Back to Basics
Derek Smith • 19 March 2022
Wine Glasses
Photo By: Derek Smith
Victorian Sewing Kit
Photo By: Derek Smith
Ninja
Photo By: Derek Smith
South Kyme
Photo By: Derek Smith
Within our Society we have photographers of all abilities, and whether you are a beginner, or an experienced photographer it’s sometimes good to review our photography skills.
Compositional Techniques – A photo should always tell a story, a narrative that conveys the subject, or point of interest of the image immediately to the viewer, so remember that lines pointing toward the subject can guide the eye. Having the subject brighter than the surrounding area is also a good technique, a shaft of light on a building can often be utilised when a break in the clouds allows. Very bright grey featureless skies can be the bane of landscape photography, try tilting the camera down to reduce the amount of sky in the final image, or try photographing the scene at a different time of day. The positioning of a subject within the photo frame is also important, if the subject can move, give it room to move into the frame, if the subject has eyes have the direction of gaze looking into the frame, or look at a point of interest within the frame, in portraiture perhaps the subject could look directly at the photographer. Decide from the outset what to include in the photo, or even more importantly what to leave out.
Focus Points – With modern digital cameras a photographer should be able to control the size, and positioning of the focus point. Leaving the focus on automatic, and wide runs the risk of the camera focus locking onto something other than your subject, or a point of interest, usually it’s the nearest thing to the camera, a blade of grass, or a tree!! Learn how to control the size, and position of the focus point on your camera thus ensuring the subject of the image is sharp.
Get Out of Auto – We use the auto exposure mode regularly on our mobile phones, and sometimes on our cameras, and there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with taking photos on Auto mode however, a photographer can be far more creative, and produce a more impactful image by selecting Aperture Priority on the camera.
Aperture Priority Explained – The aperture of a lens, the size of the iris, the hole that lets the light into the camera via the lens, is controlled by the aperture blades. Using Aperture Priority mode allows the photographer to control, and vary the aperture, to adjust for the scene, and the ambient light. The size of aperture is denoted by what’s known as an “f” number, with the lowest “f” number opening the widest, and therefore letting the most light into the camera. In Aperture Priority mode as the aperture is varied, the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to give the correct exposure. Learning the effects of the different apertures can be slightly daunting for someone new to photography, so as we now know that in Aperture Priority mode adjusting the aperture also adjusts the shutter speed I would like you to think of the aperture settings, in bands, related to the shutter speed.
Fast: f/1.0 – f/3.5, sometimes referred to as “wide open”, allows the most light into the camera, and therefore gives the highest shutter speeds. Useful for indoor low light situations, and portraits.
Medium: f/4 – f/7.1, allows less light into the camera, useful for photography of birds, small mammals, and portraits.
Slow: f/8 – f/16, often referred to as “stopped down”, this is an ideal setting for landscape, architecture, and portraits.
It is also useful to remember that most lenses produce the sharpest images between f/4 – f/8.
Practical Application – Learn how to locate, and be able to adjust the aperture, on your camera. Setting the Mode Dial to “A” or “Av” puts the camera into Aperture Priority mode, and usually a control wheel on the camera adjusts the aperture range. One other control to consider is ISO, which controls the sensitivity of the sensor. Locate, and be able to adjust the ISO on your particular model of camera, you may have to press a button on the back of the camera, to enable adjustment of the ISO.
Exercise – Having located the Aperture, and ISO controls on the camera, try this practical exercise; set the aperture to the “Fastest” aperture for your camera / lens combination, it may be f/2, or f/3.5. Set the ISO to 200, half press the shutter button and note the shutter speed, either in the viewfinder, or on the rear screen. Now, double the ISO to 400, and the shutter speed will double as well, repeat the experiment, at ISO settings of 800, 1600, and 3200, and observe the shutter speed double each time. You now have total control of your camera!!
It is useful to understand that a shutter speed of 1/60, and above, should enable a blur free handheld image of a static subject, (although image stabilisation, a tripod, or a convenient fence may help to steady the camera when using a slower shutter speed), and that a faster shutter speed of 1/250 will freeze action in a moving subject.
Sample Images
Wine glasses: This monochrome image taken at a “Fast” aperture of f/2, ISO 200, and shutter speed of 1/200 demonstrates a creative aspect of a “Fast” aperture, the foremost wine glass is sharp, but the wine glasses behind are blurred, and this type of image is not possible in Automatic Mode.
Victorian Sewing Kit: This image taken in a National Trust property which do not allow flash photography. Using a “Medium” aperture this time of f/4.5, ISO 6400, and shutter speed of 1/8, (utilising the camera stabilisation), I found the colours very pleasing.
Ninja: This image of a speeding motorcycle was taken at Cadwell circuit, the “Medium” aperture of f/5, ISO 64, and a shutter speed of 1/250. The camera settings coupled with a technique known as “panning”, which is locking the focus onto the motorcyclist and following the bike through its progress as it passes the photographer. The blurred background, together with the blurred wheels create a dynamic image of speed on the circuit.
South Kyme: Finally a landscape image, the deep blue spring sky, the chapel on the left balanced by the tree on the right. The “Slow” aperture of f/8, ISO 160, with a shutter speed of 1/850, I possibly could have stopped the aperture down to f/10, but generally pleased with the result, and the deep colours.
I hope that this post has inspired you, demystifies some photographic techniques, and helps you to enjoy photography.
