July 2010

1st June
Talk on Basic Photography

Bob, standing for our new Chairman, introduced the speaker for tonight, Tony Deller, a long standing member of the Society. Tony started his talk by saying that he did not intend to talk about the 'art' of photography but to concentrate on the technical aspects of the photographer's tools. He started by reminding his audience that the word 'photography' meant 'painting with light and so the talk began with light. What it was and how it was made up of three basic colours, red , green and blue. He then went on to talk about the pinhole camera and how it worked which led to the development of glass lenses. He touched on the refraction of light and why the modern lens is so complex. The aperture series in relation to light transmission. Talked about depth of field and explained why it was different between wide angle and telescopic lenses. The control of perspective was discussed. The importance of using a lens hood. The first half ending with the various attachments that can be used with lenses.

After the tea break, we were introduced to sensors, the various sizes and how they work. Sensitivity or the speed of a sensor was discussed and how the combination of aperture and length of exposure determined the image recorded. The effect on the recorded image of using higher ISO number. How to recognise camera shake and to avoid it. The effect of varying the shutter speeds on a moving subject. How the camera automatic setting does not always produce the best exposure and the interpretation of the histogram produced by most digital cameras. The effect of different light sources on the colour of the recorded image and how varying light sources can fool the automatic setting on the camera. Tony concluded his talk by showing an image that had been lit by three separate coloured light sources fired from different angles and how this effected the recorded image, particularly the shadows. He suggested some might like to try this technique in the forthcoming table top evening.


8th June
Portrait Evening

For the success of this evening the Society thanks Clive and John for providing their studio flash system. Most members brought their cameras and first up to pose was Lorina. Some members soon had difficulties because to synchronise the flash they had to set their camera to manual and then set aperture and shutter speed. However with help from other members, these difficulties were soon overcome. Poses were changed and lighting arrangements adjusted and some fine studies were being created. After tea the lighting was changed to a harsher set up and the men took turns at posing. First Tony provided the 'face' and then Martin allowed himself to be subjected to the members' lenses. A very enjoyable evening.


15th June
Table Top Photography

Once again some members had to refer to their camera manuals because the exercise involved techniques other than leaving the camera on ‘automatic’. Bob, as promised, brought along a good selection of odds and ends to photograph as did some other members. Improvised studios were created on tables using various pieces of card. Some members soon found the importance of getting the focus and aperture right for this close up work. Others concentrated on creating a picture by the way various items were posed for their camera. Another fine evening, ending with members looking forward to next week when they will be able to show the results of these two practical evenings.


Saturday 19th June
Outing to Little Venice and Camden Market

Sixteen members came for the trip which started in the Clifton Garden Centre in Maida Vale. Said to be the oldest garden centre in the Country, we thank the owner for letting us photograph the many plants on display which included some quite exotic specimens. After coffee, the members split up to explore Little Venice and the adjoining canals. Whilst some went up the Grand Union Canal, others explored the Paddington Basin. Lunch was taken in the Bridge House after which we boarded a Jason’s Canal Boat for the trip to Camden Market. Along the way we received a running commentary on the sights to be seen. Some of the properties were as befits a canal named after the Regent. On arrival at Camden Market the rain started but fortunately it did not last for long. For some members, the contrast of the quiet boat trip to the hubbub of the Market was too much and they did not linger but headed for home. A few remained to explore this place of outrageous fashions for the young. The other interest was the horses. The Victorian building which houses the market was once a stable for the canal boat horses. This vast building once stabled more than a thousand horses on several levels. To commemorate this fact, the Market is adorned with many life size bronze horses, carts and farriers. For those remaining, the journey home was broken with a tea stop at St Martins in the Field followed by a viewing of the Ship in a Bottle.





22nd June
Members Practical Work

The evening was devoted to showing, by means of Digital Projection, the results of members work during the Portrait Evening and Table Top sessions of the previous two meetings. It was another practical evening in which members commented on each others’ work. On how this or that shot might have been improved by better composition or more accurate exposure. The comments were made with a good deal of humour and friendly banter. Some of the humour was generated by the poses that had been struck by the models on the portrait evening. Among the newer members there was much imagination in the composition of some of the table top images. Simple objects had been made into interesting patterns. After the tea break, Bob Zwolinsky gave an ad hoc demonstration of the features of Picaso software. A good evening to end the year with.