Just a few notes from our ESIG meeting this week.
Talks: We had three talks:
David Whitbread has recently made this significant investment of around £30 in an old Russian lens, a Helios 55mm, f2, and an attachment to fit onto his Olympus 4/3rd camera. The results look good and David enjoys using it. No auto focus, so needs a bit of care getting image sharp. David shows some B&W shots of local hedge rows which looked good, no problem with quality. David then took us off in a different direction and showed us some still life and the use of textures. Still experimental, but promising. I always recommend viewing Mandy Disher who does really excellent work in this style - see https://www.mandydisher.com/
Peter Whitehead gave us a thought provoking talk on ' What is Wildlife Photography'. It was really a talk about the ethics. What counts as wildlife, what doesn't, what aids can be used, what can't. For example, zoo shots or tethered birds are out, but the use of hides are ok, and animals in their natural state. Do nothing that might cause harm, which might include just being there. During the evening I felt this ethics theme extending into other discussions including Landscape (carbon miles) and street photography (is it Ok to take shot without getting permission of subject). This was good discussion and just right for ESIG.
New member David Archer gave us a review of the American street photographer Saul Leiter. Leiter has a particular style which became increasing clear as we saw more of his images. They often were constructed in layers, and made up of frames within frames. I liked David's observation that Leiter photographed as a 'hidden observer'. David and a couple of friends often visit galleries to view a particular photographer and then set themselves a project to take photographs in the same style. What a good idea.
Portfolio session
We had eight images put forward for discussion. Three of them were abstract (Brian, David W, and me) in nature and this approach is clearly increasing in popularity. Techniques to create the abstract include ICM (Intentional Camera Movement), multiple exposures and the use of textures. All can be effective, if not a little unpredictable. Gerry showed us a shot from Glencoe, very nice, but then demonstrated a new feature in Photoshop whereby with the press of a button the scene was changed to snow, and then to a beach, and no doubt other options were available. I'm generally a supporter of using post processing to develop the image but this is surely a step too far. Peter W showed us a beautiful triptych of a snowy mountain scene, very high key, delicate and definitely atmospheric. John showed a night time shot of a man outside a pub (?), looking a bit aggressive to me, but was apparently friendly (he went by the name of Terry Thomas). Ian showed us a shot of a steps over a canal, which after some discussion and a bit of cropping the group felt could be moved towards being an effective pattern picture. At this point we asked ourselves if we were acting too much like camera club judges and it was really all about the intent of the photographer. Good question. I like the word 'intent', its really important, but rarely discussed. But I do think its Ok for ESIG to share their responses to an image. It's what ESIG is about. It gives the chance for both the photographer and the rest of the group to learn. Greg showed a very simple seascape shot, with beautiful lighting, which apparently a recent judge has not been kind about. The group disagreed. I finally I showed a landscape taken on Eigg, and then an abstract version I'd been experimenting with by using textures. Interesting but still work in progress.
Talks: We had three talks:
David Whitbread has recently made this significant investment of around £30 in an old Russian lens, a Helios 55mm, f2, and an attachment to fit onto his Olympus 4/3rd camera. The results look good and David enjoys using it. No auto focus, so needs a bit of care getting image sharp. David shows some B&W shots of local hedge rows which looked good, no problem with quality. David then took us off in a different direction and showed us some still life and the use of textures. Still experimental, but promising. I always recommend viewing Mandy Disher who does really excellent work in this style - see https://www.mandydisher.com/
Peter Whitehead gave us a thought provoking talk on ' What is Wildlife Photography'. It was really a talk about the ethics. What counts as wildlife, what doesn't, what aids can be used, what can't. For example, zoo shots or tethered birds are out, but the use of hides are ok, and animals in their natural state. Do nothing that might cause harm, which might include just being there. During the evening I felt this ethics theme extending into other discussions including Landscape (carbon miles) and street photography (is it Ok to take shot without getting permission of subject). This was good discussion and just right for ESIG.
New member David Archer gave us a review of the American street photographer Saul Leiter. Leiter has a particular style which became increasing clear as we saw more of his images. They often were constructed in layers, and made up of frames within frames. I liked David's observation that Leiter photographed as a 'hidden observer'. David and a couple of friends often visit galleries to view a particular photographer and then set themselves a project to take photographs in the same style. What a good idea.
Portfolio session
We had eight images put forward for discussion. Three of them were abstract (Brian, David W, and me) in nature and this approach is clearly increasing in popularity. Techniques to create the abstract include ICM (Intentional Camera Movement), multiple exposures and the use of textures. All can be effective, if not a little unpredictable. Gerry showed us a shot from Glencoe, very nice, but then demonstrated a new feature in Photoshop whereby with the press of a button the scene was changed to snow, and then to a beach, and no doubt other options were available. I'm generally a supporter of using post processing to develop the image but this is surely a step too far. Peter W showed us a beautiful triptych of a snowy mountain scene, very high key, delicate and definitely atmospheric. John showed a night time shot of a man outside a pub (?), looking a bit aggressive to me, but was apparently friendly (he went by the name of Terry Thomas). Ian showed us a shot of a steps over a canal, which after some discussion and a bit of cropping the group felt could be moved towards being an effective pattern picture. At this point we asked ourselves if we were acting too much like camera club judges and it was really all about the intent of the photographer. Good question. I like the word 'intent', its really important, but rarely discussed. But I do think its Ok for ESIG to share their responses to an image. It's what ESIG is about. It gives the chance for both the photographer and the rest of the group to learn. Greg showed a very simple seascape shot, with beautiful lighting, which apparently a recent judge has not been kind about. The group disagreed. I finally I showed a landscape taken on Eigg, and then an abstract version I'd been experimenting with by using textures. Interesting but still work in progress.
