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Boksburg Camera Club Newsletter January 2017
Shutternews
BCC is affiliated with PSSA
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Index From the chairman 2 Committee 2017 3 Events 4 Workshops 5
Tip cards 7 Set subjects and inspirations 8 Trophy winners 15 Pygmy
Photography 26 Bulletin board 27 Members list 29 PSSA feature
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Winners January print winners 6 PSSA results 14 January
e-photography winners 24
Features Happy Holidays 10
Demystified: An in-depth guide to your
camera’s histogram 16
Photo by Wallace Hayward BOKSBURG CAMERA CLUB
www.boksburgcameraclub.co.za Photo‐Vault‐Online‐Entries
www.photovaultonline.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/ BANKING
DETAILS First National Bank Sunward Park Branch: 201209 Current
account no: 62482721406
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From the chairman Well, a new year is yet again upon us. It’s a
time for a new start, fresh beginnings. Have an unforgettable year
learning how to take better photographs of stunning subjects and
not just anything which you see because you don’t have time to look
for decent subject matter. Make time through careful time
management… allocate time for your photography through planning. We
are privileged to have renowned and often professional
photographers to present our in-house workshops so please grab the
opportunity to attend these this year. I know that outings where
possible will be based on a past workshop so that you are able to
practice that which was presented in the workshop. Hopefully these
new skills will result in better images thus ensuring that your
‘craft’ continues to grow from strength to strength. This brings me
to the subject of salons, both National and International. It has
been very pleasing for me to see the number of our members who have
taken the plunge and tried and succeeded in gaining not only
acceptances but also certificates of merit or honourable mentions
in some countries, not to mention medals. Please continue to do so
and to those who have not tried, I encourage you to at least try
once you reach three stars in club grading.
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Committee 2016-2017 Welcome to the new committee
Percy Mitchell
Chairman
082 575 7401
Errol Wagg
Vice Chairman and
Competitions
Manager
082 491 8710
Denise Smith
Secretary/admin
076 731 1980
Nico Grobbelaar
E-photo coordinator
082 448 4299
Jacques Taljaard
Treasurer
083 654 4614
Annemi Taljaard
Editor
079 499 5281
Erich Schober
Equipment
manager
083 447 8014
Steve Koekemoer
Workshops and
outings
082 572 3065
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Events
January Mon tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
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2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
February Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28
March Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
January
3- Tony Stacy
4- Percy Mitchell
11- Denise Smith
14- Sandton Photographic Society Salon
16- Club evening (please note this is the third
Monday)
18- Mavis de Rouwe
21- Sharon Naude
24- Eddie Mtsweni
28- Laeveld Fotografieklub Salon
30- Workshop on selling images online and Raw
February
8- Club evening
12- Edwin Hawthorn
Errol Wagg
Suikerbosrand Salon
14- Ulandi Wagg
15- Mel Walsh
25- 4th PSSA national Digital Salon
National Photographic club AV Salon
28- Jackie Cilliers
March
3- Margaret Single
4- Kerry Mellet / Marie Botha
5- Laetitia Kenny
7- Alex Pawley
8- Club evening
11- Vivienne Murray
11th Krugersdorp Camera Club salon
19- Chris van den Berg
25- Tracy Haw
4de Bosveld Fotografieklub Salon
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Workshops
BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR CHANGES TO THE DATES.
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Winners
January- Prints
4 Star
Owen Single
Sunrise at Angor Wat
Set Subject winner
Owen Single
Thanksgiving pumpkins
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Photography tip cards
All tip cards are adapted from the Digital Camera tip cards
Abstract pans
For your first shot try
Exposure Shutter priority
Shutter speed ¼ sec
Aperture Automatic
ISO 100
TO IMPROVE YOUR SHOT...
To reduce the shutter speed in bright light,
attach a filter.
Look for bright bold colours in the
landscape that you can include in the pan
to enhance the end results.
Simply press the shutter and sweep the
camera across the scene.
TOP TIP: It’s important to choose the right
location. Beach or woodlands areas are
particularly effective.
The golden hour
For your first shot try
Exposure Manual
Focal length 16-35mm
Aperture f/11
ISO 100
TO IMPROVE YOUR SHOT...
An hour before or after sunrise or sunset is
known as the golden hour.
A tripod is a must-have. If you’re shooting
in a strong wind or breeze, weight it down.
Use a remote shutter release and activate
mirror lock-up to avoid camera shake.
