FOCUSSharing Visual Art

September 2018

The Official Digital Newsletter for Edenvale Photographic Club

www.edenvalephotoclub.co.za

Proud Members of the Photographic Society of South Africawww.pssa.co.za

CONTENTS: Committee MembersChairman & Website:

David Wolstencroft083 229 8066davewol@gmail.com

Vice Chairperson:Scoring & Promotions

Heidi Broschk079 886 8515heidib@uj.ac.za

Treasurer:

Ted Kinsman083 461 2350tkinsman@global.co.za

Secretary:

Antoinette Bezuidenhout072 4426 317antoinette1949@gmail.com

Salons, Judges and Outings:

John Coumbias079 1732 825jcoumbias@telkomsa.net

Certificates & Awards

Des Alexander083 226 1452neoncomp@webmail.co.za

Catering:

Giulio Cecchi011 452 2250cecchi@polka.co.za

Newsletter & Media:

Hanli Smit083 253 1034hanlis54@gmail.com

Page 3 Chairman’s Chat

Page 6 Winning Images 22 August 2018

Page 13 Winning Images 12 September 2018

Judging Criteria for One and Two Star Photography

Page 8

Judging Criteria for 3,4 and 5 Star Photography

Page 9

Page 20 Magoebaskloof Club Outing

Page 17 How to Prepare Images for Club Presentation

Page 20

Page 19 Special Subject WinnerHeidi Broschk

Page 22 Basics on RAW Processing

Page 23 Member Focus Dave Gordon

Chairman’s ChatFrom my point of view, the club outing to Magoebaskloof went rather well. Eleven club members attended, which was a good turnout compared to other outings of a similar nature. The outing was planned to coincide with the Spring festival the hap-pens every year in the area. This is usually associated with large flowery gardens and trees in blossom. The intention was to capture landscapes and scenes shrouded in mist. Alas, this time, the weather did not play along.

Each morning everyone was geared up for the 5am departure into the forest and each morning we were greeted with clear skies and no mist. Sunday morning was bitter cold, overcast and windy. We were hoping that the overcast, cold conditions would create the mist we were looking for, but the wind made sure that our wishes disappeared with the mist.

Despite the less than ideal conditions, everyone was keen for photography and spirits were high. In a way, it benefitted the newer members as more time could be spent showing, teaching and educating. I really hope that everyone gained experi-ence and knowledge from this outing which is really the idea behind these trips.

In addition to the education perspective, I feel that the team building, camaraderie and social aspect was enjoyed by all. The interaction, laughter and good spirits can attest to this. The fact that we all stayed at the same resort definitely played a role as we were always in the same place, could leave together and arrange things together. These are lessons that will be carried forward to future outings.

I would like to thank each and every one of you that attended. I thoroughly enjoyed this weekend away and it would not have been the same without you all.

Looking forward to the next one ... hope to see you all there.

