RPS Digital Imaging Group – DI Online April 2024

DI ONLINE

ABOUT THE COVER IMAGE

The Photographer: Jocelyn Horsfall

The Image Title: Leaf Artistry

About the Image: In camera double exposure through the windows of the Waterlily House, Kew Gardens.

This image gained Jocelyn Horsfall ARPS an IGOPTY Finalist Award

Contact: dionline@rps.org

CHAIR’S CHAT

THOUGHTS FROM THE CHAIR… VOLUNTEERING WITH THE DI COMMITTEE

I thought this month I would focus on the team who are the bedrock for delivering all the amazing programmes and projects for DI Members.

The skills and dedication of the DI committee never fails to amaze me. We are a team of 15 individuals spread around the UK, even with one in Madagascar. Despite that geographical spread we are remarkably cohesive. Each person has a given role; some more than one. However the strength is in how we work together flexibly, supporting each other as roles and skills dictate. Whilst we may work primarily at times to suit our own life-styles, the team do all work exceptionally hard, especially when there are deadlines to hit. The joy of Zoom and home working means we can all stay home, working when it suits us.

The important thing about volunteering is that we all want to make DI the best we possibly can. Our loyalty to our members is fundamental to every decision and that which we deliver. We are a happy team, who respect each other and our sometimes differing views or opinions. Interestingly though, we rarely have to resort to making decisions by a majority vote (I don’t think we ever vote come to think about it) – we debate and, with a bit of give and take, reach a conclusion.

Over and above the named 15 committee members we also have other volunteers doing smaller tasks. This might be leading one of the online e-Circles or a TWT (TalkWalk-Talk) walk in their local area. DI has one outreach centre – DI Southern Centre –led by Barry Senior. He too has a small band of volunteers, both formal and casual.

So why do we do it? Because basically we all enjoy it and get satisfaction from it. OK so there are grumbles from time to time when RPS systems fail us or aren’t flexible enough to meet our requirements. But we are happy working with one another and if a new volunteer joins the team we all do our upmost to not only make them feel welcome but to ensure they are happy and confident in their role.

CHAIR’S CHAT

There is always room for new volunteers. If you want to be part of the team then talk to us – whether you only have a few hours a month to spare or have skills that we could benefit from, the door is always open. Why not come through and join the party?

Do feel free to contact any committee member any time. You can find our contact details HERE on the DI web site.

Janet digchair@rps.org

DIGITAL IMAGING COMPETITION

ROUND 5 – ARCHITECTURE

ROUND 5 HAS BEEN LAUNCHED AND SUBMISSIONS FOR THE NEXT ROUND IN OUR ANNUAL DI COMPETITION ARE NOW OPEN .

Architecture. External, internal, bridges, buildings old and new. Mono, colour, ICM, multiple exposure – any style or techniques you choose. Remember images need to have been taken within the last 6 months. Given the current Talk-Walk-Talk project is based on Architecture this might mean many of you have recent work.

You now have two months to shoot as submissions will open on 1 June for this round.

Round 4 – Scapes– the submission web site is open. Go to our web page HERE and scroll down to enter your 3 images.

Please read the RULES and ensure that your images are sized and named correctly. Submission deadline is 29 April.

We hope that you are enjoying this year’s annual digital competition and getting out and about to shoot to the different themes for each round.

DIGITAL IMAGING COMPETITION

ROUND 4 – PEOPLE –THE RESULTS

THERE ARE THREE EQUAL FIRST PLACES IN THE ‘PEOPLE’ ROUND

CATHERINE CHETWYND LRPS JOINT FIRST PLACE

This summarises the streets of Habana – bright, compelling and unexpected. Most of the images I made involved either people doing things with their hands – building or mending car engines or bikes, making shoes or gloves, etc. – or sitting on the pavement being themselves. What I loved about the people was their warmth and welcoming personalities –though clearly, in this example, neither was evident; even his meal didn’t keep him awake –but he does illustrate an element of Cuban eccentricity. I’d go back in a heartbeat. Taken Habana, Cuba, October 19, 2023, at 18.57.