TOP TIP: Work up a strong composition in advance
of your shooting time, so you’re not fiddling
around with this aspect when the conditions are
perfect for shooting.
Crashing coasts
For your first shot try
Exposure Manual
Burst mode Continuous
Shutter speed 1/500 sec
ISO 100
TO IMPROVE YOUR SHOT...
Position yourself a safe distance away
when you’re shooting rough seas.
Use the burst mode to capture a sequence
of images.
It’s all about timing. Wait for that big wave
to roll in, then fire.
TOP TIP: When you’re shooting rough seas, take a
lens cloth to wipe spray from the lens. Protect
your camera from the salt water with a plastic bag.
Monochrome landscapes
For your first shot try
Exposure mode Manual
AF setting Single point
Aperture f/11
ISO 100
TO IMPROVE YOUR SHOT...
If you’re shooting across a large dynamic
range of light, either bracket-expose the
scene or use an ND grad to darken the sky.
Come down low with your composition to
include more foreground matter.
Set the picture style on your camera to
Monochrome to preview the effect.
TOP TIP: Rich textures in the land and sky work well
when you’re converting to black and white.
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Set subjects for 2017
January- Macro/close up
February- Street photography
March- Water
April- Food
May- Wildlife/Zoo acceptable
June- Monochromes
July- Colour(Red)
August- Silhouettes
September- Scapes
October- Portraiture (emotions)
November- Trophy evening January 2018- Shapes/Abstract
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Set subject inspirations for February:
Street photography Street photography is a type of photography
that features subjects in candid situations within public places.
Street photographs are mirror images of society, displaying
“unmanipulated” scenes, with usually unaware subjects.
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Happy Holidays Everyone loves a good holiday but there will
always be that one place that was extra special. We went to our
members and asked them to share some of their favourite holiday
destinations/photo.
Laetitia Kenny: My favourite holiday photo taken from the top of
Lions Head. Photo not incredible but the fact that I managed to get
to the top of the mountain is!
Chris van den Berg: Limpopo Soetvelde
Gamefarm, Louise Trichardt
Ronel Myburgh: Mozambique holiday 2014/2015 Up early … Sunrise
is the best times I have … especially in Moz. It’s just you, the
crabs and the crashing sound of the waves …. What a perfect way to
start one’s day. And with a photo to remember those peaceful
moments and the beauty of the area – my reason for going back time
and again.
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Mark Preston-Whyte: A selection of photos from my trip to Natal,
visiting Leisure Bay and Nottingham Road.
Mavis De Rouwe: The holiday photo was taken at Zandvoort in
Holland, a popular beach near to Amsterdam. Our hosts took us there
in September to take some sunset photos but the day turned out
rainy, dark and very gloomy. To my amazement as we arrived at
Zandvoort late in the evening, the sun broke through just above the
horizon and filled the beach with the most amazing, magical light.
The atmosphere was electric! Tourists and locals flocked to the
beach to enjoy this very special window of light. Lovers walked
along the beach hand in hand, people took their dogs for a
leisurely walk, fishermen planted their rods hoping for an evening
catch, selfies taken against the magnificent skyline were in
abundance and of course formal photographers were on a high!
Vibrant light engulfed us all and this very special hour will
always be part of my mental Amazing Memories file.
Edwin Hawthorn: Place: Pringle Bay - Western Cape Why: A place
that offers absolute peace, tranquillity, harmony and an
opportunity to find yourself.
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Jasper van Eden: For me...my favourite holiday. Mmm... A truly
epic holiday is all about the journey and not the destination. All
the beautiful sights of our beautiful country along the way. I love
my road trips.
Andrew Metcalf: Thailand, James Bond Island Esme Bruwer: Gili
Air Island... an area of 15 square km. Walking around is a pleasure
and takes about two hours. Our own little jungle
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Percy Mitchell: South Beach, Durban
Hannes Bronkhorst: One of my favourite places is Swaziland and
all these pics were taken there.
The small “cave” is Lion cavern in Ngwenya mine near Oshoek and
supposedly the first ever mine in the world if I recall
properly.
The one pic is Summerfield botanical gardens and wedding
venue.
Ngwenya glass is where they make stunning items out of recycled
glass.
Two places in Swaziland have busman paintings. One in Mlilwane
game reserve and I believe not so nice anymore. These I
photographed are at another spot and not advertised as a tourist
destination. Found it marked on a paper map.
