RPS DI ONLINE December 2023 by Royal Photographic Society

DI ONLINE December 2023

2 | COVER IMAGE

COVER IMAGE About the cover image

Detail of Contemporary Stain Glass Window Chester Cathedral By Melanie Chalk I searched my own archive of images to find something as a subtle nod to the festive season, just in an understated way, but carrying on the Abstract them. An image that has to be taken when a photographer wanders around a cathedral. Its hard to resist the wonderful colours and to capture and record the work of the craftsmen. I would like to feature creative Abstract style images on the front cover and I would like to invite you to send me images for consideration. Send me your abstract style image, include your name and distinction, if applicable, include the title of the photo, and a short sentence on how it was created. The format needed for the cover should be Portrait orientation and can be sent as a JPEG, TIFF or PSD file and the biggest file size you have. Please send your image to: dignews@rps.org

DI ONLINE DI Online | December 2023

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

December 2024 | 3

CONTENTS Cover Image About cover image ................................................ 2 Contents ................................................................ 3 Chair’s Chat ........................................................... 4 Digital Image Comp .............................................. 6 DIG Competition Report........................................ 11 Digital Imaging Competition.................................... 12 AGM Promotion..................................................... 14 Print Circle Report.................................................. 15 e-Circle................................................................... 19 TWT........................................................................ 20 AI Snapchat............................................................ 22 From the Editors Christmas Computer Chair ......... 25 AI – Friend or Foe?.................................................. 26 DI Print Portfolio 2024............................................ 28 International .......................................................... 30 Events .................................................................... 33 DI Workshops.......................................................... 34 Distinctions ............................................................ 36 Special Interest ...................................................... 39 DI Website ............................................................. 40

DI Online | December 2023

4 | CHAIR’S CHAT

CHAIR’S CHAT Janet Haines ARPS The DI Webinar programme has been as busy as ever and delivered some outstanding presenters. Fun ones such as Bill Ward, who had us all waving our cameras around as we went along with his ICM talk. A couple of AI talks, including the recent one from Boris Eldagsen who really bought AI to the attention of the photographic community when he declined the Sony Award in late 2022. Some popular presenters we will bring back in 2024 with new talks, but there are other new ones we are negotiating with.

Here we are at the end of another year – where does the time go? I guess the answer to that rhetorical question for DI committee members is ‘delivering programmes for members’. It feels as if we have done even more this year – so I hope that feels the same for you, our members. We promised you ‘Evolve’ and that is precisely what we have delivered. e-Circles have proven to be popular. The opportunity to work online with a friendly small group of like-minded members has worked well. We are now up to 3 critique, 3 post processing and 1 for projects. If you are interested, then email digmem@rps.org DI Online | December 2023

We have kept AI ticking away in the background like a ticking time bomb, whilst we wait to find out how the RPS will resolve this challenge. DI’s conclusion is we cannot ignore it, so we have to find a way to accept it whilst ensuring it doesn’t encroach on traditional image making. Hence our AI Experiment when we invited you to show us that which you had produced. It feels as if the initial out poring of feelings has died back a little now, but it isn’t going away so still needs a firm position from the RPS. DI have evolved the annual Digital Imaging competition, so it is 5 themed rounds and a final for the 5 winners from each round. So far the number of entries has been very encouraging. The idea behind this change in format was to get you out there shooting and producing new work; work older than 6 months is not accepted. This month we are announcing the new DI Print Portfolio. We wanted to still keep printing alive as it really is the very best way to finish off your image making. Do take a look at page 28 to read all about it.

CHAIRS CHAT | 5

Working with Landscape group the TALK-WALK-TALK project is proving a success. This programme works across all RPS members and is another great way to engage and try something a little different. With the conclusion of the T-W-T Coastal we are now announcing the next programme on Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE). This gets going in early 2024 and is open to UK and international members. There is more information about ABE on page 20. DI Workshops have gone from strength to strength. New tutors have been introduced and proven popular. Some for just a short course; others you will see again during 2024. The booking system has moved to Billetto which has drastically reduced the volunteer workload as well as providing features such as a reminder when a new workshop comes online. DI Online itself has evolved. It changed its name and look during 2023; includes some regular features as well as keeping you up to date on meetings to book on to. Currently we are working on other new programmes to bring to you in 2024. Our web site is regularly updated to keep you up to date with everything we are doing - https://rps.org/groups/ digital-imaging/ All that remains for me is to thank the volunteers who have worked so hard throughout 2023 and to all members who made it worthwhile with your enthusiastic engagement. We wish you all a happy holiday season – however you choose to spend it. And all the very best for 2024 – keep snapping ! Janet Haines ARPS Chair

