Report for July 2007

It doesn’t come as news to anyone that the weather this year has been amazingly fickle and after a spectacular April, May’s evenings were not warm and sunny!  The beginning of the rains resulted in the planned trip to Hempholme being postponed and Ann Underwood working hard to collect together some information to provide a PowerPoint presentation on picture composition. 

The source material was the Digital Camera Magazine ‘Composition for photographers’ booklet which appeared Jan 2007.

So that future photographs could be perfectly composed those present were reminded to look in the viewfinder to check the subject and then at its surrounds

ü  check to make sure nothing is growing out of your subject eg trees, drainpipes and telegraph poles

ü  no clutter in the shot to distract

ü  move around a little to avoid a litter bin or a glaring highlight

ü  wait until a car or person moves out of view

Changing the format from landscape (the usual rectangle on its side format) to portrait can dramatically change the picture.  Throughout, the presentation emphasized the ‘rule of thirds’ which says that the subject should never be exactly in the centre of the picture.

The rule of thirds is a technique where you visualise lines that split the photograph into thirds, horizontally and vertically, creating a nine section grid. You then ensure the main point of focus is positioned on one or more of the four intersecting lines.  A

landscape, for example, would have the horizon on either one or two thirds of the way up the photograph, while a tree would be placed on the left or right third, creating an L shape composition.

Armed with the know-how for composing a perfect picture and a pleasant evening on the third Wednesday in June we met up and headed for Hempholme.  The boats moored along the river bank offered some interesting shots and everyone enjoyed the peaceful situation. 

In July architecture in Beverley drew a good number to photograph the churches and buildings in the town – the light was perfect to emphasise the carvings and stonework of the Minster.  As the light began to fade there was a brisk walk through the town to North Bar to capture the Tudor buildings and the Bar itself before it became too dark.

The August meeting is planned to be an indoors event actually looking at the pictures taken and working on any that need ‘touching up’ in Photoshop.  As LDPG hope to join with Hornsea Camera Club again to provide an exhibition in September and also probably enter a Yorkshire Coastal Photographic

Group competition the evening will also consider which photographs to use.

If you have a digital camera and want to make the best of it and the photo-handling programmes then do come along - new recruits are welcome and anyone who wishes to come along should contact Ann on 01964 543883 or 07889 268473 or email ann.underwood@sky-lincs.fsnet.co.uk

Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month and members are all on an email list so they get a reminder on the Monday before the meeting.

15 August         19 September     17 October     21 Nov              19 Dec