Mar 3, 2011 - cameras, tripods, lights, backdrops, and of course, models and special lenses. ... I used B&W Styler f
KLIK
Season 57, Issue 3
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE MISSISSAUGA CAMERA CLUB
March 2011
Rattlesnake Point Forest by Leonie Holmes
IN THIS ISSUE Message from the Workshop Chair
2
Machi Picchu in Monochrome
9
Cover Image
3
Competition Results
11
Creating a slide show using Proshow
4
Trophy Standings
13
The Best of the Best
5
The Mississauga Camera Club, an affiliate of the Mississauga Recreation and Parks Department, is a member of the Mississauga Arts Council, the Canadian Association for Photographic Art, the Greater Toronto Council of Camera Clubs and supports the GTCCC policy on nature photography.
March 2011
KLIK
Page 2
Message from the Workshop Chair Bob Warren
On February 12, 2011, noted professional photographer Max Skwarna conducted a Portraiture workshop for members of the Mississauga Camera Club. There were over 40 members in attendance, along with guests, models and family. In addition to the gear that Max brought with him, many members brought their own photographic equipment to this workshop, with the result that the Lucy Room at the Cawthra Seniors‟ Centre resembled a professional photo studio. Over 10 shooting centres were set up around the room, with cameras, tripods, lights, backdrops, and of course, models and special lenses. Throughout the morning, Max circulated from centre to centre, offering his expert instructions on portrait photography. The result of this was that many members of the MCC now have valuable and powerful tools to use in their photography. Max spared no effort in sharing his many years of experience – as he moved around from group to group, he taught shooting angles, lighting intensity, aperture and shutter speed, depth of field. He also worked on positioning the models: head and arm angles, hand placement, facial expressions, and posture. Additionally, in the collegial atmosphere that our club is noted for, many attendees shared amongst themselves valuable information about gear, photography sites on the web, and tips for special pricing and selected locations. This workshop was one of 11 workshops that the MCC is offering this year to its members and to those on the wait list. Consult the MCC website for more information. Go to: Member Information > Workshops > 2010/2011 Season.
March 2011
KLIK
Page 3
The picture of Judy and me was posed and shot by Max on my camera. He had me fold my arms, then put Judy's arm on my shoulder and lean in and bend down ("so that our noses were in the same plane"). That was a great workshop, Bob! Craig.
Images contributed by Craig Stuart
Cover Image Leonie Holmes I was in Rattlesnake Point last fall looking for photographic subjects. It was late in the season and most of the color had disappeared. I was getting bored and planned to go elsewhere when I saw some trees in a clearing. I looked in and was surprised to see a forest there. I had been to Rattlesnake many times over the years and never realized that there was much more to this place than I realized. I went in and started photographing the many trees. For this image I was fascinated by the pattern of the trees. The layout of them was great with one tree in the centre and others to the left and right forming a very nice composition. I used B&W Styler for the monochrome conversion and Photoshop CS5 to do the usual sharpening and cropping etc. I finished with the texture filter and a border. Wendy Bailie, Print Competition Chair adds: All three judges were very impressed with Leonie's print. One judge said that he has tried for many years to achieve such a image. He mentioned that many photographers would love to be able to capture such an image. 2nd Place – 2nd Competition 2010-2011 Category: Prints Level Two - B&W Pictorial
March 2011
KLIK
Page 4
Creating a Slide Show using ProShow David Penty GENERAL Do not include your name …either on the title or credits if the show is intended for a competition. Start the show with a 5 second black slide (create a new document in your photo editor and fill it with black) When you have finished the show, viewed it in the preview window and are satisfied with it, you are ready to create an executable file. Up to this point the software has just set pointers to the images and not pulled the whole thing together into a single file with the music… this process is called rendering and the final product is a self executing file that is initiated by simply clicking it. This is what is needed for presentation at the club and the 5 second black image allows the presenter to turn on the projector during the 5 seconds of black silence. PROSHOW GOLD
Open the dialogue box called Output Options Executable startup: Window size : input the standard size you have selected for the show – for example 1024 by 768 Tick Start executable maximized Image Size; check this and input your standard size as above Do not click loop show Quality/Performance Settings Check Rendering and enter the standard size of your images Check Resizing and enter the standard size of your images Image quality put this to 100 % Video output quality; select high for both resolution and quality
From the main menu select Create and then Create Output and then PC Executable
Audio Output Quality; select high quality Protection Do not enter anything here
This brings up a dialogue box called Create Executable; there are three submenus on the left hand side of the screen
You are now ready to create the executable file Click create
Open the dialogue box for Menus A dialogue box comes up called Menus; click on No Menus and ignore the rest of the options
A Save Executable File dialogue box will open; browse to find the location where you have created the project file folder for the show and enter a file name in the File Name box
Open the dialogue box for Shows Included shows needs to list your show and this is done under Selected Show
For Save as type select Executable File Click on Save and it will create the executable file.