DI Online | December 2023

6 | WINNING IMAGES

DIGITAL IMAGING COMPETITION THE RESULTS AND OUR WINNERS OF ROUND 1 THEME FLORA AND FAUNA TOP PLACE ‘Avocet and Chick ‘ by Maggie Bullock ARPS

WINNING IMAGES | 7

Winners comment “I was delighted to receive the news that I’d won the 1st round of the new RPS Digital Imaging Competition and look forward to further rounds in the future!” “I took the image of an ‘Avocet with Chick’ at RSPB Leighton Moss, in Lancashire. The shot was taken from one of the coastal hides, where in spring 2023 approximately thirteen pairs of Avocets nested in this area. It was fascinating to watch these birds feeding and interacting with each other and I chose this image because the birds appear to be mirroring each other with their raised feet. Maggie Bullock ARPS”

8 | WINNING IMAGES

“Meadow Sunset” Total Votes 11

DI Online | December 2023

WINNING IMAGES | 9

“Elephants Dusting” Total Votes 9

DI Online | December 2023

10 | WINNING IMAGES

“Hippos on the Chobe”

Total Votes 8

“Backs to the storm”

Total Votes 8

DI Online | December 2023

DII REPORT | 11

DI COMPETITION REPORT Round 1 – Flora & Fauna With the advent of the new Digital Imaging Competition, DI turned to an established software platform called PollUnit. PollUnit gives us the opportunity to allow DI members to upload their images directly to the competition page rather than through the Competition Secretary. When Round 1 closed at the end of the month, the voting was opened to any member to vote for their three favourite images. These votes culminated in a total of five selected images to be moved to Round 6 (Final) where they will be evaluated together with all the other Rounds by three eminent selectors who will award the appropriate prizes. By and large the first round got off with a good degree of success. There were 330 entries from 121 entrants. However a number of problems, probably due to the lack of familiarity with the software, created duplicate images. I was contacted about these by a number of members and was able to remove the duplicates. There were also some, where the participant had not realised they had submitted the same image twice. There were a few errors in titling images, including one person who gave only their letters and forgot to input their name. Please we do need your name and RPS Distinction post nominals, not any others you might hold. Omitting your name makes identifying successes difficult. There were even a few who gave only their email address as their name, so please try to complete the required information carefully in future rounds. Voting caused a few minor problems for some and I have to agree that it was not clear to the uninitiated, on first viewing, how to go about voting. I had to talk a number of members through the process and it was decided that for future rounds instructions are needed on the web page to ensure the voting is as painless as possible. Duplication of voting also caused some extra work. No doubt individuals couldn’t remember if they had voted, so repeated the exercise. Where we could see obvious duplication of voting we disallowed duplicates from the same member. From Round 2 any duplicated votes will be totally removed. The software allows for such votes to be identified and removal will be adhered to. In all instances, if help is needed, just email me. I’m more than willing to answer any queries and problems and want members to participate and, if possible, win. Kenneth Ness FRPS digcompsec@rps.org

DI Online | December 2023

12 | DI PDI COMP 6

DIGITAL IMAGING COMPETITION Digital Imaging Competition - Round 3

Announcing Round 3 of our themed annual competition PEOPLE with the holiday season coming up this felt like a good time to put on a round in this theme.

As usual with this competition – anything goes. Creative, mono, ICM, whatever style you choose. You have the next 2 months to shoot something new, or please remember entries need to have been taken in the past 6 months. There should be plenty of people doing odd things through to looking elegant, to go out and shoot. Here’s the link to the RULES and FAQ Don’t forget – you do not have to enter all rounds to go forward as a winner in round 6.

DI Online | December 2023

DI PDI COMP 6 | 13

Round 2 – Water – open for submissions NOW

The submission web site is now open for you to upload your images. All the information is on the web page HERE plus the link for uploading your 3 images to this round. Submission closes on 30.12.23.