Sony A7 III, 35mm Sony Zeiss f2.8mm 1/125 second, f8, ISO 1600

DIGITAL IMAGING COMPETITION

DAVID NICHOLLS LRPS JOINT FIRST PLACE

This was shot in New York’s Central Park on an unseasonably sunny Saturday at the end of October last year. People were out in droves and positively cascading down these steps, which led to the ever-popular boating lake. With such constant movement, I thought that this would make a good multiple exposure composition. So, standing in one spot I made handheld exposures at 35sec intervals over a 1.5min period, trying to avoid any camera movement. Once loaded into Lightroom, I selected the best sequence of 5 (out of a total of 29) exposures and blended them in Photoshop. The inevitable camera movement between exposures gives just the right amount of blur to the stationary objects, while the pedestrians take care of their own blurring!

Finally, as this is one of the first competitions I have entered, I am more than thrilled at this result and I applaud the judges for their good taste.

Olympus E-M5iii, 1/160sec at f/9.0, ISO 200, 29mm

DIGITAL IMAGING COMPETITION

MARY AUKLAND ARPS JOINT FIRST PLACE

I spent a day photographing in Oxford (by invitation of the Reading Camera Club). We eventually went to a shopping centre, and looking down from a walkway, I saw a horde of people passing by on a lower walkway, with one solitary man busily texting, apparently oblivious. A sign of the times? I took several images with a slow shutter speed, but none of the individual images depicted quite what I felt I saw. So I blended three of the images to give the movement of the constant flow of people, contrasting with the stationary figure texting. Fortunately he was wearing a white shirt, which helps him to stand out amongst the crowds photographically, replicating the situation.

Olympus OM-1. Handheld, but rested on a handrail, 1/3 sec at f/14 ISO200 32mm (35mm equiv. 64mm).

FATHERS TIME BY CATHERINE CHETWYND LRPS SECOND PLACE

SIMPLY RED

BY JOHN SCOTT THIRD PLACE

NOMINATE FOR THE RPS AWARDS 2024

We’re accepting nominations for the RPS Awards 2024. The Awards celebrate and recognise individuals working across both the art and science of the still and moving image. Nominations for the 2024 Awards will be open until 26 April. This year’s member Awards will be announced at the Annual General Meeting later this year. You can find out more about the categories and make your nominations at rps.org/nominate.

Awards are given in each of three main pillars:

•The Art of Photography and Moving Image

•The Science of Photography and Moving Image

•The Knowledge and Understanding of Photography and Moving Image

Our most prestigious award is aMedal with Honorary Fellowship.We also recogniseHonorary Fellowshipsand Individual Awards within each pillar. Nominations are also open for theRPS Member Awardsrecognising outstanding contributions to the RPS over a sustained period. For more detail on the individual award categories please view the link below.

Call for entry for IPE 166

The International Photography Exhibition is a great opportunity for recognition as a photographer. The open call for IPE 166 runs until 21 May. We encourage members to submit images and it would be great if you could spread the word within your group or region. It's free for anyone to submit one image and members get a discount on subsequent submissions.

DI MEMBER WINS MAJOR AWARD

Marilyn Taylor FRPS

In December last year I was going on a trip to Zambia. I had booked it two and a half years earlier. A friend said 'Am I taking a 300mm prime lens?' (ie 600mm for my Olympus), so I hired one. I had an OM1 with bird focusing, and the other body was an EM-1 III, without.

So, at the very last minute I decided to get another OM1 body (it was Black Friday) and discovered that the London Camera Exchange in Guildford had one in stock and rushed in to buy it the morning that I was leaving.

I saw a flyer on the counter and put it in my pocket. Two weeks later, after my trip, I emptied my pockets and saw the flyer. So I thought I’d enter. There were 13 categories; we could enter one image per category, all online, but there were no rules around how old was the image, where it had been taken, or if it had won any competitions. I entered 8 categories.

