April 26, 2012 Meeting Notes

About 20 people attended the April 26th Landscape SIG.

We took a poll of those members who anticipate being available for the next regularly scheduled meeting on May 24. A meeting will be held at which another poll will be taken to decide on a June meeting. Larry will not be available in August and is not sure about the September and October dates, primarily due to commitments for the ACCC and Grand Photos competitions. If someone would like to host the August 23rd Landscape SIG meeting, please contact Larry. This year, the ACCC and the Grand Photos turn-in are scheduled for October 9 and November 13, respectively.

John Macy and Gene McDermott answered questions regarding how to set up our cameras to use "fill flash" techniques to reduce the contrast inherent to a wide range of light. Gary Jann, Sue Penny and Phil Santens provided examples of fill flash images they exposed for discussion at this meeting. Since the discussion went beyond 4:00 PM with no time left to "practice, review and discuss" what we learned; the group decided that the homework assignment for the May meeting is to bring a thumb drive with comparative images the same outdoor exposed "without fill-flash" and "with fill-flash." The intent is to practice with our fill-flash technique to improve our images. We learned at the discussion that, if we have only an on-camera flash, the fill aspect of the image should be within about 5 feet, whereas if we have a (TTL) flash unit we can attach to or use off-camera, the shadow we are attempting to lighten can be up to about 15 feet away.

Sue Penny suggested, and the group agreed, that we should identify a list of photography assignments each of us can complete on our own. We will use them as discussion topics at our fall meetings. To begin a discussion on suitable landscape topics, I suggest:

• Fill-flash - make sets of two comparative images of the same outdoor view "without fill-flash" and "with fill-flash."
• Moving water - use a range of shutter speeds and f-stops of the same view to create images with different emotional effects.
• Depth of Field - select views in which you expose sets of two images of the same scene - both of which you like - one with a maximum and the other with a minimum depth of field.
• Image elements - complete a collection of images - in which each image emphasizes a different aspect of: form, line, color, texture, axis and convergence.
• Make a collection in which you use a specific aspect of light (directional, color, flat, etc) to accentuate selected landscape features.
• Close-up / Macro exposures
• HDR - Make a comparative set of at least two images using and not using HDR techniques (i.e., either/or in-camera or photoshop/photomatix, etc.)
• At least two panoramas - one horizontal and one vertical.

We can discuss and refine this list at our May meeting, but feel free to work on any of these or other challenges that appeal to you and which you would like to share with the group in the fall.

Mel Whaley provided the following info and links to complete one of our SIG discussions:

Here are the links to two Adorama videos on using flash to create contrast when photographing outdoors, covers some of the same information we were discussing during the SIG.

Creating Contrast with a Flash - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlLP-4mja0Q&feature=relmfu

Using Flash for Contrast - http://www.adorama.com/alc/0013537/article/Using-Flash-for-Contrast-AdoramaTV

There is also a helpful tip using flash when photographing wild flowers on page 168 – 169 in “Wild in Arizona” book by Paul Gill & Colleen Miniuk-Sperry.

Several people couldn't open the Outdoor Photography links I sent in emails on 4/24. I just checked all three this morning and they worked for me - BUT - there is a problem in that some of the strings "wrapped" - the one long string broke into two parts on two separate lines and lost the blue color and underline on the last part of the string. When this happens, "clicking" only activates the part of the hot link string with blue and underline - and without capturing the whole string with the click, it doesn't have all the data it needs to find the article. I tried to change the color and underline the link, but it defaulted to the same problem when I forwarded it to myself (note the black type and lack of underline in the last two links below).

Please highlight the entire string (i.e., the < http: ..... landscape.html), right click and copy the higlighted string and then paste it to the bar at the very top of your web page (see the blue bar on the top of the attachment). Then click on the refresh button. If you aren't sure what I'm talking about, please let me know and I'll go over it at our next meeting.

