Snapsh t Newsletter of Nepean Camera Club

Volume 9 Issue 5 www.nepeancameraclub.org October 2019

From the President’s Desk

As I sit at my desk, considering what to write, I think that the regular column for the Newsletter may well be the most daunting task for a new President. I would like to welcome the new Committee members. Lynn Nankervis, who has undertaken the Treasurer’s role, David Chambers who is also our Webmaster, and to welcome back Ernie de Vlieger. Ernie is again taking the Secretarial role, something he did very capably before I had a two-year stint in the position. We have a very capable committee who I know will assist me in every way. Jeff Nankervis will continue as Vice President. Laurene Graham will continue to edit the Newsletter, something she has excelled at during the past twelve months. Please make it easier for her by responding promptly when she requests articles and images. Gunda Wright is again our Publicity Officer, and has kindly undertaken storage of the Club’s equipment. This is greatly appreciated and it will be a relief to have all our equipment stored under one roof. Paul Sullivan has been our very capable tea “lady”, and I thank him and his assistants, Marnie and Gunda. Supper and a chat is a very popular part of club meetings. I would also like to thank the many people who quietly assist with setting up prior to meetings.

The Club is in a strong position, with a reputation as a small and friendly club, producing images of a high standard. We are currently considering the program for 2020, and appreciate the input from many of you, with suggestions for the sort of activities you would enjoy and benefit from. We expect to offer tutorials, guest speakers and photographic opportunities to arouse your interest and maintain the high standard.

There will also be competitions, the number yet to be decided. I see our competitions as an opportunity to improve individually with informed critiques from experienced judges, and I encourage all members to “have a go”. It is the quickest way to improve.

I have been a member of Nepean Camera Club Inc. for four years, and during that time I have been on a fairly steep learning curve – from point and shoot to a better under-standing of the basics of photography, as well as learning post-processing using Lightroom. (I also had never been Secretary of a club before). Nepean Camera Club has given me the opportunity to make friends, learn and enjoy photography. I hope I can give

something back in my new role as President. Sally Rule Club News

Competition Results

A Wee Dram or Two by Peter Ibbotson

The following images were the “high scorers” from the Hi Key/Low Key and Still Life competitions.

Flower Box by Peter Ibbotson

White Samoyed by Michael Hirst

Winter Flowers by Kathy Hirst

Relaxing Dragons by Andrew Raff

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Shoshone by Sue Raff

Club Workshop Reports

Burst and Flashlight Photography: 3 September 2019

In the absence of our ‘top brass’, Barry Mills kindly made a presentation on Burst and Flashlight Photography. It proved to be a very informative evening, with lots of interaction from members.

Burst Mode Photography:

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Firing Zelzal 3 rocket in the Great Prophet VI military exercise by IRGC

Barry: Burst is great for sport, wildlife, your grandchildren (who don’t realise you are still taking their photograph, not just a single one … leads to more spontaneous facial expressions).

1 It’s best to use a fast SD card that suits your camera, rather than a regular one (e:g: Extreme, Ultra, Elite, EVO or Professional)

2 Set camera mode … turn the drive to continuous, rather than single image.

Look for the icon with several rectangles overlapping …. often inside the quick menu OR in the menu look for continuous shooting or burst mode. Many cameras provide choice of high or low continuous shooting. (High is faster, hence more images to SD card.)

3 FOCUS: AF-C (for Nikon), C-AF (Olympus Tracking) or AFC (Pentax)

The camera will take (say)six photographs per second. Better cameras take up to 20. N.B. There will be no focus signal (light or buzz).

4 Lock focus on the subject (Half button down).

5 Hold the shutter button down.

6 Select the image you wish to use.

The camera will continue taking photographs while you hold the shutter button down, or until its internal memory buffer fills up. (Buffer: When the shutter button is pressed a large amount of data is created and can't be instantly stored on the camera's durable memory card. The buffer memory holds the data from the photograph before it is transferred or written onto the memory card. It’s like an internal storage tank).

Dr Google: Burst mode, also called continuous shooting mode, sports mode or continuous high speed mode, is a shooting mode in still cameras. In burst mode, several photographs are captured in quick succession by either pressing the shutter button or holding it down.[1] This is used mainly when the subject is in successive motion, such as sports photography. The photographer can then select the best image of the group or arrange them in a sequence to study the transitions in detail, for example

Your card will obviously fill up with images much faster than on single image mode.

If creating RAW (instead of jpeg), the buffer will fill even faster.

Barry showed some of his own terrific photographs… surf boats, athletes running, grandchildren etc. He tends to hand hold the camera for these occasions. One great idea is to have your grandchildren swirl sparklers around in circles. Using a flash, set your camera for a several seconds shot. When you take the image, the flash will light up the children, but the sensor will catch the moving sparkler too. Experiment with times and the children can draw shapes or letters with the sparklers.