DI Online | December 2023

14 | AGM PROMOTION

AGM PROMOTION DI Annual General Meeting 2024 – advanced notice

DIGITAL IMAGING GROUP Your AGM will be held on Zoom on Sunday 25 February 2024 from 10.00 to 16.00 GMT The days proceedings will be in two halves as follows 10.00 – 10.45 AGM 10.45 - 11.00 break

12.00 - 13.00 Nicholas Vreeland ‘With Camera in my Monks bag’

11.00 - 11.30 2024 Print Portfolio

13.00 - 14.00 Lunch

End Zoom session 1

14.00 - 14.45 Fun with AI

Zoom session 1 is for DI members only. Zoom session 2 is open to all.

14.45 - 15.00 break 15.00 - 16.00 Brooke Shaden ‘Creating impactful conceptual works’ 16.00 close meeting End Zoom session 2

There will be two registrations required to attend both sessions. This is essential as we have to ensure members only can vote at the AGM. Bookings and full information will be available in January 2024 but for now please …….

DI Online | December 2023

Hold the date

PRINT CIRCLE | 15

PRINT CIRCLE REPORT For this report I will use a slightly different approach than previously: not just report on winners, but also concentrate on two aspects. Firstly WHY members felt certain images did well or not so well. Secondly and perhaps more importantly, why in general we enjoy this print circle. Let’s start with the second issue. We recently asked each member to say what is of value to them in participating. Here are a few quotes. “There is something about the printed image, the feel and overall look. The group keeps me acquainted with the pleasure of the printed image – nothing is ever quite the same” “I love the comments/critiques I get from everyone. I also get to see their prints and read everyone’s comments on them too.” “It is a sensuous pleasure to see and handle prints. And although the members don’t meet, I feel a sense of group through seeing each others work.” “The group has a wide range of photographers and so their comments reflect that background and differ from those of club judges who all have pretty much the same toolbox.” “I find it extremely difficult to be objective about my own work. Critiquing other members prints has helped me to see my own images in a more objective way. Like everyone else, I value comments on my own work.” “I like the differing observations, the technical feedback and even seeing different papers used to match the subject.” The prints are commented on by fellow photographers who are not necessarily judges and and are therefore able to give open and honest opinions on the understanding that we listen and decide for ourselves whether to take up the suggestions before exposing the image elsewhere. To this I would add that it is fun to see how differently we all see and evaluate the same image. Technique is objective and fairly obvious. Personal perception is more emotional and more subjective. That to me is the value of seeing how other members respond to my work. If I fail to impress them, how can I work to make emotional content more meaningful? Here are some of our recent images (overleaf) and a varied bunch they are. As it happens in recent rounds there have been more pattern-type images than landscape, nat history or even people. I have tried to group them by subject, and each image has a selection of members comments, not all of them favourable. I wonder how far you agree with them. I think membership of this Circle is good fun and helps our own photographic awareness. If you agree, then perhaps you might like to join us. We are by definition a smallish group since more than 12 members would make it too unwieldy. We complete about 4 rounds a year, ie roughly one round per quarter with each member contributing an A4 print per round and commenting on all the other prints. Our membership has historically been very steady. However there was inevitable disruption due to the Covid period. Due mainly to health we lost some good and long-serving members. As a result we would like to welcome two or three new recruits. If you feel this might be for you, then do contact me, my email is abroch@btinternet.com Andrew Brochwicz-Lewinski

DI Online | December 2023

16 | PRINT CIRCLE

PATTERNS

Church Pipes. This image was well admired for its stark strength and symmetry. ‘A mono image with immediate impact.’ ‘well exposed and high contrast suits’ ‘the composition emphasises the strength and solidity of these sturdy pipes’ © John Moore Church Pipes

‘I rather like the mystery around this hat. 1930s gangster?’ ‘You managed to find a photo where none is obvious. I would prefer a lighter hat, especially the hat band, and a darker seat textile to add drama.’ ‘I like it and it made me think’ © Rex Waygood Hat