Dave

Key West Centre, Shop 8Van Buuren Rd, Bedfordview

Tel: 011 455- 1243email: robponte@neomail.co.zawww.photodigitalprolab.co.za

Facebook: facebook.com/photodigitalprolab

www.fotorental.co.za

NATURERhino

Brian KleinwortPICTORIAL

Prieska FordJohanda Oberholzer

NATURENatures Reflection

Bianca Holburn

JUDGINGCRITERIA FOR

ONE STAR WORKERS

1) CORRECT EXPOSURE

2) IN FOCUS

3) ELEMENT OFCOMPOSITION

4) PICTURE CLEANAND

WELL PRESENTED

JUDGINGCRITERIA FOR

TWO STAR WORKERS

1) CORRECT EXPOSURE

2) IN FOCUS

3) ELEMENTS OF COMPOSITION

4) PICTURE CLEAN AND WELL PRESENTED

5) SOME IMPACT

6)SOME KNOWLEDGE OF WHEN TO CROP

JUDGING CRITERIA FOR A

THREE STAR WORKER

1) CORRECT EXPOSURE

2) IN FOCUS

3) COMPOSITIONSHOULD BEGIN TO SHOW

AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF LINES,

SHAPES AND FORM

4) PICTURE CLEAN AND

WELL PRESENTED

5) IMPACTNOW A STRONG REQUIREMENT

6) KNOWLEDGE OF WHEN TO

CROP NOW NEEDED

JUDGING CRITERIA

FOR A FIVE

STAR WORKER

SHOULD BEOF ENTRY LEVEL

NATIONAL SALON

STANDARDSJUDGING CRITERIA

FOR A FOUR

STAR WORKER

1)NATIONALSALON STANDARD

2) ENTRY LEVELINTERNATIONAL

SALON STANDARD

THE POINT VALUE OF THE CLUB AWARDS

BRONZE 1 POINTSSILVER 2 POINTSGOLD 3 POINTSCOM 4 POINTS

WINNER 1 EXTRA POINT

NATUREBird Wader

Christa Smith

PICTORIALScarlet

Valerie Sampson

NATUREReflection

Johan HarmsePICTORIALJust Mud

Cecil Mayhew

NATUREEarly morning Mist on river

PICTORIALFishing Boat CaptainDavid Wolstencroft

NATUREHide and Seek

Johanda Oberholzer

PICTORIALSeaside PortalAndrew Mayes

NATUREProtea

Bianca Holburn

PICTORIALInto the Darkness

Bianca Holburn

NATURESparring PartnersValerie Sampson

PICTORIALImaginationDave Brown

NATURETigeress and cubsMark Koekemoer PICTORIAL

Bloody BattleMark Koekemoer

NATUREBuffalo

Vadivelu

PICTORIALNumber 310Trevor Tyler

Specifications for Submission of High Definition “E” Photography

RECOMMENDED PROCEDUREMaximum Pixel Size = 1080 x 1920

Maximum Data File Size = 2000 Kilobytes (2mb) JpegWe use 2 Categories at Edenvale for our club submissions

1) NATURE...”na” 2) PICTORIAL....”pi”The image must be named as follows

Star Rating_Category_Image Name_Persons NameEXAMPLE:...2_na_hornbill_joe blog (all lowercase)

1. Select Canvas [Frame] Size under the heading “ Image” in Photoshop if you wish to add the border to the image and make your adjustments. If you do not wish to add a border go to step 2

2. Select image size under the heading “Image” in Photoshop – Tick the follow-ing boxes : Scale Styles, Constrain Proportions and Resample image.

3. The maximum size of the image must not exceed 1920 pixels wide and 1080 pixels high4. When resizing a horizontal image ( Landscape ) enter 1920 pixels in the Width box and the vertical size will be adjusted automatically if you have ticked the “ Resample Image” box . If the vertical size is 1080 pixels or less, the resizing is correct. If the vertical adjusts to a value more than 1080 pixels ( say 1096 pixels ) then adjust the vertical size to 1080 pixels and the hori-zontal size will automatically reduce below 1920 pixels if you have ticked the “ Resample Image” box.

5. When resizing a vertical image (Portrait) enter 1080 pixels in the Height Box . The value in the Width Box will change automatically to match the original image if you have ticked the “ Resample Image “ box

6. The maximum image data file size is 2000 (2MB) Kilobytes in the JPEG for-mat . Note that if a border is added to the image, this must be added before resizing and reducing the file size to a maximum of 2000 Kilobytes to ensure that the image remains within the specified 2000Kb (2MB).

7. It is recommended that the image be displayed in the sRGB Colour Profile. This can be selected in the camera or changed in Photoshop under Edit/Convert to Profile.

SPECIAL SUBJECT WINNER Heidi BroschkThese are the following steps it took to cre-ate this composite image:Step 1: Plan the shoot – bought this beau-tiful mirror, which inspired the idea. Also brought along apples, which I polished to a shine before handing it over to the model.Step 2: I specifically asked the model at the EPC Modderfontein shoot to hold out an apple – which I photographed in portrait format. I chose this format to allow enough background and space on the mirror image, so the apple image had to be in the same for-mat: Step 3: I asked the model to hold the mirror, trying to get as little of her hands on the mir-ror as possible – did not work too well, lol:Step 4: I edited both photos, by applying the following to them –• Sharpening,• Cropping’• Increasing the saturation slightly.Whilst editing these photos – I made sure that what I did in the one photo was copied exactly in the other photo – to ensure syn-chronicity.

