A Beginner’s Guide to Flickr

Flickr changed my life. True story.

I am a relatively new Flickr convert and a full fledged Flickr evangelist and my number one message to the masses: Flickr isn’t a dumping ground for ‘pics’. It isn’t a graveyard where millions of images are laid to rest never to be seen again. It is a community where photographers share their latest conquests and view beautiful works by other artists. Of course, there are probably millions of users who merely dump and run but I think Flickr has done something rather clever to prevent too many non-users: they charge a minor yearly fee for accounts who want to upload more than a certain number of images. This might turn off a huge percentage of users who just want a free method of generating a url for their photos to put on Ebay but I think it just weeds out those who don’t intend on doing much with their subscription in the first place.

A Beginner’s Guide to Flickr

Lightroom: What is it and When Should You Consider it?

 

intro.jpg

There have been questions posted as comments recently asking about the role of Lightroom in a photographer’s workflow. Many posters who are not currently using Lightroom aren’t sure whether Lightroom it is an alternative to Photoshop or where it fits if you have Photoshop too. I thought it was a good time to look at where Lightroom fits in the Adobe line up and to explain why Lightroom isn’t a Photoshop alternative.

Lightroom: What is it and When Should You Consider it?

2009 November Competition Winners

Here are the winners of the November competition for which the set subject was Opposites, Yin/Yang, Oestrogen/Testosterone.

Please note that only digital images are available for display.

Prints

Set Subject

  1. Testing
    Irmel Dunaiski 
  2. Oestrogen/Testosterone
    Paddy Howes

Open

  1. Overberg Landskap 
    Neels Beyers 
  2. Walker Bay 
    Neels Beyers 
  3. Ready For Action 
    Irmel Dunaiski 

Projected Images

Set Subject

  1. Pei Pyramid + Louvre Reflections – Paris
    James Simpson 
  2. Yin Yang Mask
    Roger Lee 
  3. Big ‘n Small on Watch
    Gavin Whiteford 
1. Pei Pyramid + Louvre Reflections
2. Yin Yang Mask
3. Big 'n Small on Watch

Open

  1. Ancient Eyes
    Steve Crane 
  2. Fallen Petals
    Marius Swart 
  3. Purple Field
    Neels Beyers 
1. Ancient Eyes
2. Fallen Petals
3. Purple Field

ND Filter Tip: Creating Special Effects

Using ND Filter to create special effects

In this article, I will discuss on an important topic in photography. Although this can be treated as an intermediate to advanced technique, but I will try to keep it as simple as possible making it seem like a piece of cake to all my readers.

ND Filter Tip: Creating Special Effects – Digital Camera Reviews & Photography Tips

Interclub Results

Saturday evening saw the 2009 Interclub event take place at the Endler Hall in Stellenbosch.

Helderberg took the club honours by a narrow margin. The club scores were as follows.

Helderberg Photographic Society 516
Hermanus Photographic Society 513
Paarl Photographic Club 508
Cape Town Photographic Society 503
Fish Hoek Photographic Society 503
Tygerberg Photographic Society 502
Tafelberg Afrikaanse Fotografieklub 490
Creative Camera Club 486
Weskusfotoklub 468

The winning print was “Holding Hands” by Mark Chipps of Creative Camera Club.

062_B05_mark chipps_holding handsAnd the winning projected image was “It’s a Big World Out There” by Marthinus Retief of Helderberg Photographic Society.

080_D09_marthinus retief_it's a big world out there Marthinus’ image pipped Mark’s by one point to take overall honours.

The Golden Apple award for the highest scoring photographer went to Max Leipold of Hermanus Photographic Society.

A spreadsheet listing the detailed scores has been sent to each of the participating clubs.

A workshop in Kirstenbosch

I received this e-mail about a workshop that might interest those members not making the trek to Bredasdorp for the air show on that day.

Dear Photography Enthusiasts,
Below please find information on the next course that we will be offering.  Please do circulate amongst your club members as we would be delighted to have them join us!


DISCOVER DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

14th Nov 2009 – Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Newlands

National Geographic and Getaway bring you Discover Digital, a one day photography workshop

which will not only leave you inspired but will teach you the necessary skills and knowledge

required to take that perfect picture!

