Tuesday 25 April 2017

RPS: Postcard

The Royal Photographic Society has chosen my image of the Milky Way to be part of a postcard set. A set of eight postcards, sent to volunteers for the RPS to say 'Thanks' for their time.  It's the small things that make me pleased I am pushing my love of photography.






Look out for another announcement soon for this images. There has been more good news!

CCC: Season 3 - PDI 5

Gerbera: Playing and experimenting. Using glitter paper as a background (A4 from Wilko), and a Gerbera from a bunch of Easter flowers. I was going for a high key look (as that's my thing at the moment) but actually once I started processing, decided that on this occasion it really wasn't working.


Final Edit: Shadow, Highlights, clarity, contrast, all the basic stuff. The detail is much better. I am happy with the colour contrast between the green and pink.  I can see this as a panel of several images. 


Judges Comments: Like the crop for this image. Liked the colours. They complement each other well. Held back on the colours, could have gone mad but haven't. Score: 9.5



Memorial through the trees:  This, I think, is a 'marmite' shot - and I would suggest that perhaps it won't score more than a 7.  All the usual basic adjustment - shadow, highlights etc.


Final Edit: It's just not what I would usually do.  It's really not the type of image you see at club.  


Judges Comments: Imaginative approach to the subject. Enjoy the detail. Lovely light. BUT does not work at all. The tree is far to dominant in the image. Score: 7


CPAGB

Credit from the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain.

Described as 'Good Club Photography' ......

A talk given at the club back in October 2016 regarding the distinctions we could aim for, along side the fact that one would be held in Croydon in April 2017, inspired me to think about upping my game.

Without thinking too much I applied after the talk, and pushed to the back of my mind. Being accepted to present my work was a little surprising but with four months to go - achievable.  With around three weeks before the deadline (!!) I started to sort some images.  The realisation that I was not even close to passing came very early on during this process. As I had already started the process I thought I would go anyway, it would be a lesson learnt on how these things work.

It became very apparent when the images started to appear that 'good' club photography was an understatement - many were above and beyond what I'd seen in our advance section during a normal club competition night.  By my third image I knew it was game over!! So I sat back and enjoyed the images, and tried hard to understand what 'type' of image they were after.

To pass the CREDIT level - you need to score 200 from 10 image (Maximum score 300). So you would be looking at an average of 20 marks for each image - with a possible maximum 30 points achievable.

Just Resting - 21
 
Needle and Threads - 18
 
Daisy - 15

Battle of Britain Memorial - 13

Milky Way - 20

Dandelion Head - 15
Rainbow of Pencils - 17

Sea Abstract - 16

Under the Pier - 17
Morning Calm - 14


Total 166. Way off the 200 target.  Things I have learnt.....

Don't sit behind a six foot tall man as I can't see the screen properly.
They are not after good photography they are after excellent and advanced photography.
Many people were on their second or third attempt to pass.

I'm going to take a year to gather some better images, then I'll look at booking an advisory day for them to rip the images apart!!





Thursday 6 April 2017

CCC Season 3 - Colour Print Summary

So starting this season in September 2016, in the Advance section my aim was really not to embarrass myself too much amongst the greats of the club (lol).

Round 1:

Honeybee - 8.5


Multiple Flowers - 8.5



Round 2:

Flowers in the wind - 9


Take Off - 9


Round 3:

A Little Rough - 8.5


Cathedral of Mirrors - 8.5


Round 4:

Bosham - 9.5



Morning Light - 10



OK - on reflection - perhaps I did better than I thought!

The scores on the door: 1st place: 74.5, 2nd: 74, 3rd: 73, other scores 71.5, 68.5, 62. My score 71.5 - a respectable 4th (mainly due to the great finish!!!). I suppose then the aim next year - top three!! lol - I should point out that 6 members of the advance section didn't enter any or one two images, so their scores are not included. Top three maybe not, if everyone joins in!!

Editors Note: Texturegate: I have removed my Morning Light image from the club competition due to some incorrect information I received. My score is therefore amended to 61.5. A massive learning curve. 




Tuesday 4 April 2017

CCC: Exhibition 2017

Panel of Prints: 2017

The Real Hungry Caterpillar


Emerging


The Butterfly



PDI Images: 2017

Cathedral of Mirrors


Honeybee


The Hive - Kew



Editors Note: Awarded a Highly Commended for my panel by the judge!