Barry’s other tips:

Be careful for salt spray on your camera when on beaches.

Prepare your camera and settings the night before you head out.

Flashlight Photography: While we all love ambient lighting, especially the soft sidelight light from a window, it is good to experiment with an external flashlight to create other lighting scenarios.

Barry demonstrated his external flash unit pointing out the advantage being that it freezes the moment. He spoke mainly about using flash in daylight conditions, indicating that he uses it a surprising amount of time …. under trees, when there is a colourful sunset behind his subject, when light comes from behind the subject whose face is darkened, children with sparklers, to create softer facial lighting and more.

Barry uses a shutter speed of 1/30th second or slower.

The flash power output is adjustable, especially for (say) close up subjects.

Again Barry showed us some of his own gems for example family, group gatherings, weddings, and a corporate shot for his son.

Images by Annabelle Dureau

He also demonstrated the way the light on his flash unit could be swivelled and redirected, even to behind himself (over his shoulder). The resulting reflection from light coloured walls and ceiling produced a softer image of Marnie. This technique also eliminates any red eye effect.

White Bounce Card:

To solve the problem of shadows produced by bouncing the light off the ceiling, one solution is quite simple. Keep the speedlight pointed at the ceiling, and simply pull up the thin white bounce card that is built into the top of the flash. When the flash is fired, the light not only bounces off the ceiling, but a portion of it is also reflected off the bounce card. The resulting image is much more evenly illuminated, all thanks to a thin piece of plastic.

Flash Diffuser:

Barry placed a light diffuser on the flash unit, a translucent white cap or box that fits snugly on his flash unit. It helps to evenly spread out the light to eliminate harsh shadows. The effect is similar to using the built-in white bounce card, but the light is more controlled.

Remote:

With a remote trigger, the unit can be placed away from the camera and directed where desired towards the subject for various lighting effects.

Thanks Barry, for the enjoyable presentation. by Jim Carr

Further information on Barry’s camera settings is available (with images) as Attachments at the end of the newsletter.

Club Photoshoots

Photoshoot: Greens Bush: Flora, Fauna, Close-Up and Macro

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Sunday 15 September was cool and overcast, but that didn't deter seven intrepid NCC photographers from taking part in a field day, with the intention to photograph flora and fauna in Green's Bush.

We started at 11.00 am, with the intention of a two-hour session, then retiring for coffee at a local venue. Somehow, we all got engrossed, or maybe partly "bushed", and the "two hour" session ended close to four hours later.

Andrew challenged us to take images of four different types of flora, (no difficulty there), with the abundance and variety in Green's Bush, but the other challenge, two different types of fauna, was a problem for most. The wild life was well hidden.

I managed three different birds, but not images worth printing.

Fortunately, the two showers were of short duration and not heavy, and we covered quite a big area of the Bush.

We missed the coffee stop, due to the late finishing time, but the images and camaraderie made up for the lack of sustenance. I for one was quite glad to put my feet up when I got home. …Sally Rule

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Images:

Egg and Bacon by Marnie Fitzsimons (top left)

Pink Epacris by Marnie Fitzsimons (above left)

Prickly Moses by Marnie Fitzsimons (left)

Marnie and Sue – Greens Bush by Sally Rule (below left)

Old and Twisted by Alan Thexall (above right)

NCC Annual Trip: Apollo Bay: 8 – 10 October 2019

A small group of five women and one man (our token male until Jim joined us), set off in two cars for a four-day photographic adventure to Apollo Bay, staying at the Star of the Sea Convent, which was surprisingly nice with a large modern living area and well appointed kitchen. The bedrooms and bathrooms were a reasonable size, but sparsley furnished. The water was hot and the heating good…. I really don’t know what I expected but not having been to a convent before, I was pleasantly surprised.

Gunda and Jim had worked up an itinerary which had us on the move all the time, and at the mercy of the weather, which ranged from Cool to Refreshingly Cool to Wet and Windy, with very little sunshine. Apparently Apollo Bay is one of the wettest regions in Victoria.

Jim, with knowledge obtained from the friendly locals, knew the location of good eateries and coffee shops which we always managed to find at the right time. Although if anyone suggests you take a thermos and home-made goodies for morning tea to the Californian Redwood Forest, do it, as you won’t live to regret it.

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After a scenic drive early one morning we arrived at the Californian Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens species) Forest to find a bus load of children having morning tea in a very beautiful area.

The trees which are approximately 85 years old, are extremely tall, very straight and can grow to a height of 115 meters or more; the area was beautiful, very quiet and peaceful with the sounds of birds and the Aire River.

Close to the Red Wood Forest is the Hopetoun Waterfall, which is also spectacular.

