Royal Photographic Society Digital Imaging Group News June 2016

DIG News - June 2016

‘Fence in the Dunes’ by David Pearson ARPS

DIG News seems to have grown this month to even more pages.

Most likely because I have been given so many good images from the members that I didn’t want to leave many out.

CONGRATULATIONS Just two very important new Associate achievements have been confirmed this month. So our congratulations to Karen and Justin on their awards.

Karen Block ARPS Justin Webb ARPS

West Mids Kent

This month we are featuring a delightful Associate panel from Nancy Laurie ARPS. It is different, it is beautifully toned and a well presented panel of work – one to be proud of Nancy.

NANCY LAURIE ARPS I have always been fascinated by Plants and Flowers since I was about 8 years old and tried many times to capture this without success. It was only when my best friend had bought a Canon D60 and allowed me a trial with it that my fascination became an obsession. I was hooked but knew I couldn't afford to buy one at the time. However some time later when my lawyer telephoned me to say that she had a cheque for me from my divorce I knew exactly what to buy.

I ordered my Canon D60 in March 2003 and picked it up 3 days later. I was ecstatic but felt so guilty knowing I had spent so much money. I then had the problem of finding out how to use it properly and being unsuccessful was horrific. So I signed up for a One Year Photography Course at Lauder College and learned so much more about how to use my camera.

Meanwhile I was still a member of Falkirk Camera Club and began entering competitions. It was during a club night that RPS member Mike Cowling suggested I join the Royal Photographic Society. I laughed at him and said that my work was never good enough for such a prestigious organisation. However he encouraged me to go to an Advisory Day where my photographs were well admired. Needless to say I was thrilled and excited.

After listening to the Panel Members comments and taking their advice I applied for my Licentiateship. I was in the audience in Bath when my panel was judged in October 2008 and when I was told I had passed I just squealed with delight. I really could not believe it. For me this was the icing on the cake. I had accomplished a wonderful achievement.

I thought that Associateship would be easier than it was but failed my first attempt. This had a detrimental effect on me and I gave up on the idea of gaining an 'A''.

Now several years on, after taking more advice and encouragement from Scottish RPS Panel Members, especially Peter Paterson , I have achieved my Associateship and I have cream and cherries on top of the icing on the cake.

My intention now is to achieve my Fellowship and have chocolate chips on top of the cream, cherries and icing.

I still get that adrenaline rush whilst taking photographs. I am a very happy lady.

DIG PRINT CIRCLE Did you know that DIG has a print Circle? – It seems to have been a pretty well kept secret, although they were featured in DIGIT a couple of years ago.

Their organiser, Andrew Brochwicz-Lewinski, got in touch a few weeks ago as there is an opportunity for a few new members to join their group.

We may be a digital group but I truly believe that no image is given the final touch until it is printed. Choosing the right paper and seeing a print roll out of the printer is the ultimate expression of a completed piece of work. Nothing can beat it.

The DIG Print Group is small in number, ideally 8-10 members. They post their images around to an agreed deadline, but the commitment is fairly small. A4 prints and you comment on one image in each round.

Usually just 4 rounds per year.

For full information do go to the Print Groups DIG page HERE where Andrew has provided a more complete article on what is involved, plus there are a few examples (digital versions) of four of the members work.

Here’s just one to whet your appetite – but do consider joining them as I am sure it would be a great way to share your work with like minded DIG printers.

Heading for the White House and Beyond by Brian Kelvie FRPS

DIG PROJECTED IMAGE COMPETITION …. is now open for submissions.

A few of you have already entered your work, so well done if you are one of them. For the rest of us at the very least we need to be considering which 4 works we are going to enter and in which categories do they best fit.

All the rules and information you need is on the web page HERE When you are ready then follow the CLICK HERE link to the entry site. If you entered the competition last year then you will already be registered on the competition web site; if this is your first time have your RPS membership number ready as you complete the registration process.

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DIGIT As we prepare the June edition of DIG News the next issue of DIGIT is at the printers. So it may even have reached you by the time you are reading DIG News, but if not then it will be with you any day now.

This is our Special 20th Anniversary issue and we must thank our Editor, Margaret Preston, for working so hard to make it extra special. We hope that you will enjoy some of the thought provoking articles, as well as a little nostalgia. Who ever would have believed we would still be in existence after 20 years!

DIGIT comes wrapped with the DIG 2016 Exhibition Print catalogue – so double value for money this quarter.