Click on Set Menu Title and enter the title of the show Click on Set Show Thumbnail and select a slide from show, usually the title slide Hit Apply Selected Slide Hit Done Do not tick on Include Intro Show as this adds the photodex banner.
To create the CD for transmission to the club computer, simply copy this file from your hard drive to a CD. Be sure to test this file to ensure that the show opens with a 5 second black slide, full screen, no menu, no banner. Note: Different versions of this software may have slightly different places for these rendering controls but you will probably be able to find the key controls to allow smooth opening of a show.
March 2011
KLIK
Page 5
The Best Of Our Best Each year the Club awards 8 trophies to members who have distinguished themselves by being the best in either their class or in one of the 5 competition categories. In this feature we profile one trophy winner in the 2009-2010 season.
Digital Beginner Trophy: Jon Clarke KLIK: What was the first camera you ever used? What equipment do you use now? Jon: I am not sure I can remember my first camera… probably a Kodak Instamatic. (Remember flash cubes?). My last film camera was a Canon AE1, but these days I am a Nikon shooter. I have 2 bodies: a D300 and a D70, and bunch of lenses: Nikon 24-70 f/2.8, Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 and Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 are the three I use most. I also have a Panasonic micro 4/3 camera that I take when the Nikons are too heavy – like skating on the Rideau Canal! KLIK: Has digital photography made you a more creative photographer or do you miss the good old days of film? How important is the ‘digital darkroom’ in preparing your final image? Jon: Digital has definitely rejuvenated the photographer in me! I have found that I can learn so much faster – without the time and expense of processing and printing. I can make mistakes much faster now, and see the results immediately. I also have a lot of fun with Lightroom and Photoshop. I am not a Photoshop master by any means, but I am getting better all the time! KLIK: Since when have you been a member of the MCC? How has the Club helped you develop your skills and techniques as well as passion for photography? Jon: This is my second year as a member of the MCC. I draw a lot of inspiration from looking at other photographer‟s work and really enjoy the meetings where we have an invited speaker come in to present their work. I also appreciate the incredible skill and creativity I see presented by our own members during competitions. The competitions are fun, and it gives me an idea of what other people (judges) look for in a photograph. KLIK: What is your preferred area of work? Why? Jon: When it comes to photography, I have several areas of interest. I have heard that it is important to find your own “style” and work to perfect it, but I really like to photograph a lot of different things: Sports, nature, wildlife, architecture etc., etc. I heard Canadian photographer Christian Bogner speaking once about “Photographic Cross-training”, and he was encouraging people to try lots of different types of photograph, because as you gain skill in one area, it can improve and influence your work in other areas. I guess I have taken this to heart, because I am always looking for new subjects and new styles to work on! KLIK: Do you have a favourite location for outdoor work? Why and how often do you go there? Tell us about a memorable trip you made. Jon: Most weekends from May-September I am shooting canoe/kayak regattas, so you will find me at the side of some racecourse in Ontario, Quebec or Nova Scotia. My 3 children all compete, so it was a natural for me to become the “unofficial photographer of Canoe/Kayak Canada”. I started posting my photos on Facebook, so the athletes could see them easily. I have quite a large “friend list” now – athletes like to see photos of themselves competing! I also try to have a camera with me on business trips, and have been fortunate to be able to shoot in many amazing places. My favourites would have to be BC, Florida, Arizona, California, Antigua, Spain and South Africa. KLIK: What advice would you give to a member of the club who aspires to take pictures similar to yours? Jon: Well first of all, you should always have a camera with you! Even if it‟s only a cell phone cam! “You can‟t call yourself a photographer if you aren‟t carrying a camera!”
March 2011
KLIK
Page 6
I really think you need to take images that fit your own eye and your own artistic style. There are so many sources of inspiration that can be found on the internet – for example, I find inspiration on photo sharing sites like Flickr and 1X.com, as well as various photo blogs, like Joe McNally and Moose Peterson. I also think it is important to enter the MCC competitions – it gives you a good perspective on your photography to hear what the “experts” think. I don‟t always agree with the judges comments, but it is a great learning tool!
