RPS DI ONLINE November 2023 by Royal Photographic Society

DI ONLINE November 2023

2 | COVER IMAGE

COVER IMAGE About the cover image

The Photographer: Janet Haines ARPS Image Title: Blue Worlds About the Image: Blue Worlds was created one wet winters day with a very simple set up using window light. A glass topped table with 4 legs so no obstructions, with a box placed about 25cms below. Water was sprayed on the glass and small amounts of oil added. Coloured sheets of paper were placed randomly on the box below (green and blue sheets). Shooting from directly above, with a shallow DOF, the coloured paper was out of focus but provided the colour and the water and oil the textures. It was interesting to see how the oil and water reflected the different colours and merged them.

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Editor: Melanie Chalk ARPS dignews@rps.org Typesetter: Mark Stothard MA ARPS dionline@rps.org

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CONTENTS Cover Image About cover image ................................................ 2 Contents ................................................................ 3 Chair’s Chat ............................................................ 4 Digital Image comp ............................................... 6 From the editor ...................................................... 8 Wildlife Photo ........................................................ 9 Workshops step by Step ....................................... 10 Perfecting People ................................................. 14 Billetto ................................................................... 19 Digit ....................................................................... 20 The Magic of Digit ................................................. 21 Accolade ................................................................ 22 TWT ....................................................................... 24 International .......................................................... 28 Snapchat ................................................................ 32 Distinctions ............................................................ 36 Special Interest ...................................................... 38 Region ................................................................... 39 Landscape ............................................................. 40 DI Events ............................................................... 42 Back Page website and links to mailing list .......... 43

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4 | CHAIR’S CHAT

CHAIR’S CHAT Janet Haines ARPS Darker nights have descended – but it isn’t all doom and gloom as it gives us less distractions and time to get on processing all the images we took this summer. Have you got any good shots that meet the theme of ‘water’? Ideal for Round 2 of the Digital Imaging Competition – see the item on page 6 with more information. Round 1 of the DI comp is now open for member voting HERE. Choose the 3 images that you feel should go forward to the final Round 6. Next month we will showcase the top 5 ‘Flora & Fauna’ images that will go through here in DI Online. The concept behind the DI Comp this year is firstly to get you all out with your cameras (images need to have been taken within the past 6 months to be eligible). Then to get you viewing and considering the merits of the submitted images. We wanted the comp to be more proactive and engaging for members; whereas in the past we raided our libraries, entered our images and sat back to see what the selectors thought of them. Now it is up to you to choose who goes through. Next month we will be announcing our new Print Portfolio, which will replace the annual print exhibition. These changes and others are all part of the DI Evolve programme which aims to stimulate member engagement and to inspire. Our TALK-WALK-TALK coastal photography, working in conjunction with Landscape group, is now in the final stages of groups meeting for their discussion TALK sessions. The project team are working on the next round which will take place in early 2024. Full information will be in DI Online in December. We have a busy time coming up these next few weeks for our DI Saturday webinars. See the ads on page 42 for full details. The second Glyn Dewis meeting on December 2nd will be a repeat of the first meeting, but Glyn will return to answer your questions live. It is at the start time of 10.00 GMT for the convenience of members in different time zones.

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For those of you interested in flower and garden photography DI have joined forces again with the RHS to support members aiming to enter the RHS competition in 2024. On 16 November at 19.30 GMT we are hosting the RHS Advisory session. For full information about how to submit your panel of images for advice from the RHS judges see the ad on page 36. All DI meetings are always recorded for the benefit of members who cannot make the date or time. However to receive a link to the recordings you need to book your ticket. We then send out a follow up email with the details of where to find the recording. Our DI Workshops are as popular as ever and getting booked really quickly. These can be found on https://bit.ly/RPSDIWS2396. Finally starting this month we are having a regular new section within DI Online for Internationals. Each month we will feature one member as well as provide any information which is especially relevant to International members. So if you live outside the UK and have something you would like us to feature then do get in touch via digchair@rps.org You will see a few subtle changes to DI Online this month so if you have any feedback then do get in touch. Regards Janet Janet Haines ARPS digchair@rps.org

