After Repeated Failures
Paul Malley • 31 March 2023
Lancaster
Photo By: Paul Malley
Kingfisher
Photo By: Paul Malley
Perilous
Photo By: Paul Malley
LEARNING FROM MISTAKES
After repeated failures, Thomas Edison was purported to have stated that he "now knew of a thousand different ways not to make a light bulb work"; Following many trials and errors, he finally came across a process which successfully led to the development for the initial grounding for what we accept today, to be a common place and accepted item. Perhaps it is also the same in our journey through Photography? As I look back through some of my earlier personal work and images, they would be classed as nothing short of 'disastrous' compared to today's standards, but they were all part of my transition and development. In today's Club Competitions, I wouldn't expect to get an 11/12 (from a favourable Judge) based on the ideas, methods and simple 'Fads' in use at that time. Follow me through 3 of my earlier failures...
1. Lancaster. Many software programs nowadays include a simple 'Solarisation' slider. Used carefully and in moderation, I find they can enhance vibrancy in some colours. In the very early good(?), old days of Photoshop Elements, the way to get Solarised effects was to play drastically and erratically with the Curves feature, locking midpoint and dragging the sides up and down until you were happy with the wildly extreme gaudy effects, which often came close to burning your retinas out. No two images came out the same, there was no consistency and the awful garish results produced were not to everyone's taste. However, it was a new FAD, and I did sell multiple copies of Military aircraft using different extremes of this process. I learned it in 2008 and its been 15yrs since I've used it. Colour-popping anyone? - try it, get over it.
2. Perilous. One of the things I've come to learn in photography is that the image needs to 'look real'. In attempting to create dynamic, fast paced action shots, 'Dutch Tilt' is a favoured method, either on an upward or downward incline. Just bear in mind where there is a pronounced horizon or waterline, it's a dead give-away. In this image, the Rider is too tight in the frame, has no breathing space and looks like he's just about to fall off the edge of the Planet; another 12 maybe for this because at least we can see his face (more by luck than judgement). Moreover, reviewing my work, I've learned better about panning, shutter speed, focus lock, composition, angles and.... if Hornby ever produce a camera WITHOUT Back Button Focus option, that's the one for me!
3. Wholesome Meal. Oh dear, this is where the excitement of the event overtook me and, in selecting Canon's marvellous tracking AI Servo with High Speed Drive in machine-gun mode, I must have taken some 25 shots, almost identical. In the days of film this would not be cost effective; today in the almost infallible camera functionality, its more interpreted as a guaranteed way to get a shot. What a waste I tell myself; it's too small in the frame, composition is poor with the angle of the fish, the image is muted and dull in colour as I didn't wait for the right light and, because it's a cropped image its very much over-sharpened.
Sometimes it pays to be analytical, even self critical because it's a route to identifying areas which you can improve upon - and surely that something we all want to do in our hobby isn't it?
Louth Photographic Society
Good Morning, All, Last week at the club member Chris Birchmore gave a presentation on MPP cameras which included some of Chris's collection of cameras and prints taken. There is a report on the evening on our blog page. Thank you Chris for an interesting evening. This week, Wednesday 1st April, we are holding a local and open PDI competition the local subject being nature, please if you haven't already, send your entries to Harry before midnight tonight. Members Steve Chapman and Dave Turner have volunteered to judge. Also on the Wednesday 1st April our Louth Photographic Society 70th anniversary exhibition will be open to view at the Louth Museum. Regards Graham
Chris Birchmore gave an informative, and interesting talk and demonstration of his medium format film cameras. at the beginning of the evening Chris gave a potted history of the origins of the MPP cameras he was showing us. The cameras take a 5 x 4" film stock, and looking at the cameras it seems incredible that photographers in the recent past could take excellent photographs with these. The MPP cameras were often used by the British Armed Forcies during the Second World War, and throughout the 1950s, and 60s, and some of these medium format were still being manufactured in the 1970s. The prints that Chris showed taken with these cameras were of excellent quality, with an amazing depth of field. Many thanks Chris for a fascinating evening.