Mlilwane game reserve is very green. And just over a 100km
further where I took the other pics in Hlane Game Park is very dry
again.
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Winners PSSA results 2016.11.05 - 6th West Rand Photographic
Club Salon No results for Boksburg Camera Club
2016.12.20 – Edenvale International MIROC salon No results for
Boksburg Camera Club
2017.01.14 – Sandton Photographic Society salon No results
available yet
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Trophy Winners On Monday 16th January we had our annual prize
giving. Congratulations to all our winners.
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Demystified: An In-Depth Guide to
Your Camera’s Histogram
If you ask 10 photographers what camera feature they are least
comfortable with, what do you think they’d say? Hands down, my bet
would be the histogram. It’s probably one of the most useful
features on modern cameras. But it’s also one of the most
misunderstood and underused features as well. That’s a shame too,
because it’s such a powerful tool! In this guide, you’ll be taken
step-by-step through what a histogram is, how to read it, and how
you can use it to improve your photos immediately! No, seriously…
That’s how powerful your camera histogram really is. If you master
how to use it, you’ll have a tool at your disposal that can have a
dramatic, positive impact on your photos. Let’s get started!
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What the Heck is a Histogram Anyway?
Rather than relying on a technical, mathematical-based
definition of a histogram, let’s just define it as this: A graph
that shows the tones or colours in a photo, including shadows, mid
tones, and highlights, that also shows how many pixels in the photo
represent one of those tonal values. In other words, the histogram
is a graphical representation of the exposure levels in your photo.
As you can see above, darker areas appear on the left side of the
graph, mid tones appear in the middle, and highlights appear on the
right side.
The reason this is such a handy tool is because it is a precise
representation of the brightness levels of the photo. That is, the
distribution of the graph isn’t impacted by ambient light or
brightness levels of your camera’s LCD - two things that impact how
you are able to view the images themselves. That means that using
your LCD to view your images to make a determination of the quality
of exposure isn’t going to get you the best results. Rather, a
histogram will Gleaning Information From the Histogram Typically,
modern cameras actually have a number of histograms, including one
that indicates luminosity (as discussed in the previous section)
and another that indicates colour, as seen below:
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The luminosity histogram is used most often, and has a
monochromatic display. The colour histograms give you an overview
of the presence of red, green, and blue pixels in the image.
Usually, these histograms are displayed in their specific colour
spaces, as seen above. Since the luminosity histogram is used most
often, let’s explore it in more detail.
The luminosity histogram gives us detailed information about the
exposure of the photo. But a histogram shows more than just how
many pixels are dark or bright:
Histograms indicate if an image is well-exposed throughout. If
the graph extends from one side to the other, all tones are
represented in some number in the photo.
Histograms indicate if one value of tones is overpowering the
others. If there aren’t any spikes on the left or right sides of
the graph with an arch in the mid tone region, the image is pretty
evenly exposed.
Both of these concepts can be seen in the histogram above. Note
how the graph extends from one side to the other, but without sharp
spikes on the edges. Also note how the mid tone area is prominent,
with the tell-tale arch peaking in the middle and descending
towards the left and right.
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Let’s take a look at a few more examples.
Note in this histogram how we do not have the mid tone arch that
was present in the previous example. The graph has changed because
the image of the mom and her baby is predominantly white tones with
very few dark areas. That’s why we see a large spike at the far
right of the graph, and a greater number of pixels from the middle
of the graph to the right. Note in the image how there are very few
dark areas - something that’s reflected in the histogram as well.
It’s important to be aware that just because this graph is shifted
to the right doesn’t mean that it is a poorly exposed image. All
this means is that for this subject, which has many lighter tones,
the resulting histogram will naturally be shifted to the right. In
fact, if the exposure was adjusted to make the histogram more
“typical,” it could well render the light-coloured subject matter
as darker, like turning the white highlights to gray.
In this histogram, we see that darker tones are greater in
number because of the sharp spikes toward the left side of the
graph. Again, keep in mind that this doesn’t necessarily indicate a
poorly exposed image. Rather, the primary subject might simply be a
dark, like the shot of the dark forest above.
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Something that this histogram and the previous two histograms
have in common is that the full range of tones is represented.
Notice how even though one histogram spikes in the middle, another
spikes on the right, and another spikes on the left, that there are
still values across the entire spectrum represented in the image.
That means that each of these histograms indicate a good exposure.