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6 | DIGITAL IMAGING COMPETITION

DIGITAL IMAGING COMPETITION The Members Choice of their Favourite images

Round 1, Flora and Fauna submissions are now closed but we are inviting all members to vote for the 3 images they feel should go through to the final round. Images in the gallery are set to continually randomize so that those who entered early stand equal chance of being viewed as those entered late. What we suggest you do to help yourself decide on your top three is go through them all (there are several pages) taking screen grabs of those images you feel you want to consider further. You can enlarge them when viewing in the PollUnit gallery if you wish. Then view your screen grabs to make your selection. Once you have got the 3 you wish to award your stars too then go back online and find your chosen images and star away. (Please don’t be tempted to vote for your own works). This is your chance to influence who wins in your member only competition, so whether you submitted work or not do take the opportunity to vote. This is the link you need to view the gallery and place your votes. The top 5 images go through to the final round. In the case of a tie we will have independent adjudicators who will make the final decision. Voting closes on 24 November 2023. Winners will be announced on the web page on 30 November and displayed in the November DI Online.

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Round 2 of the competition – the theme is Water. The ethos behind the 5 Rounds of the competition is to encourage you to get out shooting new work. The RULES state that no work should be more than 6 months old – we don’t want you raiding your libraries! We will disqualify any images not sticking to the rules so please do take time to read them and not disadvantage yourselves. You do not have the enter all the 5 qualifying rounds to get through to the final Round 6. But obviously you stand a better chance if you do. Submissions for Round 2 will open on 1 December 2023.

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8 | FROM THE EDITOR’S CHAIR

FROM THE EDITOR’S CHAIR

Writing this as the rain batters my window and the building shakes in the staggeringly strong wind, the best place to be sitting is in my computer chair. I live 100 yards from the sea on the exposed south east coast and Ciaran has made his presence felt, I swam in calm waters on Tuesday and today marvelled at the strength and power of the waves. As a committee we have tried to find a way to run our annual DI Competition and after much testing, it is ready for its first outing. Can we not wait until we have completed this first round before dismissing it, we will learn lessons and may need to make some changes, plus we will be more expert when we look at the ‘Water’ images in 2024. In an effort to bring a positive slant on the new format, I thought I would list some points for you to consider, as there has been some negativity on the Facebook postings it. We had hoped the involvement would: empower you; engage you; challenge you to consider, objectively, others images. You become the Judge with the imaginary remote scorer in your hand, you can score 2,3,4 or 5. How does an image make you feel? A good or bad emotion or indifference? Interrogate the image, does it have impact or is the subtlety appealing to you? Is it meaningful? What are its weaknesses? Is it a Wow? Or a damp squib ? Like the international and Salon Judges I am sure you will react and decide these things in seconds. Take down the titles of those you score with a 5, you will soon have a shortlist. Surely we all enjoy looking at images, it should be a pleasurable task not a chore! If it’s not for you, just walk on by! Melanie Chalk ARPS Editor DI Online dignews@rps.org DI ONLINE | NOVEMBER 2023

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WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Natural History Museum

LAURENT BALLESTA’S IMAGE Laurent Ballesta (France) goes looking for horseshoe crabs in the protected waters of Pangatalan Island, the Philippines. Laurent watched as a tri-spine horseshoe crab moved slowly over the mud, searching for food. He focused on the horseshoe crab’s golden, protective carapace and the trio of juvenile golden trevallies poised to dart down for edible morsels ploughed up in its wake. The horseshoe crab’s carapace hides 12 appendages. One pair, called the chelicerae, is used to push food, such as small invertebrates or algae, into its mouth. The other five pairs are used for locomotion. Its mouth sits between the appendages, each of which has a specialised base that helps grind up food. Editor and Chair of the Jury, Kathy Moran exclaims, ‘to see a horseshoe crab so vibrantly alive in its natural habitat, in such a hauntingly beautiful way, was astonishing. To understand that what we were looking at was an ancient species, highly endangered and also critical to human health - I was amazed. This photo is luminescent.’ Source : Natural History Museum. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/gallery/2023-the-goldenhorseshoe Accessed on 1st November 2023 DI ONLINE | NOVEMBER 2023