Two or three weeks before the NEC Photography & Video Show, I had an email from Steve Sainsbury from Wallop Design saying that I had been short-listed for the Wildlife category, and would I kindly send a hi-res image. Which I did.

In the week leading up to the show, Steve contacted me again, asking if I would be at the show, and sent me a couple of tickets. So I went up by train on the Sunday morning - enjoyed wandering around the show, but was a little tense. All the shortlisted images had been displayed in the foyer, so I saw the two other shortlisted wildlife images. I thought the little octopus would win. The presentation was at 3:45; the wildlife was the last category. Good job I'd taken my blood pressure pill that morning.

Peter Dench was the judge presenting the last few categories, and the winners weren't at the show. He was quite happy that I was!

Then they announced that each of the winners were assessed against each other for the Photographer of the Year. My image was one of the three finalists. Up until then I had been quite relaxed. It had not occurred to me that I would be in the last three. Then there was a very long pause and the screen went blank. Eventually my long tongued bat was shown, and I'd won.

My five minutes of fame has now gone ... I was stressed, then excited, and totally exhilarated. Brought down to earth on the train home with signalling problems which took an extra 90 minutes. But I didn't care! Many congratulations Marilyn

Long tongued bat approaching banana flower by Marilyn Taylor FRPS London Camera Exchange Photographer of the Year Winner

MEMBER’S STORY

JOCELYN HORSFALL ARPS

I was absolutely thrilled to discover that I had won no less than five awards in the IGPOTY competition this year. A Finalist award in the Abstract Views category, plus 3rd prize, Finalist, Highly Commended and Commended in the Captured at Kew category!

I have always been captivated by flowers and foliage and the natural world, and been inspired by the images from the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition over the years. I started entering, in the early days with no success at all. Trying not to be downhearted, I persevered, and managed to get my first award ten years ago – a Finalist in the Macro Art category – and was then hooked, and have entered every year since. They have a good range of different categories to choose from, including the introduction of Abstract Views a few years ago, which is where my images mainly sit these days. But whatever the category, competition is fierce, with so many amazing photographers from all around the world entering. To achieve anything at all is a wonderful accolade. I have gone from euphoria with 1st prize for a Portfolio one year to abject misery with nothing at all, not even a shortlisting, the next!

But this year was a wonderful year. The Abstract Views award was for the image ‘Fire and Rain’, which was taken in Richmond Park at the tail end of Autumn

‘Fire and Rain by Jocelyn

Jocelyn Horsfall ARPS IGOPTY Finalist Award in the Abstract Views category

I was struck by the bright leaves still clinging to the branches of an interestingly shaped tree, and wanted to create a more dramatic interpretation of the scene. I used a double exposure in camera, with the first shot a vertical ICM (intentional camera movement) of the area to create a simplified backdrop, and the second a sharp photo of the tree. Using the Dark blend mode meant that the tree, with its vibrant leaves and tangled branches, stood out against the background. To increase the standout and the drama, I made all the colours cooler, apart from the fiery leaves, and then added a painterly treatment with a Topaz Simplify filter for a more stylised effect. This created an almost fairy-tale impression, but with a slight oriental feel to it too.

IGPOTY is affiliated with the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, who sponsor their own special award category Captured at Kew, and have hosted the launch exhibition of award winners every year. I am lucky enough to live near Kew, so this is always a definite category for me.

This was one of three of my images which were on display at the outdoor exhibition at Kew Gardens for a month, before moving on to other prestigious locations round the UK.

I was so fortunate to have 4 images shortlisted here, which all got through to achieve awards (not a given). The best result was 3rd place with the image ‘Dappled Dreams’, an in-camera multiple exposure of bluebells in the woods, some in focus, some not, creating a gentle painterly effect with dappled sunlight, reminiscent of a watercolour.

I also added one of my own abstract textures in post-processing, at low opacity, and warmed the colours up slightly to reinforce the dream-like effect.

‘Dappled Dreams’ by Jocelyn Horsfall ARPS Third Place.