Louth Photographic Society
Good Morning All Last week members walked along the Swaby valley, we have done the walk before, but it is now very grown up with nettles, grass and brambles. Not put off Chris led us through the valley to Swaby, there were six of us plus three more who caught us up in Swaby. The butterflies we saw as I am finding out this year just don't want to settle but we did manage some photographs before returning and going for a drink in the Massingberd Arms. This week there is an LPA Battle at Axholme on Wednesday starting at 7.30, if anyone would like to attend, please email me for details or look on Axholme's website. We are not having a meeting in Louth this week, probably as well the way the football went last night and with the next match on Wednesday evening. Regards Graham
Last night our members enjoyed a visit to the Swaby valley nature reserve. We crossed over two fields from South Thoresby, then followed the course of the Swaby Beck chalk stream through the valley, the public footpath was bounded by dense vegetation that hindered our progress at times. There was plenty to see around the reserve, myriad butterflies flitted around in a very lively manner, making for difficult photography, I spotted several small grasshoppers, and soldier beetles in the long grass, I tried to photograph a ladybird, but it was gone by the time I focussed on the creature. It was a very enjoyable evening, with good friendly company, and our camera skills were needed for the macro photography, these are a few of my photos from the evening.
Good Morning All Last week's outing was re-scheduled due to a clash with a certain world cup match, the good news was a victory for England, however we intend to still hold the outing on Wednesday 22 nd July. I did go to the Festival of Flight at the Shuttleworth collection, Old Warden last weekend. It was too windy for some of the old Biplanes, but we were treated to a four-and-a-half-hour display featuring many planes that I had never seen fly before. The De Havilland Comet was built to compete in the 1934 race from Britain to Australia, only three were built and it's good to see it flying, the aircraft design was quite advanced for 1934. This week, Wednesday 8th July, we have another camera club outing to the Swaby Valley, meeting at 6pm. Swaby is just off the A16 heading from Louth to Skegness. Regards Graham
Last night’s Louth Photographic Societies outing to Kirkby gravel pits nature reserve was cancelled as some members preferred to watch some sporting gentleman by the name of Harry Kane. (Congratulations to the England team) The reserve is small, and simply laid out, a public footpath leads along a tree lined avenue to the river Bain at the back of the reserve. Historic sand and gravel extraction has left a large lake in the centre of the reserve, several ducks and waterfowl inhabit the lake and there is a bird hide on the shoreline. Returning to the road, there is a path running parallel to the road bounded by a hedge, insects of various types can be found in this area, damselflies, butterflies, and hover-flies are often prolific. Our outing to Kirkby Gravel pits is now scheduled for Wednesday 22nd July. Parking is on the verge by the roadside. Kirkby Gravel pits are fairly close to where I live, and it’s reserve that I often visit, these are some photos from a visit in July last year.
Good morning, All, Last week at the club we had our monthly print competition, Trees and Open. There was a very good entry with a high standard of photography on show. Tony Gaskins was first in the Open and I managed a first in the trees, all the results are on our website and there is also a blog on the evening. This week, Wednesday 1st July, we are having an outing to Kirkby Gravel Pits, if we meet at 6.30 at the reserve, though you can arrive earlier as there are usually dragonflies etc around the entrance. If we walk straight ahead first, then anyone who arrives late can find us. I have struggled to find a map, but you can see the location on the Lincolnshire wildlife Trust website. Kirkby Grave Pits is also a good reserve for birds. Tattershall Road 1 mile south of Kirkby-on-Bain Woodhall Spa Nearest postcode LN10 6YN. Please note - postcodes are for the nearest registered address as we are unable to get postcodes for nature reserves.
A print competition was held last night with the categories of "Trees" as the subject, and "Open". Our judge for the evening was Gail Wrigg from Barton who did an expert job. The first category to be judged was the "Open" with the high standard of prints making the choice of top placement difficult, and Gail held back 9 prints for further evaluation. There were some chuckles from members around one of Richard Hildred's prints of wooden electricity poles titled "In my previous life I used to be one of them" an "in" joke from Richard, which totally baffled Gail. After the break Gail judged the "Trees" category, with 7 prints held back this time for awarding of higher marks, the beautiful colours of some trees, especially the autumnal images contrasting with the stunning monochrome infrared prints from Richard Hildred. It was a great evening, with excellent prints on display, and the website Competition page has been updated with the full results.
Good Morning All Last week we visited the nature reserves at Fir Hill quarry and Muckton wood. I have written a blog report on the evening which is on our website. You can always try something a little different like I did using camera movement. This week, Wednesday 24th June, a print competition will be held, with the categories of "Trees" and "Open" and is to be judged by Gail Wrigg. The following week we have an outing to Kirkby Gravel pits. If you want advice on camera settings etc the outings are the perfect opportunity to ask other members while we all have our cameras. Regards Graham
Each year Louth Photographic Society begins a new project, one photo taken each month on a specific subject, that's 12 photos presented on "Project Night" in January. Last year the subject was "Prime Time" one photo each month taken with the same fixed focal length lens. This year the subject is water, the subject sounds easy enough, and I've completed 5 photos already, but I'm struggling a little with a photo for June. I'm currently on holiday in Corfu, an island surrounded by water which should be easy, but I'm yet to find the "definitive" photo for the project. These are my photos so far this month: Best regards Derek
Good Evening All
Summer is here at last, maybe?
