What Would You Like to See?
Paul Malley • 3 July 2020
What would you like to see...?
Over the last 35 or so years in which I have greatly enjoyed my photography, there have been many advances as a consequence of technology. In the 'good old days' (so called), of film, before software programs were needed, these advances were mainly in the field of lenses and camera bodies/internal functions. The advent of Digital has produced some remarkable leaps forward in what can be attained, so much so that a basic 'entry level' camera, kit lens and free software can produce excellent outputs.
I have pondered what the future may bring, especially when we consider that certain things which we previously thought impossible, may, in the future be potentially achievable. With this in mind, here is my 'Wish List' for what is my first choice for new functionality in each of the following: Camera internal, Lens and finally Software:
1. Camera Internal - Sensor Development for ISO : It goes without saying that not too long ago, anything with an ISO above 400 was to be avoided, especially with film, unless you wanted grain the size of golf balls! Sensor development in Digital Cameras is astounding today, to the extent that an ISO of 12800 is eminently useable and, although I have never used it in anger, H+ at 104,000 ISO can easily identify details in standard photography. Personally, I do not consider flash requirement until I get to 6400 ISO, as I know the sensor is good and then software can assist further post capture. However, there is a difference in the ISO capability between full-frame and the variance of Crop. This is where I would like to see development further. We are aware of current limitations of the number of sites which can be placed on a sensor, their position on the array, their light gathering capacity, and even filtering (where used), to counter effect Moiré. Come the day that a crop Sensor comes very, very close to the capability of a full frame then I may look at changing bodies. The apparent extra reach in terms of the crop at the top end of a zoom, coupled to its general weight and fast shooting rate would be good for the wildlife genre I enjoy, but I don't wish to lose the full frame benefit of post production cropping without image detriment. This is a continual area for technological advancement, - since there must come a point where the physical limit of the Sensor is reached and then science can turn to the voltage variance across the sensor to assist the ISO.
2. Lens - Range and Weight : As I've mentioned above, I enjoy my wildlife photography. Because medical science cannot yet reverse the effects of aging, lugging a full frame kit round for the day can be tiresome. I use a 100-400mm zoom with a 1.4 extender (effective range becomes 100-560mm), which covers most options. My latest firmware update allows the camera to operate with f value at f8 or below for autofocus, plus values above. The alternative to this is the mighty 500mm f4 fixed prime. Zooms are great, but the images from a prime are generally accepted to be better (MTF charts as evidence). Optics nowadays cover 150-600mm with ease; my wish would be a 10-600mm f4, yes, that's correct 10mm-600mm. I would suggest f2.8, but I think the laws of optics may discount this, and the lens cap would be the size of a dustbin lid for the light gathering capability. I'd also have to hire Arnold Schwarzenegger, or a team of Nepalese Sherpas to carry the kit. The length of this beautiful optic must be less than 10" to keep the unit balanced. Improbable, maybe, but hey, it took just 10 years from nothing to get a man on the moon, so who knows...
3. Software - A return to single purchase programs (not monthly), which can be customised : There's two very good reasons why I do not use the current monthly payment for LR and PS; firstly, as a Yorkshireman I think its overpriced, and secondly its full of extra bits that I'd be paying for, which I would never use in a million years (I'm back to that medical ageing thing again). I know that the Adobe package is regularly updated and it's all done for you, but 3yrs+ at £10/month is £360.00+. I think there are better programs available. I currently use PS Elements13, (it's so old that some of the functions are written in Latin), however, it was a one-off purchase for £40 and it generally meets my needs. I say generally, because there are a few extras from other mixed programs which I would like and would use, therefore my reasoning for a 'customised package tailored to meet customer specification.' I would like to order a version of PS, or even the cut down version of PSElements which have the following embedded, and not as a bolt on: Fully backwards compatible RAW interface to open files in: Individual colour channel sliders for use in Black and White: A Curves adjustment rather than limited sliders, a quality Panoramic Stitch and a 75 image Stacking function. The closest I have seen to this, to date is Serif Affinity. I would go on-line, order my customised program and then receive the CD in the post - aaah, the good old days again.
So, there we go; that's my vision and aspirations to the Photographic Industry.
I'd like to hear your thoughts, hopes and wishes for where we could go in the years ahead.
Louth Photographic Society
Our speaker last night was our very own member Tony Gaskins, who gave an excellent presentation "Coast 3" with some stunning visual images. Tony specialises in capturing long exposure coastal scenes, he related how beginning several years ago with a long exposure view of Whitby Pier he got the "bug" for long exposure photography. Much of his photography takes place along the Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire east coast, often arising in the early hours to catch a sunrise. Weather conditions dictate a lot of how the final image looks, and the long exposure style often creates a sense of calmness, and serenity, with pastel coloured skies, and milky seas. When the weather turns wild, the long exposure image presents a very dramatic scene with foreboding clouds. He recently travelled to Lewis & Harris island in the Outer Hebrides and took many images there, sometimes at sunny white sand beaches, and at other times moody bleak images as the weather closed in. Tony's technique requires a lot of patience, often spending hours at a location, with the camera mounted on a study tripod, and the ND filters on the camera permitting an exposure time of several minutes. Many thanks Tony for a very informative talk, well presented, and with some beautiful imagery.
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held a Local Nature and Open PDI competition, members Dave Turner and Steve Chapman kindly offered to judge the competition, thank you to you both, it was a good night and the entries were of a high standard giving you both quite a task. The results are on our website, but the two winners on the night were, Local Nature Tony Gaskins and Open Harry Kerman. This week, Wednesday 8th April, Tony Gaskins, one of our members is showing us Coast 3, a PDI presentation. Tony is an excellent photographer and spends many hours photographing our coastline. Aprils Print competition, Circles and Open is fast approaching, you can send your titles to Dave Turner when your ready and bring your prints in the week before the competition. Regards Graham
It was no April fools, when we held our PDI (Projected Digital Image) competition last night. The images submitted into this competition were off the highest quality. Dave Turner judged the Open category, which I think is always one of the hardest categories to judge, pitting landscapes, against nature, and still life, but Dave did a magnificent job, offering well founded critique of the images submitted. After the break, Steve Chapman judged the Local Nature category, (nature images taken within a 25 mile radius of St. James' church, Louth) Steve "held back" 10 out of the 18 submitted images, and gave those 10 images very careful consideration until he finally arrived at the 3 highest placed images. Steve commented that the submitted images were indeed of high quality, and he took his time to evaluate the submitted images and offered useful critique on each one. The competition made for a very interesting evening, and all members deserve praise for the quality of the submitted images. The website Competition page has been updated with the full results, and the top three images from each category. On this post is 1st placed Sedge Warbler, Cleethorpes by Tony Gaskins, in the Local Nature category, and 1st placed Hudson Bay Wolf, (Lincoln Zoo) by Harry Kerman, in the Open category.
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
