3rd March - Results of Monthly Competition No 5
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 3rd March the results of the 5th monthly competition of the season were revealed. The judge was Dave Symonds from Dumfries and Galloway. His web site is http://www.davesymondsphotography.co.uk/
The results of the competition were very close indeed with one winner but 5 images tying for second place and two for third position.
Yet again Billy Watson had the winning image 'Catching a Wave' which scored 20 points. Billy has now won four of the five monthly competitions held this season
Dave Symonds said of the image
'Absolutely stunning image and a worthy winner. Fantastic composition, with great colours, the surfboard contrasts beautifully against the wave. Superbly sharp throughout, even the tousled hair of the surfer. The cherry on a wonderful cake is the way the surfer is cutting into the wave with his hand. Congratulations to the author on this outstanding piece of photography.'
Each member can submit up to three images into the monthly competitions and all three of Alistar Henderson's scored 19 points 'Dunes Fence', 'Doocot, Mounthooley, Rosehearty' and 'West Shore Maelstom' and tied for second place with Brigita Prichodkaite' image 'Stop the Time'
The two images with 18 points in third place were 'Pithead' by Paul Woodburn and 'Safe Haven' by John Watt.
Brigita and John are both new members of Fraserburgh Photographic Society and it is clear that their work will be an asset to the club.
The results of the competition were very close indeed with one winner but 5 images tying for second place and two for third position.
Yet again Billy Watson had the winning image 'Catching a Wave' which scored 20 points. Billy has now won four of the five monthly competitions held this season
Dave Symonds said of the image
'Absolutely stunning image and a worthy winner. Fantastic composition, with great colours, the surfboard contrasts beautifully against the wave. Superbly sharp throughout, even the tousled hair of the surfer. The cherry on a wonderful cake is the way the surfer is cutting into the wave with his hand. Congratulations to the author on this outstanding piece of photography.'
Each member can submit up to three images into the monthly competitions and all three of Alistar Henderson's scored 19 points 'Dunes Fence', 'Doocot, Mounthooley, Rosehearty' and 'West Shore Maelstom' and tied for second place with Brigita Prichodkaite' image 'Stop the Time'
The two images with 18 points in third place were 'Pithead' by Paul Woodburn and 'Safe Haven' by John Watt.
Brigita and John are both new members of Fraserburgh Photographic Society and it is clear that their work will be an asset to the club.
18th February - Results of the 2nd Print Competition
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 18th February the results of the second print competition of the year were revealed. Thirty three prints were submitted into the competition which was judged by Bill Buchan of St Combs. Bill has judged several FPS competitions over the years and his comments are always helpful and welcomed by members. Bill has a web page http://www.billbuchan.co.uk/ where you can see his own photographs and you can follow him on Facebook at 'Bill Buchan Photography' and 'Furry Friends Fotos'.
In his summery of the competition he said ' I have judged competitions for the club several times now and without doubt this has been the most even. The vast majority of scores are in the top quarter and that is a testament to the entry. The range and diversity if the images is also worthy of note. Fraserburgh Photographic Society has got some good and talented photographers in its midst.'
In first place with 20 out of 20 was Mike Chandler's 'Flying High'. Bill said 'This is a stunning image of a young gull. Every feather and pattern is captured with great clarity. The crop really works in a square format. It is quite tight but it works. Shooting birds from below usually means you are getting the darker shaded side and in this case there is a bit of shadow on the face. You can just see a highlight in the eye so that is good.'
Mike also got second place with his print 'Off for a Jungle Fish Supper'. Bill likes these travel shots where not only do you see a bit of the environment but importantly the people who live there. 'This guy' Bill said, 'owns the shot completely. The colour of his attire, his expression and his pose are great' 'The foreground is interesting and sharp. The background is also very sharp and maybe a wider aperture could have been used to blur it a bit...... this shot tells a story to me and that is always a plus.'
Two prints tied from third place
Stanley Partridges 'Two Swans'. Bill said that with white birds on snow on a bright day it would have been easy to 'blow out' the whole scene or under-expose to a dirty grey. and
Brian Sandison's 'Fungi in Bloom'. Bill said he liked this one very much. 'It is a fine art shot and one that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts'
To see images of the top prints click here
In his summery of the competition he said ' I have judged competitions for the club several times now and without doubt this has been the most even. The vast majority of scores are in the top quarter and that is a testament to the entry. The range and diversity if the images is also worthy of note. Fraserburgh Photographic Society has got some good and talented photographers in its midst.'
In first place with 20 out of 20 was Mike Chandler's 'Flying High'. Bill said 'This is a stunning image of a young gull. Every feather and pattern is captured with great clarity. The crop really works in a square format. It is quite tight but it works. Shooting birds from below usually means you are getting the darker shaded side and in this case there is a bit of shadow on the face. You can just see a highlight in the eye so that is good.'
Mike also got second place with his print 'Off for a Jungle Fish Supper'. Bill likes these travel shots where not only do you see a bit of the environment but importantly the people who live there. 'This guy' Bill said, 'owns the shot completely. The colour of his attire, his expression and his pose are great' 'The foreground is interesting and sharp. The background is also very sharp and maybe a wider aperture could have been used to blur it a bit...... this shot tells a story to me and that is always a plus.'
Two prints tied from third place
Stanley Partridges 'Two Swans'. Bill said that with white birds on snow on a bright day it would have been easy to 'blow out' the whole scene or under-expose to a dirty grey. and
Brian Sandison's 'Fungi in Bloom'. Bill said he liked this one very much. 'It is a fine art shot and one that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts'
To see images of the top prints click here
11th February - Practical Night
The meeting on 11th February was a practical night. Members brought their cameras and other equipment. A mini studio was set up in Room 3 of the JIC Building, Albert Street. The lights were borrowed from member John McIntosh. FPS members volunteered to be the models and clothing had been lent by Fraserburgh Junior Arts Society for them to wear.
4th February - Results of Monthly Competition No 4
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 4th February members received the results of the 4th monthly 'open' competition. Members can submit up to 3 digital images of any subject they choose. Forty eight images were entered and judged by Matt Johnston of Milngavie and Bearsden Camera Club. He has had almost 700 photographs accepted into exhibitions and has gained 5 Gold Medals and numerous other awards. Matt has been gives lectures on photography to camera clubs and has been judging camera club competitions for over 20 years. You can see some of his work at http://www.mbcc.org.uk/wp/matt-johnston/
In his opening remarks he said that he felt that members of the club could be a little more adventurous in their photography. With modern digital cameras, he said, it cost nothing to try for shots that in the past would have been impractical with film. He suggested that members should try something different and 'out of their comfort zone'. Nowadays, he said, with modern digital cameras even the cheapest is capable of producing perfectly good results nor do you need to be a wizard at Photoshop either.
Matt was awarded first place to Billy Watson’s' image 'Crashing Wave' He said that it was a superb dramatic shot and perfect timing maximised the effect, a well deserved winner with 20 points
Mike Chandlers' 'Lest We Forget' second with 19 points. Matt said' Excellent shot, well composed, nice colour contrast and perfect crop'
Third place went to Ally Henderson's 'The Blue Hour'. This was described as 'a good atmospheric shot, exposure and composition spot on'
It is interesting to note that these three images were taken within six miles of the Broch which goes to show that there are good images to be taken close to home as well as in far away places.
To see the winning images click here. To see all the other images in the competition just scroll down
In his opening remarks he said that he felt that members of the club could be a little more adventurous in their photography. With modern digital cameras, he said, it cost nothing to try for shots that in the past would have been impractical with film. He suggested that members should try something different and 'out of their comfort zone'. Nowadays, he said, with modern digital cameras even the cheapest is capable of producing perfectly good results nor do you need to be a wizard at Photoshop either.
Matt was awarded first place to Billy Watson’s' image 'Crashing Wave' He said that it was a superb dramatic shot and perfect timing maximised the effect, a well deserved winner with 20 points
Mike Chandlers' 'Lest We Forget' second with 19 points. Matt said' Excellent shot, well composed, nice colour contrast and perfect crop'
Third place went to Ally Henderson's 'The Blue Hour'. This was described as 'a good atmospheric shot, exposure and composition spot on'
It is interesting to note that these three images were taken within six miles of the Broch which goes to show that there are good images to be taken close to home as well as in far away places.
To see the winning images click here. To see all the other images in the competition just scroll down
28th January - Tutorial on Light
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 28th January members watched a tutorial on 'Light'. It was split into two parts the first looked at ambient light or light that you find, its colour and texture. We were shown the harsh light of the midday sun that creates vibrant colours bur introduces deep shadows and bright highlights that the camera's sensor cannot cope with in the same way as the human eye and brain. The tutor, Joel Sartore who works for National Geographic Magazine, suggested that in these conditions a photographer should bring the subject into the shade. This was contrasted with the softer light of an overcast sky or at dawn and dusk. Here there the light is diffused and the camera can 'see' into the shadows and reveal the detail that that in harsh light would too dark.
He also talked about the different colours of different light sources and how these colours affect the mood of a photograph. The reds can spell 'danger' 'excitement' or 'romance' where as blue can be 'relaxing' 'tranquil' and sometimes 'creepy'. The cameras white balance control can correct these colour casts and render the photo in more natural to the eye colours. However he cautioned against putting white balance setting on 'Auto' in all situations as you could easily loose he 'atmosphere' of the image you are trying to capture. He said he keeps his white balance setting on 'Daylight' most of the time so as not to miss the colour moods.
Joel's second section of the tutorial was about introduced light, light that the photographer brings to the scene. This can either be a constant light source or a flash or strobe light. As with ambient light constant light can be in many colours but because it is introduced there is much more control from the photographer. Flash is what you get on the top of most cameras but Joel cautioned against using this flash all the time. It provides a harsh light that gives deep unnatural shadows. There are two ways to improve the quality of light from a flash. The first is to diffuse the light. This can be done as simply as covering the flash light with a tissue. It is also possible to buy purpose made soft boxes to go over the flask to give a diffused light. The second is to take the flash off the camera and proved a side light, in fact a light in any direction other than full frontal.
One of the many tips he gave was that the closer the flash to the subject the softer the light is and therefore the better for taking pictures. Flash can and should be used in the day time to fill in shadows. He showed that in an awkward light situation when there is strong harsh light in the background but shade on the subject you can take a shot in which you underexpose the background and use flash to give light in the foreground producing a much more balanced image in which the subject stands out.
At the end of the tutorial Joel handed out two assignments:-
1) Find and shoot a some great colour at home experimenting with different white balance settings and different light intensity
2) Take four photos with different sources of introduced light. Take them at different times of the day.
He also said that these assignments should not be done once and forgotten but should be repeated time and again.
The next tutorial from Joel Satore is on 25th February in which he will start tackling Composition. Before he starts time will be available for members to show what they have achieved in the assignments.
One interesting thing to note was that throughout the tutorial Joel showed how what he was saying worked in the field. (see image above). He didn't take just a couple of shots and move on. He took lot of shot, changing the cameras settings, changing the position of the light and its intensity. All the time he was checking the results of his shots on the camera LED screen and looking at the histogram to make sure he was not loosing detail in the shadows or highlights. He called this 'working the situation' making sure that every advantage of the moment was exploited. Often , he said it was the first shot that was a 'keeper' but he worked the situation to get as many different angles and shots as possible.
He also talked about the different colours of different light sources and how these colours affect the mood of a photograph. The reds can spell 'danger' 'excitement' or 'romance' where as blue can be 'relaxing' 'tranquil' and sometimes 'creepy'. The cameras white balance control can correct these colour casts and render the photo in more natural to the eye colours. However he cautioned against putting white balance setting on 'Auto' in all situations as you could easily loose he 'atmosphere' of the image you are trying to capture. He said he keeps his white balance setting on 'Daylight' most of the time so as not to miss the colour moods.
