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
I was scrolling through the archives yesterday, and found these "Still Life" images. Still Life is an interesting photographic genre that requires good lighting, and compositional skills, but the results can be amazing. Here are four images of the genre, "Breakfast" showing cereal falling into a bowl, "Four Candles" (no not the ones from the Two Ronnies sketch), the moody "Decaying Tulip", and the simple but effective monochrome "Opener". Perhaps these images might give you some inspiration.
I joined the NELPS outing at Chambers Farm Woods on Wednesday. The NELPS visit to Chamber Farm wood and butterfly garden was well attended, with several members from NELPS, Grimsby, Dunholme and Louth, kind thanks to all that came, although it was very hot the butterfly garden, being rather full and slightly unkept did not let us down with butterflies, two less common were seen, a Comma butterfly and a humming bird moth, with loads of very lively common blue butterflies. Most of the insects in the butterfly garden were highly active, and by the time an insect was spotted, it was off!! I managed to just about get an image of the Comma butterfly, and nobody stood a chance with the humming bird moth, it was too fast. The dragonfly was more accommodating remaining fairly still posing for us. The next NELPS outing will be to the Peoples Park in Grimsby on Wednesday 19th, I'm busy on that day, but I will be attending the meeting at the Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum on Wednesday 26th. Many thanks to NELPS for organising these outings, it was a thoroughly pleasurable morning.
A visit to Whitby for a sunset picture didn't quite go to plan. Unknown to me today is the last day of the Whitby Regatta. Whitby in the summer is usually busy, but today it rivaled Time Square in New York. My planned shoot of the East Pier was a non-starter because for tonight only there's a fun fair along West Pier where I planned to shoot from. I had to re-think and resort to plan b, which was also a non-starter because the East Pier was closed as it was packed with fireworks. Plan c was OK though and I got an image I'm pleased with.
I've been up to RSPB Bempton Cliffs this week, and have taken some excellent photographs, the weather was fine, and the lighting was less harsh than usual. This pair were on the cliff top, obviously well established, and saw off this interloper trying to muscle in on their space, those beaks look very vicious. I hope that everyone else is having a productive summer break.
For club interaction, we are invited to these NELPS photo shoots. So lets start this club interaction, NELPS are now on there summer break, but it does not stop there. The NELPS club president has put together some outdoor photo shoots:- Lincoln 5th Aug meet at the Cathedral 11am Not forgetting the photo exhibition by Lincoln Camera Club in the Usher Gallery! Chambers Farm Wood & Butterfly Farm 12th Aug meet at 10am. Peoples Park Grimsby 19th Aug meet at 10am. Trolley Bus Museum Sandtoft 26th Aug meet at 10am Cadwell Park 10th Aug motorbikes, 24th Aug cars and both are track days so free to get in.
Sutton & Trusthorpe Camera Club have their annual Exhibition at the Meridale Hall, Sutton on Sea, on 29th / 30th August. Drink and a Home-made cake only £3!
I’ve lost my photographic “mojo”, that desire to go out and take impactful photographs. That creative spark has gone, vanished, will it ever return? Writers talk of a “writers block”, when they just sit in front of a blank page, and can’t think of anything else to write, I’m the same, still out with my camera, but just not creating anything meaningful. Some of this I suppose is due to the fact that I’ve almost stopped my genre of model photography, we had the Studio evening, and other than that I’ve only had 2 model shoots this year. So what is my photography genre now? I know that I’m not a bird photographer, I haven’t got the patience to sit in a bird hide for hours with a long lens, waiting for the right bird shot to appear. Landscape, possibly, but I look at the work of some of our members, and YouTube videos, and don’t know whether I can achieve as good a standard in my work? I do enjoy macro photography, but again do my photos reach a good standard? One way forward is to look at our Societies annual project, this year it’s “water” one photo a month depicting water. Then of course there are the planned photo competitions for the rest of the year, those subjects could inspire me to go out and take some images. Anyway, that’s me, enjoy the rest of the summer, and if any of our members could share a photo, with a line or two of text I will be very happy to post on this blog.
Good Morning All Last week we had a very good evening at Kirkby Gravel Pits, it was a warm sunny evening and there was wildlife about to photograph. There were Dragonflies about, but all flying, but we did manage to photograph some Damselflies and grasshoppers etc. We then called at the local pub in Kirkby on Bain for refreshments. There were only 7 of us, if you have other ideas for outings please let me know and I will look into them for next year. Derek has also done a blog on the evening. Louth did make it through to the LPA Battle finals coming fifth overall, the final is on the 18 th October at Nettleham village hall. That was the last event before the summer break, so we now have a break before returning in September. I won't be doing any newsletters unless there is something to report. If you do anything interesting over the break you can always send Derek a blog for our website. There are things you can do over the break, the monthly project of water, preparing for the PDI competition in September, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open". In September our first meeting back will have members speaking on the topic "15 minutes on what you have done over the summer", you may want to prepare something for this. Have a good summer, Graham
Lincoln Camera Club are holding an exhibition at the Usher Gallery, Lincoln. Commencing July 30th to November 1st.
This was our last outing before the summer break, on this occasion several of us met up at Kirkby Gravel Pits nature reserve for an evening of photography. The evening weather was perfect for photography, and we ambled around the reserve stopping to take some macro photography where opportunities arose. We did see a couple of butterflies, and I managed to take this image of a red admiral. As we walked along the paths, several grasshoppers could be glimpsed in the dry grass, they are very difficult to photograph as they are tiny, and agile, but I captured this one while I was laying down in the grass, at eye level, a lot of patience is needed to capture a quality image. In the brambles damselflies could be seen, one took off straight into a spiders web, luckily Graham was able to release it. On the water a heron, and egret could be observed across the water. It was an excellent evening of photography, as well as a social meetup, these outings are ideal for newcomers to photography to learn camera skills.