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/locations/north-america/the-forgotten-intimate-landscape.html

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/columns/photo-adventure/magic-light-anytime.html

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how-to/shooting/do-more-with-your-polarizer.html

January 26 meeting notes:

At the January 26th Landscape SIG meeting, we discussed the regularly scheduled meeting time. Friday is apparently the only day of the week that has open times we could reschedule to. Some of the members present indicated that Friday afternoon meetings would not be a good time because of the frequency that members include Friday into a trip when they leave town on trips, for the weekend or on vacations. Therefore, we will retain the 4th Thursday of the month for our regularly scheduled meeting.

We continued our discussion of completing a Calendar project. Group concensus was that - with COSTCO and online companies - it is relatively easy for anyone to construct their own calendar and special training or help isn't necessary. Therefore, the Landscape SIG formally dropped the idea of completing a Landscape SIG calendar.

The group decided to include a discussion of "Smart Phone" applications and neat gadgets in the February program. Identified topics include:

- The Photographer's Ephemeris - Currently available for FREE on your computer or for $8.99 as a phone application from

< http://photoephemeris.com/about >

- Google Earth - Available as a FREE download. It includes some neat tools for photographers.

- Depth of Field Master - Free download - it is used to calculate the actual depth of field for several popular camera and len combinations. It is available on line at < http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html > and there is a phone application for it.

- Skyview - a phone application for $1.99.

- Expo Disk

SIG members were requested to suggest additional apps and present segments on their favorite apps. However, due to a scheduling conflict, I had to cancel the February meeting on short notice.

March 22 meeting notes:

Seven members attended the March SIG meeting. In lieu of a presentation on the holdover "smart phone applications," Larry showed a sample DVD received from Outdoor Photographer that was available for only a short time. The magazine apparently sent out copies to its subscribers to provide an example of its new series of instructional videos, with a discount offer to subscribe to the series. Since it was only available for a short time, the DVD replaced the scheduled program.

Next SIG meeting - April 26:
Please bring your camera and flash (if you have one) for the April 26th Landscape SIG meeting. We will feature instruction and practical exercise in the use of fill light for outdoor subjects. There are several methods and equipment items we can use to reduce the contrast within an image and provide a more evenly lit subject. SIG member Gene McDermott and John Macy will provide a discussion of on-camera flash, off-camera and remote flash as well as the use of white and gold reflectors. A little bit about diffusers and shades. All the reflectors demonstrated all cost less than twenty bucks. After the discussion we will move to the plaza area to practice using fill light on outdoor subjects with our cameras.
Next SIG meeting - April 26:

Please bring your camera and flash (if you have one) for the April 26th Landscape SIG meeting. We will feature instruction and practical exercise in the use of fill light for outdoor subjects. There are several methods and equipment items we can use to reduce the contrast within an image and provide a more evenly lit subject. SIG member Gene McDermott and John Macy will provide a discussion of on-camera flash, off-camera and remote flash as well as the use of white and gold reflectors as well as some information on diffusers and shades. All the reflectors used in the demonstration cost less than $20. After the discussion we will move to the plaza area to practice using fill light on outdoor subjects with our cameras.

Pre-work for our next SIG:

1. Please Review your camera instruction book for information on how to use your on-camera flash and off-camera flash (if you have one). Then take some fill flash images and bring them on a flash drive (preferably) to the SIG meeting for a discussion of what worked well and didn't work well. The main intent of this exercise is to familiarize you with how your camera works in fill flash mode, so the discussion will make more sense and you will more quickly pick up how to make adjustments to the settings for fill flash.

2. Bring a sampling of landscape images you have taken over the past two months - whether or not you were able to find flowers - to share with the group.

3. We will discuss a range of "summer SIG projects" you can work on whether you remain or travel far from Grand this summer. Please bring ideas for summer photography assignments you think would be of interest to the group.   

January 5, 2012 Landscape SIG Meeting

- Fifteen members were present

- We discussed our regular meeting date and whether or not we should change it from the Fourth Thursday of the month at 3:00 PM to the first Thursday at 3:00 PM.