Joel's second section of the tutorial was about introduced light, light that the photographer brings to the scene. This can either be a constant light source or a flash or strobe light. As with ambient light constant light can be in many colours but because it is introduced there is much more control from the photographer. Flash is what you get on the top of most cameras but Joel cautioned against using this flash all the time. It provides a harsh light that gives deep unnatural shadows. There are two ways to improve the quality of light from a flash. The first is to diffuse the light. This can be done as simply as covering the flash light with a tissue. It is also possible to buy purpose made soft boxes to go over the flask to give a diffused light. The second is to take the flash off the camera and proved a side light, in fact a light in any direction other than full frontal.
One of the many tips he gave was that the closer the flash to the subject the softer the light is and therefore the better for taking pictures. Flash can and should be used in the day time to fill in shadows. He showed that in an awkward light situation when there is strong harsh light in the background but shade on the subject you can take a shot in which you underexpose the background and use flash to give light in the foreground producing a much more balanced image in which the subject stands out.
At the end of the tutorial Joel handed out two assignments:-
1) Find and shoot a some great colour at home experimenting with different white balance settings and different light intensity
2) Take four photos with different sources of introduced light. Take them at different times of the day.
He also said that these assignments should not be done once and forgotten but should be repeated time and again.
The next tutorial from Joel Satore is on 25th February in which he will start tackling Composition. Before he starts time will be available for members to show what they have achieved in the assignments.
One interesting thing to note was that throughout the tutorial Joel showed how what he was saying worked in the field. (see image above). He didn't take just a couple of shots and move on. He took lot of shot, changing the cameras settings, changing the position of the light and its intensity. All the time he was checking the results of his shots on the camera LED screen and looking at the histogram to make sure he was not loosing detail in the shadows or highlights. He called this 'working the situation' making sure that every advantage of the moment was exploited. Often , he said it was the first shot that was a 'keeper' but he worked the situation to get as many different angles and shots as possible.
21st January - Champions Night
The meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 21st January was 'Champions Night'. The evening is given over to Society’s' Photographer of the Year. This year it was Billy Watson who organised the evenings programme.
Billy showed the pictures he had taken for Fraserburgh RNLI. He had decided to take photos of the ceremony in August 2010 when Lady Saltoun unveiled the memorial to 14 men who had lost their lives in the service of Fraserburgh Lifeboat. He shared these with the RNLI and a year later he was invited to become the Stations assistant Press Officer.
Billy showed his good and bad shots that he had taken while the lifeboat crew was on exercise. In often very difficult conditions he was trying to record the crew at work and at leisure and deliberately did not stage any of the shots. At times it was so dark that focusing became nearly impossibly. The weather was no help, with he lifeboat crashing through mountainous seas just standing up was a difficulty let alone taking clear pictures. At times the camera got so wet that it stopped working.
Billy said he was constantly in awe of the professionalism of the crew and their ability to work in the worst of conditions. He also marvelled at the speed at which they responded to an emergency. On one occasion that Billy captured on camera it took them just 12 minutes from leaving the berth to returning having rescued a kite surfer in difficulties in Fraserburgh Bay. It is worth noting that this was a landmark rescue for the RNLI – the 140,000 life saved since records began. Dave Sutherland was the duty coxswain, When asked for a quote about the rescue Dave said “Well, we went out, we picked him up, and we took him back.” Brilliant!
Billy showed the pictures he had taken for Fraserburgh RNLI. He had decided to take photos of the ceremony in August 2010 when Lady Saltoun unveiled the memorial to 14 men who had lost their lives in the service of Fraserburgh Lifeboat. He shared these with the RNLI and a year later he was invited to become the Stations assistant Press Officer.
Billy showed his good and bad shots that he had taken while the lifeboat crew was on exercise. In often very difficult conditions he was trying to record the crew at work and at leisure and deliberately did not stage any of the shots. At times it was so dark that focusing became nearly impossibly. The weather was no help, with he lifeboat crashing through mountainous seas just standing up was a difficulty let alone taking clear pictures. At times the camera got so wet that it stopped working.
Billy said he was constantly in awe of the professionalism of the crew and their ability to work in the worst of conditions. He also marvelled at the speed at which they responded to an emergency. On one occasion that Billy captured on camera it took them just 12 minutes from leaving the berth to returning having rescued a kite surfer in difficulties in Fraserburgh Bay. It is worth noting that this was a landmark rescue for the RNLI – the 140,000 life saved since records began. Dave Sutherland was the duty coxswain, When asked for a quote about the rescue Dave said “Well, we went out, we picked him up, and we took him back.” Brilliant!
3rd December - Monthly Competition No 3
Judge urges FPS Members to be More Adventurous
Billy Watson – First Again – and third.
New Member Greig Ward takes Second Place
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 3rd December th results of monthly competition 3 were revealed. The judge was Neil Scott, a member of Edinburgh Photographic Society. Neil took up photography seriously in 2005 since then he has gained many awards and distinctions. He has had over a thousand images accepted into international exhibitions. As well as being a Scottish Photographic Federation judge since 2008 Neil gives talks on photography to camera clubs. His images can be seen at http://www.neilscottphotos.co.uk/gallery.html .
Before giving constructive criticism and revealing the marks for each of the thirty three images in the competition he gave his thought on camera club images he has seen while judging over the years. He said that there are two basic kinds of images that are submitted into competitions. The first are what he called 'record shots' or 'holiday snaps' where the photographer took a photograph of something in front of them that took their eye. Although most of these were technically competent the photographer had put nothing of themselves into the image. The second are those that look for an unusual angle, they wait fro the light to be right or they hone in on some small detail, they are the photographers that look for a picture rather than take what they see. It is an adventurous endeavour that starts with the RAW image as part of an artistic journey. A handful of the Fraserburgh images fell into this second category and he encouraged members to be a bit more adventurous, and not be just a recorder of objects or scenes, but to 'try to be a wee bit more artistic'.
The image that scored 20 points, in first place was 'Surfing' by Billy Watson. Neil Scott said that this was 'a cracking action shot, its got about everything, its got the power of the sea, the concentration on the surfers face, its got the movement and all the waves coming together with the surfer on the crest.'
The second place image was by Greig Ward. Greig only joined Fraserburgh Photographic Society a couple of months ago and this was his first monthly competition. He image called 'Lost on the Sand' scored nineteen points. The judge said it was an almost abstract picture. 'Its simple and has space round it. That is what makes this picture. He liked the elegance, simplicity and the beautiful unmarked sand. He did however think that the stones especially those at the edge f the frame could have be removed.
In Third place was another of Billy Watsons' images 'Temple Welcome'. Neil Scott suspected that this was a composite image, later confirmed by Billy, but was none the worse for that. It is worth noting that many of the portraits and other images on Neil Scott's web site are composite images. Neil felt the strength of the image lay in the 'very strong features' of the mans face.
To see the winning images click here
Before giving constructive criticism and revealing the marks for each of the thirty three images in the competition he gave his thought on camera club images he has seen while judging over the years. He said that there are two basic kinds of images that are submitted into competitions. The first are what he called 'record shots' or 'holiday snaps' where the photographer took a photograph of something in front of them that took their eye. Although most of these were technically competent the photographer had put nothing of themselves into the image. The second are those that look for an unusual angle, they wait fro the light to be right or they hone in on some small detail, they are the photographers that look for a picture rather than take what they see. It is an adventurous endeavour that starts with the RAW image as part of an artistic journey. A handful of the Fraserburgh images fell into this second category and he encouraged members to be a bit more adventurous, and not be just a recorder of objects or scenes, but to 'try to be a wee bit more artistic'.
The image that scored 20 points, in first place was 'Surfing' by Billy Watson. Neil Scott said that this was 'a cracking action shot, its got about everything, its got the power of the sea, the concentration on the surfers face, its got the movement and all the waves coming together with the surfer on the crest.'
The second place image was by Greig Ward. Greig only joined Fraserburgh Photographic Society a couple of months ago and this was his first monthly competition. He image called 'Lost on the Sand' scored nineteen points. The judge said it was an almost abstract picture. 'Its simple and has space round it. That is what makes this picture. He liked the elegance, simplicity and the beautiful unmarked sand. He did however think that the stones especially those at the edge f the frame could have be removed.
In Third place was another of Billy Watsons' images 'Temple Welcome'. Neil Scott suspected that this was a composite image, later confirmed by Billy, but was none the worse for that. It is worth noting that many of the portraits and other images on Neil Scott's web site are composite images. Neil felt the strength of the image lay in the 'very strong features' of the mans face.
To see the winning images click here
19th November - Themed Competition Results - 'Portrait'
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society on 19th November Graeme Buchan of Elite Photography judged the entries in the 'portrait' themed competition. There were 27 entries. Many of the entries were shot by members at the special 'studio nights' meetings that are held where members take turns to be the model of the others. Some, including the winning entry, were taken at the studio set up by the club as part of the FASE 2 exhibition that was held at the end of June this year. Portrait work is out of the comfort zone for most members. This competition, the studio opportunities and Graeme's constructive comments has helped members overcome some of their trepidation in approaching 'portraits'.
In first place with 18 out of 20 was Stuart Fenty's 'Me and My Pink Hat' Graeme said that the excellent exposure gives nicely saturated colours. He liked the simplicity of the pose and that 'unusually the dark vignette on the high key background works well'. His only two points of criticism were that the subject was too close to the background and there were reflections in the subjects' spectacles.
Two images shared second place with 17 points. Both were by Mike Chandler. Graeme said that it was a good idea to juxtapose the empty frame against the wall of frames in 'Doug the Framer'. He said that the tilt of the frame and the body adds drama to the picture and that the black and white works well. Mike other second place image was 'The Wedding Guest'. Graeme said that the direct flash works in this image because the mirror a has created a rim lit effect. The mirror, he said also provides an interesting background. However Graeme thought the crop of the hand was 'awkward'.
Six images received 16 points out of 20
In first place with 18 out of 20 was Stuart Fenty's 'Me and My Pink Hat' Graeme said that the excellent exposure gives nicely saturated colours. He liked the simplicity of the pose and that 'unusually the dark vignette on the high key background works well'. His only two points of criticism were that the subject was too close to the background and there were reflections in the subjects' spectacles.
Two images shared second place with 17 points. Both were by Mike Chandler. Graeme said that it was a good idea to juxtapose the empty frame against the wall of frames in 'Doug the Framer'. He said that the tilt of the frame and the body adds drama to the picture and that the black and white works well. Mike other second place image was 'The Wedding Guest'. Graeme said that the direct flash works in this image because the mirror a has created a rim lit effect. The mirror, he said also provides an interesting background. However Graeme thought the crop of the hand was 'awkward'.
Six images received 16 points out of 20
5th November - Monthly Competition No 2 - The results
James Dyas was the judge for the second monthly competition of Fraserburgh Photographic Society's 2015/6 season. James is a member of Motherwell Photographic Society and, because he has judged lots of their competition over the last 30 years, an honorary member of Midlothian Camera club. He said that he had no particular likes or dislikes, he just liked looking at all kinds of images.
Thirtynine images submitted into the competition.
James' choice for first place was Billy Watson’s 'Surfer'. He said 'Wow! This is a terrific sports action shot, well cropped and pin sharp to the surfer'. He liked the beautiful light along the surfers shoulders, arms and head and thought hat the water was 'absolutely superb'. He summed it up as 'a quality shot that will do well everywhere' It scored 20 out of 20.