Our Itinerary included visits to the Apollo Bay Harbour and Jetty where huge waves crashed the breakwater wall, to Cape Otway Light House and a beach walk with the Birdman, Richard Stone, showing us where some of the endangered hooded plovers nested.

The inclement weather affected participation in the Tree Top Walk, also the opportunity to go sailing.

We had a lovely drive home along the Great Ocean Road to Queenscliff where we caught the ferry to Sorrento, then the “scenic road” home.

My thanks to Gunda and Jim for all their work in researching our activities and arranging cars/drivers – it was a very enjoyable break. Thank you. Laure Graham

Richard Stone the Birdman

On Thursday morning we were very fortunate to experience a presentation by a local bird enthusiast.

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Richard firstly said that he was not a photographer, but that photography enabled him to identify his sightings. This proved to be a vast understatement as he projected many great bird photographs onto the screen. He uses a Sony 20 mpx 50 magnification bridging camera which doubles as his binoculars.

After a delightful hour of entertainment and instruction Richard led us on a walk near the river/beach seeking birds to photograph.

One highlight was the endangered Hooded Plover.

He presented the following tips for taking photographs of birds in the wild:

1 The best camera settings are usually: Use S or Tv (Canon) priority on 1/250 second with f5 to f6.3 and ISO around 100.

(Many of his shots at these settings had the bird clearly focused with blurred backgrounds hinting at their location.)

He added that birds in flight may require 1/1000 second setting.

2 There is no best time of year nor time of day. Waterbirds especially can be seen throughout the day.

3 Prepare: Be one step ahead.

Know the most likely species and their habits. e:g: Hooded Plovers rarely fly/ Focus below Sitellas which tend to run down a tree.

4 Always carry your camera with you and be ready to use it.( I’ve heard that before !)

5 Try to be on the same level as the bird. Be ready to move to varying perspectives. (Heard that a lot too!)

6 Cataloguing - he numbered all the birds in his bird book, then when he photographs a bird he uses the relevant number for the file.

He then keeps folders with lots of 50 birds on his computer.

7 Firstly use Autoi settings then experiment with priority settings (Sounding familiar!)

He suggested that interested participants should read the book “Where Song Began” by Tim Low and purchase Michael Morcombes “Birds of Australia” app.

I think Richard forgot to say how a keen eye is really useful. This he demonstrated during our walk. That’s a problem for the likes of me. I now hit the golf ball further than I can clearly focus. Jim Carr

Images

Pink Robin by Paul Sullivan (above left)

New Holland Honey Eater by Robyn Biggin (left)

Club Calendar 30 October

Filters with Jeff Nankervis at Sorrento Back Beach

5 November

Melbourne Cup – there is no meeting as this is a public holiday

10 November

Field Day. Ocean Beach Flinders and Blowhole area.

19 November

Competition: Open

3 December

Review of “Action” and “Wine” Images Presentation and Awards. Yearbook presentation. Display of one mounted Image from each Club Member.

Focus on Ben Eriksson Hi! I’m Ben and my love for photography started at a young age, petered off in my late teens before coming back to life in my late twenties. I’m 40 and for the last 10 years photography has been a huge part of my life. After working for 23 years in the retail furniture industry, a stint working as a Fire Emergency Training Instructor

and doing photography as a part-time business, in early 2017 I took the plunge and went full time into the world of photography.

My passion is to teach and help others, I had been doing so as a Fire Emergency trainer, Cub Scout and Scout Leader in my earlier years and in more recent times I had been a team leader for Igers Melbourne, (Instagram) a monthly photography meet up group.

My photography business was formed around running affordable photography one on one, group and weekend workshops, photographing events, lifestyle/portraits and corporate photography. Spanning from Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island.

My personal photography passion is for anything night sky based, landscape, seascapes, cityscape and wildlife, particularly Humpback and Southern Right Whales. But I love trying anything and everything, you only find new passions by trying and experiencing.

Recently, I’ve been over to Phillip Island conducting a weekend workshop, spent a few days at Wilsons Prom and Port Welshpool, which included a trip out photographing Humpback Whales, a hike up Mt Oberon and a visit to Agnes Falls.

A few of my favourite photography moments have been, capturing the Aurora Australis, Ghost Fungi, Bioluminescence from both Victoria and Tasmania.

I once came across the word Nyctophilia (n.) love of darkness or night. Finding relaxation or comfort in the darkness. Have you heard of it? Can you relate to it? I sure can!

I use a variety of gear for the different

styles of photography I enjoy and need

to use for my work. I am lucky to be an

ambassador supported by some great

photography brands: Samyang Optics

Australia, Athabasca ND Filters

Australia, MeFOTO Tripods Australia,

Benro Tripods Australia, Tenba Bags

Australia and Litra Gear Australia.