‘the Hepworth is much photographed, but I guess no-one has taken a photo of this before’ ‘a curious picture stripped down to its fundamentals’ ‘The overall symmetry is striking so it is a pity that the light on the left is so prominent and the detail on the underside is not mirrored’ ‘it’s a good print to add to Rex’s collection.’ © Rex Waygood Hepworth Hand Rail

Generally quite admired for the curve of the stairs which was was captured. ‘another great B&W image… my eye keeps wandering and I wonder what the subject really is.’ I love the image but …bring out more detail in the white areas’ ‘the more I look, the more the pattern actually grows on me.’ © Robert Mairt LRPS Cardiff Museum

DI Online | December 2023

PEOPLE

PRINT CIRCLE | 17

Every member really admired this grab shot that captured the moment. ‘Oh wow. What a fantastic juxtaposition’. ‘…some would say luck, but it is just about being ready.’ ‘The rich red background works well’ ‘I find the bright red wall a distraction and so would crop off the top.’ ‘Great grab shot, crop is a little too tight.’ ‘You captured the moment brilliantly. All three are in close contact with each other.’ ‘is it wonderment, fear or love?’ © Peter Brook LRPS What Species Are you

Author says ‘I was photographing the shutter behind them when the father stopped, grabbed the other two and demanded a photo.’ ‘They look a happy family and the colours work well.’ Exposure is fine and the faces are sharp’ © Robert Mair LRPS A Passing Moment

Preaching to a Younger Generation. This image got some good comments but also some good advice. ‘This picture tells a story… Alas, it is two pictures in one.’ ‘a nice idea which does not work for me due to the distance between bishop and girl.’ ‘… the two pictures outcome could have been avoided by toning down the structures and boxes.’ ‘At first glance, this looks like two separate photos, but for me that is the point of the image, the lack of connection between speaker and hearers’

18 | WINNING IMAGES

SCAPES

Very moody take on the abbey which was liked. ‘Quality of the brickwork is excellent’ ‘not sure if the russet colouring of the whole building adds’. ‘beautiful control of verticals’. © Dennis Russ LRPS Tintern Abbey

Varied comments quite liking the stark ness of the graffitti itself but… ‘There is too much dark archway’ ‘The man is very important to the meaning’ ‘there is too much foreground with the empty benches.’ © A Brochwicz-Lewinski ARPS Under Her Wakeful Eye

‘Another image which shows how good photo cameras are getting.’ ‘…a lack of sharp focus around both sides’ ‘A very happy image’ ‘I like the composition and the rusted machinery adds a sense of mystery.’ © John Moore Bluebell Wood

Reedham Chain Ferry. ‘Lots of detail and textures to look at, even the broken tarmac’ ‘Love the texture of the water and get that chilly feel of the day’ ‘’Silver Efex Pro can cause a halo round the edge and this detracts from this image’ © John Shaw ARPS Reedham Chain Ferry

DI Online | December 2023

e-Circles | 19

e-CIRCLES

More opportunities! We are expanding our number of peer support groups or e-Circles. If you would like spend an hour or two once a month discussing your work with like minded individuals, with the aim of helping everyone develop why not join in? Everyone welcome, and everyone learns whether you are just starting your photographic journey or are an old hand! Want to know more - email digmem@rps.org

DI Online | December 2023

20 | T-W-T

TWT Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE)

Architecture and the Built Environment covers all human made buildings and structures from the present day back to ancient times, from cities to rural locations.

DI Online | December 2023

T-W-T | 21

We are offering walks in over 40 locations around the UK and will include international members shooting in their neighbourhoods. You may wish to consider different approaches to photographing the built environment such as: • • • • •

Cityscapes (i.e. big views of built environments) “Portraits” of buildings (or groups of buildings) Architectural details Abstracts Literal vs creative or artistic portrayals.

Potential subject examples include: • • •

Modern and contemporary architecture Historical buildings or streets Ancient monuments.

The project starts in early 2024. • • • •

Bookings open 8 January 2024 Online TALK with Mark Reeves FRPS 20 February 2024 WALKs 20 February to 31 March 2024 TALK discussions during April

Following the final TALKS in April there will be an online gallery of images and an e-Zine will be produced to celebrate the work of the participants. Full information and a link to the booking site will be available via the DI web page HERE. International members will receive an email with information relevant to them in early 2024. The T-W-T programme is free to all RPS members; the public are welcome to join us, but we make a charge for their participation. Any questions email twt@rps.org

DI Online | December 2023

22 | AI

AI SNAPCHAT Post Christmas Credits!