10 | WORKSHOPS

DI WORKSHOPS Lightroom Step by Step ‘The Last Mile’

In 2022 Joe Houghton devised a Lightroom Journey in steps, I think we thought it would be 10 steps but it grew and became 20 Steps, 20 sessions, every other week, on a Saturday morning. The first series proved very popular and a second series was soon launched. The ‘Last Mile” sessions 16-20, of the second series, reached their conclusion on Saturday, and I was invited along to this session. Each participant had been invited to send in images, that had been processed in Lightroom, using the techniques learnt during this Step by Step Journey and Joe’s plan was to present them in a Website. He proceeded to step outside ‘Lightroom’ and into “Canva’, his personal preferred software to create a Portfolio website. There are alternative methods to achieve a similar result but Canva is Joe’s favourite and he uses it on a daily basis for his own graphics and such like. He is very familiar with this software and within 2 hours he had shown us all how easy it is to create a simple Portfolio to showcase images and be able to share it with others. It was a whirlwind tour, but everyone learnt a lot and could probably, now create their own site, to display their own photography. The community and camaraderie that was evident in this group reinforced the importance of DI’s policy of restricting the numbers on our workshops. This small group had gelled, they were sad that this particular journey had ‘reached the end of the road’ and really wanted it to continue! They were going to miss their Saturday morning get-togethers! A discussion ensued on what new Lightroom workshops DI could offer for 2024, lots of suggestions were made, so watch this space. It seems that Adobe are updating both Lightroom and Photoshop on a weekly basis and it’s good to keep abreast of all the new tools and AI additions, so this processing journey is sure to continue. Joe Houghton is working on another publication, as a result of the Lightroom Step by Step Workshop, he will be using the resources from the 20 sessions to create a very useful book on the subject. Again I will keep you informed when it is complete and published. I am always happy to hear from you about suggestions for workshops and techniques you would like covered in a workshop. Sign up here to the DI WORKSHOP Mailing List to hear about new workshops directly to your inbox. https://mailchi.mp/rps/workshops Melanie Chalk DI Workshops Coordinator digworkshops@rps.org

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Use QR code to visit Members Exhibition

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12 | WORKSHOPS

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14 | WORKSHOPS

PERFECTING PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHY

“In a follow-up to ‘How to Create Better People Images’ presentation on 2nd September, DI managed to sell out the first Perfecting People Photography workshop in just 16 hours!. I wanted these sessions to be different - open discussion and critique. I also prepared How-To booklets for participants to build learning before and after the 2-part workshops. We were all delighted to say participants delivered some amazing ‘People’ image panels, using some of the techniques. Bravo to them for stepping beyond their comfort zone.” Simon Street His Website: https://www.simon-street-photos.com/

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Family Race © Hecter Eqelbaum

Here are some of the comments made by the participatents in these workshops. “I am grateful and to tell you I went out of my comfort zone and achieved my goals even if I only took a few photos; I also discovered what I don’t like.” “Thank you for a very thought provoking and interesting first session. It must have taken you ages to collect up the material for your Rules pdf” “I was on your workshop this afternoon. Very enjoyable and worthwhile, thank you.” And about Simon’s Presentation: “Thanks for your really engaging and most encouraging presentation on Saturday. Super images made even more special by your editing skills and choices of subject”. “Just a short note to say how much I enjoyed your Zoom talk yesterday, very encouraging too as I’m also a Fuji shooter (X-T5) and convert a lot to mono. I bought 2 of your PDF books after your talk yesterday!”