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TUTORIALS FROM KEN PAYNE This month I have selected two tutorials that will help you to give a mediocre image more impact by either ‘Adding a new sky’ using Photoshop HERE or ‘Balancing tones for more impact’ using LightRoom HERE

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DIG FORUM MONTHLY COMPETITION It is great to see new names appearing in the monthly comp. This month a new DIG member won 2nd place and others showed us great images too. Keep them coming – and even if you don’t compete do look in around the 25th of each month and vote for your winner.

Congratulations to David Pearson on his win in this last months Forum competition with ‘Fence in the Dunes’. Well done David.

We have a slightly wind blown David on the LHS – but it is good to see him out and about with his camera again and treating the forum members to some lovely new work.

Here are David’s own words about his winning image……

I'd been on the beach taking pictures of a derelict lighthouse but the very bright sunlight was not doing me any favours. Then, trudging back to the car, I noticed that the light was exactly right for the shadows from this fence.

Back home, it was also the ideal image to start experimenting with my new, freebie, Nik Efex.

2nd placed is Alex Moldovan with a rather different and very attractive portrait. So I asked Alex for a few words…….

"Decorated by Nature" As the title implies the image was created in such a way to try and direct the audience attention to the girl.

The naturally beautiful emphasised in her eyes is very gently accentuated by the flowers surrounding them.

The framing and lighting were kept simple and striking to reinforce the focus on the subject.

‘Decorated by Nature’ by Alex Moldovan -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BOUQUETS AND BRICKBATS --- - a comment we received about DIG News --Please re-instate the PDF version as that ISSUU thing is truly awful. Very slow to load and appalling rendering quality.

Thanks Andrew

How are others of you finding the online ISSUU DIG News and DIGIT to read? Of those we have had feedback from the vast majority seem to like it and find the quality just fine. But as always we value and welcome all feedback.

Don’t forget if reading DIG News using the ISSUU page turning software doesn’t suit you then all the same information is available by just scrolling down the web page a little and reading it there.

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DIG CENTRES News from around the UK Centres DIG EASTERN CENTRE We are delighted to be able to announce that a new Centre Organiser has volunteered to take over. Mark Gillett is currently in discussion with the remaining Centre committee about the forward programme and venue etc. But it is good to know it is now going to an active Centre once more.

Profile Mark Gillett I have been taking photographs since my early teens, with varying degrees of success!! After 27 years in Local Government I made the decision to take early retirement and set up my own consultancy and achieve a better work/life balance.

At the end of November my wife and I moved to Suffolk to a rural location and I now have more time to pursue my interest in photography. Although I joined the RPS and DIG a few years ago I have not been particularly active.

Now that I have more time I am keen to play a more active role and participate in more activities. I have recently completed the OU/RPS Course and submitted my panel of 10 images for the EMA – this is the first formal training in photography I have undertaken. I now plan to work towards the LRPS and explore other opportunities for learning. And interaction with other members Together with the existing DIG Eastern Centre committee members we hope to develop an exciting programme, starting in the Autumn of 2016.

I look forward to meeting you all.

Mark Gillett

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DIG PRINT EXHIBITION All your prints from this years travelling exhibition are now up and looking good, at the Swindon Library.

West Swindon Library, West Swindon District Centre SN5 7DL Wednesday 01/06/2016 30/6/16.

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MIRRORLESS This month we are featuring the Olympus E-M1 My Mirrorless Experience with the Olympus E-M1 My first dSLR was the Olympus E1 followed by the E3 and I owned a fair number of Pro lenses. I waited for a new camera from Olympus that would allow the use of those lenses. That camera was the E-M1 which I purchased near the end of 2013.

I always claimed that my E1/E3 fitted in my hand and I could make it work in the dark as I knew where everything was. I can make the same claim for the E-M1 but now I know what I’m doing as everything is displayed in the electronic viewfinder. The viewfinder is 2.3Mpx and whenever I show the camera to dSLR users I get a Wow, it is superb.

Much to the amusement/derision of my photographic friends, I have the camera permanently in P mode and Auto ISO. Why do I do this? In this

mode I am confident I will get a picture instantly. The histogram displays in the viewfinder and the front finger wheel controls eV so I can very rapidly adjust and correct exposure. Having grabbed my first shot I can adjust aperture by using the rear thumbwheel whilst continuing to compose my image looking through the viewfinder. Should I want more control I can flick the switch adjacent to the viewfinder, again without moving my eye from the viewfinder, and select ISO control which is then controlled on the front finger wheel. This level of camera control whilst the camera is at my eye suits my photography perfectly. I no longer chimp to check exposure as I know when I press the release I got what I asked for. I very seldom use the menus.

