Preparing Images for PDI Competitions
Derek Smith • 18 August 2021
Preparing Images for PDI Competitions
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’m looking forward to meeting up together as a club again and participating in the club, and inter-club competitions. Today I’m going to write about my thoughts on preparing for competitions.
Intentional photography: what are you going to photograph today? Look at the club programme and think about the images that would be needed for each competition category. I spent a few days in the Peak District recently with the full intention of capturing images for the “Trains”, and “Buildings in a Landscape” categories, I’m not sure that I achieved my goals, but the most important thing about our hobby is the pure pleasure, and enjoyment of taking pictures. Don’t get hung up if you haven’t come away with a “great” photo, it is far more important that you have been out, and experienced the sights, sounds, and people around you.
Editing photos: my advice here is to find a photo editing suite that you are familiar with, and comfortable in using. YouTube has a great many tutorials to assist with learning the software, Nigel Danson is a landscape photographer producing regular YouTube videos with tips on composition, as well as editing techniques. Gary McIntyre is another favourite of mine on YouTube, talking you through the editing process easily.
Preparing an image for competitions: once the image has been edited, I would suggest saving the edited image at full size, for example a 6000-pixel x 4000-pixel image. Resize this image to one of the maximum dimensions, either 1200-pixel, or 1920-pixel to suit the required size for the projector, possibly saving the resized image to a temporary folder.
For the next stage an image editor that allows for working in layers is required, Adobe produce software for layering of images, as does Serif Affinity Photo, there are also free photo editors available Gimp, which is cross-platform, and Paint.Net for Windows. Open the image editor with a blank tab and create a 1920-pixel x 1200-pixel blank background image with a white, or possibly a black background, open the edited image of your choice, then copy this image, and paste onto the background, then centre the edited image onto the background. There may well be space to either side of the image, or to the top, and bottom of the image, but this is immaterial as the composite image is now optimised for viewing on a projector screen. Save the complete composite image into a memorable folder, I have a temporary folder on my drive called simply “Upload”, the composite image will now be devoid of any EXIF data, but the author's name, and title of the image can now be added, detailed instructions for doing this can be found on our website.
Sending competition entries: the edited images for submission to the competition should be sent to the Competition Secretary. The majority of us send the images via “WeTransfer”, this free to use internet software is easy to use, and notifies when the images have been sent, and when the images have been downloaded.
This portrait of Chloe has been optimised for the projector as described and is on a black background as I thought that it looked better.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’m looking forward to meeting up together as a club again and participating in the club, and inter-club competitions. Today I’m going to write about my thoughts on preparing for competitions.
Intentional photography: what are you going to photograph today? Look at the club programme and think about the images that would be needed for each competition category. I spent a few days in the Peak District recently with the full intention of capturing images for the “Trains”, and “Buildings in a Landscape” categories, I’m not sure that I achieved my goals, but the most important thing about our hobby is the pure pleasure, and enjoyment of taking pictures. Don’t get hung up if you haven’t come away with a “great” photo, it is far more important that you have been out, and experienced the sights, sounds, and people around you.
Editing photos: my advice here is to find a photo editing suite that you are familiar with, and comfortable in using. YouTube has a great many tutorials to assist with learning the software, Nigel Danson is a landscape photographer producing regular YouTube videos with tips on composition, as well as editing techniques. Gary McIntyre is another favourite of mine on YouTube, talking you through the editing process easily.
Preparing an image for competitions: once the image has been edited, I would suggest saving the edited image at full size, for example a 6000-pixel x 4000-pixel image. Resize this image to one of the maximum dimensions, either 1200-pixel, or 1920-pixel to suit the required size for the projector, possibly saving the resized image to a temporary folder.
For the next stage an image editor that allows for working in layers is required, Adobe produce software for layering of images, as does Serif Affinity Photo, there are also free photo editors available Gimp, which is cross-platform, and Paint.Net for Windows. Open the image editor with a blank tab and create a 1920-pixel x 1200-pixel blank background image with a white, or possibly a black background, open the edited image of your choice, then copy this image, and paste onto the background, then centre the edited image onto the background. There may well be space to either side of the image, or to the top, and bottom of the image, but this is immaterial as the composite image is now optimised for viewing on a projector screen. Save the complete composite image into a memorable folder, I have a temporary folder on my drive called simply “Upload”, the composite image will now be devoid of any EXIF data, but the author's name, and title of the image can now be added, detailed instructions for doing this can be found on our website.