Using the Histogram to Adjust Exposure When you view the histogram
for an image and there is a gap on the left or the right, you’ll
need to put some work into making it a more appropriately exposed
image. Why? Gaps indicate that there are pixels in that range of
tones completely missing from the photo.
For example, in the sample image of New York City’s skyline
above, note how there are no shadow details in the image. This is
reflected in the histogram where a gap exists on the left side That
means that the image is overexposed (which is also indicated by the
tall spikes on the far right of the graph). To rectify the
situation, you would adjust your exposure settings to restrict the
amount of light, either by using a smaller aperture, a faster
shutter speed, or a lower ISO, or a combination thereof.
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Of course, the opposite problem can occur as well. In the
example above, there are far too many dark tones in the image, with
no detail beyond the foreground leaves and a minimal amount of
contrast. This is indicated by the cluster of spikes on the left
side of the graph. There are no highlights indicated, meaning the
image is too dark. Boost the brightness of the image by using a
larger aperture, a slower shutter speed, or a higher ISO value, or
a combination thereof to extend the graph from the left all the way
to the right. Clipping 101 You might have heard the term “clipping”
thrown around before. If you don’t know what it means, it simply
indicates that there has been a loss of detail in the image in the
highlighted or shadowed areas. In other words, that detail has been
clipped from the image. Clipping is indicated by a tall spike on
the left or right side of the graph. Tones in these clipped areas
are usually unrecoverable, meaning that they will render as pure
black (if on the left side of the graph) or pure white (if on the
right side of the graph), as seen below:
To avoid clipping, ensure that your histogram barely contacts
the left or right sides of the graph. That will ensure that you
retain the details you need in those dark and light areas. This
goes for colours too! Check your RGB histogram for clipping as well
because it might show areas of coloured clipping where the
luminosity histogram shows no clipping at all. Give yourself even
more protection against clipping by using the histogram in tandem
with your camera’s highlight warning feature, which is often called
“blinkies.” Essentially, blinkies make the clipped highlights or
shadows in an image preview blink - that way you know what areas
are being lost. This display is separate from the histogram, and
gives you yet another visual clue as to what areas of the image
might need more attention to bring the exposure into a more
desirable realm. If you’re a Canon shooter, either press the “Info”
or “Display” button repeatedly until you see the blinkies appear on
your image preview. If you’re a Nikon shooter, press the Up or Down
buttons as you preview an image until you see flashing highlights.
Consult your
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camera’s owner’s manual to get more details about your specific
model’s highlight warning features. Using the Histogram to Your
Advantage
Now that you have a firm grasp on what a histogram is and how to
read it and interpret it, it’s important to determine how you can
use that information to your advantage. Part of this process is
identifying the impact that the scene you’re photographing will
have on the image you take. For example, if you take a portrait on
a bright, sunny day, you should expect to see a spike on the right
side of the histogram. Conversely, if you take a low-light image of
a forest with a lot of shadowed areas, expect to see a spike on the
left side of the histogram. Because every scene will be different,
your histograms will be different as well. Just because it doesn’t
conform to the typical form with the mid tone arch in the middle
doesn’t mean it’s a bad exposure. Let the scene speak to you, and
if it requires more shadows, let the histogram reflect that; if it
requires more highlights, that’s fine too! In other words, don’t
conform your photos to a certain type of histogram. It is a tool
that is helpful for correcting exposures that have gone awry - not
a hard and fast rule that you must adhere to in each and every
shot. Ultimately, what makes a “proper” exposure is you and your
creative vision. That means that sometimes you’ll intentionally
overexpose an image, as was done in the image of the couple riding
horses above; other times you’ll intentionally underexpose it.
Doing so can add to the artistic interpretation of the photo and
result in something that has more mood, evokes more emotions, or
simply aligns with your aesthetic more completely. In the end, look
at each scene you’re photographing and determine how you want to
interpret that scene. Then, use the histogram to help you get the
effect you want. That’s how you use this powerful tool to create
even more powerful photos.