Next was a Finalist award for ‘Leaf Artistry’ (see cover), an image taken through the windows of the Waterlily House at Kew, a favourite place of mine. From the outside, early in the morning, these windows of the tropical glasshouse provide many artistic opportunities, with condensation and marks adding texture to the foliage pressed against the glass. Using an in-camera double exposure of different leaf patterns and varying the white balance has created a colourful abstract – a vibrant interpretation of the tropical plants growing inside. I enriched the colours a little and slightly smoothed the image in processing.

Then there was another Waterlily House windows image, ‘Textural Foliage’ with a Highly Commended award. A similar technique, with a multiple exposure of the different leaves behind the glass windows, this time both in and out of focus. The softer, more painterly textural effect was enhanced in processing with a Topaz Simplify filter. So, another abstract but with a very different look and feel. The variety and range of planting in the glasshouse means that the view through the windows is always changing across the year, with different colours and textures creating completely different scenes.

‘Textural Foliage’ by Jocelyn Horsfall ARPS Highly Commended

Award.

And finally, I was lucky enough to get a Commended award as well, for an image I called ‘Cool Fairy-tale Foliage’. This was taken inside the Palm House at Kew, after waiting for my lens to de-mist in the tropical heat. It was an in-camera multiple exposure of palm leaves and other foliage, with the blend mode and white balance chosen to produce a cool and ethereal colour palette. I added a slight painterly effect in post processing, which has softened and smoothed the image, but retained a textural graininess that reinforced the fairy-tale feel.

‘Cool Fairy-tale Foliage’ by Jocelyn Horsfall ARPS Commended Award.

A MEMBER’S BOOK & TALK

My fellowship panel was about landscapes of the High Arctic in all weather conditions, but I felt that I wanted to do more with it, and have now produced a book depicting the High Arctic and the Antarctic in all weather conditions focusing on landscape and the creatures that live there.

I am using it to raise money for CRISIS - the homeless charity - and the entire purchase price (not just the profit) will be donated. If anyone is interested in buying the Book, ‘White’and at the same time supporting this worthwhile charity, you can view sample pages and place an order HERE

Jean Robson FRPS

‘WHITE’ by Jean Robson

A Photographic Exploration of the Svalbard Archipelago and the Arctic Peninsula

Jean is also giving a Talk ‘In the Realms of the Penguin and the Polar Bear’ on May 30th at 19.30. Register for your free ticket HERE

ACCOLADE SPOTLIGHT

All back copies of Accolade can be found HERE. Production of Accolade is currently suspended but we hope to be able to resume full production later in 2024

GRAEME KNIBBS LRPS

Graeme Knibbs from Lower Kingswood Surrey gained his Distinction in February 2023. Here is his successful panel for which he gained his LRPS

When I retired, I wanted to take my photographic skills to the next level. I thought about doing an A level but decided that gaining an LRPS was equally challenging but a more enjoyable way to proceed. My first stop was the RPS Distinctions pages on the website, I read the requirements, downloaded the layout templates and looked through the example panels. Then I started collecting images together and discovered the Distinction+++s Study Group run by the London region; discussing panel ideas with others on the same journey was a great help. My next step was to book an advisory day. From this I gained a good insight into what the assessment process was like as well as getting formal feedback about my panel. I continued with the study group and as my ideas progressed so the images and panel layout evolved. I submitted a digital panel for an assessment in June 2022. The bad news was that it was not successful, the good news was that the assessors thought it sufficiently strong to grant a re-submission. I really enjoyed the process of creating the ‘eleventh image’; using the patterns with monochrome and colour images together with landscape and portrait orientation. Favourite images had to be omitted in order to ensure balance across the layout and that the breadth of skills required was demonstrated. When my name was announced on my second assessment day there was great sense of achievement and relief. It was definitely a journey of discovery and I learnt a lot about post processing. I am now continuing the journey by working towards a contemporary A panel.