Sending competition entries: the edited images for submission to the competition should be sent to the Competition Secretary. The majority of us send the images via “WeTransfer”, this free to use internet software is easy to use, and notifies when the images have been sent, and when the images have been downloaded.
This portrait of Chloe has been optimised for the projector as described and is on a black background as I thought that it looked better.
Louth Photographic Society
Last night Dave Mann gave an excellent talk on his visit to Beamish in May last year. Dave explored much more of the Beamish site than when I visited in April last year, Dave mentioned the difficulties of getting on some of the vintage transport around the site, I experienced the same during my visit. It's a fascinating historic working museum and well recommended for a visit. Many thanks Dave for an entertaining evening.
Good Morning All Last week at the club we had our yearly project night, last year it was one photograph a month with the same focal length, there is a full report on the evening on our blog page, but four members did last year's project with newer member Sam Collet showing photographs at the club for the first time, some excellent photographs taken in Japan. It would be good if a few more members took part this year, just one photograph a month with the subject being water. Attached is my January photograph from last year, it would work for this years project as well. This week, Wednesday 28th January, our catering manager Dave Mann will be having a week off and showing some of his photographs. His presentation will be a mixed bag of photographs. Don't forget to send Dave Turner an email with your titles for the print of the year. Entries will need bringing in on the 4th February. Regards Graham
We held our "Project Night" last night, the theme being "Prime Time", one photo each month taken over the previous 12 months, using the same focal length "prime" lens. Myself, Harry Kerman, Keith Rossington, and Graham Harrison, had each completed the project and were able to show their results as projected images at the meeting. The results of the project were very interesting, seeing how each photographer had approached the theme, and their interpretation of the project. I have posted here one image from each photographer. The evening was rounded off by one of our newer members, Sam Collett, displaying some of his images taken on a visit to Japan, his wildlife photography was stunning in detail, and quality, well done Sam.
Good morning All Last week at the club we held our monthly competition, a PDI, with the categories of "Insects" and "Open". There was a good level of entries and some excellent photography. The competition was judged by Colin Lusby of NELPS Photographic Society. The "Open" category was won by Dave Turner with an excellent landscape of Llanberis, and I managed a first place in the subject competition with a Willow Emerald Damselfly, still quite rare but I photographed this one at Bressingham Gardens Norfolk. The results and photographs are on are website under competitions. This week, Wednesday 21st January, is our project night, only four members took part, hopefully more will take part this year. The subject was "Prime Time", one photograph a month with the same focal length lens. To finish the evening, Paul Twomey is showing his mini lecture that he missed last time, and newer member Sam Collett is showing some of his work. The new project subject is Water, one photograph a month including water. There is plenty of water about at the moment, the rivers are flowing well for a start. Dave Turner will now accept your titles for Print of the year, the same subjects as the PDI of the year but with the addition of Best mono in competition as well. This is chosen by the judge from any mono print in the six subjects. Regards Graham
It was our first meeting after the Christmas break, it was good to be back and the meeting was well attended. We held a PDI competition with the categories of “Insects”, and “Open”, our judge for the evening was Colin Lusby, who is a very experienced judge, and he gave many useful tips, and suggestions on how to improve our images for greater impact. Dave Turner took the well deserved top spot, in the “Open” category with his image of “Moody Llanberis”, landscape photography doesn’t just need a good view, the skill is in capturing the mood, the light, and the shadows, as well as the scene – Dave has captured the scene perfectly, it’s a view that anyone would love to hang on their wall. In the “Insects” category, Graham Harrison took the top spot with his perfectly sharp Willow Emerald Damselfly, this is a beautiful green iridescent insect pictured on a stalk, an excellent capture. The Competition page on the our website has been updated with the top three images in each category, and the score sheets.