This month, for many people, we entertain the tradition of celebrating Christmas - a time of year when we generate our own magic without the help of AI! As the AI developments, introduced into Adobe products this year, start to bed down and as Glyn Dewis demonstrated in his recent RPS talk many photographers appear to be using these new AI tools with caution to either ‘remove’ or just ‘generate’. For the moment, the concept of typing the description of an object/scene etc into the Generate box is not really for photographers but is useful for graphic and design workers. So as we move into the new year Adobe is to start ‘payback time’ by allocating us a series of “ generative credits.” These credits will be used up whenever you use certain AI features in Adobe products. Visit https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/firefly/using/generative-credits-faq.html to find out how Adobe intends to apply these credits and most importantly, as it says: “To learn when credit limits will apply, check back here after January 1, 2024.” Whatever next………. You sketch and AI guesses what you have drawn! Welcome to the latest version of Pictionary! https://amzn.to/3Nhmc7o I wonder if AI can create another glass of champagne?…… Happy Christmas Simon Newlyn simon.projects@gmail.com

DI Online | December 2023

Christmas List for Photographers So for this final outing for 2023 Mel asked me to put together some fun stocking fillers that might appeal to the photographer. So here’s a set of fun accessories all available from Amazon that I’d love to appear in my pile – hopefully you’ll find something here to casually leave open for your present buyer(s) to note! I wish everyone a relaxing holiday season – and make the effort to get out with your camera! Joe Houghton

Camera Tripod Umbrella Holder Clip £15.05

DSLR Camera Cleaning Kit £24.95

Padwa Lifestyle Colorful Camera Strap £14.96

Triangle, Sphere, Pyramid & Cube Prisms £23.49

A Camera, Focus, Capture Ceramic Mug £9.99

Book: Picture perfect £22.75

All prices are correct at time of publication and may be subject to change without notice. Stock is subject to availability

24 | AI

52 Assignments: Street Photography £10.65

Christmas Photography Backdrop £23.99

Fold Back Finger Tips Magnet Gloves £4.99

Crystal Ball Photography Lens Sphere 90 cm £13.99

USB Rechargeable Beanie Hat £8.49

Personalised Photo Blanket £9.99

Tiny Camera Charm Drop Earrings £9.96

Funny Funky Fun Socks £8.99

Funny Photographer Coffee Mug £8.99

DI Online | December 2023

EDITORS CHRISTMAS COMPUTER CHAIR | 25

From the Editors Christmas Computer Chair

It has been an great year for our Digital Imaging community, and we are looking forward to more developments that await us in the upcoming year. The regular monthly Saturday afternoon talks will continue to offer engaging presenters and insights into the world of Digital Imaging. Despite the challenges, our committee is actively engaged in talks with new presenters to bring fresh perspectives and knowledge to our group. Communication can sometimes be a slow process, but we are diligently working to make these collaborations a reality. For those who enjoy hands-on learning, we have been consistently releasing new workshops. The popularity of these workshops has been encouraging, and due to the high demand, we are continually adding new dates. We encourage you to keep a lookout for these updates and secure your spot as soon as they are announced, as we are concentrating on small groups for greater interaction. The production of Digit 100 in 2024, is well underway, a great milestone that allows us to reflect on the incredible journey of our group. It’s an opportunity to remember how we started and celebrate the growth we’ve experienced together. Embracing the ever-evolving landscape of technology, we acknowledge that AI is here to stay. As such, we are committed to continuing our regular Snap Chat monthly updates, providing you with the latest news and insights related to digital imaging and artificial intelligence. As we celebrate this festive time and look forward to the New Year, let’s remember what we’ve shared and anticipate what’s in store for 2024 for our Digital Imaging community. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year! I am looking forward to a quiet time and curling up with a good book ! Warmest regards, Melanie Melanie Chalk DI ONLINE Editor DI Online | December 2023