In second place was Stuart Fenty's 'Top of the Rock' This is a shot of New York taken from the top of the Rockefeller Building in Midtown Manhattan. James liked the sense of scale in the image with the aerials and towers breaking up the horizon line. He said there was 'beautifully lighting throughout' and 'It was wisely framed by he two tower blocks at each side of the picture' The exposure, he said was 'absolutely bang on'. Top of the Rock scored 19 out of twenty.
In the discussion after all the marks had been awarded Stuart explained that the shot was made up of three portrait images joined together to make the whole panorama.
In third place with 18 out of 20 was Ally Henderson's 'Blue Hour'. James liked the texture and detail in the foreground boulders and their grouping. The sky he said was 'Mean and Moody' and the author had chosen the shutter speed well.
Thirtynine images submitted into the competition.
James' choice for first place was Billy Watson’s 'Surfer'. He said 'Wow! This is a terrific sports action shot, well cropped and pin sharp to the surfer'. He liked the beautiful light along the surfers shoulders, arms and head and thought hat the water was 'absolutely superb'. He summed it up as 'a quality shot that will do well everywhere' It scored 20 out of 20.
In second place was Stuart Fenty's 'Top of the Rock' This is a shot of New York taken from the top of the Rockefeller Building in Midtown Manhattan. James liked the sense of scale in the image with the aerials and towers breaking up the horizon line. He said there was 'beautifully lighting throughout' and 'It was wisely framed by he two tower blocks at each side of the picture' The exposure, he said was 'absolutely bang on'. Top of the Rock scored 19 out of twenty.
In the discussion after all the marks had been awarded Stuart explained that the shot was made up of three portrait images joined together to make the whole panorama.
In third place with 18 out of 20 was Ally Henderson's 'Blue Hour'. James liked the texture and detail in the foreground boulders and their grouping. The sky he said was 'Mean and Moody' and the author had chosen the shutter speed well.
22nd October - Print Competition No1
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 22nd October John Allison gave the results of his marking for the first 2015/6 print competition. 21 images had been submitted by members.
John outlined his approach to his task as judge. First of all, as it is a print competition the technical aspects of the printing process has to be of absolute importance. The print must be sharp, must show good ( appropriate tonal range,, must show no printing defects such as banding or print spots and there must have been a reasonable attempt to prsent the image in a suitable frame. John said that the standard of printing was excellent throughout the images. John said that once those issues had been addressed he was looking for four further aspects, creative thinking, good use of technique, awareness of composition and the processing of the image.
John chose Stuart Fenty's image 'Wee Crestie' as his winner scoring it 19 out of 20. He said that this was a beautiful and well executed image. 'Technically it is spot on. The exposure is pretty much as good as it gets, there is a full range of tones in the image, and the colour is vibrant yet entirely believable' He went on to say, 'I must congratulate the photographer in managing to successfully capture not just the entire eye but capture it well – it makes a phenomenal difference to the photograph, lets the viewer relate directly with the bird, and frankly gives me great jot....Over all, simply stunning.'
Second place with 18 points went to two images.
Brian Sandison's 'Autumn Reflections'. This is an image taken at Pitfour Lake, Mintlaw. John commented 'There's a wonderful balance to this shot that I really like. It's sedate and leisurely, easy on the eye and very undemanding of the viewer. And is seems such a simple shot. Bur I am fully aware that this is all a clever deception. For it has taken considerable skill to produce a shot that looks so simple. It's a classic composition.'
Mike Chandler's 'Haa So!'. John said he had nothing bur admiration for the image. 'I am sure that the amount of time, effort, skill and patience that has gone into the making of the print is beyond belief.' 'A long lens has been used, putting the background nicely out of focus. The aperture used has given a wide enough depth of field to render the bird and the feeder crisp and sharp. And the shutter speed selected has been fast enough to effectively freeze the motion of the bird.'
John said that 'Generally, the standard has been high and I have been hugely impressed with the images' 'I have found the entire process immensley rewarding and immensley encouraging'
Click here to see the images
John outlined his approach to his task as judge. First of all, as it is a print competition the technical aspects of the printing process has to be of absolute importance. The print must be sharp, must show good ( appropriate tonal range,, must show no printing defects such as banding or print spots and there must have been a reasonable attempt to prsent the image in a suitable frame. John said that the standard of printing was excellent throughout the images. John said that once those issues had been addressed he was looking for four further aspects, creative thinking, good use of technique, awareness of composition and the processing of the image.
John chose Stuart Fenty's image 'Wee Crestie' as his winner scoring it 19 out of 20. He said that this was a beautiful and well executed image. 'Technically it is spot on. The exposure is pretty much as good as it gets, there is a full range of tones in the image, and the colour is vibrant yet entirely believable' He went on to say, 'I must congratulate the photographer in managing to successfully capture not just the entire eye but capture it well – it makes a phenomenal difference to the photograph, lets the viewer relate directly with the bird, and frankly gives me great jot....Over all, simply stunning.'
Second place with 18 points went to two images.
Brian Sandison's 'Autumn Reflections'. This is an image taken at Pitfour Lake, Mintlaw. John commented 'There's a wonderful balance to this shot that I really like. It's sedate and leisurely, easy on the eye and very undemanding of the viewer. And is seems such a simple shot. Bur I am fully aware that this is all a clever deception. For it has taken considerable skill to produce a shot that looks so simple. It's a classic composition.'
Mike Chandler's 'Haa So!'. John said he had nothing bur admiration for the image. 'I am sure that the amount of time, effort, skill and patience that has gone into the making of the print is beyond belief.' 'A long lens has been used, putting the background nicely out of focus. The aperture used has given a wide enough depth of field to render the bird and the feeder crisp and sharp. And the shutter speed selected has been fast enough to effectively freeze the motion of the bird.'
John said that 'Generally, the standard has been high and I have been hugely impressed with the images' 'I have found the entire process immensley rewarding and immensley encouraging'
Click here to see the images
15th October - Practical Night on 'portraits'
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society on 15th October members turned their attention to portraits. In two weeks time they will be submitting images into the first themed competition of the season and the theme is 'Portraits' so this practical night was well timed.
Studio lights were set up in the meeting room together with a backcloth and members took it in turns to be the model while their fellow members honed their skills of getting aperture, shutter speed and ISO perfectly balanced for the correct exposure. Experiments were carried out using different lighting positions.
Studio lights were set up in the meeting room together with a backcloth and members took it in turns to be the model while their fellow members honed their skills of getting aperture, shutter speed and ISO perfectly balanced for the correct exposure. Experiments were carried out using different lighting positions.
8th October - Andrew Wests Show 'New Orleans'
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 8th October the Society President Andrew West showed images he had taken during a trip the Southern States of the USA. The show concentrated on New Orleans and the surrounding area. The group, farmers from New Pitsligo stayed at Biloxi and visited the Rocking B Ranch where they bred Brahman Cattle. The ranch also had an old farmhouse kept as it was in the 1950's which provided Andrew with many photo opportunities. It was altogether in a much grander style than Hareshowe Farm at Aden Country Park.
There was a visit to an alligator ranch and a boat trip through swamp land. In New Orleans the party saw the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This was in contrast to some of the magnificent mansions in the city. There are many parks in New Orleans dedicated to famous jazz musicians and of course Andrew visited Rampart Street and Bourbon Street well know for their links to jazz. There are many famous people in the cities cemeteries. These are so popular that the guide told them that there was a waiting list for cemetery plots, we were not told what happened when you got to the top of the list!
The final excursion of the visit was a cruise along the mighty Mississippi on a paddle steamer.
There was a visit to an alligator ranch and a boat trip through swamp land. In New Orleans the party saw the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This was in contrast to some of the magnificent mansions in the city. There are many parks in New Orleans dedicated to famous jazz musicians and of course Andrew visited Rampart Street and Bourbon Street well know for their links to jazz. There are many famous people in the cities cemeteries. These are so popular that the guide told them that there was a waiting list for cemetery plots, we were not told what happened when you got to the top of the list!
The final excursion of the visit was a cruise along the mighty Mississippi on a paddle steamer.
1st October - First Monthly Comptition Results
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 1st October members received the results of the first monthly competition of the 2015/6 season.
The competition judge was Charles Summers a member of Haddington Camera Club. He explained how he had come to decisions about the images he was judging. He looked at four main elements, Impact, Composition, Technical detail and what he called Liveability. The Technical elements he broke down into, Focal Point, Sharpness, Framing, Tonal Range, Exposure and Shutter Speed
In first place was Brian Sandison's 'Young Buzzard'. Charles said that this was 'An absolutely first class image with bags of impact' 'The author has made great use of Depth of Field to help us concentrate on this buzzard. There is lovely detail, just loo at the feathers for example' 'Its absolutely pin sharp in the right places especially round the head. I also like to see a catch light in the eye and we have one here. Exposure is spot on and the whole image hangs together very well.' The images scored 20 points
Billy Watson secured second place with 'Heavy Seas'. This is an excellent, dramatic shot here with these strong waves and the lighthouse' said the judge, Charles Summers. 'I think that the author has done really well in capturing the light between the breaks in the waves and they make great shapes pulling you inwards to the light itself. This was in the running as the top image for a long time but I finally decided that it was worthy of second place and scores 19'
To images shared third place with 18 points each. 'Skye Boat' by Paul Woodburn and 'My Best Friend' by Scott Fraser.
The competition judge was Charles Summers a member of Haddington Camera Club. He explained how he had come to decisions about the images he was judging. He looked at four main elements, Impact, Composition, Technical detail and what he called Liveability. The Technical elements he broke down into, Focal Point, Sharpness, Framing, Tonal Range, Exposure and Shutter Speed
In first place was Brian Sandison's 'Young Buzzard'. Charles said that this was 'An absolutely first class image with bags of impact' 'The author has made great use of Depth of Field to help us concentrate on this buzzard. There is lovely detail, just loo at the feathers for example' 'Its absolutely pin sharp in the right places especially round the head. I also like to see a catch light in the eye and we have one here. Exposure is spot on and the whole image hangs together very well.' The images scored 20 points
Billy Watson secured second place with 'Heavy Seas'. This is an excellent, dramatic shot here with these strong waves and the lighthouse' said the judge, Charles Summers. 'I think that the author has done really well in capturing the light between the breaks in the waves and they make great shapes pulling you inwards to the light itself. This was in the running as the top image for a long time but I finally decided that it was worthy of second place and scores 19'
To images shared third place with 18 points each. 'Skye Boat' by Paul Woodburn and 'My Best Friend' by Scott Fraser.
24th September- Tutorial Night
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 24th September members were shown the first two of a series of tutorials 'Fundamentals of Photography' that will be completed over the coming months.
The tutor is Joel Sartore an award winning National Geographer photographer with more than 30 years of experience. He therefore knows what he is talking about and is entertaining at the same time. Old hands at the photography 'game' as well as those new to the hobby picked up pointers about how to improve their images. Joel illustrated both tutorials with his own superb pictures.
The title of the first tutorial was Making Great Pictures. It was not about the technicalities of picture taking but about using the eyes and brain to make pictures. Good pictures, he said can be made on any camera it was about 'seeing well'. Taking iconic pictures he said, should be fun, interesting and surprising. They can be found almost anywhere. Just three elements had to be brought together. Light, not, he suggested the harsh light of the midday sun but the soft light that can be found at the ends of the day. Composition which is about the background giving a sense of place but not dominating but making the subject stand out. And an interesting Subject.