My favourite Image

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 1/200 sec, f4.5, ISO 200 70.0mm

This image was a case of right place and the right time. I spotted the couple engaged in conversation and enjoying the shade from the sun. Their pose mirrored the gaze of the statue which, together with the diagonals of their sight line echoing the steps behind made a very pleasing composition. It was an excellent fit on the bottom right of the panel. Apart from that the image has fond memories of our silver wedding anniversary visit to Rome.

My Other image is the one that got away!

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II, 1/100 sec, f11.0. ISO 125 36.8 mm

This image is the one that got away! Out for a morning walk there was a slight mist rolling around producing lovely light rays from the early morning sunshine. I had to be quick to capture the image and balance the deep shadows with the bright sun. It was part of my original panel but unfortunately when choosing the final panel layout, it didn’t fit and demonstrate sufficiently complementary skills to the other images.

RPS DISTINCTIONS

FIND OUT HOW TO START OR CONTINUE YOUR DISTINCTIONS JOURNEY:

Each of the pages below includes handy links to guidelines and genres for distinctions, assessment dates, and a “how to apply” document:

• Licentiate (LRPS)– the process for LRPS is changing – see below for more details.

• Associate (ARPS)

• Fellowship (FRPS)

Changes from 1st January 2024: Applied and Portraiture genres will be merged into Applied for ARPS and FRPS. Book submissions (not photo books) are in the process of changing, so make sure you include the correct number of images as specified. No way of identifying the author may be included in these books.

Changes to LRPS:

The LRPS application process has been changed and will now use an online application system for digital submissions – no more prints or books will be assessed. There are currently no details of these new assessment procedures on the RPS website, but you can expect that this will be updated eventually (although the FAQs still mention COVID restrictions!). Keep an eye out on the Facebook group (see below) for announcements. ARPS and FRPS submissions will continue to support print-based assessments.

The Photobook genre, available for all distinctions, has its own special guidelines and submission process (as opposed to an LRPS, ARPS or FRPS submission in book form). You can find out more here: Photobooks. You might also like to see a talk hosted by Stewart Wall which is both informative and inspiring. Some genre-specific hybrid advisory days for both Associate and Fellowship levels at RPS House are still bookable – limited spaces; book here.

To help you prepare, you can request a one2one portfolio review – an online session with a panel member appropriate to your genre/distinction. See this page for more information: How to book a one2one

There has been some confusion over what happens next – someone from HQ will find you an advisor and put you both in touch to arrange a date and to send images/ presentation plan. This can take time depending on how many volunteer assessors in your genre or at your level are available, and you are advised to make your request at least 4 months before an assessment.

Some regions are offering Advisory Days online and in person. Look out on our Facebook group or for broadcasts from your regional group for details, or use this link https://portal. rps.org/s/event-listing and click the ‘Advisory Day’ button at the top – best to disregard the filters at the left hand side which often seem to find nothing or hide some events!

You can generally attend as an observer if you aren’t ready to step up yet (usually advertised a week beforehand on the Facebook group). In addition, some Chapters and Regions offer online Distinctions Study Groups. You can find these by searching the RPS website (these are in random date order including past dates, so you do need to be patient).

You can send your booking forms to distinctions@rps.org or by post to head office. As for advisory days, you can sign up to observe an Assessment Day (in person or online) tickets for assessments – currently free.

And don’t forget, as well as projected and printed images, you can also apply for a Film, Digital and Multimedia Distinction at any level, and also a written Research Distinction: Film And Research. The Research page on the website has been updated, and more changes are scheduled for other pages.

More avenues of support:

If you missed any of the Distinctions Live talks, you can catch up here. (Also accessible via the RPS Distinctions channel on YouTube.) This talk from Stewart Wall gives advice on how to gain your Licentiate.

The Facebook Group RPS Distinctions **Official Group** is still growing after 3 years, with 5000 members. It includes news from HQ, links for observer places at assessments, and posts celebrating distinction successes to inspire you. It’s a civilised venue to ask questions, share your successes – and disappointments – and ask for critique or expert advice on your proposed portfolio.

If you aren’t sure which genre or level to apply for, you can post 6 images (plus your SOI if appropriate) and request moderator advice.