26 | AI

AI – Friend or Foe? Eric Begbie reckons that, despite a lot of initial scepticism, AI imaging will soon become the “new normal”. . In jotting down some thoughts on the past, present and future of Artificial Intelligence in picture creation, I want to take the unusual step of starting with my conclusion. Five, ten, even twenty years from now, some enthusiasts will still be using cameras to produce pictures. Some might even be using film and printing their photos in a darkroom. Why am I so sure? Simply because, despite 170 years or more of photographic technological development, many people still use pens, brushes, oils, acrylics and watercolours to create their pictorial art. The advancement of one technology does not necessarily destroy the validity or appeal of earlier techniques. What is striking about AI is that its advent has been greeted with joy and enthusiasm by some image makers but with abject rejection – bordering on a phobia – by others. This dichotomy results, I suspect, from the sheer speed with which the technology has hit us. As a species, we mere humans are unaccustomed to having to adapt our mindsets to new phenomena quite so rapidly. Think back to the birth of digital photography. Ten years elapsed between the creation of our RPS Digital Imaging Group – by a tiny minority of members who were early adopters of the new paradigm – and the almost universal acceptance of the technology. I had been developing films and prints in noxious chemicals for over 50 years before finally buying a digital SLR in 2008. It took those 10 years for most of us to accept that digital imaging was a legitimate part of photography and that using computer software to manipulate our images wasn’t “cheating”. Competition administrators and judges were torn between accepting or rejecting photographs produced without the use of silver halides. Fortunately, in terms of competitions, the transition itself provided a convenient empty category and slide competitions soon gave way to projected digital images. I believe that it is the speed of transition that has also resulted in a failure by many commentators to fully understand the basic concepts of AI imaging. How often do we hear suggestions that AI “steals” or “breaches copyright” of other folks’ pictures?

DI Online | December 2023

AI | 27 Of course it doesn’t. If I am asked to draw a picture of a robin sitting on a garden fork, I don’t copy someone else’s picture. From my knowledge of what a robin looks like and what a garden fork looks like – knowledge acquired by seeing many hundreds of pictures and actual robins and forks over almost 80 years – I can draw a completely original image. So it is with AI imaging systems – from examining and analysing millions of images, the system has an immense knowledge base; far greater than that of any person. It then applies its intelligence – again far greater than that of any person – to produce an original image to meet the specification supplied to it by the user. The other aspect of the current debate that has disappointed me is the suggestion that using AI to produce pictures is somehow less “creative” than using a camera. Surely the opposite is the case. I have included two pictures to illustrate this point. Fig 1 is one of an incredible series produced by Sally Sallett, a very well respected PAGB judge based in Yorkshire. Sally uses Microsoft’s Bing AI image generating software to compose her fantasy pictures. Compare the sheer creativity and imagination she has used to “instruct” an AI program to come up with that image. In contrast, Fig 2 is a photograph taken by me in November on a visit to Funchal. I made it by the banal process of pointing my camera lens at some artwork painted on a door and pressing the shutter button. Both illustrations are fantasy images – one involving a high level of creativity and skill by Sally and the other involving no creativity or skill whatsoever by me. Yet, currently, my image would meet the rules of RPS and camera club competitions; Sally’s wouldn’t. (Thanks to Sally for her permission to use her image.) That, of course, will change. What we can be certain about is that the speed of AI image generation development is going to get even faster and go even farther. What we don’t have is any clear indication of the direction(s) in which it will travel. My best guess is that we will see incredible refinements in our ability to input our imagination to the software so that it creates an image which meets a very detailed text brief. As someone who has written a dozen books and many thousands of magazine articles, I feel much more at home with a typewriter (or its modern equivalent) than with a camera. The prospect of being able to write, say, a 2000-word essay describing a vision and having an AI imaging program transpose the words into a picture excites me greatly. And, if I have to print that picture and then take a photograph of the print with my camera in order to have the raw file that would allow it to qualify for an RPS competition, then so be it. It will be far more my photographic creation than my picture of that Funchal door. To finish on a note of serious optimism. I am fairly sure that, within a couple of years, the use of AI as part of our armoury of digital imaging tools and techniques will have become perfectly normal and acceptable. And some folk will still be using cameras, film, charcoal and paint brushes to deliver their visions. Eric. DI Online | December 2023