Good Morning All I photographed this Treecreeper bird at Linwood Warren recently. We start back again this Wednesday 14th January with a PDI competition, the categories are "Insects" and "Open" to be judged by Colin Lusby of NELPS. The list of entries has been sent out and we have a good entry, fifty images altogether. The following week we hold our project night, "Prime Time", we have four members showing their images from the project. Regards Graham
The use of monochrome images seems to be coming back into fashion of late. Many of a certain generation will remember when monochrome was everywhere, television, newspapers, magazines, films, and our own photos (black and white film was less expensive), I remember in the mid sixties when the Sun newspaper (a broadsheet at that time) and the Daily Herald began a rivalry to publish the most colour photos into each edition. Monochrome images can sometimes convey a mood, and detail that’s not always evident in a colour photograph. Converting a digital colour image to monochrome can take a fair amount of skill, sometimes it’s helpful to visualise the image as a monochrome before even taking the photo, when editing the blacks have to be rendered as pure black, and the whites rendered as pure white, with a range of greys in-between, otherwise an image can look “muddy”. If your camera allows possibly try shooting some images in monochrome. Portraits, architecture, landscape, street photography, and trees often make the best monochrome images, and rarely wildlife, although my image of a lizard is quite effective. I shall be running a “Photo Editing” workshop on the 4th February, and members will have a chance to try converting colour digital images to monochrome.
Good Morning All I have been out a few times with my camera, there are a lot of Fieldfares around in large flocks at the moment, the only trouble is they soon take flight so are quite hard to get near, this one was from the car window. Our first meeting back in the New Year will be January 14th opening with a PDI competition, the categories are "Insects" and "Open" judged by Colin Lusby, please send your entries to Harry with a closing date of midnight the 7th January. The following week is the project night where members were asked to take part and using a prime lens take one photograph a month. Myself and Derek have done the project could any members who have taken part let me know please so I have an idea how much time will be left over. We are hoping to enter the N&EMPF club PDI competition and LPA club PDI competition, Harry as usual will organise an entry for us but if you can send him up to six of your very best PDI's when you have time, please. The main rule is it can't have been in the competition before. You may need to send them in two files as LPA use a size of 1920 x 1080 and NEMPF 1600 x 1200. The new project for this year is water, one photograph a month which includes water. The projects will be then shown January 2027. There is also the LPA individual PDI competition you may want to enter, Derek sent details a few weeks ago but information can be found on the Lincolnshire Photographic associations website. Regards Graham
So, why did I swap my Olympus OM-D E-M5 iii camera, and associated lenses for the Fuji XT-3 and lens system, and return to Olympus / OM Systems just a few years later? The Olympus E-M5 iii was, and still is a very capable camera, with a 20Mp micro four thirds sensor, and fully weather proofed, my camera upgrade path was to the OM-D E-M1 iii, but it would have cost me at least £1000, providing me with dual SD cards, and a few extra controls. It was cheaper for me to sell all my Olympus gear, and buy into the Fuji ecosystem, the XT-3 had the dual SD card slots, and promised to have improved image quality. The Fuji lens selection was extensive, and I bought a pair of zoom lenses, and a couple of prime lenses. Later on I bought the Fuji XS-20 as an everyday carry camera, but it was forever warning of overheating. I was content with the Fuji system for several years, I would liked to have photographed more birds, and wildlife, however the reach (focal length) of the 70-300mm Fuji lens was a limiting factor. I took some of my best photographs with the Fuji system, and the Fuji 16-80mm zoom lens was one of my favourite all-round lens. The turning point for me was the launch of the OM Systems OM-1, with a stacked BSI sensor, and subject detection AF, I could have chosen a Nikon, or Canon camera system but the lens selection was limited at that time for the latest mirror-less cameras. I sold all the Fuji gear, and bought a used OM-1 camera for £850, closely followed by a 12-45mm f/4 zoom lens, the 17mm f/1.8 prime (an all time favourite of mine) the 25mm f/1.8, and the 45mm f/1.8 prime. I’ve repurchased the Olympus E-M5 iii, as it’s a great small everyday carry for travel, and general photography. The lens I bought last year was the 60mm f/2.8 macro lens, which has enabled me to take some great insect photos. For bird, and wildlife photography I have been using the Olympus 70-300mm zoom lens, but I’ve just upgraded that to a OM Systems 100-400mm zoom lens, which is stabilised to 7 stops of IBIS on the OM-1, and is fully waterproof, and dustproof. As the micro four thirds sensor is smaller than a full frame sensor, you have to double the focal length to obtain an equivalent viewing angle to a full frame camera, thus the 100-400mm lens becomes equivalent to 200-800mm on a full frame camera. For this coming year I intend to be more focused (no pun intended) on landscape, and wildlife photography, watch this space. Whatever camera, or phone you’re taking photos with just enjoy your hobby, and keep learning and improving.
Good Morning All I hope you all had a very good Christmas and wishing you all a happy new year. I tried to find one photograph that summed up the year. Regards Graham