Brick Lane, East London, © Owen Cooper

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16 | WORKSHOPS

PERFECTING PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHY

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18 | BILLETTO

BILLETTO

Digital Imaging Workshops have recently moved all their events to Billetto, an event ticketing platform. Many of you have already visited, are now followers or have already booked a workshop via the site. I hope you have found the experience easy? I know we ask a lot from you, with all these changes, but do believe once we all become more familiar with Billetto, it will prove to be a better experience. It has many advantages for those who organise these events, as it is more automated. Takes the ‘Flaky Human” aspect out of the equation, AI and Robots can be useful and save so much time! It has als lightened the load, both for the facilitator and the tutors, we no longer need to ‘Remember to Remind’ We hope that this automation makes the whole process so much more efficient and professional. All the information you need for a workshop is visible through your Billetto account, including Zoom links. We are encouraging the use of Google Drives for all forthcoming workshops, this will be a repository for all the resources and recordings, again saving lots of emails floating around. The Google Drive link will also be added here.. Everything will be found in one place, and files can be downloaded to your own folder system, if thought necessary. So I have been morphed, let me introduce you to ‘Automel’ The Digital Imaging Profile Page with all the currant workshops bookable although some are already sold out. https://billetto.co.uk/users/rps-digital-imaging

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DIGIT 100

Janet Haines ARPS

In March 2024 we will be producing the 100th issue of DIGIT. We plan to make this an extra special ‘keep sake’ issue – but details are being kept closely guarded as we want it to be a lovely surprise for our members. Full DI members always get copies of printed publications; whereas DI Online members normally read everything online. However for DIGIT 100 the DI Committee have agreed that any online member who would like to receive a printed copy of 100 should be given the opportunity to apply. This is a one-off for our online members only and you have got till 1 February 2024 to sign up if you would like a copy. To ensure you get your copy please complete your postal details https://forms.gle/6VjU2h8ZoNeLbHXLA It goes without saying full DI members get a copy automatically, just as you get your quarterly DIGIT magazines. You need take no action https://bit.ly/RPS-DIO-DIGIT

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20 | THE MAGIC OF DIGIT……

I live in Grimsby, NE Lincolnshire. I joined the RPS because I found a Digit Magazine on a table in our Camera Club (Cleethorpes Camera Club). I loved the images I found in it and the articles and thought how I would look forward to receiving a magazine like that coming through my letter box on a regular basis. I then realised I had to join the RPS and decided to do that for at least one year and see how it went. I was impressed with the welcome pack, and think the latest journal is a truly beautiful edition. (The Matadors etc.). I just reached my 80th birthday, and been a widow for five years. Earlier in the year I bought myself, with encouragement from club members, an Apple MacBook Pro which I enjoy very much. I am interested in photography as an art, I like abstract work, and love texture. I am disappointed with the response I get from judges when we have club competitions, and having seen some of their own work I am, pretty disillusioned with judges, full stop. So a key reason for joining the RPS was to feel better informed about photography and hopefully more confident about my own work. Also to add I have booked one of the DI two hour courses you mentioned, Getting to know Instagram, in September. All in all, I am glad I decided to join the RPS. Olga Short

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THE MAGIC OF DIGIT……

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22 | TWT

DISTINCTIONS ACCOLADE As members will be aware normally DI produces a periodic online publication called Accolade. This celebrates our members Distinction successes and asks them questions about their journey. Regrettably we have not received any list from the Distinctions department since the start of 2023, which has prevented us from producing this valued publication. So we need to take a different approach starting now. We need YOU to tell us if you gained a Distinction.

If you have gained a Distinction in 2023, at any level, then please get in touch with us by emailing our content admin volunteer Holly Stranks on hollystranksphotography@gmail.com Holly will work with you so that we can show case your work and hear your story. Accolade is a really useful reference source for members to read and see images, plus panel layouts, when they are on their own Distinctions journey. To view some past publications do go to HERE