28 | DI PRINT PORTFOLIO

DI Print Portfolio 2024

The Digital Imaging Group are announcing today a new print competition for DI members. In past years we have held a print selection of DI members’ work for the DI travelling exhibition. This came to a grinding halt during the pandemic and despite reinstating it although we have held print selections we have not held any exhibitions. We simply no longer have the volunteers to undertake this. So we had to find a new way to celebrate printing and our members’ work. The new Print Portfolio project will result in the best 30 images, across the wide spectrum of the various genres and styles members work in, coming together into an annual portfolio. Each of the 30 successful photographers will receive a beautifully printed Portfolio displaying an image opposite a few words about the work from the author. Every member who enters will receive a catalogue of the same content as the Portfolio. DI members will enter up to 3 prints. These can be any style, genre or technique but must not include any AI generated images or part of. Results will be announced at the DI AGM on 25 February 2024. For 2024 our selectors are • • •

Simon Street FRPS Marilyn Taylor FRPS Edgar Gibbs FRPS

DI Online | December 2023

DI PRINT PORTFOLIO | 29

Please read the RULES carefully as they include address information to post your prints to (special arrangements for overseas members – see the RULES). You are required to submit digital copies of your submitted images. These need to be titled and of the correct resolution to enable the printing of the Portfolio. KEY DATES • • • • •

Entries open on January 1 st 2024 at 09.00 GMT Entries close on 9 th February 2024 at 21.00 GMT International members entry closes 6 th February 2024. Selection will be 12 th February 2024 Winners announced on 25 th February 2024 at the DI AGM

Go to the web page for full information and to download the rules www.rps.org/di/print-portfolio For any questions email digchair@rps.org

DI Online | December 2023

30 | INTERNATIONALS

INTERNATIONALS 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 Madeleine Lenagh

(Janet) You are an RPS member living in the Netherlands (NL) but I know this is not where you were from originally. What took you to NL and why have you stayed? (Madeline) I was born and mostly raised in the northeast of the United States (New England). I say mostly because we lived in Europe (Paris, Frankfurt, and London) from my 2nd to my 6th year. I grew disenchanted with the States during the 1960’s, and after dropping out of college (and a stint working in a darkroom) I convinced my parents to give me a plane ticket to Europe for my 21st birthday. When I arrived in the Netherlands, I found an au pair job and never got around to leaving. (Janet)Do you see a difference between art and photography from your original home land and that which is produced by Dutch photographers? (Madeline) If I look at the question from the perspective of then and now, I was interested in documenting social issues back then, which was similar on both sides of the ocean. But when I got back into serious photography after my retirement in the Netherlands in 2012, it was nature and landscape that inspired me the most. And I do believe that nature photography in the Netherlands is more conservative than in the US. I’m specifically referring to abstract/expressive landscape photography. I get the sense that both in the US and the UK, there’s much more free experimentation going on than here. Photography is accepted as an art form. Here the emphasis of nature photographers is still pretty representational. I can’t speak for other genres. (Janet) How do you interact with other local photographers in NL? Perhaps via clubs or groups and what do you feel you benefit from by being a member? (Madeline) I have to admit that most of my contacts with fellow photographers are via international forums like Alister Benn’s Expressive Photography and Valda Bailey and Doug Chinnery’s Find Your Voice. But I do have a Dutch network as well.

DI Online | December 2023

INTERNATIONAL | 31

Originally I took part in Dutch nature photography workshops, hoping to hone my technical skills. That’s how I met my current mentor, Theo Bosboom. He’s been an important influence on my artistic development and is currently coaching me on the production of a book of seascapes. I’m a member of the Natuurfotografengilde (Guild for Nature Photographers). But what’s most important, I believe, is that I’m a Dutch ambassador for Nature First, an international alliance for responsible nature photography. As such, I reach out to nature photographers in both the Netherlands and Belgium, spreading awareness of the need to prioritize the importance of nature above ‘getting the shot.’ for responsible nature photography. As such, I reach out to nature photographers in both the Netherlands and Belgium, spreading awareness of the need to prioritize the importance of nature above ‘getting the shot.’ (Janet) How long have you belonged to The RPS and what spurred you to join? (Madeline) I just recently (this past summer) joined The RPS and am still finding my way around. I joined because it seemed to be a much more professional organisation than anything else I’d run into, and I thought it might provide some useful contacts. My mentor, Theo, said he’d heard that they took on international members. In the meantime, I’ve discovered some great (online) workshops and am seriously tempted to go for a distinction. (Janet) Do you mainly shoot a particular genre or prefer to be more general and why? (Madeline) I love being out in nature and it has been my most important source of artistic inspiration. As my expressive mode has shifted more towards the visual arts than representational photography, I find myself less constrained by ‘what’ and ‘where’ I photograph.