Antigua Sunset Taken at St.James Club in Antigua while we were there on vacation. A bit of flash was used to open up the shadows on the building. Minimal post processing done in Photoshop. Camera: D-300 with Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens. Focal length: 11 mm Aperture: F/8 Shutter: 1/160 sec Exposure Comp: -1/3 stop ISO-200 Honourable Mention Salon Competition 2009-2010 Category: Beginner Digital- Pictorial
March 2011
KLIK
Page 7
Canoe Frame Breakout The real story on this is the post processing, of course… The image was chosen for the dramatic pose, and good sharpness. I wanted it to look like she was “breaking out” of the photo. I also had to open up the shadows on her face, as the sun was very harsh at that time of day and her face was deep in shadow. Camera: D-300 with Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 lens with 1.7x Teleconverter. Focal length: 340 mm Aperture: F/8 Shutter: 1/640 sec Exposure Comp: 0 stop ISO-200 1st Place Salon Competition 2009-2010 Category: Beginner Digital- Artistic Contemporary
March 2011
KLIK
Page 8
Flower Reflections This is a collage of 5 flower photos that were taken with various camera/lens combinations. The look I was going for was inspired by the album selection screen on my iPod. I didn‟t make the angle of the outside photos quite as dramatic as the true Apple screens, as I wanted all 5 images to be visible. The one suggestion one of the judges made was to have the red flower in the middle so the overall effect was more symetircal. Probably a good idea – I should redo this photo some day! 1st Place - 3rd Competition 2009-2010 Category: Beginner Digital-Artistic Contemporary
March 2011
KLIK
Page 9
Machu Picchu in Monochrome George Webster
Machu Picchu is an Inca community in Peru that was never found by the invading Spaniards and, hence, it has survived as a remarkable monument to their civilization. Even today it is a difficult trek to reach this refuge high in the Andes but it is worth the effort to reach this „wonder of the world‟. The good thing is that this is a very photogenic rockpile; the bad is that we have seen so many images of it that they have become a cliche. On my day there I took many photos – mostly of the cliche type – but, having taken lots of those, I swung around and looked back towards the entrance and saw the outline of the entrance huts (with restored thatch roofs) against the clouds and the mountain behind and took a single photo. Only later, when reviewing my shots from the day, did I spot this out-of-the-ordinary shot. Given the monochrome theme of the competition, I tried to convert this colour photo into a black-andwhite in the style of the contrasty photos Hiram Bingham had made when he first visited the place in the early 1900s. I used the „Black and White‟ adjustment layer in CS4 to convert the photo to monochrome and played with its controls to optimize the B&W appearance of the photo – adding a little extra contrast with the „Curves‟ adjustment layer. I also cloned out a few distractions -- a couple of people on the skyline and a few hand rails. The judges also liked my print – perhaps they saw the triangular elements of the composition and the feeling of the remote abandoned sanctuary high up among the clouds near the mountain tops. 1st Place – 2nd Competition 2010-2011 Category: Prints Level One - B&W Pictorial
March 2011
KLIK
Page 10
This is a photo of myself shooting on the site (Obviously this was taken by another person on the trip -- using a fairly simple point and shoot camera. Having seen the entire contents of his memory card, I would say that this was one of his best shots -- but it's hard to not take good shots at this location.). To me this photo represents me taking, like everybody else, my quota of standard Machu Photos -- good but not great -- just before I swung around and looked back and saw the huts silhouetted against the clouds and the mountain. Perhaps this has a place in my little story ... Cheers George Webster
SHARE POINT 1. Allan Gray has found out that the city of Lisbon, Portugal, is commissioning artists to transform neglected old buildings in the city instead of abandoning them to developers. Among these artists is Scottish photographer Camilla Watson who has developed a technique for printing on stone walls, wood and ceramic tiles. Her exhibits can be viewed on her web site www.camillawatsonphotography.net 2. For a 101 on Panning-Motion, read this article in The National Geographic: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/motion-photography-panningrichardson/
MARKET PLACE Closed!