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FOLKESTONE TALK-WALK-TALK On Friday 6th October, the sun was shining and the temperature was in the twenties! This was setting in Folkestone where 8 members of the RPS met for a photo walk around Folkestone Harbour and the adjacent shoreline. This was the Folkestone TWT. The group stayed roughly together as we walked from the Harbour Arm to the old station and then onto the arches on the nearby beach. Thanks to everyone who took part and made it a memorable day and then supplied their favourite 3 images for a post event Zoom meeting. We think we have some great photographs and here is the group’s vote for their favourite by each of one of us, in a panel. We were asked to send one image to the organisers and we voted to send the image on the top right, by Melanie Chalk, with our favouite images from the day being shown over the page. John Gough RO RPS SE Region

Val Jenkins, Patrick Smith, Chris Griffin, Melanie Chalk, John Gough, Riana Wiesner, Sarah Lanceley, and Suzy Courtnage DI ONLINE | NOVEMBER 2023

24 | FOLKESTONE TWT

FOLKESTONE TALK-WALK-TALK

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26 | FOLKESTONE TWT

FOLKESTONE TALK-WALK-TALK

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28 | INTERNATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

Each month we will feature an International Member and learn a little more about them and their photography. Here Janet Haines informally poses questions to Phil Dunbar LRPS Janet: How long have you lived in France and do you consider yourself French or English? Phil: I moved to France, via a spell in Italy, in 1996, for work. Initially this was for 2 years, but after several extensions, I took a French contract and stayed. The decision was helped by the fact that my in-laws were in France, and also that my wife had started to pursue her career as an artist, reducing her teaching hours. My work was in the telecommunications industry, as a technical and project manager: the office was just south of Paris and we bought a house there. It was very convenient for work and for getting into Paris for exhibitions of art and photography, in particular the Jeu de Paume and the Maison Européen de la Photographie. Also a great place for making photographs with a lot of different people around and architectural diversity from the old Paris to the modern buildings of La Défense. During my working life in the UK and in Europe, I did a lot of travelling around the globe, and always took a camera with me, mainly recording the towns and cities I visited, along with the people and life. After the technology that drew me to France became obsolete, I spent a couple of years working on mobile phone technology, but I decided to call it a day and take early retirement. The plan was to do a degree in photography, but that did not work out due, I think, to it being by correspondence. But I continued studying photography and developing my practice. We had kept on my in-laws’ house in Normandy and finally moved there from Paris last year. Although I have not (yet) applied for French citizenship, I think I feel now more French than English, maybe because the France I know now is more akin to the UK I left in 1996 rather than the modern UK. I only know that although I love visiting the UK, I am also glad to be back home at the end. Janet: When did you take up photography and why? Phil: I got my first camera, and Ensign Ful-Vue, when I was about 12. We would develop the 120 film in an open dish in a cupboard under the stairs, contact printing the negatives in the same way. I found the process fascinating and I remember experimenting with techniques like solarisation (although I didn’t know it had a name at the time). DI ONLINE | NOVEMBER 2023

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Janet: When did you join The RPS and what prompted you to do so? Phil: When I retired, I was already a member of the Fédération Photographique de France and was helping run our local village photo club, which still has a wet darkroom with enlargers and all. I had started a correspondence course on photography in the UK and in order to progress my photography, I decided to join the RPS as suggested in the course. I joined the Digital Imaging and Contemporary groups as they seemed a good fit with my aspirations. As my photography practice has developed towards the more abstract, I added Visual Arts. Janet: Do you feel your photography has developed and improved as a result of being an RPS member? Phil: Although I found working at a degree course by correspondence unsatisfying, I discovered a lot of interesting photographers through the RPS facebook pages. The feedback that I got on my images was constructive and helped me. Also, joining the Benelux area group I was able to attend a creative photography weekend in the Netherlands and meet the group in person. I think that this aspect helped me get around the block of having to do everything by internet as I did on the degree course. I have followed other RPS internet workshops as well as live workshops organised by the FPF in France. I find these always stimulating. Janet: What one thing could The RPS do to make being and international member an even better experience for you? Phil: One of the downsides of the RPS membership as an international member was the difficulty in attending lectures and workshops. The big improvement I saw in my RPS membership came about due to Covid. Suddenly all of this was available online and therefore to me. Keeping this going is clearly very important to me in France. Not something that would particularly improve the experience, but as an international member I am aware of how much it costs to send magazines over here by post. I do not really need a paper copy so the option to opt out, as I did with DIG would be useful. I use my iPad to read most magazines and newspapers.