For those with legacy lenses they work very well with the adaptor and the E-M1. That said I have now got the 12-40, 7-14 and 40-150 Pro lenses for the E-M1. One of my reasons for the Olympus E series was that the camera was weather proof and I’ve never worried about photographing in the rain. That feature has carried on in the E-M1.

The size and weight of the E-M1 is a reduction on the E dSLR series and I now confess to a camera bag. I have a small Osprey bag (Flap Jill Mini) in which I can put 2*E-M1 (12-40 & 7- 14), a drinks bottle and my lunch for a day’s walking. Not only that but I can walk all day!

The camera has just had a huge software upgrade which has added incamera focus stacking and silent mode shutter, amongst other features.

I think last month’s prediction of everything mirrorless in ten years is wrong. I reckon it will be five except for niche users.

Rex Waygood

Rex provided some example work from his Olympus, plus additional technical information that you might find interesting……..

"Three Sheep” was the E-M1 and the 40-150 mm lens (80-300mm in 35mm speak)

“Ominous Alley” was the first outing with the new 7-14mm (14-28mm in 35mm speak). Processed in Silver Efex.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------MEMBERS GALLERY Looking at Members Galleries for something different I took a peek at our the work of Alex Moldovan who got second place in the Forum comp and found a super set of dance images that are pretty unlike anything one normally associates with the word ‘dance’. Rather than spoil the surprise for you I will simply give you the link to view for yourselves HERE. Another gallery of some fine nature work is from Mohammad Reza Soroush. Great camera skills and quite a bit of variation to enjoy HERE

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FOCUS ON OVERSEAS MEMBERS

This month Petro Bosman from South Africa has contributed to the overseas member spot….

Namibia – land of endless surprises.

I am an International RPS member living in South Africa. My husband and I have been traveling the world for 35 years. I thought I’ve seen it all. I have never been to Namibia – which is quite strange for a South African photographer – albeit be an amateur. We have just arrived back from the best holiday I ever had!

As a well-seasoned traveler and very enthusiastic photographer I was well aware of the opportunities ahead – or so I thought! Never on any one of our many trips all over the world did I see so much breathtaking beauty and never did I bring back 4000 images!

Are your photography ideas depleted and you in dire need of some exciting new photographic opportunities and amazing images? If your answer is ‘yes’ then…

Come to Africa! Namibia to be precise! I hear you say you won’t be able to afford it. At the time of writing the Pound to the Namibian Dollar was 1 GBP = 23 NAD. A holiday in Namibia will be one of your cheapest ever and definitely the best!

The weather is amazing and the photo opportunities are endless.

Wildlife, Birds, Landscapes, People, Two Deserts with huge dunes, Ocean, Architecture and lots more! Namibia remains a largely untapped, dazzlingly beautiful hub of adventure.

Namibia is a popular self-drive destination with excellent infrastructure and good accommodation but the most popular way of seeing Namibia for overseas travelers is with a Tour Operator. Namibia has 20 declared Game Reserves and Parks.

12 Quick facts of Namibia:  80% of the entire country are made up by 2 deserts – Namib and Kalahari  The largest Namibian tribe is the Ovambo’s – 1.500.000 people  It is home to the highest sand dune in the world (Sossusvlei)  It has the largest number of cheetahs in the world – 3000+  It has the second lowest population density in the world  It is home to the oldest desert in the world – The Namib (meaning Open Space) is 80 million yrs. old  Lake Otijkoto is the world’s largest underground lake, located in Dragon’s Breath Cave  It has a population of around 2 million – same as Paris  Namibia’s land mass is the equivalent to that of Spain and Germany combined  Namibia has 20 declared Game Reserves and Parks.  They have more that 300 days of sunshine per year!  Etosha National Park is one of Africa’s finest parks, both in size and diversity of wildlife

Please let me know if there is anything that I can assist with. Would you like to know more or need some advice then feel free to contact me at petro.bosman@gmail.com

Gemsbok (Oryx) fighting – Etosha National Park

Namib Desert - Swakopmund

Flocks of Flamingoes – Walvis Bay

Baby Chameleon of 5cm (in Afrikaans called a Trapsuutjie which means "tread lightly" describing the way they walk. They change colour to which ever surface they walk on.

This baby changed to the colours of the Namib Desert sand and two minutes later was black when he climbed on to a black branch.

Herero children – Damaraland

Sossusvlei with its red dunes – southern part of the Namib Desert

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So we have now had articles about the Olympus and Fuji mirrorless cameras. WHO is going to write me a short piece about other models or makes?

If you are using something different then do get in touch as sharing information is always good.

Regards

Janet Janet Haines ARPS DIG Chair digchair@rps.org