the studio with off camera flash. Another great feature the Fuji has, is that you can use live view in the studio to compose and focus your images, which you couldn’t in the past with my Canon. I've just discovered the electronic shutter which enables totally silent shooting. This is a great advantage when I'm trying to be incognito, for example capturing the end of Britten’s War Requiem at Exeter Cathedral. I can use the camera on continuous shooting (burst mode) and the audience don't have to suffer the irritation of a machine gun to listen to. The electronic viewfinder is bright and responsive for composing your shots. It shows you the changes affected by altering your shutter speed and aperture. You can also review what you have shot without having to remove the camera from your eye as it can be set to review the image for various amounts of time. This is advantageous in a really bright sunny day or when speed is essential and you don't have time to look at the back of the camera. Such as when photographing Zapcats. This is a great little camera but there are pitfalls; there are so many buttons with multiple functions, altering settings accidentally can be very inconvenient if you're in the middle of a performance in the dark. The dials need to be stiffer so they don’t wander as you remove the camera from your bag. Finally there are far more options than you are ever going to need in the menus. But this is a small price to pay for the weight reduction you achieve changing from a DSLR. I'm finding taking pictures is fun again. This is resulting in the camera getting used far more frequently and hence I'm taking better pictures!
Zapcat
---------------------------------------------------------------------------MEMBERS GALLERIES I have spotted two very different galleries for your enjoyment this month. The first is from a lady, Lilian Lingwood, who can no longer get out and about as far as she once could, so she shoots flowers in her neighbours gardens. She tells me she prints the work and pops them through the neighbours doors, which delights them and even gets her invited back when other plants are at their best. All the photos were taken with Lensbabies – the Velvet 56, Composer Pro and the Twist 60. View Lilians gallery HERE So this just goes to prove how there are beautiful images right on our own doorsteps if we look properly. And the subject matter is so ‘in season’ right now that I hope it will inspire others of you to get out with your cameras. The second gallery from Andrew Kirby HERE is a very different challenge. Finding fantastic locations like this is something many of us just dream about.
FOCUS ON OVERSEAS MEMBERS We have a relatively new member on the DIG Forum who is posting some superb and somewhat frightening shots of tigers (he must get pretty close as they are so detailed). So I thought I would contact him to see if he would be our Overseas Member for July. So we have the pleasure of finding out a little more about Ashish and enjoying a few of his images……
Hello, my name is Ashish Chalapuram and I’m based out of Mumbai, India. I run an information technology company in Mumbai but my passion is photography. I first developed an interest in photography around 7 years ago when I bought my first prosumer camera; a Canon S5 IS (which my 10year old son uses now! I’ve moved on to a Canon 5D mkIII). Like any beginner, I started clicking pictures of everything around me and had I great appreciation for my own images!!! :) (ignorance is bliss). A few months later I joined some online forums and started posting my images there for feedback and comments. Of course, I was expecting the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ for my great images but none was forthcoming. The occasional vote in online competitions used to thrill me but soon I realised that the occasional vote and some appreciation by equally “photography ignorant” friends wasn’t helping me in any way. One day I attended a photowalk organised by a local photography group for which only 5 people including me turned up. We decided to meet and shoot more often and those were my baby steps towards understanding this art better. I started reading a lot about photography and gained some knowledge that way.
But the game changer was when I met my current mentor, Shannon Heng, at one of the photowalks. Shannon is a professional photographer from Singapore but based out of Mumbai. I requested him if he could be my mentor in photography and he was kind enough to agree. He changed my approach towards photography and worked from the bare basics upwards. Even today we discuss a lot and shoot together a lot. I am thankful to him for selflessly teaching me a lot about this wonderful art. I am not a genre specific photographer and like to experiment a lot with different genres. I am fortunate to live in a country where there is a wide variety of subjects to shoot. In case anyone of you wishes to visit India to shoot, I would be more than happy to assist you with an organised tour. I hope to contribute more to The Digital Imaging Group and am very happy to be a part of so many wonderful fellow photographers here. You can reach me on ashg0501@gmail.com Cheers! Ashish
Pangong Lake
Old Woman
Sambar
Paradox
We hope that you have enjoyed this months DIG News and thank you to all who have contributed. July is here and soon it will school holidays. For some this means time away in new places, for others of us a time to stay home and enjoy the garden. But wherever you are there is always a photo there just in front of your nose – observation is the key. Seek and you will find.
Regards
Janet Janet Haines ARPS DIG Chair digchair@rps.org