At the end the tutorial he set an assignment. 'To pick your favourite room at home and take a picture of something happening in that room.' Members agreed to bring to the next tutorial meeting on October 29th their assignment images
The second tutorial was about equipment. He showed that when on a National Geographic photo shoot he took all his gear, it filled a light aeroplane, but he also carried on his person the bare essentials. These he was able to put into a gilet with lots of very deep pockets making them a lot more accessible than they would be in a camera bag. In this tutorial he also touched upon the three camera controls that were fundamental to photography, aperture, shutter speed and ISO. These he said would be looked at in more detail in latter tutorials. In this session he described the best light for photography as 'Beautiful, soft and graceful.' The assignment he set was to take lots of pictures of the same subject but using different camera settings in order to get a feel about how they changed the nature of an image.
The tutor is Joel Sartore an award winning National Geographer photographer with more than 30 years of experience. He therefore knows what he is talking about and is entertaining at the same time. Old hands at the photography 'game' as well as those new to the hobby picked up pointers about how to improve their images. Joel illustrated both tutorials with his own superb pictures.
The title of the first tutorial was Making Great Pictures. It was not about the technicalities of picture taking but about using the eyes and brain to make pictures. Good pictures, he said can be made on any camera it was about 'seeing well'. Taking iconic pictures he said, should be fun, interesting and surprising. They can be found almost anywhere. Just three elements had to be brought together. Light, not, he suggested the harsh light of the midday sun but the soft light that can be found at the ends of the day. Composition which is about the background giving a sense of place but not dominating but making the subject stand out. And an interesting Subject.
At the end the tutorial he set an assignment. 'To pick your favourite room at home and take a picture of something happening in that room.' Members agreed to bring to the next tutorial meeting on October 29th their assignment images
The second tutorial was about equipment. He showed that when on a National Geographic photo shoot he took all his gear, it filled a light aeroplane, but he also carried on his person the bare essentials. These he was able to put into a gilet with lots of very deep pockets making them a lot more accessible than they would be in a camera bag. In this tutorial he also touched upon the three camera controls that were fundamental to photography, aperture, shutter speed and ISO. These he said would be looked at in more detail in latter tutorials. In this session he described the best light for photography as 'Beautiful, soft and graceful.' The assignment he set was to take lots of pictures of the same subject but using different camera settings in order to get a feel about how they changed the nature of an image.
17th September 2015 - Lightroom Tutorial
In this DVD tutorial Adobe Lightroom programme was explained. It explored the various elements of the programme, how to load images and the basic options available when setting it up. Afterwards Stuart Fenty showed how the programme can be used to enhance RAW images and how the pre sets that are available can work.
first meeting of the 2015/16 Season 3th September
At first meeting of the 2015/6 season three new members were welcomed by the President Andrew West. A fourth 'new' face came to see what Fraserburgh Photographic Society was like. By the way in which they all contributed to the discussion it was clear that they felt 'at home' and that they will be valuable members.
The main discussion of the evening was to introduce the 2015/16 programme. To some extent it followed a familiar pattern. There were six open monthly competitions, and two print competitions. 'Portrait' and 'Transport' were the subjects for the themed competitions. Several members were timetabled to do a 'show'. However one element of the programme that will interest potential members are the two practical night when members will bring their cameras (this follows on from the successful photoshoots held in the Lighthouse Museum and the Heritage Centre over summer). Another feature of the 2015/6 programme is a series of six tutorials 'Fundamentals of Photography' New members will find these very instructive and there is no doubt that members of long standing will learn something as well.
The main discussion of the evening was to introduce the 2015/16 programme. To some extent it followed a familiar pattern. There were six open monthly competitions, and two print competitions. 'Portrait' and 'Transport' were the subjects for the themed competitions. Several members were timetabled to do a 'show'. However one element of the programme that will interest potential members are the two practical night when members will bring their cameras (this follows on from the successful photoshoots held in the Lighthouse Museum and the Heritage Centre over summer). Another feature of the 2015/6 programme is a series of six tutorials 'Fundamentals of Photography' New members will find these very instructive and there is no doubt that members of long standing will learn something as well.
6th monthly competition 26th march
The results of the 6th monthly competition were announced at the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society at its meeting on 5th March. The judge was Rob Davies a member of Ayr Photographic Society and before that a member of Winchester Photographic Society. He said he was looking for a photographer being successful in the type of image he has tried to take. He was looking for a good grasp of the technicalities and a strong creative streak so that the photographer catches that lovely 'spark of light' that a non photographer may not even see used to great emotional effect when it comes to a viewer connecting with the picture. Rob repeated what all the judges say – that the comment he makes are his personal opinion and that another judge might see an image differently and mark it differently. He said that he had been to Fraserburgh and visited the Kinnaird Head Lighthouse and been round the town. One image, by Kevin Potter, of the lighthouse reminded him of that visit because it captured the light on the castle building in almost the same way he had seen it just missed out on one of the top places in the competition. He said that many of the images were marked highly and only missed out on a place because there were some stunning images that took the top marks
Many of the images in the competition had been converted to black and white. In nearly all cased Rob felt that there were too many mid grey tones and that the conversion could have been done differently to provide a greater range of tones that to bring out more of the texture of the subject and make the image more punchy. This could be done by increasing the contrast in post processing.
In joint third place was Billy Watson's 'Catching a Wave'. Rob said that this was a 'corker of a shot'. The surfer is well placed in the frame with plenty of room to move into, the surf board is sharp. The huge contrast range is handled very well. The colour of the sea to the bottom right is amazing and it looks almost solid emphasising the dangerous, extreme nature of the sport. The mass of the breaking wave highlights the power and unpredictability of the sea.
The other image in joint third place was 'Highland Scene' by Brian Sandison. 'This is an eye catching and successful image' said the judge Rob Davies. 'The light and tone throughout the image is just wonderful, I like the fact we have the whole range of greens' ' The vista is huge it absolutely makes me want to be there and this must be part of a successful landscape.' Rob liked the way in which the meandering river leads through the image and found the shapes and rising nature of the hills an attractive background. 'This is an image that shouts Scotland, it is good to look at'
Stuart Fenty's image 'Hold on Boys' was in second place. This image is one that captures that fleeting spark of light combined with technique and creativity that makes the viewer wish that they had been there to see it. What Rob really liked about this picture was the moment of capture, all the people on the lifeboat are picked out by the side lighting and looking at the rib which is up into the air. The exposure of the spray behind the rib is caught nicely. The composition is good, the horizon is in the right place, the focusing is spot on, and timing and choice of shutter speed 'is the business'. 'It really is a great shot'
In first place was Ally Henderson's 'Blue on Blue'. Rob like the simple composition and the blue tone that shows the late evening colour. The way in which the land sweeps round and almost merges with the sea he found attractive. The clouds caught in by the long shutter speed and the reflection in the glass like sea he said is just right.
To see the winning images click here
Many of the images in the competition had been converted to black and white. In nearly all cased Rob felt that there were too many mid grey tones and that the conversion could have been done differently to provide a greater range of tones that to bring out more of the texture of the subject and make the image more punchy. This could be done by increasing the contrast in post processing.
In joint third place was Billy Watson's 'Catching a Wave'. Rob said that this was a 'corker of a shot'. The surfer is well placed in the frame with plenty of room to move into, the surf board is sharp. The huge contrast range is handled very well. The colour of the sea to the bottom right is amazing and it looks almost solid emphasising the dangerous, extreme nature of the sport. The mass of the breaking wave highlights the power and unpredictability of the sea.
The other image in joint third place was 'Highland Scene' by Brian Sandison. 'This is an eye catching and successful image' said the judge Rob Davies. 'The light and tone throughout the image is just wonderful, I like the fact we have the whole range of greens' ' The vista is huge it absolutely makes me want to be there and this must be part of a successful landscape.' Rob liked the way in which the meandering river leads through the image and found the shapes and rising nature of the hills an attractive background. 'This is an image that shouts Scotland, it is good to look at'
Stuart Fenty's image 'Hold on Boys' was in second place. This image is one that captures that fleeting spark of light combined with technique and creativity that makes the viewer wish that they had been there to see it. What Rob really liked about this picture was the moment of capture, all the people on the lifeboat are picked out by the side lighting and looking at the rib which is up into the air. The exposure of the spray behind the rib is caught nicely. The composition is good, the horizon is in the right place, the focusing is spot on, and timing and choice of shutter speed 'is the business'. 'It really is a great shot'
In first place was Ally Henderson's 'Blue on Blue'. Rob like the simple composition and the blue tone that shows the late evening colour. The way in which the land sweeps round and almost merges with the sea he found attractive. The clouds caught in by the long shutter speed and the reflection in the glass like sea he said is just right.
To see the winning images click here
Themed Compeitition 'Natural Patterns' 19th March
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 19th March the results of the themed competition 'Natural Patterns' were revealed. The judge for the competition was Graeme Buchan of Elite Photography, Finlayson Street, Fraserburgh. His web site is www.elitephotographics.co.uk where you can see some of his images. Graeme has judges Fraserburgh Photographic Society images several times this time he introduced his comment on the 30 images submitted into the competition by saying that he was pleased to see that there was a significant improvement in the standard of photographs in the competition.
In first place was Stuart Fenty's 'Lights on the Sand'. Second was 'Poppy and Buds' by Lewis Duthie and joint third was 'Clouds' by Stuart Fenty and 'Pelican' by Billy Watson.
You can see these images here
In first place was Stuart Fenty's 'Lights on the Sand'. Second was 'Poppy and Buds' by Lewis Duthie and joint third was 'Clouds' by Stuart Fenty and 'Pelican' by Billy Watson.
You can see these images here
5th Monthly Competition
The results of the 5th monthly competition were announced at the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society at its meeting on 5th March. The judge was Guy Phillips a member of Helensburgh Photographic Club. Some of his images can be found on http://www.ephotozine.com/user/phillips-39699
In his comments on the images submitted into the competition Guy picked up on several themes.
One was about achieving critical sharpness in an image. He said it was important to avoid camera shake by ensuring that the shutter speed is matched to the focal length of the lens. E.g. For a focal length of 200mm the shutter speed should be 1/200 of a second or higher, for a focal length of 135mm the shutter speed should be 1/135 of a second or higher. To achieve a high enough shutter speed it may be necessary to increase the sensitivity (ISO) and although this may mean introducing digital noise into the image this was far better than having a blurred image. He also advised using clamps and wind breaks to stop the movement of the subject when taking flowers pictures. In action shots there had to be a balance between sharpness and showing movement with blur but, he felt, that even then there should be some part of the image that it perfectly sharp.
He also gave advice about exposure. He thought that many images were not correctly exposed and said that too much reliance had been made on the camera's metering system in 'evaluative' mode. He suggested that several different shots are taken using different exposures to make sure there is a good one to work on.
His second point was that an image should be in his word 'pictorial', a word he used frequently in his critique of the 39 images submitted into the competition. By this he meant it should not merely show a record of the subject. He wanted to see more. Sometimes this was showing the subject from a different angle, others he wanted to see it in the context of a wider view, he wanted to see an 'extra dimension'. Other judges have described the quality as 'telling a story'.
Third place went to 'Lonely Tree and the Sky' by Ian Maben.
The tree is a great find by the photographer, it is crying out to be photographed. The yellows of the foreground set it off well and work well with the deep blue sky.
In second place was Stuart Fenty's 'Crested Tit'.
The judge said that this had obviously been taken by someone who knows about bird photography. Having the bird side on means that it is sharp from the tip of its beak to the tip of its tail. The eye is sharp and has a good highlight. There I good feather detail and the background of defused and pleasant greens sets the bird off nicely.
The first placed image was 'Train Journey' by Scott Fraser
Guy said that one his initial run through of the images in the competition this one stood out as 'quality'. He knew it had been taken with a 50mm prime lens. 'The skin tones are excellent, the look in the face of a dreamy expression and the quality of the face and the bitingly sharp eyes made this image highly commendable indeed'
In his comments on the images submitted into the competition Guy picked up on several themes.
