MY VISION ON CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY TERRY DAY LRPS

Itend not to pre-visualise a potential creative image at the taking stage. Rather, I look at the image on the monitor and proceed from there. In other words, I tend not to recognise the creative potential before I press the shutter, but now I have joined the Creative Eye Group of the RPS, perhaps this will change?

My image of Canary Wharf was the start in attempting to use software to achieve a more artistic approach, although in this case the natural lighting at the time proved crucial. I used layer masks to retain the sharpness in the immediate foreground to provide a point of focus and depth to the image.

Another technique is using one image, but reversing it, possibly enlarging it and then combining with the original image. Bridge Impression is an example of this.

Combining two different images, each not having much impact on there own, but combined achieving a potentially powerful image, my Oxford and Rope Factory, Chatham Dockyard images are my most successful examples of this. However, careful selection of each individual image is vital. My personal experience is that one image should dominate and the other just compliment it. Otherwise, the finished image can become confused and lose visual impact and many of my attempts have ended thus.

Just before I joined the Creative Eye Group of the RPS, a camera club member lent me a copy of “Creative Eye” and I noticed a reference to “Fractalius” I particularly liked the effect, and decided to investigate further. I downloaded a trial version, liked the huge range of adjustments available and the effects that were created. I soon purchased a copy and this now is one of my most used creative tools.

My objective using that software, is to create an impressionist feel to a photograph, but retaining enough of the original photographs resolution around the principal subject. This has the benefit of isolating the subject, whilst the remaining part of the picture remains like an impressionist painting. In some images, the impressionist part may only be a relatively small area, typically around the perimeter, in other images the impressionist part is larger, until it becomes dominate, for example Canal near Cassiobury Park.

Naturally, the layer masks in Photoshop are vital, and enable me to decide which part of the image I want to have the impressionist effect. For example, in the Fresh Pasta image this is placed on the right of the image.

In Field of Daisies only the daisy on the left remains sharp.

Photographic Exhibition On Brighton Beach

CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF A WORKING PORT

The Brighton-based TIDES group is staging an outdoor exhibition of new work on Brighton Beach as part of the 2018 Brighton Photofringe. The TIDES group are Creative Eye Group member Audrey Marshall ARPS, Colin Miller ARPS, Colleen Slater ARPS, David Wilsdon ARPS, Ellen Miller LRPS, Leon Bellis and Steve Boyle ARPS. They are talented photographers based in the Brighton and Hove area. Each has a very distinctive individual style and they come together to work on projects exploring aspects of local life. Their latest project is called ‘Port Life’ and it highlights the working port of Shoreham, located to the west of Brighton. The photographers capture the diversity of life in the harbour basin, from the commercial operations and the people who work in the port to the leisure and beach areas.

The TIDES group had a very successful exhibition as part of the Brighton Photofringe in 2016 in the same beach location. The exhibition was originally staged for the month of October 2016, but it became such a popular sight that Brighton & Hove City Council were happy to let it stand for over a year. The exhibition attracted interest from a wide range of organisations and visitors. Many people interacted with the images, moving around the space, in daylight, at night and in all weathers. Some incorporated the exhibition images into their own pictures or videoed themselves walking around the display and posting the results on social media. Comments from viewers were extremely positive:

“Just to say went to see your photographic exhibition when I had a friend down for the day - we both really enjoyed it! Love the fact they’re photos taken of where they were shown and liked the way they were displayed.”

“We really enjoyed the beach exhibition. Many congratulations for pulling off such a prominent and unique display... well suited to the location and hanging set up.”

‘Port Life’ will take place from 29 September 2018 to 28 October 2018. The location is Brighton Beach, off Kings Road, BN1 2GR.

For more information please contact: Audrey Marshall: audreymarshall54@gmail.com 07443 539954 or Steve Boyle: steveboylephotos@gmail.com 07505 231013