My partner and I purchased our home in Rosebud earlier this year, and I can honestly say ‘I love our little piece of paradise living on the Pen’. I joined Nepean Camera Club to experience meeting a community of photographers in my local area, to share knowledge and learn new skills from people who have photography passions different to mine.

If you’d like to see all the things I do, check: www.benjaminerikssonphotography.com.au Instagram: benjamineriksson.photography or Facebook: Benjamin Eriksson Photography or come up and say hi at a club meeting. I always enjoy a good chat.

Thanks for welcoming me! Ben Eriksson

Out and About with Anne Gibson

The Mission to Seafarers building is approximately 100 years old and is being rapidly surrounded by modern buildings in the city. It has a Heritage listing, so must be preserved. Before a renovation project began we went in to photograph and provide a record of the building as it was.

The work involves restoring cracked and crumbling surfaces, replacement of wooden flooring and removal of graffiti from the walls.

The bullet hole was discoverd in an internal window between the billiard room and library, but nobody associated with the Mission knows the story about it.

It was not an easy photo-shoot as the interior is quite dark with a lot of wood panelling.

Images by Anne Gibson :

Bell Tower (top left)

Mission to Seafarers Flinders Street entrance

Bullet Hole (bottom left)

River Aspect (bottom right)

Photo Opportunities…. Who’s been where with Rosalie Arnold

While everyone on the Mornington Peninsula suffered the cold and shivers Bob and I had the luxury of experiencing winter in Darwin where the temperature did not vary much; just 31 – 33 degrees, and the only time I had a jacket on was when we landed at Melbourne Airport.

Images of Northern Territory by Rosalie Arnold

I don’t usually take images of birds but we had a trip out to Corroboree Billabong which was really lovely, and yes lots of birds, but you can’t beat a Darwin Sunset, especially when it is a beautiful balmy night with a great wine in your hand, good friends and that beautiful sun sinking into the sea.

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Cheat Information Sheets

Photographs in this newsletter were provided by

Peter Ibbotson, Michael Hirst, Kathy Hirst, Andrew Raff, Sally Raff, Mike Lyons, Sue Raff, Annabelle Dureau Alan Thexton, Marnie Fitzsimon, Gunda Wright, Jim Carr, Paul Sullivan, Robyn Biggin,

Ben Eriksson, Anne Gibson Rosalie Arnold

“Taking an image, freezing a moment, reveals how rich reality truly is.” – Anon

NEPEAN CAMERA CLUB WEBSITE Don’t forget that we have one!

It contains information about our club, our program, photography genres, competition rules and a range of member images.

Member of the month is Mike Lyons Check out their great photographs

NEPEAN CAMERA CLUB COMMITTEE Sally Rule President Jeff Nankervis Vice President Ernie deVlieger Secretary Lynn Nankervis Treasurer Jeff Nankervis Minute Secretary Laurene Graham Newsletter Editor Gunda Wright Committee Member

Competition Steward David Chambers Sally Rule

Committee Member

Attachment 1 Additional Image Information from Barry Miles

Continuous Shooting Image Information

Surf Boat at the Aussies F14 @ 1/1600th Second ISO 800 Focal length 280 mm Plus Zoom and Crop Shutter Priority Time 1.56 pm 6 April.

Attachment 2 – Additional Image Information from Barry Miles

Continuous Shooting Image Information

Henry @ Cricket F4.5 1/1250th Second ISO 200 No Flash Distance from Subject Approx 80 meters 200 mm Zoom Lens Plus Zoom and Crop Time 9.09 am 24 February 2019

Henry @ Football F5.6 1/1000th Second ISO 640 No Flash Distance from Subject Approx 40 meters Lens Plus Zoom and Crop Time 1.40 pm 21 July 2019

Attachment 3 – Additional Image Information from Barry Miles

Flash Image Information

Xmas Day

F4 @ 1/60th Second ISO 100 Flash Used Minus 1/3 Stop Distance from Subject: Approx 2 meters Time 7.06 pm 25 December

Grand Final, MCG Group

F8 @ 1/250th Second ISO 100 Flash Used Minus 1/3 Stop Distance from Subject: Approx 3 meters Time 1.00 pm 30 September

Grand Final: Dipper and Ernie Dingo

F5.6 @ 1/250 Seconds ISO 400 Flash Used Normal Distance from Subject: Approximately 3 meters Time 5.37 pm 30 September

Grand Final: Dipper and Ernie Dingo

%8 @ 1/125 Second ISO 400 No Flash Distance from Subject: Approx 3 meters Time 5.37 pm 30 September

Wedding Group

F4 @ 1/60th Second ISO 200 Flash Normal Distance from Subject: Approx 4 meters

Sam on Darwin Harbour

F11 @ 1/160 Second ISO 100 Flash Minus 2 Stops Distance from Subject: Approx 2 meters Time 6.43 pm 9 April