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30 | INTERNATIONAL

Janet: Please can you show us 2 of your favourite images and tell us why you like them?

On the Beach Phil: I made this image as part of a series of beach/sea ICM. I was inspired by the interaction of colours of the sky, sea and sand, and the way in which the light, partly obscured by small clouds, played on the scene. I used ICM to abstract the image to try to represent what I was feeling rather than what I saw. I enjoy the simplicity and feeling of slow movement in the winding shapes.

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Urban Landscapes Phil: This to photograph them. The other visitors must have thought I was mad crouched down in the rain photographing a wall but its a long time since I stopped worrying about things like that! I particularly like this set for two reasons: firstly they are the result of simple observation of something mundane; but they also serve to remind me of the place and environment of that moist autumn day where the organic trees in the château garden were gently “reflected” in the hard stonework.

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32 | AI

AI SNAPCHAT The past few weeks have been pretty frantic in terms of advances in AI in the imaging space. The big generative AI engines – Dall-E, MidJourney, and now I’m including Adobe FireFly in this list – have all had major updates that have taken image creation forward another step in ease of use, detail and “realism”. Getting the best out of AI The trick with all AI tools is to get past our conditioning of the past 25 years. The first version of Google Search was released in 1998, so we’re approaching a full generation of people now who have always had this as a constant in their lives. We’ve been conditioned to search for information using the familiar text bar, and to seeing the list of links appear to lead us on to further pages. This is known as “one shot” search or prompting, and it’s how almost everyone starts using the new AI engines, be they working with ChatGPT, Bard and Bing or the image generators (and that divide is fast blurring – read on for more on that). The power in the new AI chatbots and generation tools comes when you change your interactions from one shot to multi-shot. Treat these tools like a person, and engage in a conversation with them. Expect to ask follow-up questions, to modify your ask as you see what is initially produced. It is fundamentally an iterative process – completely unlike the Google Search experience we’ve been using for so long now – so we need to get out of that rut and into a different mid-set to get the best out of these tools. The now-famous image Théâtre D’opéra Spatial created by Jason Matthew Allen that won the 2022 Colorado State Fair’s digital arts/digitally-manipulated photography section, required 624 text prompt revisions to create and was then further edited using Adobe Photoshop and Topaz Gigapixel – this took a lot of painstaking effort to create.

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ChatGPT gets visual! Chatbot technology took a huge leap forward as ChatGPT added visual processing to its powerful text capabilities. Now you can upload any image or photo into ChatGPT and ask it about the image. I took a photo of a broken cupboard latch the other day,uploaded it into ChatGPT and asked it “What is this called so I can get a replacement?” With the response I was able to go onto Amazon and order the right hinges and back-plates and now My cupboard door works again – brownie points earned – thanks AI! New stuff in Lightroom Lightroom Classic got an update as well in October – moving up to version 13. Major new features: 1) Point Color - A precise colour picker that lets you specify an area or range of colour in your image and adjust its Hue/Saturation/Luminance 2) A Lens Blur tool that lets you blur out a background and change the appearance of the bokeh. Clever AI creates a pseudo depth map from a regular photo and then attempts to create realistic falloff – all adjustable. A feature that has good potential – it’s an Early Access feature so subject to change as Adobe gets feedback on it. 3) A new HDR mode to allow those with high-end monitors to optimise their images to take advantage of the wider colour space, brightness and contrast offered by such screens. Point for thought here – although this is a very techie feature, I suspect it will lead to some discussions when photographers with this kit want to see their HDR processed images represented on HDR screens when being judged in competitions. What we now have is SDR (standard dynamic range) and HDR (high dynamic range) ways of processing and representing photos that are noticeably different – this is going to become “a thing” for organisers of competitions and clubs displaying images… Joe Houghton www.houghtonphoto.com 27th October 2023