Accolade, which celebrates Digital Imaging members’ distinction successes, is useful for insight into the process in many different genres and at all levels. The last Issue 13 of Accolade can be found HERE

FROM SEED TO BLOOM

Our new project from Seed to Bloom has been well received and lots of you have signed up for the Talks and Workshops. There is still time to book although some have already sold out.

For Talks, Walks, Workshops and Support from Springtime to Autumn 2024 and beyond see the FULL RANGE HERE

Learn new processing techniques. Be inspired on ways to present your work. Sow the seed and watch it flourish. Links below:

May:

• Creative Plant & Garden Photography a Presentation with Charles Needle May 4

June:

• Hands on Workshop at Wisley with Charles Needle June 4 ONLY 4 places LEFT

• ‘Chasing Seasons’ a Talk with Polina Plotnikova about using Lensbaby & special effect lenses June 7

• How to Edit Wow Photos on your phone a Workshop with Charles Needle featuring flowers June 11

Spring Summer and Autumn: Nurture & Fertilise the Ideas

• Supportive Image Evaluation with Charles Needle Participant July 2

• Supportive Image Evaluation with Charles Needle Observer July 2

• How to Create jaw dropping Closeups using your phone a Workshop with Charles Needle July 24

• How to Craft Painterly/Abstract Images Using Your iPhone a Workshop with Charles Needle Part 1 Sept 17

• How to Craft Painterly/Abstract Images Using Your iPhone a Workshop with Charles Needle Part 2 Oct 8

MORE DETAILS

Celia Henderson’s new series of workshops, part of the From Seed to Bloom programme ‘See, Take, Make’, spotlights a seasonal flower each month.

“With each workshop putting seasonal flowers in the limelight, we will put our vision plan to the test and consider how to best capture the shot(s) and which tools will be required to complete the post processing workflow, so you are fully prepared and motivated to capture the tulips of spring, the sweet peas of summer, the glorious dahlias and rudbeckia of autumn and the resilient snowdrops in winter.”

Places still available:

‘See, Take, Make’ 4. 2 JULY The Sweet Pea

‘See, Take, Make’ 5. 30 JULY The Rose

See all Celia's DI Workshops on Billetto

Charles Needle is also taking the lead with three events on Creative Flower and Garden Photography, starting with a Talk on May 4 at 16:00 BST . Then16 lucky people, within travelling distance of Wisley, have a chance to join him on a Hands-On Workshop in this RHS Garden in early summer on June 4 starting at 11 through to 4pm. Then finally he is returning to do a Virtual “Supportive Image Evaluation” indepth feedback session on people's images featuring flowers and gardens. There are 20 places to participate and provide images or lots of places to just come and observe the process.

Go here for the full programme and more detail

DI Homepage/ From Seed to Bloom

For the whole range

Billetto DI Public Profile page

To further refine your search type a particular tutor in the Search Bar

FROM SEED TO BLOOM

TALKS AND WORKSHOPS

Chasing the Seasons with Polina Plotnikova

June 7

TWO NEW TALKS

Still Life a Talk with Cherry Larcombe

October 9

Triptychs a Talk with Cherry Larcombe

November 27

‘See, Take, Make’ 4. The Sweet Pea With Celia Henderson

“How to Edit WOW Photos on Your iPhone” with Charles & Melissa Needle

Observe the “Creative Flower and Garden Photography Appraisal” with Charles Needle

“How to Craft Painterly/Abstract Images Using Your iPhone – Part 1

”with Charles & Melissa Needle

‘See, Take, Make’ 5.The Rose With Celia Henderson

Participate in the ‘Creative Flower and Garden Appraisal’ with Charles Needle

“How to Capture Jaw-dropping Closeups Using Your iPhone” with Charles & Melissa

“How to Craft Painterly/Abstract Images Using Your iPhone – Part 2” with Charles & Melissa Needle

AI SNAPSHOT

UNVEILING THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN AI-DRIVEN PHOTOGRAPHY WITH NEWS & VIEWS FROM OUR ROVING REPORTERS !