KLIK
March 2011
Page 11
THIRD COMPETITION RESULTS March 2011 Digital Beginner Pictorial
Artistic Contemporary
1st MANDOLIN 2nd MISTY POND
Joe Teixeira Michael Bodimead
23 1ST MORNING HAS BROKEN 22
3rd HM HM HM HM HM
Wojtek Porowski Jack Kozlowski John Moore Wojtek Porowski Sherry Prenevost Sherry Prenevost
22 22 22 22 22 22
MORNING FISHING RED WINDOW CHURCH ARCHITECTURE EMPTY DOCKS MAN FISHING BASKET MAKER GRASSHOPPERS MATING FROST SPIKES ON ROSEHIP SAW-WHET OWL CRABS ON ROCKS CANADA LYNX 2
25
Joe Teixeira Wendy Baillie Paul McLeod Pradipta Datta Myra P. Jones
23 23 22 22 22
Theme: Kitchen 1st 2nd 3rd HM HM
WINE GLASSES SALLY'S KITCHEN ERADICATE HUNGER BUBBLING DUMPLINGS WATER FAUCET
Nature 1st 2nd 3rd HM HM
Marty Pinker
Theme: Textures Annette Seip Paul Ewington Holly Lumley Jennifer Fowler Holly Lumley
28 27 24 22 22
1st 2nd 3rd HM HM
FIRE AND ICE HONEYCOMB ROCKFACE VOLCANIC DREAM BARREL CACTUS WILTED BEAUTY
Paul Lindo Paul Lindo Marty Pinker Misbah Ali Wendy Baillie
23 22 22 22 22
Intermediate Pictorial
Artistic Contemporary
1st
STORM AWAKENING
David Penty
25 1st
MOON LITE DRIVE
1st 3rd HM
KESTREL ON PERCH LEADEROF THE PACK HOMESTEAD IN WINTER
Uliana Yaworsky Fred Dixon Fred Dixon
25 2nd GELATO AT THE DISTILLERY 24 3rd MAGIC LANTERN 24 HM EXODUS
HM HM
SUNDAY_STROLL_IN_PARIS TAKASAKINIGHTLLINES
Philippe Lapointe Robert Mongrain
23 23 1st
HM HM HM
HEADING FOR THE FINISH LOTTERY TICKET SELLER PINK WATER LILY
David Penty Robbie Robinson Uliana Yaworsky
23 2nd READY TO SCRAMBLE 23 3rd HOME SWEET HOME 23 HM FARMHOUSE KITCHEN WINDOW
1st HM
PELICANS FISHING IN THE SURF COSTA RICA Linda Wiesner OSPREY WITH FISH Bruce Peters
Doug Johnston
25
Suzanne Williams Tony Paine Ursula Tweddle
24 24 24
Audrey Cherevaty
24
Bob Bowman Ursula Tweddle Uliana Yaworsky
23 23 22
Theme: Kitchen TABLE
Nature
Theme: Textures 26 1st SNOW ON THE BADLANDS 25 2nd WHITE SANDS SLIDE 3rd
ANTELOPE CANYON
Fred Dixon Tony Paine
24 23
Janet Brazier
22
Advanced Pictorial
Artistic Contemporary
1st 2nd 3rd HM
EARLY MORNING FROST VARCA BEACH GOA SIDE VALLEY LANDMANNALAUGAR DREAM FIELD
Bruce Kennedy Clement doRosario Bruce Kennedy Bob Warren
24 24 24 24
HM
WATERFRONT COTTAGE
Robert Bateman
23
David Simmonds
HM 26 HM
2nd BALD EAGLE RUFFLLING FEATHERS
Carol Bohnert
25 HM
3rd
BROWN PALICAN
Raymond Hsu
24
HM
KANGAROO AT BEACH
Lisa Husar
24 1st
HM
SNOWY EGRET FLUFFING
Ron Manning
24 2nd LEOPARD SEAL ON SNOW 3rd WIND AND SAND HM Elephant Eye
Nature 1st
GENTOO PENGUIN FAMILY
1st 2nd 3rd HM
YOU GO GIRL MELLOW WITH AGE COFFEE BREAK COLOUR VORTEX
Al Tilson Hilarie McNeil-Smith Leonie Holmes Rob Kennedy
24 24 23 23
STILL LIFE ON THE CUTTING BOARD
Kay Woollam Ron Manning
24 23
COLD DUCK
Hilarie McNeil-Smith
23
Theme: Kitchen
Theme: Textures FROM ROCK TO SAND
Lisa Husar
25
David Simmonds Bob Hawkins Omar Sheikh
25 24 23
KLIK
March 2011
Page 12
THIRD COMPETITION RESULTS March 2011 Prints Level One Themed Pictorial
Pictorial
1st WILD THING 2nd SNOWFLAKE 3rd THE JAZZ SINGER
Annette Seip Paul McLeod Myra P. Jones
23 1st WHITEHOUSE RUIN 23 2nd FALLEN 23 3rd JUDHPUR, THE BLUE CITY
Tony Paine Paul McLeod Robbie Robinson
23 23 23
HM
BLACKSMITH AT WORK
Bruce Peters
23 HM
Bruce Peters
23
HM
TAKING TEA AT THE BAZAAR
Robbie Robinson
23
Themed Art. Contemp. 1st GELATO AT THE DISTILLERY 2nd HIS FAVORITE READING SPOT
DIRT BIKER AT THE TOP
Artistic Contemporary
1st THE BACK OF THE BUS 25 2nd SOUTH BANK PUDDLE 23