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34 | AI

AI SNAPCHAT AI tis the season to generate conferences Just over six months ago, on Thursday, March 23 to be precise, Adobe launched its then revolutionary generative AI tools in Photoshop beta. Today, we appear to be in the middle of the generative AI conference season. First up was the two day RPS AI conference ‘ Photography and Artificial Intelligence’ which (at the time of writing this I’ve not viewed the whole conference) addressed some very complex legal and moral questions in some detail. The RPS AI pages can be found, here

Next came Adobe MAX, the annual showcase conference for Adobe products, which, to be honest, took a lighter touch to moral and legal questions and just raved about Adobe products! To find out more you can play over 175 session videos, including technique videos, here

Finally, the long awaited UK government led AI conference, called the ‘AI Safety Summit’ has just been held at Bletchley Park While the conference was deigned to discuss the safety of a range of AI issues way outside our immediate photographic interest a pdf discussion paper entitled “ Safety and Security Risks of Generative Artificial Intelligence to 2025” can be found here and the general summit conference website is here.

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Now enough of these serious matters….. you know how I like to find you a little new AI development to keep you entertained…… well calling all pet lovers your time has come at https://pawsomenamer.com

Just drop a picture of your pet into the onscreen box and after a few seconds you have a name. For me they suggested: Bandit! (Never: Ed ) Simon Newlyn ps: I note Joe has mentioned the new Point Colour technology. This is also available in ACR in Photoshop and Glyn Dewis has done a very good video about this here

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36 | DISTINCTIONS

DISTINCTIONS

Have you gained a Distinction in 2023? Find out how to start – or continue – your Distinctions journey: Each of the pages below includes handy links to guidelines and genres for distinctions, 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 1 st January 2024: Applied and Portraiture genres will be merged into Applied for ARPS and FRPS. Book submissions (not photobooks) must conform exactly to the number of images specified in the guidelines – any images(s) on the cover are included in the total. No way of identifying the author may be included in these books. Changes to LRPS: The LRPS application process will be changed next year, to make the process easier to use for both applicants and panel members, quicker and more affordable for applicants. The RPS is looking at a new online application system to replace the current manual one, which is too labourintensive to cope with any increase in numbers of applicants. Whilst this means that print submissions will not be possible after April 2024, it’s hoped that the new process will provide feedback for all applicants, better support international members and the panel members, and reduce the number of assessment sessions that have to be cancelled or postponed for various reasons. Workshops and talks to support would-be licenciates will be developed in tandem, for example addressing issues that commonly result in unsuccessful submissions. ARPS and FRPS submissions will continue to support print-based assessments. Note that this is an evolving initiative and details have yet to be worked out. We’ll keep you updated as more becomes clear. 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. In-person introductory presentations for LRPS, ARPS and FRPS at HQ were successful and online versions are being planned in the next few months – watch out for announcements on the Facebook group (see below). DI ONLINE | NOVEMBER 2023

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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 (see below) 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). All the assessment dates up until the end of 2023 are on the website, and the last 2 print assessments for LRPS in 2024 (14/15 Feb and 12/13 March). 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 4925 members. It includes news from HQ, links for observer places at assessments, and posts celebrating distinction successes to inspire you. It’s a civilized 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.

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38 | SPECIAL INTEREST

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP LINKS Click to find information on these SIGS

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REGION GROUP LINKS Thamas Valley

The Thames Valley Region of the RPS would like to invite your members to an all-day event at Woosehill Community Hall, Wokingham, where Cherry Larcombe ARPS will be giving two talk in person entitled “Creative Flower Photography” and “Textures and Triptychs and abstracts” on Sunday 19th November. “Creative Flower Photography”, Creative ideas to bring out the colour, shapes and beauty of flowers, both outdoor and indoor, and hints on how to produce some unique and original floral art. “Textures and Triptychs and abstracts”, Ideas for using texture to enhance your photography- floral and otherwise - including how to create them, and detailed explanations on how to work with them in Photoshop. Ideas for backgrounds using brushes and colour toning. How to create a beautiful triptych. Choosing the right images and how best to construct and present them. Cherry has a passion for digital photography and has been making images with her camera now for many years and has never lost her enthusiasm. She loves being able to be in control of the whole process, composing the shot, taking the shot, post processing the shot and finally printing it. It is her attempt at being creative and artistic which gives her much enjoyment and fulfilment. She belongs to many photographic groups and is a member of Eastbourne Photographic Society. Her work has been exhibited at many national and international exhibitions during the process of working towards her photographic distinctions. Please click on this HERE for more details and to purchase tickets