The workshops have something for everyone whether you are a beginner or someone with

a little more experience.

Dave Rogers, who will be presenting the course, is a good friend of Getaway.  Prior to setting up his own business in 2000, David spent seven years as assistant editor at Getaway magazine writing and photographing more than 100 features including 20 cover stories for which he won several awards.
Dave is adding a practical element to the course, which we are very excited about!
The outline of the day is as follows:
   1. Introduction to ways of seeing
   2. A short slide show of bird, macro, landscapes, animals, etc.
   3. My top tips for great photography
   4. Making the most of your camera
   5. Work flow using Lightroom
   6. Processing images using Lightroom and Photoshop
   7. Short listing and analysing images
Join us and be inspired!

COST

R700 per person (Getaway subscribers pay R630)

Cost includes tuition, course notes, meals, refreshments and a complimentary three-month subscription to Getaway magazine.

For more information, please contact Tracy-Lee Behr on tracy-lee@ramsaymedia.co.za or 021 530 3379.

Kind regards,

Tracy-Lee

Judges for Interclub 2009

WESTERN CAPE INTERCLUB 2009 : JUDGES

 

Helderberg Photographic Society is honoured to have gained the services of the following Judges, who will judge at Interclub 2009 in the Endler Hall, Stellenbosch on Saturday 31st October.

 

David Rogers

David Rogers loves Africa! He spent 9 years with Getaway as assistant editor, and during this time wrote over 100 features including 20 cover stories for which he won several awards.  He has started his own business and has photographed more than 150 lodges for a series called Safari in Style. As well as being called on by commercial clients such as Land Rover USA, Samara Lodges, and many more, David also offers workshops in various parts of the country.  He lives with his wife and two young sons, in Cape Town.

Clients include Steenberg Hotel, Garonga Safari Camp, Jacis Safari Camp, Wolwedans, Onguma, and many other top camps and hotels.

Preview Classic Safari Camps of Africa at http://www.davidrogers.co.za/docs/publishing.html
Join a Digital Photographic Safari on http://www.davidrogers.co.za/docs/workshops.htm
Journey through some exquisite lodges at http://www.davidrogers.co.za/docs/lodges.html
He is the author of the following recent titles: Southern Africa in Style (Africa Geographic 2004); Zambia in Style (Africa Geographic, 2005); East Africa in Style (Africa Geographic, 2006); Living Landscapes of Southern Africa (Struik, 2006); Indian Ocean Islands in Style (Africa Geographic, 2007); South Africa in Style (Africa Geographic, 2007); Classic Safari Camps of Africa (Hornbill Press, 2008); Winelands in Style (Africa Geographic, 2009).

Paddy Bouma

 

Paddy Bouma studied Fine Art at the University of Cape Town (BA 1967) and Lithography at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, (1968-69). She is an internationally published writer and illustrator, and recently illustrated the official picture book version of Nelson Mandela’s Long Road to Freedom for Macmillan Children’s Books (UK). Until recently she taught illustration and printmaking at the University of Stellenbosch.

She lives with her husband, Raymond, in Stellenbosch.

 

 

Diane Skinner

 

Diane Skinner started photography at an early age, learning from her father.  She is widely traveled, and from her home in Quebec, Canada, she has ventured across the Americas, Europe, Africa and beyond. She counts among her favourite places to visit

the dunes of Namibia, and the volcanoes on the Hawaiian Islands. She holds an APSSA from the PSSA and is a member of the Canadian Association for Photographic Art. Whilst in South Africa this month, she lectured at the PSSA Congress held in Hermanus.

“Motion of the Ocean” workshop

“Motion of the Ocean”
PHOTOGRAPHIC
WORKSHOP

imageWHEN & WHERE
Funky Fox Art & Craft Studio
Red Herring Centre and
practical on Noordhoek beach
Sunday 1 November 2009
(after the Country Fair)
Starting time is 17h00 until 19h00

image

WHO CAN ATTEND
Anybody with any SLR camera

WHAT TO BRING
Your camera equipment, with fully
charged batteries and extra memory or film
Your tripod (essential)
Pen and Note book

image

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
You will learn how to take AWESOME
photographs using a slow shutter speed,
to capture the movement of the waves.
Shutter speed and Aperture
ISO and White Balance
What filters to use and composing
your photographs.

image

INVESTMENT IN YOUR HOBBY
R150 per person
booking essential

CAPE PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY
Peter Haarhoff 082 853 9939, email photocoach@mweb.co.za
www.capephotoco.co.za

VISIT ME AT THE NOORDHOEK COUNTRY FAIR
and DESTINATION EXPO 2009

Jacobsbaai

Submitted by Noleen Kutash.