- Members are getting to the meeting on the existing schedule (4th Thursday).

- Several members have at least two other SIG meetings on both the 1st and 4th Thursday - another day of the week would be easier.

- Afternoons work best for at least some of us.

- No date will be ideal for everyone, therefore unless we can find a date that works better for most of the group, we should keep to the existing schedule.

Larry will contact Bill Stuart when he returns to get a list of open times for SIG meetings for discussion next month.

Our next meeting will be on our normally scheduled 4th Thursday - January 26, 2012 at 3:00 PM.

- We discussed the Topic list. Although it was attached to Larry's 12/17/2011 email, he neglected to include it in the BLOG, so not all members have reviewed it. Larry will update the list per today's discussion and get it back out to members.

- We looked at two sample landscape calendars and the book that Dik had published of his European travel last fall and discussed the potential for a group (Landscape SIG) project. Some comments received:

- The objective of the original suggestion to complete a project was the training that would result from organizing, planning, critically selecting and preparing images to include; and the actual creation of the calendar.

- Some brainstorming followed about the possibilities of marketing a calendar or "landscape notecards" produced by the Landscape SIG at the Octoberfest, for sale in the Lab, etc,. Front end costs, competing with other club functions, tax liabilities, some pitfalls, etc. were also discussed. No concensus developed.

- A "straw poll" of those at the meeting indicated about 8 of those present (15) felt the project has enough merit to continue the discussion.

- With some early winter rains, the hope is we will have abundant flowers in the spring. After some discussion of flowers and Colleen Miniuk-Sperry's new book, it was agreed that those who have a copy of the book will review it for potential locations and times for Landscape SIG photo shoot.

NOTE: The Landscape SIG objective is to provide training, photo shoots, etc. more specifically tailored to landscape photography than are currently available, rather than duplicating resources already available through the club. Members should take advantage of the existing, wide array of training already available to them through the club for the basics.

Assignments:

Those members interested in being involved in the calendar project are to bring several images (either a thumb drive or prints 11" wide by 8" high) suitable for a calendar entitled "Arizona Landscapes" to the next meeting so we can review an initial array of images and continue the discussion of: a) whether or not to continue with the project; b) gaps in the photography (location, season, diversity of images); and b) determine how to structure the project, the objectives, the mechanics, schedule, etc.. The stated target was to develop a "2013 Arizona Landscape Calendar" during this winter and spring while we have a maximum number of SIG members available.

If you have a copy of Colleen Miniuk-Sperry's book (Wild in Arizona - Photographing Arizona's Wildflowers), please review potential photo shoot locations the Landscape SIG might wish to organize a photo shoot for between February and May and be prepared to discuss the site at our next meeting.

Next month's discussion topic will be "Side, Front and Back lighting."

Postscripts:

Links to interesting information and "slide shows":

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/why-you-need-a-telephoto-zoom-lens-for-landscape-photography (per Bill Haskamp)

December 1, 2011 Landscape SIG meeting

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, the November Landscape SIG meeting was held on December 1. Those present decided to reschedule the December meeting from December 22 to January 5, 2012 at 3:00 PM - also due to the normally scheduled meeting date's proximity to the holiday. This timeframe - 3:00 PM on the first Thursday of the month - is open if it's more convenient to our group. Please check your calendars and verify whether or not this timeframe would be a better fit for your schedule than our current 4th Thursday at 3:00 PM. We will decide whether or not to switch our meeting time at the meeting on January 5.

Please review the Discussion and photo shoot Topic list (attached) so we can discuss how to schedule them in the most appropriate order to meet our needs at our meeting on January 5th.