https://www.photographytalk.com/beginner-photography-tips/7191-demystified-an-in-depth-guide-to-your-camera-s-histogram
https://www.photographytalk.com/beginner-photography-tips/7191-demystified-an-in-depth-guide-to-your-camera-s-histogramhttps://www.photographytalk.com/beginner-photography-tips/7191-demystified-an-in-depth-guide-to-your-camera-s-histogram
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Winners January evening e-photography results
2 Star
Barry Clayton
Coming at you
1 Star
Hannes Bronkhorst
Eat my dust
3 Star
Armand Wessels
The green monster
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5 Star
Percy Mitchell
Curious
4 Star
Jackie Cilliers
Sea Harvester
1-3 Star Set Subject
Winner
Steve Koekemoer
Moth
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1-3 Star Set Subject
Runner up
Kerry Mellet
Dahlia in bloom
4-5 Star Set Subject
Winner
Laetitia Kenny
Caterpillar on a stick
4-5 Star Set Subject
Runner up
Sandra McCallum
Close up agapanthus
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Pygmy Photography- Tell a story
So we all like to get the kids involved in something other than
computer games and
watching TV. The pygmy photography feature will give fun ideas
for kids to spark their
interest in photography. First of all we don’t recommend giving
your kid a brand new DSLR
for his/her birthday. An old smart phone with a camera or a
small digital camera is more
than sufficient.
Tell a story:
Give your kids a topic example princess or animals etc.
Give the child time to take 10 -15 pictures and come up with a
story.
You can help the child download the images onto a computer
Listen to the child tell the story
The photos for the story need to have some sense in terms of the
story being
told.
Have fun and reward the child to encourage photography.
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Bulletin Board
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Bulletin Board
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Bulletin Board
If you have any photography
related product to sell email it to
Annemi Taljaard
[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]
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Members list Alan Driver Jasper van Eden Silvi-Mari Herman
Alan Rankin Johan Botha Sivu Matsiliza
Alex Pawley Karl Seidel Sonja Nel
Alta Neto Karen Seidel Steve Koekemoer
Andre Koekemoer Kerry Mellet Theo van der Merwe
Andrew Metcalf Kierie Viljoen Tony Stacey
Anna Ireland Kim Cass Tracey Haw
Anneke Watt Laurence Keulder Tracy Hopley
Annemi Taljaard Laetitia Kenny Ulandi Wagg
Armand Wessels Lynn Perry Ursula Herbst
Barry Clayton Magda Van Vreden Vivienne Murray
Channette Coetzee Margaret Single Wallace Hayward
Charmaine Zietsman Marie Botha Willie Pieterse
Chris van den Berg Mari Kok Yolanda Taljaard
Christine Janse van Rensburg Mark Preston White
David Macintyre Mavis De Rouwe
Denise Smith Mel Walsh
Demsey Henning Michelle Venter
Deon Mostert Natasha Henning
Ditta Arnott Nico Grobbelaar
Eddie Mtsweni Noma Matsiliza
Edwin Hawthorn Odette Small
Elmarie Swanepoel Paddy Abrams
Erich Schober Pam Eley
Errol Wagg Paula Rutherford
Esme Bruwer Percy Mitchell
Ettienne van Niekerk Reginald Owen Single
Frans Grotius Renee de Klerk
Gail Zaaiman Roger Pike
Hannes Bronkhorst Ronald Reeves
HP Van Zyl Ronel Myburgh
Jackie Cilliers Rowland Hopley
Jackie duPlessis Sandra McCallum
Jacques Taljaard Sharon Naude
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What is PSSA?
The Photographic Society of South Africa (PSSA) is the
officially recognised body presenting photographers
in South Africa. The aim of the society is the promotion of
photography in all aspects through individual
membership, affiliated clubs and other photographic groups.
Vision
As the internationally recognised Society, the PSSA actively
embraces the future in its services to all
photographers.
Mission
To bring together those interested in photography.
To promote the highest possible standards.
To embrace the future of photography while continually
supporting the present.
Benefits of joining PSSA
Become part of the world-wide photographic community.
Nationally and internationally recognised Honours and
Awards.
Diamond ratings for achievements at National and International
salons.
Receive a quarterly glossy A4 magazine, “IMAGE”.
Access the online newsletter and members’ section of the
website.
Publish articles and images in “IMAGE” and on the website.
Evaluation of members’ photographs on the website
Learn new skills through workshops, tutorials and training
DVD’s.
Attend workshops to obtain accreditation as a judge of
photography within the Society.
Discounted entry fees to photographic salons recognised by
PSSA.
Awards for service and excellence in photography.
Discounts given to PSSA members attending national and regional
congresses.
Join today!
Membership of PSSA is open to all photographers
For application forms and other information, access the website:
www.pssa.co.za.
http://www.pssa.co.za/