THOUGHTS FROM JOE HOUGHTON

CREATING AN AI PHOTOGRAPHIC JUDGE…

Over the past 18 months since ChatGPT burst onto the tech scene, there’s been much discussion and debate about the effect of AI on camera club competitions. This is really the only place that AI seems to be creating an issue, as otherwise AI as a mode of image generation is clearly being seen as just another way of making images, alongside all the existing ways.

I came across a fascinating experiment the other day – an app put together by a US based photographer Brent Mail. It’s called Photo Critique, and it does what it says –you upload a photo and get back an AI generated critique. Try it out for yourself by going to https://photocritique.app/ .

This got me thinking, so I logged into Microsoft Copilot and tried creating a GPT myself to do a similar task. You can try this yourself at https://copilot.microsoft.com/ sl/kzNpd78i4dg - NOTE you do have to be logged in with your Microsoft account or I don’t think it will let you in…

But for those of you who just want to see what it does, here’s how to set one up. In Copilot, if you have a Pro account (I do) there’s an option on the right hand side to create your own GPT. Here’s how I set mine up – the instructions are the key here, and you need to tweak these a few times to get responses that match what you are hoping for. I spent about half an hour coming up with these instructions and could do much more depending on what else I wanted the GPT to deliver – for instance, I could add a line asking for it to score out of 20.

Once the Publish button is pressed, your GPT is available to be run. Here’s what it looks like when run. First, you upload an image to be critiqued using the leftmost icon in the bottom right hand corner of the “Ask me anything” window.

AI SNAPSHOT

Once that’s uploaded, just type in “?” where it says “Ask me anything”, then click on the right facing paper plane icon bottom right (the Submit icon) to start the process off…

Now the magic happens…

As you can see, you get critique clearly based on the uploaded image which has been reviewed by the AI. It’s a bit magic to see the AI recognise the subject and other elements of an image like this, and with the AI’s getting smarter every month.

It wouldn’t take much IT smarts to put a wrapper interface around this and have it process the contents of a folder of images, outputting a page of critique (and scores) for each image and even a summary of image titles and scores. If he hasn’t done it already this is the kind of app Adrian Lines might create, and a well developed app such as this could put judging into a new space. No more judge’s bias, every image assessed based on the same criteria applied equally and without favour, and no travel expenses!

Clearly some up-sides to this, but also some down-sides too. I really enjoy judging evenings and the chat that comes when we discuss images – you won’t get that from the AI - at least not yet. We can already build photo-realistic avatars that look like a real person – it’s technically pretty easy to then link one of these to generated text.

So we could have real-time judging done by a “real” looking AI avatar within a few months – the possibilities are just endless – and pretty scary when you think how this technology could be misused in politics and advertising. OpenAI – the creators of ChatGPT, have a new voice generation tool that can clone your voice from just 15 seconds of audio – this tech is so controversial that they’re not releasing it yet because of the very real fear that it will be used to affect the upcoming US elections.

Joe Houghton

April 2024

WE HAVE AN ISSUU CHANNEL

NEWS

Those who are participating in the Books and Zines project are being given the opportunity to have their ‘work in progress’ uploaded on Issuu, to see how it looks. Also, when happy with the completed Zine they will be able to share it on Issuu to a wider audience. Do have a look!

https://issuu.com/digweb

WE HAVE A NEW FACEBOOK PAGE FOR ‘FROM SEED TO BLOOM’

This is a group for those interested in the DI ‘From Seed to Bloom’ Project 2024. It is intended to be for members to ask questions, and share information about Gardens to visit, Flower Farms we could go to photograph, exhibitions of interest and to share your Flower and Garden Photography.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2093842637659612/?ref=share_group_link

DI WORKSHOP LINKS

WORKSHOPS WITH SPACES –TO BOOK CLICK THE AD

Luminosity Masking Workshop with Jonathan Vaines April 19

Affinity Publisher Workshop with Joe Houghton June 14

Two Talks from David Gilliver

The Magical Art of Light Painting with David Gilliver April 24

Macro Photography -The Little People with David Gilliver May 15

THAMES VALLEY REGION EVENT

TICKETS AVAILABLE ON THAMES VALLEY WEBPAGE

“Elements of the Landscape: water. The talk will cover the How, What, When, Where and Why of landscape photography with a focus on scenes involving water in all its forms. Not just seascapes but city scenes by a river especially London. Richard’s interpretations and hence images are very varied and dramatic and simply referring to them as landscape is an injustice.

