Lighting workshop - 2nd November

Many thanks to members who made it to the November meeting, which took the form of an interactive lighting workshop.

The hall was laid out with a several lighting setups including: studio flash, video, macro and even a handful of humble LED torches.

Everyone had an interesting evening as they got to grips with lighting angles, luminosity and those all important shadows in addition to checking out in-camera settings and trying some of those - something many of us never get the time to do.

Here are some of the results

Room in a ball by Kevin

Poppy seed head by Kevin

False Candle by Kevin

Archaeological dig by Kevin

Autumn leaves disco by Kevin

Blue hour in a bottle by Kevin

Budda by Robert

Peacock feather by Robert

Tiger by Robert

Create your own backyard bird photo studio!

Many thanks to BPC member Kevin for giving us the heads up on this Youtube video, which is all about how to encourage birds into the garden and how to provide them with natural looking perches whilst you, the photographer, take the photographs from the comfort of the house, shed or even a garden chair.

Click here

Free Photoshop Training!

Many thanks to BPC member, Jim, for the heads up on some free Photoshop training available online in October.

Jim says that he has used a previous course and all went well.

You need a ticket - it's free, but you need one.

Thanks Jim!

Scanning and repairing old photographs

Many thanks to BPC Member, Margaret, for the following two links.

How to scan hard copy photographs

https://bit.ly/3AVBN3D

How to repair old and/or damaged photographs

https://bit.ly/3y0gUT7

If you don't have a scanner, it's worth using a macro lens or macro facility on a tripod mounted camera and making a new digital image of the old one.  As a digital image it's repaired in just the same way as if it had been scanned.

ND filters - by Richard Barley

Worcester-based photographer, Richard Barley, explores the versatility of ND (neutral density) filters.

K&F gave him a nine stop ND to try out and he's uploaded his findings to his YouTube channel.

Find out what he has to say here.

Richard Barley reviews K&F Carbon Fiber Tripod

Watch Worcestershire pro photographer, Richard Barley, review one of the latest, lightweight tripods on the market here.

Thanks Richard!

Calling all macro wildlife photographers!

Many thanks to BPC member, Jean, for sending the following link.

Click here and sign up to free virtual events. 

The first one is this evening (6th May 2021) - all about Yellowstone National Park and there are others throughout the month including: 'Creative Nature Photography', and tours of Namibia and Australia.

All brought to us courtesy of Wildlife Worldwide

Thanks Jean!

Leaf, plane or electronic shutter - By Richard Barley

Worcestershire photographer, Richard Barley, explains the differences between the three types of shutter: leaf, plane and electronic.

Check out his YouTube video to find out more here and for further information about Richard's training courses go to his website.

2021 BPC Photography Competition

As we see the back of bad boy 2020 and look to, hopefully, better horizons for 2021, BPC launches a brand new photo comp which holds something for photographers of all genres and at all levels.

Based on four rounds or seasons, the competition allows members time to consider the images that they want to capture and at within nicely paced timeframe.

Here's how it works..

Four rounds/seasons per year

Season - Deadline - Subject

Winter - 1st April - Macro/closeup/abstract - from any genre

Spring - 1st July - Image taken outside - from any genre

Summer - 1st October - Light and/or shadow - from any genre

Autumn - 1st January (2022) - Food and drink - from any genre

Scoring

Up to 10 points will be awarded for technical ability and a further 10 points for creativity/composition per photo per season, making a maximum annual score of 80 points available. Scores will be uploaded to the website for each season. Points will be awarded for a wide range of criteria including, but not limited to: clarity and detail, creative use of shutter speeds, best use of depth of field, detail retained across the whole image, effective use of lighting, creative composition and view point, using and/or breaking the rules of photography to good effect and capturing the 'decisive moment'.

Rules

1. Exclusive to BPC Members and free to enter.

2. One image per member per season, making a maximum of four images across the whole year (you do not have to enter all seasons, but this will affect your final score).

3. Deadlines and remits must be adhered to - please email or WeTransfer your image to angela.fitch@btinternet.com

4. Post production image manipulation - please limit this to straightening and cropping only.

5. Although images may be taken at any time during the year, your seasonal submission must be made within the relevant season ie no carrying forward.

6. Images must be submitted as jpgs, with a file size no larger than 2Mb and the longest side of the image no greater than 2000 pixels.

7. All entrants retain copyright on their work but give permission for their image/s to be used on the BPC website and for publicity purposes.

8. The judge's decision is final.