One was about achieving critical sharpness in an image. He said it was important to avoid camera shake by ensuring that the shutter speed is matched to the focal length of the lens. E.g. For a focal length of 200mm the shutter speed should be 1/200 of a second or higher, for a focal length of 135mm the shutter speed should be 1/135 of a second or higher. To achieve a high enough shutter speed it may be necessary to increase the sensitivity (ISO) and although this may mean introducing digital noise into the image this was far better than having a blurred image. He also advised using clamps and wind breaks to stop the movement of the subject when taking flowers pictures. In action shots there had to be a balance between sharpness and showing movement with blur but, he felt, that even then there should be some part of the image that it perfectly sharp.
He also gave advice about exposure. He thought that many images were not correctly exposed and said that too much reliance had been made on the camera's metering system in 'evaluative' mode. He suggested that several different shots are taken using different exposures to make sure there is a good one to work on.
His second point was that an image should be in his word 'pictorial', a word he used frequently in his critique of the 39 images submitted into the competition. By this he meant it should not merely show a record of the subject. He wanted to see more. Sometimes this was showing the subject from a different angle, others he wanted to see it in the context of a wider view, he wanted to see an 'extra dimension'. Other judges have described the quality as 'telling a story'.
Third place went to 'Lonely Tree and the Sky' by Ian Maben.
The tree is a great find by the photographer, it is crying out to be photographed. The yellows of the foreground set it off well and work well with the deep blue sky.
In second place was Stuart Fenty's 'Crested Tit'.
The judge said that this had obviously been taken by someone who knows about bird photography. Having the bird side on means that it is sharp from the tip of its beak to the tip of its tail. The eye is sharp and has a good highlight. There I good feather detail and the background of defused and pleasant greens sets the bird off nicely.
The first placed image was 'Train Journey' by Scott Fraser
Guy said that one his initial run through of the images in the competition this one stood out as 'quality'. He knew it had been taken with a 50mm prime lens. 'The skin tones are excellent, the look in the face of a dreamy expression and the quality of the face and the bitingly sharp eyes made this image highly commendable indeed'
Stuarts Night
Results of the 4th Monthly competition
And Stuart Fenty's image show
The meeting of the FPS on 19th February was a 'two for the price of one' evening. not only were the results of the 4th monthly competition of the season were revealed but we also had a super images show from Stuary Fenty.
The judge for the competition was Mike Cruise ARPS, he is a member of Paisley Photographic Club and has been involved in judging photographic competitions for 30 years. Although his favourite genre is natural history however he has taken all sorts of photographs through his activity in his camera club. Mike has been a finalist of the Countryfile Calendar competition on three occasions and outright winner twice.
Mike placed Stuart Fenty 's image 'Colour in the Rain' in first place with 20 points. Mike said that the desaturation of the colour from all but the one stock car had been handled extremely well and that the composition is nice and you do get the overall impression of speed, rain and spray.
In second place with 19 points was 'Surfer' by Billy Watson. Mike thought this was a strong image showing dramatic action and the beautiful balance and poise of the surfer. The image he said seemed to be breaking some of the 'rules' as the surfer is looking out of the picture not into it. However the wave on the left provides the images with balance to compensate. The exposure of the wave is good and the surfer has been 'worked on' to bring out detail.
Andrew West score 18 points and was in third place with his image 'Empty Bottle'. This image caught the judges eye. He wasn't sure about cutting off the legs but you can get away with it.' He said it was well composed and obviously done quite subtly'.
Having been crowned winner of the competition Stuart presented a 25 minute show. It was an eclectic mix of images showing the wide range of his photographic skills and interests. Motor sport featured heavily and there were quite a few images of bridges. Many of the photos had been taken on trips out and about with other FPS members They were all put together in a seamless show with a sound track. From the RNLI Boxing day harbour swim to shots of fireworks, from rusty old tractors to gleaming stock cars and wonderful landscapes all punctuated with portraits of FPS members taken at the portrait session on 23rd October last year.
The judge for the competition was Mike Cruise ARPS, he is a member of Paisley Photographic Club and has been involved in judging photographic competitions for 30 years. Although his favourite genre is natural history however he has taken all sorts of photographs through his activity in his camera club. Mike has been a finalist of the Countryfile Calendar competition on three occasions and outright winner twice.
Mike placed Stuart Fenty 's image 'Colour in the Rain' in first place with 20 points. Mike said that the desaturation of the colour from all but the one stock car had been handled extremely well and that the composition is nice and you do get the overall impression of speed, rain and spray.
In second place with 19 points was 'Surfer' by Billy Watson. Mike thought this was a strong image showing dramatic action and the beautiful balance and poise of the surfer. The image he said seemed to be breaking some of the 'rules' as the surfer is looking out of the picture not into it. However the wave on the left provides the images with balance to compensate. The exposure of the wave is good and the surfer has been 'worked on' to bring out detail.
Andrew West score 18 points and was in third place with his image 'Empty Bottle'. This image caught the judges eye. He wasn't sure about cutting off the legs but you can get away with it.' He said it was well composed and obviously done quite subtly'.
Having been crowned winner of the competition Stuart presented a 25 minute show. It was an eclectic mix of images showing the wide range of his photographic skills and interests. Motor sport featured heavily and there were quite a few images of bridges. Many of the photos had been taken on trips out and about with other FPS members They were all put together in a seamless show with a sound track. From the RNLI Boxing day harbour swim to shots of fireworks, from rusty old tractors to gleaming stock cars and wonderful landscapes all punctuated with portraits of FPS members taken at the portrait session on 23rd October last year.
Results of the second print competition of 2014/15
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 12th February John Allison judges the second print competition. John is a retired lecturer in photography and computer graphics and worked at Banff and Buchan Collage.
Before he gave his opinion on the 27 prints put into the event he said what he was looking for: first the technical aspects of the print have to be addressed correctly. This means that it must be sharp and have the appropriate tonal range, and must show no defects such as banding or print spots. He was also looking to see that there was good presentation and mounting of the print. He then was looking at a further four points: Has there been an element of creative thinking in the image, are the technical aspects, aperture, shutter speed and so on correct, has some thought been put into the composition and finally has the processing of the image been handled well.
Two prints received top marks of 20.
'Ground Squirrel ' by Jim Gray. John said this was a stunning photo. 'Clearly taken at the telephoto end of a zoom lens, it has everything going for it. Technique is faultless, exposure details are very good, and best of all the photographer has succeeded in capturing the right moment – even if all the other technical issues are correct, it is all too easy to miss the right moment, when the pose is not quite right, when the animal looks away or there is an awkward stance, or it simply doesn't look the way a squirrel should. No such problem here. This has been taken by an accomplished photographer, and everything about it is just perfect'
'Harebell' by Mike Chandler. John said 'Everything about the image is just perfect – the execution of the shot in the first place, the technical awareness of depth of field/aperture and shutter speed settings, the elegant simplicity of the composition the sensitivity and understanding with which the subject matter has been handled – all of these have been precisely and professionally executed. But the thing that really shines – quite literally – is this print is the way that the light has been handled. It lends a delicacy and transparency to the flower that is truly breath-taking. I cannot tell you how much this print gladdened my heart.'
One print scored 19 points
''A Good Drying Day' by Mike Chandler. John picked up on two small points in this print. He would have removed the ship on the horizon near the right hand pole and he would have liked to have seen grass at the bottom of the same pole as it touches the frame. But he said 'Top marks for seeing the potential. Top marks for getting all the important stuff absolutely spot on'
Four prints received the third highest marks – 18.
'Road to the Isles' by Kevin Potter
'On Reflection' by Stuart Fenty
'Passing Shower' by Brian Sandison and
'Rope and Light' by Kevin Potter
To see the images go to the 'other competitions' page
Before he gave his opinion on the 27 prints put into the event he said what he was looking for: first the technical aspects of the print have to be addressed correctly. This means that it must be sharp and have the appropriate tonal range, and must show no defects such as banding or print spots. He was also looking to see that there was good presentation and mounting of the print. He then was looking at a further four points: Has there been an element of creative thinking in the image, are the technical aspects, aperture, shutter speed and so on correct, has some thought been put into the composition and finally has the processing of the image been handled well.
Two prints received top marks of 20.
'Ground Squirrel ' by Jim Gray. John said this was a stunning photo. 'Clearly taken at the telephoto end of a zoom lens, it has everything going for it. Technique is faultless, exposure details are very good, and best of all the photographer has succeeded in capturing the right moment – even if all the other technical issues are correct, it is all too easy to miss the right moment, when the pose is not quite right, when the animal looks away or there is an awkward stance, or it simply doesn't look the way a squirrel should. No such problem here. This has been taken by an accomplished photographer, and everything about it is just perfect'
'Harebell' by Mike Chandler. John said 'Everything about the image is just perfect – the execution of the shot in the first place, the technical awareness of depth of field/aperture and shutter speed settings, the elegant simplicity of the composition the sensitivity and understanding with which the subject matter has been handled – all of these have been precisely and professionally executed. But the thing that really shines – quite literally – is this print is the way that the light has been handled. It lends a delicacy and transparency to the flower that is truly breath-taking. I cannot tell you how much this print gladdened my heart.'
One print scored 19 points
''A Good Drying Day' by Mike Chandler. John picked up on two small points in this print. He would have removed the ship on the horizon near the right hand pole and he would have liked to have seen grass at the bottom of the same pole as it touches the frame. But he said 'Top marks for seeing the potential. Top marks for getting all the important stuff absolutely spot on'
Four prints received the third highest marks – 18.
'Road to the Isles' by Kevin Potter
'On Reflection' by Stuart Fenty
'Passing Shower' by Brian Sandison and
'Rope and Light' by Kevin Potter
To see the images go to the 'other competitions' page
22nd January Jack Pressley and 'Caller Herring' show
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 22nd January members were show two DVD's of images of old Fraserburgh.
The first was a series of images taken by the late Jack Pressley. Jack was a stalwart and past president of Fraserburgh Photographic Society. The images were originally put onto a VCR tape recorder with Jacks commentary. It was later transferred to a DVD. In the process the images became degraded. The black and white images had an orange hue and the colour images had lost a lot of sharpness. Preserving images taken over 50 years ago is not easy. What will the images we take today look like in 50 years time? Will the digital technology of today stand the test of time? The other problem with the images was that there was no information to say when they were taken. In the old days the date, and place were written on the back of the prints on on the frame of the slide. With Jacks images this data had been lost with the transfer to the DVD. In today's digital age data about the image, when it was taken, the camera, lens and camera settings are all included in the image data. More modern cameras will even record the grid reference of where they were taken. Even so it is a good idea to record as much information as possible with your images. With most digital filing systems keywords and names can be added to an image this will not just help you to find them but in years to come will help others identify exactly what you were capturing when you pressed the shutter button. As it was at the meeting the lack of data did prompt some discussion amongst the older members!
Here is what the black and white images looked like on the screen
The first was a series of images taken by the late Jack Pressley. Jack was a stalwart and past president of Fraserburgh Photographic Society. The images were originally put onto a VCR tape recorder with Jacks commentary. It was later transferred to a DVD. In the process the images became degraded. The black and white images had an orange hue and the colour images had lost a lot of sharpness. Preserving images taken over 50 years ago is not easy. What will the images we take today look like in 50 years time? Will the digital technology of today stand the test of time? The other problem with the images was that there was no information to say when they were taken. In the old days the date, and place were written on the back of the prints on on the frame of the slide. With Jacks images this data had been lost with the transfer to the DVD. In today's digital age data about the image, when it was taken, the camera, lens and camera settings are all included in the image data. More modern cameras will even record the grid reference of where they were taken. Even so it is a good idea to record as much information as possible with your images. With most digital filing systems keywords and names can be added to an image this will not just help you to find them but in years to come will help others identify exactly what you were capturing when you pressed the shutter button. As it was at the meeting the lack of data did prompt some discussion amongst the older members!