I would also like to suggest completing a group project of creating, publishing and marketing a "Landscape Calendar." I had planned to suggest it as a topic at our first meeting this fall, but it fell off my list. There are enough of us who don't spend all 12 months here - some are "snow" and some are "sun " - birds - that it would be most efficient to do most of the work during the months when the majority of us are here. Since I'm proposing this so late in the calendar year, if we decide to do it, we would probably want to either develop it as a 2013 calendar or make it an 18 month calendar (July 2012 - December 2013). We could set it up either for each of us to "get a month" (hence an 18 - 24 month calendar) or select the images for 12 months as a group. I will bring copies of two calendars I have published at Moore Graphic (a Surprise company) as examples of what it could look like. Dan Jacobs - you originally suggested Moore Graphics to me - could you bring your calendars as well? Since we are a Landscape SIG, the calendar should be composed of landscapes. 

   

Practice / preparation for the January 5 Meeting:

- If you took images at either Mel Whaley's "Tempe Towne Lake Sunset" trip or the "Christmas Lights Shoot" that Brady Conn and Gary Jann led on December 6, please bring them on a thumb drive so we can view them. You may be interested in "Glendale Glitters," which has many light displays on Friday and Saturday nights. It runs until some time in January.

- Practice with Hyperfocal Distance settings on your camera < http://www.dofmaster.com/hyperfocal.html >; < http://www.dofmaster.com/charts.html > as we discussed at our May meeting.

For this exercise, use the widest angle lens available to you and place the longer side of the rectangle vertically ( i.e., "portrait " orientation). Then determine how much of the landscape you can get into focus by tilting the camera forward (downward) to include something placed in the foreground (flower, rock, stick, etc.,) as close to your feet as you can; and let the top of the image float to include some of the horizon, if possible, in the background. Try several different focus points - especially one in which you select a focus point that is about 1/3rd of the distance into the part of your image that really needs to be sharp (ordinarily, the foreground and middleground). Bring your results on a thumb drive to share with the group.

- Review the attached list of topics and be prepared to discuss a) additions/deletions; b) priority c) which topics you would like to present to the group.

- You may know that Starbucks has cards for a "free song" and a "free app" each week. This week's free application for your phone is called "Star Walk" and which is a night sky map. I haven't done any more than open it up to take a quick peek, but I assume it changes to reflect the current star and planet juxtaposition. Looks like a neat application. I am guessing that you can download Star Walk free from the Apple store, but I did it from the card. I downloaded "Skyview" quite a while ago and like it as well. I picked up a half dozen cards that I will drop off at the lab on Monday.

Article in the Arizona Republic - Photography's Shifting Focus

 

In case you didn't see it, below is a link to an article that appeared in the Arts and Entertainment section of Sunday's (June 19, 2011) Arizona Republic about a "photography as art" show currently on display at the Phoenix Art Museum.  The show apparently delves into the roots and development of photography as art and the perenniel question of whether any "manipulation" should be allowed. 

 

If you find the article interesting, you may wish to see the show. 

lrl

 

 

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/ae/articles/2011/06/17/20110617phoenix-art-museum-pure-photography-exhibit.html

June 23, 2011 Landscape SIG Meeting

June 23, 2011 Landscape SIG meeting:

 

The group decided to suspend the regularly scheduled meetings for the rest of the summer.  The next meeting will be at 3:00 PM on October 23rd, at which we will discuss front, side and back lighting.  

 

The group would like to schedule landcape photography oriented field trips to:  Sedona (fall colors), Antelope Canyon, Grand Canyon, Tucson and San Diego.  Please provide Larry any additional suggestions. 

 

Discussion regarding the Blog indicated that shortened messages with links to information would be preferable to the narratives currently on the blog. 

 

Landscape SIG members shared images they exposed to demonstrate the use of shutter speed and aperature to achieve a specifically desired depth of field for the image.  After the Depth of field exercise, we discussed Neutral Density, split Neutral Density and polarizing filters. 

