Shire Amateur Photographers’ Society
‘Our aim is not to compete against each other – rather, to learn from each other’
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Greg Ford 0415 412 244 (9528 3475) Website: www.sutherlandshirephotography.com.au Email:
S.A.P.S. (Shire Amateur Photographers’ Society) Shire Amateur Photographers’ Society (SAPS)
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Newsletter No. 173 (29/05/2017)
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Hi everybody,
Firstly, all the best to Judith Lyon & Robert Garnett after recent operations – get well soon …
This Newsletter is a stripped down version to save file size, because of the problems I have been having with distribution for almost 9 months, with sending via Outlook. I have also been flagged by Optus as spamming, because of the size & number of emails I send, so I needed to restructure by moving to Mailchimp for email distribution.
Two new members to the Society – Eddy & Cath, have been helping Warrick and me to problem solve, and take on entering and sorting more than 3,500 photography contacts I have in Outlook.
To give you an idea, the last Newsletter was sent (and went out of my Outbox) the day before we went on the Great Ocean Road Trip. Some of the people on the trip with me, received that emailed Newsletter nine days later – some did not receive it at all … ?
Cath has found that there was a bug (not uncommon) that happened 9 months ago, when my older version of Outlook was affected (and BUGGED) when I moved to Windows 10. Cath is involved in IT, and found out that there is NO FIX for this BUG resulting in doing all the contacts update by hand.
It has taken weeks of entering and checking, and it is still not finished, sadly, hence the lack of contact during the last month.
The good thing, is that when I start conducting Society communications using Mailchimp, it should be effortless, with a lot of advantages I did not have in the past.
PLEASE NOTE … When the Contacts Distribution lists got scrambled - to recover all the information meant that all those lists were combined, resulting in some people who had been taken off the database, being added in again. If you don’t want to receive Photographic Society information in the future, there will be an ‘Unsubscribe Button’ in Mailchimp, to remove yourself from the database.
I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused, but it was beyond my control, Greg
NEXT Society Meeting THIS COMING THURSDAY NIGHT
(1st June) 7.15pm start
1st floor ‘Club on East’ (previously Sutherland United Services Club - SUS Club) opp. the car park - western side of Sutherland Station. 7.15pm start on 1st floor. There is a well-lit car park at the rear of the club. Just drive up to the boom gate on the ground floor, tell them you’re there for the Photographic meeting, and they will open it for you.
Then just go to reception and tell them you are there for the Photographic meeting - They will sign you in …
Please arrive around 7pm so that we can start at 7.15pm thank you …
Agenda Item for Meeting
· 1st Presentation - Neutral Density Filters
o When to use them
o Why would you use them
o Which ones are the best and why
o What to look out for – the pitfalls
o Discussion on people’s experiences with using ND filters
· 2nd Presentation - Ralph’s Tech Report (What’s new or around the corner in camera technology)
· 3rd Presentation and Discussion – Photographing VIVID (hand held or tripod)
· Viewing ENHANCEMENT TASK – Looking at the different styles of enhancement …
· Society Member’s Portfolio
· Pro Photographer’s Portfolio
and much more …
NEW One-Off CITY WORKSHOPS on ‘Understanding Light & Composition’ start shortly …
There will be soon an opportunity to participate in newly-developed, one-off, 4 hour City Workshops.
. These will be running several times a year, and are not part of the ‘Light & Composition Course’. They also go to different locations in the City than those in the FULL course.
. They will be held on Saturday or Sunday mornings, and we will meet at Sutherland Station at 7.30am, for the
7.43am train into the City.
. Duration Sutherland to Sutherland will be approx. 6 hours (7.30am – 1.30pm)
. If you join that train at other stations, then meet us in the 2nd carriage
. I will send you more information about these Workshops, including upcoming dates, in Photographic Society
newsletters
. Class size is 8-10 & note, the weather could require me to reschedule Workshops sometimes …
. Interested … Add your name to the clipboard at the Society Meeting - Ring Greg on 0415 412 244 or email . The Workshops will be offered first to those who have their name on the interested list when dates are announced, then it will be added to the next Newsletter.
Cost - $55
The FULL next ‘Understanding Light & Composition’ Course will run September - November
This course follows on from my first Course (Understanding Digital Photography), and takes you to the next level of understanding your photography.
It is meant to extend your knowledge, once you have an understanding of the settings on your camera, and how to use them.
. It is designed around two important photographic elements:
1. Making you aware of how to seek-out and use LIGHT to create more appealing images.
2. Give you an Understanding what makes up good composition, then how to combine that composition with light.
. These are the two critical elements to becoming a better photographer, and will create increased motivation in this
fascinating hobby …
. It is a 30 hour course with 5 x 4 hour City Workshops (2 twilight/night Workshops, and 3 morning Workshops), plus
4 important theorylessons and image review nights.
Cost - $350
VIVID
. Vivid has become obviously a VERY popular City of Sydney event, and is good to see the interest it generates, but with the numbers comes the shuffling crowds, and the sometimes lack of opportunity to set up tripods.