Here is what the black and white images looked like on the screen
Photographs of the images on the screen were taken and an attempt has been made to digitally enhance them.
These are photographs of Jack's colour images. With age and transfer to DVD many have a green hue
The second DVD was of a Government film shot in 1947 about the herring industry called 'Caller Herring' much of it was shot in Fraserburgh. The film can be seen at Fraserburgh Heritage Centre when it opens later this year. Screen shot were taken to give a flavour of the film.
11th December 3rd Monthly Competition
Charlie Scott only joined Fraserburgh Photographic Society in September 1014 and last month his image 'Blowin' in the Wind' Came first in the December monthly competition
The competition judge was Joanna MacIntyre DPAGB of Dumfries Camera Club. Some of her images can be found on the web site http://gjwildlifephotography.co.uk/ that promotes the photography tours and tuition that she runs in Lockerbie. In her opening remarks she stressed that the comments she made and marks she awarded were here own opinion and that in photography, as in any other art form everyone has their own view. She also said that she hoped that her comments would be useful.
In second place was Stanley Partridge's' image 'Aden Park Fireworks'
There was a tie for third place between ' Loch Sheil' by Kevin Potter and 'Beach Sunset' by Brian Sandison.
To see the images click here
The competition judge was Joanna MacIntyre DPAGB of Dumfries Camera Club. Some of her images can be found on the web site http://gjwildlifephotography.co.uk/ that promotes the photography tours and tuition that she runs in Lockerbie. In her opening remarks she stressed that the comments she made and marks she awarded were here own opinion and that in photography, as in any other art form everyone has their own view. She also said that she hoped that her comments would be useful.
In second place was Stanley Partridge's' image 'Aden Park Fireworks'
There was a tie for third place between ' Loch Sheil' by Kevin Potter and 'Beach Sunset' by Brian Sandison.
To see the images click here
4th December Head to head with peterhead camera club
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 4th December was an inter club competition with Peterhead Camera Club. Each club submitted 25 images into the competition. An external judge marked each one out of 20 and the club with the highest total of points was declared the winner. There are no prizes or trophies to be won it was a friendly get together that enabled members to see images that the other club produces and the chance to chat about things photographic with each other.
The judge was Duncan McEwen from Renfrewshire. He is a member of Paisley Colour Photography Club. Duncan has been photographing the Scottish landscape for over 40 years. He was official photographer with Team Scotland at 2006 (Melbourne), 2010 (Delhi) and 2014 (Glasgow) Commonwealth Games and has been admitted to the SPF Roll of Honour for services to Club photography in Scotland. Duncan is also one of Sony UK’s team of Advocate Photographers.
The contest was a very close one with Fraserburgh Photographic Society coming out on top with 410 points to Peterhead Camera Club’s 400 points
Two images were awarded the top mark of 20 points:-
‘Fire Fighters’ by Charlie Williams, Peterhead Camera Club
Duncan McEwen said ‘This is very strong indeed. I find it quite humorous it is almost – water in, fire out – if only energy could be created so simply’. ‘The scene is a dramatic one and the composition I like’. He suggested that some people might want to crop off some of the foreground and the sky and trees at the top of the image. However this would produce a letter box effect. He said ‘While that could be useful in some situations I don’t see that this scene would benefit from a tight linear crop. I am happy with it as it is. The action more than makes up for any of these composition considerations’
The judge was Duncan McEwen from Renfrewshire. He is a member of Paisley Colour Photography Club. Duncan has been photographing the Scottish landscape for over 40 years. He was official photographer with Team Scotland at 2006 (Melbourne), 2010 (Delhi) and 2014 (Glasgow) Commonwealth Games and has been admitted to the SPF Roll of Honour for services to Club photography in Scotland. Duncan is also one of Sony UK’s team of Advocate Photographers.
The contest was a very close one with Fraserburgh Photographic Society coming out on top with 410 points to Peterhead Camera Club’s 400 points
Two images were awarded the top mark of 20 points:-
‘Fire Fighters’ by Charlie Williams, Peterhead Camera Club
Duncan McEwen said ‘This is very strong indeed. I find it quite humorous it is almost – water in, fire out – if only energy could be created so simply’. ‘The scene is a dramatic one and the composition I like’. He suggested that some people might want to crop off some of the foreground and the sky and trees at the top of the image. However this would produce a letter box effect. He said ‘While that could be useful in some situations I don’t see that this scene would benefit from a tight linear crop. I am happy with it as it is. The action more than makes up for any of these composition considerations’
‘Breaking Wave’ by Stanley Partridge, Fraserburgh Photographic Society
Duncan thought that this was a highly dramatic image. ‘A fantastic moment beautifully captured the peak of the wave makes for a very dynamic image’. ‘The composition is strong because of the balance between the upright column on the left and the upright mass of the wave on the right’. The space to the left of the tower and the right of the wave he felt was important and that the image was not overly tight. He liked the wee gap at the end of the breakwater. He said ‘I thought that this is a dramatic image which I like very much’.
Duncan thought that this was a highly dramatic image. ‘A fantastic moment beautifully captured the peak of the wave makes for a very dynamic image’. ‘The composition is strong because of the balance between the upright column on the left and the upright mass of the wave on the right’. The space to the left of the tower and the right of the wave he felt was important and that the image was not overly tight. He liked the wee gap at the end of the breakwater. He said ‘I thought that this is a dramatic image which I like very much’.
Throughout the evening Duncan gave advice on composition, on exposure and use of shutter speed to make images, relating these comments to positive aspects of the images in the competition and on how, in his opinion they could be made even better.
Seven images scored 19 out of 20. To see these click here
The next meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society is on 11th December and is the third monthly competition of members images. The club then goes on its Christmas break to resume on 8th January with a social evening. There is a Facebook page for the society where you can post your images https://www.facebook.com/FraserburghPhotographicSociety. Details of Peterhead Camera Club activities are on their web site http://peterheadcameraclub.org.uk/index.html
Seven images scored 19 out of 20. To see these click here
The next meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society is on 11th December and is the third monthly competition of members images. The club then goes on its Christmas break to resume on 8th January with a social evening. There is a Facebook page for the society where you can post your images https://www.facebook.com/FraserburghPhotographicSociety. Details of Peterhead Camera Club activities are on their web site http://peterheadcameraclub.org.uk/index.html
20th November 'People' themed cometition
Bill Buchan judged the ‘People’ themed competition at the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 20th November. Bill is a well known local photographer and you can see his work at here
Forty two images were submitted into the competition and Bill praised the club for producing a wide variety of images and gave his congratulations to the members for the standard of the submissions. He produced some basic guidelines for judging a ‘People’ photograph.
1) Are people (single or plural) the dominant element in the shot?
2) If not the main subject, people in the shot should compliment and add value to the image.
3) The image should be interesting and convey emotion or a story. (This is a subjective opinion)
4) Last but not least the image should be technically very good.
He said that while there was in his opinion a clear winner there were several images that could have crept into the other two places.
In first place was ‘Not Sure of the Tune’ by Ally Henderson. Bill said that this black and white shot is an excellent example of the elements in a photograph coming together to tell a story. He loved the characters in the scene and that the connection between the old man’s eyes and the student on the left were very strong. The image, Bill said is superbly captured and the detail throughout the shot is excellent. The only very small comment he made was that he would liked to have seen a little more of the girl on the left’s face.
Second place went to ‘You Hum It I’ll Play It’ by John McIntosh. Bill commented ‘I like this one as it is more the type of shot I think of when thinking of a ‘people’ shot. All the elements are here. I can see the faces of the three subjects and I guess that they are discussing the next tune to play. Each one is looking at the other so they are all well linked’. Bill said that technically it is good but that if was very picky he would say that it is a little tightly cropped. ‘If it were possible a little more free space all round might let it ‘breathe’ a bit more’.
Mike Chandlers image ‘Fish Wifie Tales’ took third place. Bill commented ‘A very good shot. I love the expressions on the women’s faces as they seem to be sharing a joke or secret. The eye connection between them is great’. He liked the colours in the hats an clothes that help fire up the image. Bill said that the image was reasonably sharp but he would have liked the background to be a bit blurred. He commented ‘I think this a a wonderfully intimate shot that catches the characters of the women very well’
In his comments about the images Bill referred on several occasions to the clipping of the whites or blacks in the picture. This is where an images is either over exposed so that detail in the whites are lost or under exposed , losing detail in the black parts of the image. He advised looking at the histogram to check on ‘clipping’ and adjusting the exposure accordingly or dealing with the problem in post processing.
To see the images follow this link
Forty two images were submitted into the competition and Bill praised the club for producing a wide variety of images and gave his congratulations to the members for the standard of the submissions. He produced some basic guidelines for judging a ‘People’ photograph.
1) Are people (single or plural) the dominant element in the shot?
2) If not the main subject, people in the shot should compliment and add value to the image.
3) The image should be interesting and convey emotion or a story. (This is a subjective opinion)
4) Last but not least the image should be technically very good.
He said that while there was in his opinion a clear winner there were several images that could have crept into the other two places.
In first place was ‘Not Sure of the Tune’ by Ally Henderson. Bill said that this black and white shot is an excellent example of the elements in a photograph coming together to tell a story. He loved the characters in the scene and that the connection between the old man’s eyes and the student on the left were very strong. The image, Bill said is superbly captured and the detail throughout the shot is excellent. The only very small comment he made was that he would liked to have seen a little more of the girl on the left’s face.
Second place went to ‘You Hum It I’ll Play It’ by John McIntosh. Bill commented ‘I like this one as it is more the type of shot I think of when thinking of a ‘people’ shot. All the elements are here. I can see the faces of the three subjects and I guess that they are discussing the next tune to play. Each one is looking at the other so they are all well linked’. Bill said that technically it is good but that if was very picky he would say that it is a little tightly cropped. ‘If it were possible a little more free space all round might let it ‘breathe’ a bit more’.
Mike Chandlers image ‘Fish Wifie Tales’ took third place. Bill commented ‘A very good shot. I love the expressions on the women’s faces as they seem to be sharing a joke or secret. The eye connection between them is great’. He liked the colours in the hats an clothes that help fire up the image. Bill said that the image was reasonably sharp but he would have liked the background to be a bit blurred. He commented ‘I think this a a wonderfully intimate shot that catches the characters of the women very well’
In his comments about the images Bill referred on several occasions to the clipping of the whites or blacks in the picture. This is where an images is either over exposed so that detail in the whites are lost or under exposed , losing detail in the black parts of the image. He advised looking at the histogram to check on ‘clipping’ and adjusting the exposure accordingly or dealing with the problem in post processing.
To see the images follow this link
13th November - champions night
Champions night is when last years Photographer of the year organises the evening. This year, for the second year running Ally Henderson took to the floor. His evening was presented to two halves.
For the first part of the evening Ally had careful crafted a show f some of his linked with music
In the second part we were shown the same images but this time with Ally describing them and answering questions about them.
Needless to say the images were of a high quality.
The show had three distinct sections.
English Southern Counties
The show opened with images of Petworth House a late 17th century mansion owned and run by the National Trust and the village of Petworth. It was surprising to learn that photography (but no flash or tripods) was allowed in the mansion as the Scottish National Trust does not allow any photography in its properties.. Ally explained the difficulties of getting good hand held images inside without the use of flash or tripod. It inevitable meant that some images were dark and depth of field was limited resulting in more parts of the image being out of focus than he would have liked. The village was of the 'picture post card' variety that you would expect in the South Downs. Remarkable there were very few people around and Ally told the club that every other shop seemed to sell antiques.
