Who Took The Image?

Paul Malley • 30 September 2024
A check of the laws of Copyright will show that generally, the individual who pressed the shutter owns the image. From that, we could probably surmise that when you're out and about with your camera and firing off images, the resulting pictures you produce (including any post production), belong to you; yes, you took it, it's yours.

Years ago, I came across a lovely location (as shown), and I wanted to capture it; I firstly walked round the location, found my viewpoint, set my tripod up and mounted the camera. I then selected my focal length, composed the scene and put the camera in Aperture Priority mode for what I envisaged. I used single shot function with manual focus point selected. Knowing the subject was not moving, I could set the ISO low and let the shutter speed sort itself. Post capture, I checked the histogram and was pleased with the scope of the dynamic range. In sum, I was happy that I had taken the image, with the camera working as a tool controlled by me.

Conversely, a few months ago I was at Cadwell Park, with the camera in machine gun mode at 12fps, Auto-Tracking Lock with high sensitivity, Artificial Intelligent Servo, the camera was set to give panning speed with Auto ISO. The focal length allowed me to crop unwanted parts later. I knew that all the automation and capability of the camera would get some keepers from every rider, on each pass at 12fps. The camera automation and efficiency produced the goods.

Now, my point is, 'who, or what took that image?' was it me via knowing the setup to be used, or the inbuilt algorithms and processing power of the camera? I know if I had been sent out 50+yrs ago with a 'thumb + wind-on film spool Camera' I couldn't manage to get anything like the shots returned. Cast your mind back to the days of the Olympics, where Photographers nailed the focus and got the shot of a Triple Jumper mid-stride, or the head-on shot of a Long-Jumper in the air coming directly at them over the sand, or the High-Diver just at the point of contact with the water...Now they certainly took the picture! (Henri Cartier-Bresson, 'The Decisive Moment').

There is a vast range of functionality that can be called upon when using our high tech black boxes, especially when in the auto modes for confidence, (now even images being taken for the buffer before the shutter is released, or in-built ND Grad Filtration) - but, for me, it shouldn't override the knowledge base required to slow down and get back to basics with a good understanding of where and when to use it. I sense this point could expand to see what Camera Makers can put in their Cameras next via AI. I get much more pleasure when I know that I set things up and came away with something I took.

Louth Photographic Society

by Graham Harrison 12 April 2026
Good Morning All We had a really good week away last week in the Peak District, the good weather helped and we visited many places including Salford Quays and climbed to the top of Kinder Scout and Mam Tor. Last week at the club it looks like you were treated to some excellent coastal photography from member Tony Gaskins, Tony does a lot of long exposure photography producing stunning photographs. There is a report on our blog page with photographs from the evening. This week, Wednesday 15th April, is Derek's studio evening where we are invited to come along with our cameras, there is a £5 charge on the night to help pay towards the two models. The following week is a print competition, with the categories of "Circles" and "Open", you can send Dave Turner a list of your entries and bring your prints in next week. Today is the Foster Challenge at Nettleham village Hall, 1.30pm for 2pm, Louth has entered the competition as usual so it would be good to see a few members attending. Regards Graham
by Derek Smith 9 April 2026
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.
by Graham Harrison 5 April 2026
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
by Derek Smith 2 April 2026
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.
by Graham Harrison 29 March 2026
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
by Derek Smith 26 March 2026
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.
by Graham Harrison 22 March 2026
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
by Graham Harrison 15 March 2026
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
by Derek Smith 12 March 2026
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by Derek Smith 12 March 2026
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.