WHEN …
I feel it’s better to let the newness of the event each year settle down, so leaving it a couple of weeks seems the best option. Weekends are a no-no, and going mid-week means generally, the kids are at home because it is school the next day. Going in to get there around 7pm, means that people working in the City, have maybe seen, and are about to head home, but in saying this, don’t leave it to the last week, because then you are mixing it with all the ones that realise it’s about to finish, and the crowds swell again. Cold nights and a little inclement weather can also help with the crowds.
Read article below to consider besides photographing on tripod, also take VIVID using a fast lenses (hand-held) …
WE ARE GOING …
. Going into VIVID on Wednesday 7th June (wet alt. Thursday 8th June).
. Check Facebook or ring me if the weather is iffy …
. Catching the 6.15pm train from Sutherland (2nd carriage)
. This year it’s more to allow people to meet up on the train, or when we arrive at the Quay, with some other Society Members and have some company while looking at the lights of the City. A big group does not work, and 3 or 4 in a small group is probably the best option.
. It has become impossible to move around as a larger group these days, with the numbers of people who attend.
. So if you are interested in going but don’t want to walk by yourself, then maybe we will see you on the train on the 7th, so you can have company …
Photographing VIVID
Tripod – Why …
· Firstly a lot of the displays are reflecting a lot of light, and it sometimes it’s surprising the speed you can shoot by pushing up the ISO a little, and using a fast lens
· General shooting when you can set up your tripod
o Fast lens is good but not essential with tripods
o Open the aperture to the widest setting (small number like f3.5)
o Increase the ISO if you find that the shutter speed is too long, capturing multiple images overlapping
o Question – But if I use a fast lens fully open – say a 50mm at f1.8 – won’t I lose depth of Field?
§ Here is a couple of examples compared to distance to the subject
§ A 50mm lens at f1.8 will get in focus subjects from 80m – infinity for shots over the Quay of the sails of the Opera House
§ A 50mm lens at f1.8 will get focus when the distance to the subject is 20m, from 15m – 25m
§ A kit lens set to 18mm, at f3.5, will get focus of subjects from 5m to infinity
· An other thing that has come from the advanced laser technology in recent years, is the ability to change to displays quicker, or continuously. Taking longer exposures of this type of display just overlaps the colours and shapes sometimes with disappointing results
· Don’t forget zoom longer exposures, capturing tapered light drag in your images
· Even consider twisting the camera during an exposure that will create an interesting effect
· Be aware of your space and your cameras security – You don’t want to come home with damaged gear
Come along to the meeting and join in the discussion on ‘Photographing VIVID 2017’ …
VIVID website - Great informative website this year https://www.vividsydney.com/light
Mystery Tours
Because of the poor response to Mystery Tours recently, I will be not running another one till November this year. Unfortunately, too much work involved in setting them up to, at the end of the day, not cover cost.
SOCIETY BOOK (2015-2016)
Hand in images (USB) at the June meeting, for the next Society book of Society images (2015-2016)
See attachments for details …
Thanks to Sophie, Ally & Barbara & Graham for their hard work with this project,
Greg
UPCOMING Activities (details later in Newsletter)
JUNE
1st (Thur) 7.15pm SOCIETY MEETING - Club on East (SUS Club) 1st floor
4th (Sun) 3.30pm Walk for Life (Taren Point)
10-12th Holiday Weekend
11th (Sun) 3.30pm Bike Ride for Life (Taren Point)
18th (Sun) 8.30am SOCIETY OUTING – t.b.a.
25th (Sun) 7.30am 1st Light & Composition Workshop (one-off) 4h tuition
25th (Sun) 3.30pm Walk for Life (Taren Point)
26th May – 17th June VIVID Sydney
28th May Walk – Taren Point
* Walks & Rides start at Woodlands Road, Taren Point (opp. Smith Street).
- Rides go to Wanda along mostly bike track (15km), and the Walks go to Sans Souci (over bridge) 5km
- Message me if you’re wanting to come, as early as possible (0415 412 244)
- If I cancel (re weather), I will message you and let you know …
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MEETING 1st June, 2017 (7.15pm)
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Participating in our Society
o Membership (2017) $20 (Calendar year)
o Meeting attendance $ 5 (Visitors may attend 2 meetings before membership is required)
o Night Mystery Tours $25 (Members only – Insurance Requirement)
o Day Mystery Tours $35 (Members only – Insurance Requirement)
o Trips Away: (Members only – Insurance Requirement). Active members take precedence, but family and friends can go on waiting list, so that if additional numbers are required (closer to departure), they are welcome to fill the gaps. Note: All people going on Trips Away must be full members of the Society.
o Unofficial Outings/Activities: These events are not formally run by the Society. They are activities that some of the Society members, friends, and families may join in together as private activities. These events may be promoted though on the SAPS Facebook site for anybody interested.
o Anybody going on a Mystery Tour or Trip Away from 1/4/2016, will need to sign a Risk Warning, Release and
Waiver form that will remain ongoing as long as you participate in Society activities. I had a Lawyer draw up this legal document to safeguard myself from possible legal action, thank you.
www.sutherlandshirephotography.com.au 0415 412 244
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See Tony or Patrick for all your photographic requirements – Bottom level, Shop 1098, Westfield Miranda (9589 5700)
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