For the first part of the evening Ally had careful crafted a show f some of his linked with music
In the second part we were shown the same images but this time with Ally describing them and answering questions about them.
Needless to say the images were of a high quality.
The show had three distinct sections.
English Southern Counties
The show opened with images of Petworth House a late 17th century mansion owned and run by the National Trust and the village of Petworth. It was surprising to learn that photography (but no flash or tripods) was allowed in the mansion as the Scottish National Trust does not allow any photography in its properties.. Ally explained the difficulties of getting good hand held images inside without the use of flash or tripod. It inevitable meant that some images were dark and depth of field was limited resulting in more parts of the image being out of focus than he would have liked. The village was of the 'picture post card' variety that you would expect in the South Downs. Remarkable there were very few people around and Ally told the club that every other shop seemed to sell antiques.
The other place in the area that Ally showed were Arundel, Castle and Cathedral, Chichester cathedral. Some of the images he took in these places were processed as HRD images like the one below of Arundel Castle. We were also shown images taken of Bignor Roman Villa, the stunning remains of a Roman home with world-class mosaic floors in a spectacular Downland setting.
The second section took us to the Scottish Highlands - Glen Affric lying to the west of Loch Ness. When Ally was here the weather was not ideal for taking photographs however despite the rain he was able to show us some stunning views full of autumn colour. We ere also shown images of Rogie Falls on the Black Isle. The shots were taken on different days and you could see how the river water levels had changed overnight.
Also in the Highlands was Croick Church to the west of Bonar Bridge. This is a remarkable site where you can still see the effects of the Highland Clearances after over 160 years. People cleared of their land had no where to stay except the church grounds. Some had carved their names in the window glass. Ally's images showed this and the remains of their houses, now only the ruins of stone walls.
The third and final section of Ally's show was closer to home with some stunning shots of the North East corner of Aberdeenshire.
It was an evening full of inspiring images, some insight into how they were achieved and interesting and sometimes thought provoking information about the places that Ally had visited. But the we have come to expect nothing less from Ally.
It was an evening full of inspiring images, some insight into how they were achieved and interesting and sometimes thought provoking information about the places that Ally had visited. But the we have come to expect nothing less from Ally.
6th November
The results of the second monthly competition were revealed at the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 6th November.
The judge was Edmund Fellowes MPAGB FRPS of the Dumfries Camera Club. Some of his images can be found on the Dumfries Camera Club web site http://www.dumfriescameraclub.co.uk/gallery/edmund-fellowes. He has won the British Birds magazine's "Bird Photograph of the Year" on three occasions. He has also travelled widely, photographing nature on all seven continents. In addition to photography, he is the Dumfriesshire regional representative for the British Trust for Ornithology, and his pictures can be seen in many of their publications and on their website.
In first place was an image by Ally Henderson ‘Long Time Shut’
The judge said ‘The gate was well placed in the frame and the grasses sparkle. We can see over the closed gate to a landscape beyond. The tones cover the entire range from black to white but with nothing lost in either. This demonstrates how a picture can be made of a seemingly ordinary scene, and there are no technical flaws.’
Second was ‘Time for Thought’ by Andrew West.
‘A very successful exercise in both the taking and the processing. Straight verticals, great whites and all the decorations filling the frame but nothing chopped through. The people add to the scene and the green garment brings my attention to them. The fact that they are evidently looking at the building helps too.’
Third was ‘Sky Bundle’ by John McIntosh.
‘Not easy as the bikes wiz by and the opportunity lasts or only a second or so. The two layers of bikes are very interesting with the support car being the key element. The spectators are well subdued and not too numerous, and add as well to the image. The cyclist and car are ideally placed in the frame.’
Mr Fellowes hoped that his observations were helpful. Two pieces of advice he gave in commenting on the competition entries was that with just a little change in position a photographer can make a big difference to the composition of the image and that with competition images a little time spent on staging the scene can again make a big difference to the image. He said ‘I sometimes wonder whether a competition could be repeated to see how people can improve their photography over a year or so. (There has been) lots of interesting subject matter on view that would be worth revisiting.’
To see these image go to the Monthly Winners page
The judge was Edmund Fellowes MPAGB FRPS of the Dumfries Camera Club. Some of his images can be found on the Dumfries Camera Club web site http://www.dumfriescameraclub.co.uk/gallery/edmund-fellowes. He has won the British Birds magazine's "Bird Photograph of the Year" on three occasions. He has also travelled widely, photographing nature on all seven continents. In addition to photography, he is the Dumfriesshire regional representative for the British Trust for Ornithology, and his pictures can be seen in many of their publications and on their website.
In first place was an image by Ally Henderson ‘Long Time Shut’
The judge said ‘The gate was well placed in the frame and the grasses sparkle. We can see over the closed gate to a landscape beyond. The tones cover the entire range from black to white but with nothing lost in either. This demonstrates how a picture can be made of a seemingly ordinary scene, and there are no technical flaws.’
Second was ‘Time for Thought’ by Andrew West.
‘A very successful exercise in both the taking and the processing. Straight verticals, great whites and all the decorations filling the frame but nothing chopped through. The people add to the scene and the green garment brings my attention to them. The fact that they are evidently looking at the building helps too.’
Third was ‘Sky Bundle’ by John McIntosh.
‘Not easy as the bikes wiz by and the opportunity lasts or only a second or so. The two layers of bikes are very interesting with the support car being the key element. The spectators are well subdued and not too numerous, and add as well to the image. The cyclist and car are ideally placed in the frame.’
Mr Fellowes hoped that his observations were helpful. Two pieces of advice he gave in commenting on the competition entries was that with just a little change in position a photographer can make a big difference to the composition of the image and that with competition images a little time spent on staging the scene can again make a big difference to the image. He said ‘I sometimes wonder whether a competition could be repeated to see how people can improve their photography over a year or so. (There has been) lots of interesting subject matter on view that would be worth revisiting.’
To see these image go to the Monthly Winners page
23rd october
The meeting on 23rd October was ‘Portrait Night’. A temporary studio was set up and members took portrait photographs of everyone present. Some of the portraits have been posted on the Fraserburgh Photographic Society Facebook page.
Here are some more of the portraits that were taken
Here are some more of the portraits that were taken
16th October
The meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 10th October the results of the first print competition of the season were announced. The judge was Graeme Buchan LBIPP,LMPA. Graeme has been involved in photography for over thirty years and has a wealth of experience in Wedding and Portrait photography. Graeme owns and manages Elite Photography 27 Finlayson Street, Fraserburgh.
In addition to looking at the images Graeme looked at three aspects of the prints that were entered into the competition:-
Presentation
He was very impressed with the overall standard of the images. He said it was nice to see the prints presented in window mounts although some of the mount apertures were not quite the right size for the pictures.
Print quality
Print quality is always very important to Graeme and some of the prints which have been produced on ink jet printers show some banding. When producing competition prints he would recommend cleaning the nozzles on your inkjet printer beforehand. The traditionally produced silver halide prints in the competition are noticeably better quality than their ink jet counterparts.
lmage Quality
As it is now possible to do so much to images post capture anything done to an image should be to enhance the image without being noticeable and without causing any side effects, e.g. noise in shadow detail.
There were two prints that tied for first place each getting 19 points out of a possible 20:-
‘Krakow Bridge’ by Kevin Potter
Graeme said ‘Excellent composition - All lines lead to the couple on the bridge. Nice quality print’ and
‘Cologne Cathedral’ by Andrew West
Graeme comments were ‘Striking composition. Excellent choice of mount. Verticals are excellent with no convergence. Pity about the scaffolding and tarpaulin but otherwise very good.’
Two images also tied for third place each being given 18 points out of 20:-
‘The Highlander’ by Kevin Potter
Graeme thought that this was quite a powerful image. There were no catch lights in the eyes but this time it adds to the melancholy of the image. Good quality print and
‘Antelope Canyon’ by Stanley Partridge
Graeme said ‘Quite puzzling and stunning picture. I like the scene. Not sure about the colour of the mount.’
To see these images go to the 'other competition' page
In addition to looking at the images Graeme looked at three aspects of the prints that were entered into the competition:-
Presentation
He was very impressed with the overall standard of the images. He said it was nice to see the prints presented in window mounts although some of the mount apertures were not quite the right size for the pictures.
Print quality
Print quality is always very important to Graeme and some of the prints which have been produced on ink jet printers show some banding. When producing competition prints he would recommend cleaning the nozzles on your inkjet printer beforehand. The traditionally produced silver halide prints in the competition are noticeably better quality than their ink jet counterparts.
lmage Quality
As it is now possible to do so much to images post capture anything done to an image should be to enhance the image without being noticeable and without causing any side effects, e.g. noise in shadow detail.
There were two prints that tied for first place each getting 19 points out of a possible 20:-
‘Krakow Bridge’ by Kevin Potter
Graeme said ‘Excellent composition - All lines lead to the couple on the bridge. Nice quality print’ and
‘Cologne Cathedral’ by Andrew West
Graeme comments were ‘Striking composition. Excellent choice of mount. Verticals are excellent with no convergence. Pity about the scaffolding and tarpaulin but otherwise very good.’
Two images also tied for third place each being given 18 points out of 20:-
‘The Highlander’ by Kevin Potter
Graeme thought that this was quite a powerful image. There were no catch lights in the eyes but this time it adds to the melancholy of the image. Good quality print and
‘Antelope Canyon’ by Stanley Partridge
Graeme said ‘Quite puzzling and stunning picture. I like the scene. Not sure about the colour of the mount.’
To see these images go to the 'other competition' page
9th october 2014
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 9th October members discussed and voted on an Aberdeen and Grampian area representative to the Scottish Photographic Federation. Three nominations have been received and it was agreed to support Lenny Smith.
Society president, Andrew West, then gave a show ‘Memphis and Graceland’. This was a travelogue of his trip with the New Pitsligo Farmers club to the USA. In addition to Memphis and Graceland the party also went to Nashville and New Orleans. Soon after his arrival in the ‘States’, when he was explaining the itinerary an American asked why he was going to the three grottiest places in the USA. This notion was not dispelled when they made an unscheduled stop at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch on the way to Memphis.
The ‘ranch’ consisted of gift shops and a kitchen style cafe/teashop. It was not an old Tennessee ranch. Most of the buildings were modern and made to look like the Wild West as depicted in the old films. The ‘bank’ and ‘land office’ were gift shops. There was an older building that said it was the home that she was brought up in but it was a replica build on the site (she was brought up miles away). You could walk through this building but could not take photographs; indeed Andrew said that photography at the ‘ranch’ was very restricted.
Society president, Andrew West, then gave a show ‘Memphis and Graceland’. This was a travelogue of his trip with the New Pitsligo Farmers club to the USA. In addition to Memphis and Graceland the party also went to Nashville and New Orleans. Soon after his arrival in the ‘States’, when he was explaining the itinerary an American asked why he was going to the three grottiest places in the USA. This notion was not dispelled when they made an unscheduled stop at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch on the way to Memphis.
The ‘ranch’ consisted of gift shops and a kitchen style cafe/teashop. It was not an old Tennessee ranch. Most of the buildings were modern and made to look like the Wild West as depicted in the old films. The ‘bank’ and ‘land office’ were gift shops. There was an older building that said it was the home that she was brought up in but it was a replica build on the site (she was brought up miles away). You could walk through this building but could not take photographs; indeed Andrew said that photography at the ‘ranch’ was very restricted.