Suzanne Williams Wendy Baillie
Marcus Miller Marty Pinker
25 23
24 1st FREEMAN'S FAMOUS BEDFRAME 21 2nd SKYWARD ELEVATOR
Hilarie McNeil-Smith David Simmonds
27 26
3rd 25 HM
Bob Hawkins Al Tilson
25 25
Level Two Themed Pictorial 1st SUNDAY MORNING 2nd ANDREA AND LIAM
Al Tilson David Simmonds
Themed Art. Contemp. 1st
DANCE STORY
Hilarie McNeil-Smith
Pictorial
THUNDERBIRD DORSODURO CANAL
KLIK
March 2011
Page 13
STANDINGS March 2011 Digital Beginner
Digital Intermediate
Marty Pinker Ina Miglin Joe Teixeira Sherry Prenevost Wendy Baillie Jack Kozlowski Pradipta Datta Paul McLeod Jennifer Fowler Roseline Marshall Michael Bodimead Rick DaSilva Karen Torres John Moore Alan Munro Hilary Callin Marilyn Johnston Myra P. Jones Gary Winkworth Don Meaker Eric Matto
203 195 195 193 190 189 188 188 187 187 183 182 182 181 180 179 179 178 178 176 169
Fred Dixon Warren Davis Uliana Yaworsky Philippe Lapointe David Penty Ursula Tweddle Robbie Robinson Tony Paine Bruce Peters Jon Clarke Janet Brazier Linda Wiesner Suzanne Williams Marcus Miller Doug Johnston Sorin Alb Angela Murphy Audrey Cherevaty Robert Mongrain Bob Bowman Juri Vosu
205 202 200 197 197 196 195 194 194 193 190 190 189 187 184 182 182 180 180 178 178
Garry Revesz Annette Seip Paul Lindo Holly Lumley Misbah Ali David Shaw Beverly-Ann Paul Ewington Wojtek Porowski Maureen Rodrigues Robert DaSilva Linda Pritchard Mary Ann Rowsome Dwane Smith Tom Snow Linda Shaw
135 133 129 129 122 120 118 109 64 62 61 61 61 61 56 22
Rafael Fernandes Stephen Hill Alan Gray Garry Weiler Rainer Rothfuss
125 119 118 65 61
Digital Advanced Bob Hawkins Carol Bohnert Raymond Hsu Ron Manning David Simmonds Al Tilson Omar Sheikh Hilarie McNeil-Smith Lisa Husar Bob Warren Bruce Kennedy Rob Kennedy Clement doRosario Leonie Holmes Karen Simmonds Kay Woollam Robert Bateman Jerry Soltys Stephen Stefanoff Jim Calvert Ralph Abell
213 211 209 207 206 205 204 202 201 201 197 196 195 195 195 191 188 134 124 121 62
Prints Level One Marcus Miller Suzanne Williams Tony Paine Robbie Robinson Myra P. Jones Paul McLeod Wendy Baillie Bruce Peters George Webster Marty Pinker Alan Gray Rick DaSilva Misbah Ali Wojtek Porowski Annette Seip Juri Vosu Shannon Gilmour Rainer Rothfuss Michael Bodimead Roy Williams
137 137 135 134 131 131 129 128 127 111 84 63 60 45 45 45 43 43 42 42
Prints Level Two Hilarie McNeil-Smith Al Tilson David Simmonds Leonie Holmes Ron Manning Bob Hawkins Omar Sheikh Jim Calvert Claude Barras Kay Woollam
146 145 139 137 136 134 89 87 45 21
KLIK
March 2011
Page 14
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Marcus Miller
Workshops Bob Warren
Membership Linda Wiesner
Past President Doug Johnston
Outings Shannon Gilmour
Communications Shannon Gilmour
Vice President TBD
Competitions – Digital Omar Sheikh
GTCCC Rep Warren Davis
Secretary Bob Bowman
Competitions – Print Wendy Baillie
Social Craig Stuart
Treasurer Myra Jones
Program Vacant
Editorial Pradipta Datta
KLIK SUBMISSIONS KLIK welcomes feedback, comments and suggestions; articles; tips, tricks and techniques; interesting web sites; images with comments. All submissions are usually published in the first available issue. Please send your submissions to:
[email protected].
THE MISSISSAUGA CAMERA CLUB Meetings: Cawthra Seniors‟ Community Centre, 1389 Cawthra Road, Mississauga E-Mail:
[email protected] Web: http://www.mississaugacameraclub.ca