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held a committee meeting, which was very productive, we made the final arrangements for the exhibition, charity night, and studio evening as well as other items on the agenda. We are holding an Exhibition opening night at Louth Museum on Friday 17th April celebrating 70 years of Louth Photographic Society. There will be a small buffet and cold drinks available, if any member would like to donate a bottle of wine to the occasion please hand it to Harry at one of our club nights. This week, Wednesday 25th March, member Chris Birchmore will be giving us a presentation. The following week is a local competition, with the categoriess of "Local Nature" (up to 25 miles radius from St James church) and "Open" (unlimited mileage) please send your entries to Harry before midnight, Sunday 29th March. Members Steve Chapman will judge the Nature category, and Dave Turner the Open category. Regards Graham
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held our monthly PDI competition judged by Martyn Wrigg, the standard of entries was very high and well done to Tony Gaskins for a first in the Architectural Detail and Derek Smith for his first place in the Open. All the results are on our website under competitions. This week, Wednesday 18th March we will be holding a Committee meeting, just committee members for this one. The following week Chris Birchmore is the speaker for the night. Harry is now accepting entries for the PDI local competition, with the categories of "Local Nature" and "Open". We judge this competition in house so if you would like to judge one of the subjects please let me know. Regards Graham
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A PDI (Projected Digital Image) competition was held last night with the categories of "Architectural Detail", and "Open". Martyn Wrigg was our judge for the evening, and he competently judged the submitted images, although he diid surprise with some of his choices of placing, but that's a judges perogative. Martyn complemented members on the quality of the images presented, which had made some of his decisions difficult. First placed was "It's a Fixer Upper" in the Architectural Detail section, and "Dervish Musician" in the Open section. Congratulations to Robin Begley, who as one of our newest members submitted some impressive images, achieving a 3rd place in "Architectural Details", and 2nd in the "Open" category. All the results are now posted to our website Competition page.
Good Morning All Last week at the club member Steve Chapman gave us an insight into his life and especially his time at Ilam Park in Derbyshire photographing for the National Trust. Steve showed us many photographs he had taken of the people involved with the trust and the Peak District. The second half was dedicated to Steve's own work, some superb aircraft photography as well as many other subjects. There is a report on the evening on our blog page. This week, Wednesday 11th March we are holding a PDI competition, with the categories of "Architectural Detail " and "Open" to be judged by Martyn Wrigg of Barton. The following week is a committee meeting for the committee members only on that evening. For newer members we have two committee meetings a year. Regards Graham
Last night Steve Chapman presented a selection of images from his archives. Steve had previously been a volunteer photographer for the National Trust, and he showed many photos from the Ilam Park Estate, Dovedale, it was interesting to see some of the "behind the scenes" photos. The Jacobite reenactment battle scenes were amazing, the uniforms showed great attention to detail, and there were some real characters among the reenactors. After the break Steve showed some of his general photography, he has a great photographic eye, as some of his photos showed with different colours, shapes, and leading lines. Steve has taken many photos of agricultural machinery, and risked life and limb to create some close up aircraft photos. For atmosphere, just look at these horseriders at the top of the hill on a cool early morning. For heartstopping imagery look at these children on the side of a building, the children are photos on the side of the building, however, Steve wasted no time in capturing this stunning image. Many thanks to Steve for a fascinating evening.
Good Morning All Last week at the club I gave you a PDI (Projected Digital Image) presentation showing photographs I had taken on my travels last year, following up with some past and present photographs of Binbrook. I hope you all enjoyed the evening and maybe saw parts of England you hadn't seen before. This week, Wednesday 4th March, our member Steve Chapman will be showing us photographs he has taken. This is Steve's first time showing the club his work so will be a very good night. Harry is now accepting your PDI's for the next competition, with the categories of "Architectural Detail" and "Open". The closing date is Friday 6th March. Regards Graham
The N&EMPF Exhibition will be on display in Cleethorpes from 3rd March.