01From Left to Right;

Caroline: Head of Observations
Denver: Head of IT
Noleen: Head of Entertainment
Paddy: Head of Ways and Means (Graham her husband directly behind her)
Paulette: Head of Security, Treasurer & Shu Chef
Irmel: CEO (Peter her husband directly behind her)
Andre: Head of Information

And so it came to be that the fictitious board of the “Jacobsbaai Players” was established within the first few hours of us getting to know one another.  We would like to “shout out” a special, thank you to Graham, Paddy’s husband that unwittingly became our “head chef” after we tasted his “braaivleis” the very first night whilst celebrating “Heritage Day”.  Peter, we would also like to thank you for assisting and keeping our all important CEO Irmel happy.  As per usual, she went the extra mile to arrange everything with her typical German proficiency.

Most of us were quite perplexed upon viewing this monstrosity (see below) from afar as we approached Jacobsbaai and several, including “moi” thought it was an indecorous building.

02

This shipwreck was photographed by all, and Denver did a beautiful high definition version of this (not seen here) at sunset, a must see image.

Friday morning after breakfast, we left for Paternoster because… (read sign)

03

04 

Harley Davidson from every part of South Africa conglomerated and we scattered all over town, in search of the best biker images.  Andre Du Toit’s “biker chicks” produced some of the best laughs at our “dailies” viewing that evening in the conference room.  Italian style dinner was served, compliments of Paulette and Irmel (Graham had the night off).   He had a lot on his mind after Paddy took off with the “leader of the pack”.

05 

Thank God, it’s only Saturday and we had another day to roam the Wild West Coast.  There were 3 cars and it’s difficult, for the author here, to know what went on in each vehicles.  However it’s safe to say we all visited the same noteworthy places, because we kept running into each other.

The horses were one of our first stops and here Denver snapped this image of a lovesick horse with Andre, how can you blame the horse?

06

Andre also known as “bird man” led an expedition team of photographers into the salt pans.  We enjoyed, not the smell, but the bird life and proceeded to work our shutters overtime. Caroline, a dead-ringer decided that sitting on the roof of Irmel’s vehicle was just the optimum viewing pleasure and that in the bitter cold.  If there was an award for player of the day, it would have been a toss-up between her and Andre.  Who gallantly re-landscaped around the hideout at the nature reserve later that day, so a less experienced photographer, like yours truly had a better chance, at a birds eye view (no pun intended) and finally caught that all allusive pupil (image next page) Thank you, Andre.

07

Let’s not forget to thank sweet Paulette for being our chief of security, always making sure our cottages were locked-up and whose hands never seem to stop creating wonderful dishes to go with Peter’s entrees.  On-top of that she still had the wherewithal to create a spreadsheet and assisted our all important CEO Irmel in tallying each individuals accounting at the end of our stay.

The award for the most used name, during our three day weekend, goes to Denver. 
He always graciously answered to each and every call with his expert advice and knowledge and simultaneously took some of the best images of the weekend. 
Way to go Denver!!

Saturday night Graham made his famous “potjiekos” and it was accompanied by one of Paulette’s delicious salads.  Irmel and Peter hauled out heir projector and we had a viewing of each photographer’s personal 10 best images taken over the course of our trip.  I’m sure you’ll be seeing some of these pretty soon.

Thanks to each and everyone for making this a most memorable weekend.

You’re only 50mm Away from Becoming a Better Photographer

It’s true. There is only 50mm separating you from the photos you always wanted to take. Of course it is a 50mm prime lens that is between you and your goal. All the happy owners of this wonderful lens will testify on its behalf as to how their skill where strengthened by this marvel.

You’re only 50mm Away from Becoming a Better Photographer