After looking at the equipment for landscape photography and some of the unique challenges placed on the photographer operating outdoors, the talk will move to look at the different landscape environments and how they can be approached photographically. Richard will talk about planning and executing a landscape photography trip and how to find new locations. Finally, Richard will share different routes for receiving feedback on your work and displaying it including book making. The day will be illustrated with both projected and print images.

About Richard

Richard was chairman of the Landscape Special Interest Group. He gained his LRPS in 2015 and his ARPS in 2018. His main interests are coastal and island photography. He has very much enjoyed exploring the North-West coast of Scotland and the offshore islands as well as more far flung places such as the Faroe and Lofoten islands.

This promises to be an entertaining and interesting session with unique insight into a familiar topic. A presentation not to be missed.

ADVANCE BOOKING ESSENTIAL as tickets are not available on the day

https://rps.org/regions/thames-valley/presentation-events/

DI SOUTHERN CENTRE EVENT

RPS Digital Imaging Group, Southern Centre Greyfriars Community Centre

44 Christchurch Road, BH24 1DW

Sunday 28th April 2024

10.30 am to 4.00 pm

Doors open 10.00 am

iPhone, Drone and AI: Photography and Post Processing for the Modern Day Photographer using Lightroom and Photoshop with Glyn Dewis

Talks with Projected Images and Prints. ‘Face to Face’ - no Zoom Link

Join us for this information packed day as Photographer, Educator and Author Glyn Dewis takes us through a modern day workflow and post processing techniques utilising up to date advances in Lightroom and Photoshop, that serve to enhance your creativity.

In addition to giving a Behind the Scenes of images, Glyn will also be giving a deep dive into Mobile Photography using the iPhone covering techniques and apps including available hardware discussing pros and cons, and also give a practical demonstration of using constant studio lighting with the iPhone to create captivating portraits.

All welcome:

DIG

Members £10, RPS

Members £12.00, Non-Members £15

Book On-Line Link: https://bit.ly/RPSDISouthern-GD

EDITOR’S WORDS FROM THE COMPUTER CHAIR Memories

Having recently had a family get together, it was great to spend time with my siblings and cousins, all from a similar age group. We shared childhood reminiscences, talked of simple camping holidays and adventures, remembered foods we had enjoyed at family teas and laughed and recalled, with great affection, our loved ones no longer with us. Those wonderful memories, unlocked from the recesses of our minds by old photographs, were very special.

Like so many of you, we are the generation now responsible for preserving these stories and memories, and recording and saving them in some way. Maybe through Ancestry or similar, or updating the family albums, or choosing to record them as a digital file or make a book! Perhaps the younger generation, because of their frantic working lives and young families, are not really interested or don’t realise the importance of the family tree, or these records, but they will!

As many who are newly retired and have a list of planned jobs, I promised myself I would get the old photographs in order and make copies, the family reunion has once again spurred me into action. The Books and Zines project has made me question if now is the time to make ‘my Book,’ ‘The House of Usher’? I

am aware there are others taking this project as a springboard to maybe create a book of their family history. The question is where does one start? With so many lives interconnected and overlapping it’s not a simple task, there are lots of rabbit holes to disappear down if one does not stay focussed.

I read an interesting Post on the DI Facebook page about Neural filters/ photo restoration, posted by Heather Carslake. It uses AI, but gives some great results especially with scratches. A useful way to enhance the lower quality ‘snaps’. Thank you Heather! So I am continuing my journey down memory lane. Will the result be a book or even a series of books, one for each branch of my Family Tree? Who knows!

Melanie

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