 

Jerry Weinstein demonstrated his new, variable (adjustable to up to 8 stops of density)  neutral density filter.  At about $120, these filters cost about a quarter of what a comparable Singh Ray does.  Check them out at your favorite on line store (I.e., B&H, Adorama, Amazon) or at:   

 

http://faderfilters.com/  

 

http://www.singh-ray.com/varind.html 

 

For those of you who already have a Cokin "P" filter holder and would prefer a set of neutral density filters with differing densities (i.e., 1, 2 and 3 stop) they are generally available for about $20 each

<  http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Cokin+P+ND+filter+set&N=0&InitialSearch=yes>

 

If you are interested in graduated Neutral Density filters, there is a set of five (mixture of hard and soft line) Cokin "P"s available for about $60 

<  http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/387434-REG/Cokin_CH250_Graduated_Neutral_Density_Filter.html   >

 

There is info about a comparable Lee filter kit at 

<  http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=lee+foundation+kit&N=0&InitialSearch=yes  >

 

We also discussed Polarizing filters.  Luminous Landscapes has a brief intro to Polarizing filters at: 

 

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/polarizers.shtml 

Most of us use through the lens metering, so we don't generally need to make calculations regarding the stop reductions atributable to specific filters, but there is some good information about this aspect of filters at:   

<  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wratten_number  >  

< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographic_filter  > and  

<  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_factor  >

 

May 26, 2011 - Depth of field & hyperfocal distance background

Here is some background information that will be helpful for Thursday's topic.   Reading it before the session would help things solidify.

lrl 

Definitions*:

Circles of Confusion - When a projected ray of a point of light strikes the film plane in a size larger than a point the cone of projected light is called the circle of confusion. 

Depth of Field - The distance between the near and far points in the scene that register as small enough circles of confusion on the film to be seen as sharp points under normal viewing conditions. 

Hyperfocal Plane - The plane at which (and beyond which) elements in the subject are deemed to be sufficiently in focus to appear sharp (i.e., depth of field).   

Hyperfocal Distance - the distance beyond which all objects can be brought into an acceptable focus.  (And an alternative way of saying it - The hyperfocal distance is the closest distance at which a lens can be focused while keeping objects at infinity acceptably sharp.) 

The Basics*:

-    In reality, it is only possible to critically focus one subject plane, and this subject plane must be parallel to the film plane.  Objects further and closer will not be precisely in focus, although they may be considered to be acceptably sharp. 

-    The focusing distance, the aperature used and the focal length of the lens affect the depth of field.  The smaller the aperature, the greater the depth of field.  Each time you double the f-stop, you double the depth of field.  The longer the focal length, the shorter the depth of field.  Wide angle lenses have greater depth of field than telephotos.

-    The "one third rule" states that at any point along the subject plane which recedes from the camera, the hyperfocal distance will be closer to the camera by one third of the distance.  Again, this is subject to focal length and magnification ratio.  The closer the camera to the subject, the narrower the depth of field. 

-    If you focus closer than infinity, you may have a hyperfocal plane behind the focus point as well as in front of it.  The circle of confusion at both hyperfocal planes are equally out of focus. 

-    If the subject is too thick to get everything in acceptable focus, the photographer normally favors foreground objects because of their prominence.  The eye normally anticipates closer items as being sharper than distant items. 

-    When the focus of a lens is set at infinity, the near limit of the depth of field is referred to as the hyperfocal distance for the aperature used.  If the focus is then set at the hyperfocal distance, the depth of field will extend from one half the hyperfocal distance to infinity.  When object at infininty must appear sharp, focusing at the hyperfocal distance gives the maximum depth of field.  The hyperfocal distance is closer to the lens when the lens is stopped down.  

*Information for these discussions and to develop the attached .pdf was taken from:  The Ansel Adams Guide - Book 1; Basic Techniques of Photography and Scheimphlug, Depth of Field and Hyperfocal Distance; by Steve Simmons and Ron Wisner; View Camera; November/December 1990.

Check out the following URLs.  They provide good information on the subject and the first one provides a calculator you can tailor for your (SLR?) camera and lenses to print a chart of depth of field at various distances and aperatures.  

http://www.dofmaster.com/doftable.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperfocal_distance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_of_field

http://www.silverlight.co.uk/resources/dof_calc.html