DI Online | December 2023

32 | INTERNATIONAL

(Janet). Can you please show us a couple of your own favourite images and tell us why you like these in particular? (Madeline) These are both from my current book project, Perpetual Motion. The first image, Blue Wave, is a straight photo, taken on the beach before dawn. It was Highly Commended last year at the Dutch Groene Camera competition. For me it marks the first time that my abstract images received national recognition. The second image, Approaching Storm, is an ICM that I took on the beach about 5 minutes before I got soaking wet. I like the way it shows the dynamics of sea and sky just before the storm hits.

DI Online | December 2023

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EVENTS Our first DI event in January 2024

In Charles Needle ‘s talk he will show us how making images with your mobile phone can make you a better photographer, and how various apps can enable you to craft creative, expressive images in this “beyond the basics” smartphone photography presentation. Book you place now

DI Online | December 2023

34 | WORKSHOPS

DI WORKSHOPS As we approach the end of the year, just a few workshops remain to be completed in December, before we commence a new Winter to Spring programme in January. I am working on preparing to publish on Billetto very soon and will herald this with a Mailing to all those members who have signed up for the Workshop Mailing list. The advantage of being on this list is you get to hear first and book up before they are promoted more widely. We are concentrating on small numbers for these workshops for greater interaction with the tutors and the places soon sell. All the of the DI workshops are now bookable via the ticketing platform Billetto. When you book with Billetto, immediately you will receive a confirmation email detailing the event, by pressing the BLUE BUTTON this will reveal the Zoom invite and a Google Drive link, where all the resources will be available and where, after the workshop, the recordings will be placed, by each tutor.

DI Online | December 2023

You are strongly advised to save this email to a workshop folder you should create, just so you have it to hand. If all goes to plan you should also receive a reminder email 48 hours and 15 minutes before the workshop begins. Also on the confirmation email you get the chance to save the event to an online Calendar again a useful reminder.

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By accessing the specific Google Dive link for the particular workshop, you are taken to a screen something like this, where after the event you can find the recording: I am fully aware its a learning curve for you all but it will become more familiar the more you use it. Both for me, the Workshop Coordinator and for the tutors so much of the administration workload has now been reduced by using Billetto. The more workshops we deliver, the admin grows too, which then becomes overwhelming with the need to send reminders. At the end of the year its a good opportunity to look back and contemplate the successes, and number of workshops that DI have delivered for you, the members. The feedback we get continues to praise the quality of what we offer and thanks most go to our very hard working tutors for delivering excellent content in 2023, but also to you, for supporting us and booking up in large numbers. Our thanks especially to Celia Henderson, Jonathan Vaines, Joe Houghton, Hannah Carter Orton, Simon Street and the RHS contingent for all their considerable work over the year. This year has flown and we are already planning another interesting programme for 2024. Every good wish to you all for the coming festive season. Melanie Chalk DI Workshop Coordinator

DI Online | December 2023

36 | DISTINCTIONS

DISTINCTIONS Lois Wakeman LRPS 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) may need to conform exactly to the number of images specified for panels 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 labour-intensive to cope with any increase in number 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. DI Online | December 2023

DISTINCTIONS | 37

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). 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.

DI Online | December 2023

38 | DISTINCTIONS

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. Accolade, which celebrates Digital Imaging members’ distinction successes, is useful for insight into the process in many different genres and at all levels. Issue 12 of Accolade is available on Issuu (back numbers also available).

DI Online | December 2023

SIGS | 39

SIGS Clicking on these Ads will take you to the RPS Events page where you can find more information about events from other Special Interest Groups (SIGS)

DI Online | December 2023

DECEMBER 2023 | 40

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