Step 5: I rotated both photos to a portrait position. I then started cloning out the fence background in the apple photo, as well as the mirror photo. This was easy for the apple photo, and rather tricky for the mirror, as the mirror had various little decorations around the rim that I had to consider, as well as the hands of the model to clone out.To ensure neat work, I greatly enlarged the mirror, and worked the cloning through the decorative patterns.Step 6: Important step - I extended the photo width of the mirror photo, to have enough space to add the ‘hand’ to it.Step 7: I then worked on the apple photo and straightened the horizon. Then I very careful-ly selected the arm – right up to the edge of the photo, and then cut it out. I used the magnetic selection tool for this.And then pasted it onto the mirror photo, moving it around until it literally ‘popped’ out of the mirror. See the representation be-low, but please also note that this is a brief example – I have not removed or cloned out the background in this photo:

Step 8: I then selected only the mirror sur-face, on the first layer – the mirror. I dark-ened it to a stronger green, in tune with the forest behind it, and the element of magic which is often depicted in green.Step 9: I burnt out the sky of the tree tops, as the brightness distracted from the focus of the photo.Step 10: I blew the photo up to 400 pixels, and then I drew tiny little shapes, which I copied and then pasted around the upper part of the hand peeking out from the mirror. I also used a twirl brush, chose the same co-lour, and brushed across the mirror surface twice. This gave the photo the impression that the hand was ‘in pieces’ in the mirror, but as soon as it showed through the mirror, it started solidifying. Step 11: I then flattened all layers, gave a slight vignette around the photo with the burning tool set to 5% for medium, and also gave this photo a slight border to emphasize the photo.

I then took off my Harry Potter hat and saved this photo for club! 😊

SPECIAL SUBJECT WINNING

IMAGE

THE OFFER By Heidi B

MagoebaskloofEdenvale Club Outing

This image was taken by Trevor at the Electrothread Rally in Bronkhorstspruit using the following equipment and settings:Canon 70D mark IIISO 200Shutter speed 1/320 secf/stop f/13Focal length 24mm

THE BASICS OF RAW PROCESSINGHOW TO PROCESS YOUR IMAGES IN PHOTOSHOP RAW, WITH NO NEED FOR FURTHER EDITING IN PHOTOSHOP

Keep this reference to the features you will use the most in the basic Raw panel

TEMPERATUREUse this slider to warm or coolan image if the White Balancetool fails to correct a colour cast

TINTThis slider enables you to correcta green or magenta cast, again if the White Balance tool fails

EXPOSUREThis slider enables you to correctyour overall brightness

BLACKSSet the point on the tonal rangeat wich pixels should be pure black

SATURATIONControls the overall colorintensity of the image

CONTRASTMakes the light pixels brighterand the dark pixels darker

HIGHLIGHTSControls the brightness of thelightest pixels

SHADOWSControls the brightness ofthe darkest pixels

WHITESSets a point on the tonalrange at which pixels should be pure white

CLARITYControls the amount ofmidtone contrast

VIBRANCEAdjust the intencity ofthe less-saturated colours

FOCUSMEMBERDave Gordon

Words and Images by DaveMy introduction to photography was with a 10th birthday present Kodak Brownie 620 box cam-era. My parents (and I) were on a day trip to the Clyde coast when we drove close by the Butlins Camp at Ayr. Butlins staff were walking an ele-phant along a busy road as part of their publicity campaign – and there was my very first ‘nature’ shot (before you take me to task about the use of the nature category, this was in Scotland, many, many years ago and I have learned a little bit since then).

Decades later in SA, as a keen birder who, like many before and since, had great trouble identi-fying LBJ’s (little brown jobs) I purchased an ear-ly model Canon DSLR camera. This was to allow me to better ID the many birds that were beyond my limited knowledge. Unsurprisingly and cer-tainly not uniquely, I found that photography was more enjoyable than pure birding and thereafter I became a ‘photographer’.

I still rank nature photography as my favourite genre with birds being right up there. However, I also enjoy landscape work which I rate as often being even more challenging than nature. Nature photography (to me) is often, technique aside, being at the right place at the right time whereas in landscape the author must ‘make the subject work’.

Photography has brought Barbara and I many happy times travelling this beautiful country of ours in pursuit of the perfect photograph as well as meeting many great people including fellow photographers and strangers in lots of nearby and far out places. Some say that soccer is the “beau-tiful game”, for me photography is the “beautiful hobby” and long may I have the energy to prac-tice it.