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40 | RPS LANDSCAPE GROUP

RPS LANDSCAPE GROUP Howard Klein LRPS

The RPS Landscape Group is extending its programme of Member-Led Events for 2024. Of the expected 20+ events, here is the first tranche. Simply click the link on each event to see more. Rydal and Grasmere - 6th February, led by Mike Kitson LRPS Potential early morning mist rising from the water adds to atmosphere, with options of a short walk to Rydal and the iconic lone tree, up through woods towards Loughrigg Terrace and along towards Rydal Caves or walk along the river towards Grasmere, the weir and fantastic views (weather permitting) towards Grasmere village and the Helvellyn range. Click Here Poles, Piers & Ports (Shoreham to Brighton) - 13th February, led by Richard Ellis ARPS We will explore coastal architecture along the south coast visiting 3 locations. Starting with groins and navigation markers, moving to a wrecked pier and finishing with a port we will explore interpreting these scenes with long exposure photography. Click Here Spring in Ceiriog Valley (Dyffryn Ceiriog) - 12th April, led by Geraint Jones LRPS Explore various locations in the narrow and tree-lined Ceiriog Valley beginning with the Chirk Aqueduct and canal basin (part of a World Heritage Site). We’ll travel through a number of villages up towards the source of the river and (weather permitting) take a high mountain road above the Ceiriog and Dee valleys, with panoramic views into Wales and the Shropshire plain. Click Here Exploring Linlithgow – 3rd May, led by Viv Cotton ARPS This event offers a variety of photographic options: its 15th century palace and the adjacent St Michael’s Church, with its crown of thorns spire; scenic Linlithgow Loch and Canal Basin includes waterfowl, fishermen may in rowing boats catching trout. Hopefully, Cherry Blossom may be out on the path to the Peel/Rose Garden. Click Here Rannerdale Bluebells & Crummock Water - 8th May, led by Mike Kitson LRPS The UK’s favourite wild flowers in all their glory and Rannerdale above Crummock Water; we later relocate to the north west end of Crummock Water and walk through Lanthwaite Wood to the lake shore, with classic views down the lake to the high fells. Click Here

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© Alistair How LRPS Low Tide at Hope Gap & Cuckmere Haven - 8th May, led by Howard Klein LRPS This late-afternoon start explores the low tide at Hope Gap before moving to adjacent Cuckmere Haven. The foreshore is full of interest, especially with the very low tide (just 0.52m, timed at 18:29), while the cliff tops offer additional opportunities from teasles to views up the meandering Cuckmere River and across to The Seven Sisters. Click Here Summer Wild Flower Meadows of Muker - 8th June, led by Alistair How LRPS The meadows at Muker is one of the best places to see the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales - the meadows are both a SSSI and SAC. Upper Swaledale combines these wild flower meadows with traditional stone walls and cow barns, against a backdrop of the dale itself. Click Here

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DIGITAL IMAGING EVENTS

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DIGITAL IMAGING WEBSITE

THE INTERACTIVE IMAGES BELOW REPLICATE THOSE ON THE WEBSITE Simply click the images below to open the link to take you to the various pages.

Our YouTube Channel

DI Facebook

The members-only link for the DIGIT Archive, is to be found in the email message announcing this newsletter. The RPS Digital Imaging constitution can be downloaded HERE For everyone’s convenience, we include a list of shortcuts to the main Digital Imaging pages at the end of each Broadcast. You can subscribe to our email Mailing Lists here to hear new announcements: Garden & Plant Photography

Workshops

Events