The next stop was Graceland, home of Elvis Presley. In stark contrast photography was allowed Almost everywhere on the site. It was such a large complex, not just with Elvis’s home but with a motor and costume museums, hundreds of gold and platinum discs on display in the trophy room you could even go aboard his personal aeroplanes. Andrew, although he confessed was not an Elvis fan, was impressed with the tourism offer at Graceland.
The party then went on to Memphis. Andrew wanted to visit Beale Street – home of the blues. Here it was possible to get ‘blues’ souvenirs nearly everywhere you went. One store, A Schwabs impressed not particularly with what it had to sell but because of the Street Museum up stairs. Nearby was the famous Gibson guitar workshops and one must visit stop in Memphis was the Peabody Hotel not only was the decor old fashioned and formal but every afternoon a team of ducks come down in the lift to swim in the lobby fountain.
After Memphis the party went by train to New Orleans... but that is another show!
2nd October 2014
Scott Fraser is the Winner
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 2nd October the results of the first monthly competition of the 1024/5 season were revealed.
The judge was Clive Watkins Chairman of Town End Camera Club, Irvine. Clives’ gallery page on the club web site is:- http://www.townendcc.co.uk/clivewatkins.html
Clive said that he judges two aspects of photography, the craft and the art. The craft, he said is about the photographer understanding the equipment and being able to use it effectively and using different techniques to get the best out of the camera. Clive felt that the art is something that photographers often struggle with and some do not see what they do as art. He said that anything where you are expressing an opinion or your view of the world is art. You are trying to convey and communicate emotion and meaning in what you are doing. So as well as looking at the technical aspects of the photographs Clive was looking to see if the image had something to say , conveying emotion and telling story.
The images were awarded marks out of twenty. Each member was able to submit three images. There are six of these open competitions during the season. At the end of the year the total marks awarded to each member for all the images they submitted are added up and the person with the highest total is the ‘Photographer of the year’.
'Young Eye'
In first place was Scott Frasers' photograph ‘Young Eye’ which was given 20 points. Clive opened his comments on the image by saying ‘This is just fantastic. We have a very strong photograph here with very, very strong focus on the all important eye.’ He suspected that a long lens and wide aperture had been used because as soon as you moved forward or backward from the eye focus drops of rapidly to a nice pleasing blurred focus. This image shows that power of simplicity in a photograph. Converting to monochrome is another way of simplifying an image. You take away a layer of information that isn't important.
At the meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society held on 2nd October the results of the first monthly competition of the 1024/5 season were revealed.
The judge was Clive Watkins Chairman of Town End Camera Club, Irvine. Clives’ gallery page on the club web site is:- http://www.townendcc.co.uk/clivewatkins.html
Clive said that he judges two aspects of photography, the craft and the art. The craft, he said is about the photographer understanding the equipment and being able to use it effectively and using different techniques to get the best out of the camera. Clive felt that the art is something that photographers often struggle with and some do not see what they do as art. He said that anything where you are expressing an opinion or your view of the world is art. You are trying to convey and communicate emotion and meaning in what you are doing. So as well as looking at the technical aspects of the photographs Clive was looking to see if the image had something to say , conveying emotion and telling story.
The images were awarded marks out of twenty. Each member was able to submit three images. There are six of these open competitions during the season. At the end of the year the total marks awarded to each member for all the images they submitted are added up and the person with the highest total is the ‘Photographer of the year’.
'Young Eye'
In first place was Scott Frasers' photograph ‘Young Eye’ which was given 20 points. Clive opened his comments on the image by saying ‘This is just fantastic. We have a very strong photograph here with very, very strong focus on the all important eye.’ He suspected that a long lens and wide aperture had been used because as soon as you moved forward or backward from the eye focus drops of rapidly to a nice pleasing blurred focus. This image shows that power of simplicity in a photograph. Converting to monochrome is another way of simplifying an image. You take away a layer of information that isn't important.
'Kessock Sunrise'
Billy Watson. Clive liked the image with ‘beautiful sunrise light and colours of orange and yellow on the base of the clouds.’ The wonderful Second place with nineteen points was given to ‘Kessock Sunrise’ by s curve of the tidal stream takes the viewer through the image and the pier and beacon stop the eye from wandering out to the side bringing it back into the picture. The exposure had been handled well with no loss of detail in the shadows or highlights.
'Shard Pointer'
Lewis Duthies’ image ‘Shard Pointer’ was in third place with eighteen points. This image is a good example of looking up at a subject making it more impressive and also serving to remove distracting clutter from the background. Clive said that the high contrast was working well to give a really good three dimensional feeling and to lift the tower from the dark brooding background. There is a good tension between the man made tower and the organic shapes of the clouds. The story telling of the aeroplane placed in the frame with a tall building must remind viewers of 9/11 and the horrors of that event. Clive said that this photograph had always been in the running as one of the best in the competition.
Billy Watson. Clive liked the image with ‘beautiful sunrise light and colours of orange and yellow on the base of the clouds.’ The wonderful Second place with nineteen points was given to ‘Kessock Sunrise’ by s curve of the tidal stream takes the viewer through the image and the pier and beacon stop the eye from wandering out to the side bringing it back into the picture. The exposure had been handled well with no loss of detail in the shadows or highlights.
'Shard Pointer'
Lewis Duthies’ image ‘Shard Pointer’ was in third place with eighteen points. This image is a good example of looking up at a subject making it more impressive and also serving to remove distracting clutter from the background. Clive said that the high contrast was working well to give a really good three dimensional feeling and to lift the tower from the dark brooding background. There is a good tension between the man made tower and the organic shapes of the clouds. The story telling of the aeroplane placed in the frame with a tall building must remind viewers of 9/11 and the horrors of that event. Clive said that this photograph had always been in the running as one of the best in the competition.
18th September 2014
The meeting of Fraserburgh Photographic Society scheduled for18th September could not take place in the usual venue, the JIC Building on Albert Street because of the Referendum ballot taking place there.
Instead members were asked to meet for a photo shoot in Gardenstown. Although the weather in Fraserburgh was misty with a fine drizzle by the time everyone got to Gardenstown it was clear dry and warm and no wind. The conditions were perfect for photography.
Starting at the harbour the group spread out round the village. Initially the shots were in daylight but soon it became dark and the street lights and house windows were the only source of illumination. This meant that the photographers had to use slow shutter speeds to get a correct exposure. There are disadvantages to doing this. First you need a tripod to keep the camera steady, anything in the shot that is moving, however slightly will come out blurred. Even the boats tied up in the harbour were moving with the gentle rise and fall of the water. On the plus side great light reflections can be captured by the camera and the movement of waves reduced to a milky, misty, even magical element in the image.
Instead members were asked to meet for a photo shoot in Gardenstown. Although the weather in Fraserburgh was misty with a fine drizzle by the time everyone got to Gardenstown it was clear dry and warm and no wind. The conditions were perfect for photography.
Starting at the harbour the group spread out round the village. Initially the shots were in daylight but soon it became dark and the street lights and house windows were the only source of illumination. This meant that the photographers had to use slow shutter speeds to get a correct exposure. There are disadvantages to doing this. First you need a tripod to keep the camera steady, anything in the shot that is moving, however slightly will come out blurred. Even the boats tied up in the harbour were moving with the gentle rise and fall of the water. On the plus side great light reflections can be captured by the camera and the movement of waves reduced to a milky, misty, even magical element in the image.
Buoyed by the photo shoot experience three members went to the Montrose area on Sunday starting off at 8.00 and not returning until after 7.00.
At the next meeting it will be ‘back to normal’ – starting in the JIC Building, Albert Street at 7.30 on 25th September members will be looking at images that have be accepted into national competitions to learn and be inspired by some of the best amateur photographers in the UK.
But the photo shoots are also a great source of inspiration. More trips are being planned to find autumn colours, wildlife, and breath-taking scenery.
More images from the photo shoots can be found on the Fraserburgh Photographic Society Facebook page, and you an post your own pictures on there as well.
At the next meeting it will be ‘back to normal’ – starting in the JIC Building, Albert Street at 7.30 on 25th September members will be looking at images that have be accepted into national competitions to learn and be inspired by some of the best amateur photographers in the UK.
But the photo shoots are also a great source of inspiration. More trips are being planned to find autumn colours, wildlife, and breath-taking scenery.
More images from the photo shoots can be found on the Fraserburgh Photographic Society Facebook page, and you an post your own pictures on there as well.
11th September 2014
Fraserburgh Photographic Society met on 11th September when members were asked to bring up to ten images to show what they had done in the summer.
A wide variety of approaches were taken to the exercise. Some members concentrated on one visit or activity for example a day at the F1 race at Silverstone or a Mediterranean cruise. Others submitted images from a number of visits, events or activities that they had been involved in. Others concentrated on submitting stunning photographs that they had taken over the summer. Yet others looked in detail at one aspect of their summer that had caught their attention – Ian Maben had developed an interest in photographing insects, Ally Henderson submitted seven shots taken of one windsurfer taking off and landing.
Brian Sandisons’ ‘Cameron on a Jet Ski’ was achieved in somewhat difficult conditions. Brian was on a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) travelling at 30 miles per hour and the Jet Ski was slightly faster. Getting the Jet Ski in shot took some doing. Getting the image sharp with all the vibration of the RIB engine and the jarring and juddering as it sped over the water required great skill.
Ian Maben did not face such environmental difficulties with his shot of damselflies but getting such an intimate picture of such small creatures means that you have to get close without causing disturbance. Focus is also critical at close range. Ian chose to focus on the head of the female for this shot.
A wide variety of approaches were taken to the exercise. Some members concentrated on one visit or activity for example a day at the F1 race at Silverstone or a Mediterranean cruise. Others submitted images from a number of visits, events or activities that they had been involved in. Others concentrated on submitting stunning photographs that they had taken over the summer. Yet others looked in detail at one aspect of their summer that had caught their attention – Ian Maben had developed an interest in photographing insects, Ally Henderson submitted seven shots taken of one windsurfer taking off and landing.
Brian Sandisons’ ‘Cameron on a Jet Ski’ was achieved in somewhat difficult conditions. Brian was on a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) travelling at 30 miles per hour and the Jet Ski was slightly faster. Getting the Jet Ski in shot took some doing. Getting the image sharp with all the vibration of the RIB engine and the jarring and juddering as it sped over the water required great skill.
Ian Maben did not face such environmental difficulties with his shot of damselflies but getting such an intimate picture of such small creatures means that you have to get close without causing disturbance. Focus is also critical at close range. Ian chose to focus on the head of the female for this shot.
8th May Annual Dinner
The Fraserburgh Photographic Society Annual Dinner and presentation evening was held in the Fraserburgh Leisure Centre on 8th May. After the meal members and their guests were given a slide show of all the entries in the six monthly competitions that had been held during the 2013/4 season.
Society president Andrew West then made the presentation for the Stanley Partridge trophy for the highest scores in the print and themed competitions. Andrew said that it had been a close competition with only 8 points separating the top six places
First prize went to Paul Woodburn with 190 points
Second was Brian Sandison who scored 187
Stuart Fenty was third and scored 184
Society president Andrew West then made the presentation for the Stanley Partridge trophy for the highest scores in the print and themed competitions. Andrew said that it had been a close competition with only 8 points separating the top six places
First prize went to Paul Woodburn with 190 points
Second was Brian Sandison who scored 187
Stuart Fenty was third and scored 184
Andrew then presented the trophy for Photographer of the year. This is given to the person with the highest total score from the six monthly open competitions
First was Alister Henderson with 296 points
Runner-up was Stuart Fenty with 287
Third was Mike Chandler with 283
First was Alister Henderson with 296 points
Runner-up was Stuart Fenty with 287
Third was Mike Chandler with 283