Photo Opportunity Saturday 23rd March
Event – The Wattagan Mountain Campdraft
Location Kings Rd Cooranbong
Time -all day starting 10 am casual event , come & go as you please.
Gate entry – free
Canteen -available
Action Photography, horses, people. etc
Comment – limited seating & shade
Marie & Bob will be to the left of canteen to help if needed.
by Colleen Price, February 29, 2024
Yearly Schedule Update
The Yearly Schedule has been updated on the website.
One date change in March to correct an error in the 5 week month PLUS the addition of judges names for the comps. Please print or download the new version.
The document can be found under Club Rules and documents/ club calendars.
by Rita England, February 29, 2024
HOCUS FOCUS – FEBRUARY 2024
HOCUS FOCUS – FEBRUARY 2024 is now available on the website under the NEWSLETTERS Button or directly on this link https://wangi.myphotoclub.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2024/02/HOCUS-FOCUS-FEBRUARY-2024.pdf
by David Price, February 28, 2024
IMPORTANT CHANGES TO COMPETITION JUDGING – Please read
At our committee meeting on Monday we had extensive discussions about our competitions and how we have been instructing the judges in regards to the judging. We made a decision to make changes to this process that we believe will be for the better for both the judges and the members.
We will be implementing the changes starting with our March competition
These changes and the reasons for them are outlined below.
Digital.
For some time now we have been receiving feedback from numerous members that they feel the judging of the digitals has been quite different from the judging of the prints even though it is the same judge.
Many members believe that the judges are favouring the prints when awarding awards and not giving the digitals as much merit.
One reason for this that has been suggested is that the judges might see our digital competition as separate from our print competition as is the case with some other clubs.
As we all know, in our club they are both just two different formats for the one competition
Changes being implemented:
- Firstly, what won’t change is that you’ll still upload your digitals two weeks prior to competition night. The judge will still have access to view the digitals two weeks prior to the competition night so they’ll have time to decide on any comments and awards in advance.
- The biggest change will be that we will no longer require the judge to enter the awards on the website. Rather, they will just make a note of which images they wish to give awards to and they will announce these awards during the slideshow on competition night.
It’ll be my job to make note of these awards and enter them on the website after the meeting as I do for the print awards.
The slideshow will be presented in the same order that we get our prints judged (colour, then mono and then set subject), and the awards in each category will be announced as we go through, just like we do for the prints.
As with the print judging we will be asking our judges to announce any Judges Choice awards at the end of each section.
- Written comments by the judge will no longer be required. As all our judges still make comments verbally on the night during the slideshow, we have made the decision that we will not require the judges to do the extra work of making written comments as well as this is really doubling their workload. Rather, judge’s comments will be made verbally on the night.
Taking this extra workload away from the judges will make it a lot easier to recruit judges in the future.
Members who are not able to attend on the night for various reasons can ask another member to make a note of comments made by the judge and pass these comments onto them.
Print.
There will also be a slight change with our print competitions on the night.
We will no longer be displaying the title of the image on the front of the print.
We have made this decision to be consistent with many other clubs and international competitions.
It will also ensure that the images are always judged on their photographic merit rather than the name of the images which has occasionally happened.
The schedule on our comp night will run as follows:
To ensure that we fit all of this in smoothly in the time frame that the club gives us we will be instructing the judges of the following schedule.
- 6:30 PM prints will be on the stands for judges to have time for a preliminary viewing.
- 7 pm our competition night will begin. There will usually be a few announcements before the print judging commences.
- 8 pm our print judging will be completed and we will have a 15 minute tea/coffee break with a chance to discuss any questions arising after the print judging.
- 8:15 pm our digital slideshow and announcement of our digital awards will begin.
- 9 pm we will need to be finished and commence packing up. Unfortunately the club requires us to leave by 9:30 pm as they close then. It is a shame that we have these time restrictions as often we feel we need more time, but we have to follow the directive of the club.
I hope all these changes are clearly outlined and that everyone will be able to appreciate the need for the changes.
by Sue Winsley, February 22, 2024
March Tutorial – Adventure Photography
For the March tutorial (25th) David Whyte will be giving a talk on Adventure Photography. He will be talking about the gear, dealing with weather and showing images on beautiful and remote parts of Australia and New Zealand.
by David Whyte, February 14, 2024
Important Rules Reminder
With so much going on in our lives it’s easy to forget some of the rules of our camera club.
I just want to remind our members of the following part of our rules.
Number of Entries and Restriction on Entries
In each monthly competition members may enter a total of three (3) images with no more than two images in any one category, irrespective of the format (print or EDI) used.
What this basically means that if you were, for example, to enter 2 images in Digital colour, you cannot then enter any in Print colour as you have already entered the maximum of 2 entries in the colour category.
This of course, goes for all the categories.
As our website is not sophisticated enough to be able to monitor entries over the different formats (Digital versus Print), we need our members to keep this rule in mind and monitor themselves.
It would be an enormous task for me to have to go through all entries each month to check members haven’t exceeded the limits to each category which is why I’m putting out this post as a reminder.
I don’t believe any of our members would deliberately exceed the limits in each category. I believe when this has happened that it’s a simple oversight on behalf of that member.
Please remember that our rules document in on the website for anyone who may need a refresher on the rules.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me by email suewinsley@iinet.net.au if any more clarification is needed.
by Sue Winsley, February 13, 2024
March Competition
We had another very successful competition night at the club last night with an excellent rollup.
Our judge Nicole Curtis did a great job with the judging and I’m sure we all learned a lot from her different perspective she gave us on our images.
Nicole was very generous with giving awards which would have given us all a boost to our confidence for starting the year out.
It certainly was great to see so many prints from our members. There were some very impressive images.
Congratulations and well done everyone!
Our next competition night is on Monday 11th March.
Entries will be both print and digitals.
Our March digital images are due in by 11:59 pm Saturday 24th February. That gives us only 11 more days.
Unfortunately, if you miss the deadline there is nothing we can do. The images are passed onto the judge early in the morning on the day after and the competition cannot be reopened.
If you miss the deadline for the digitals you can always choose to put in print entries instead.
The prints sections will close 2 days before competition night (At 11:59 pm on the Saturday before the competition. Saturday 9th March).
You then need to bring your prints with you on the night and have them on the stands by 6:30.
Please put the dates in your calendar where you’ll remember.
Our set subject for February is:
“Nature” – The definition we are using for Nature is the PSA/FIAP Nature Definition…..
Please read this definition thoroughly as it will be strictly followed when our Nature images are judged.
The international definition of ‘Nature Photography’
Nature photography records all branches of natural history except anthropology and archaeology. This includes all aspects of the physical world, both animate and inanimate, that have not been made or modified by humans.
Nature images must convey the truth of the scene that was photographed. A well-informed person should be able to identify the subject of the image and be satisfied that it has been presented honestly and that no unethical practices have been used to control the subject or capture the image. Images that directly or indirectly show any human activity that threatens the life or welfare of a living organism are not allowed.
The most important part of a Nature image is the nature story it tells.
High technical standards are expected, and the image must look natural. Adding a vignette or blurring the background during processing is not allowed.
Objects created by humans, and evidence of human activity, are allowed in Nature images only when they are a necessary part of the Nature story.
Photographs of human-created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domesticated animals, human-created hybrid animals and mounted or preserved zoological specimens are not allowed.
Images taken with subjects under controlled conditions, such as zoos, are allowed.
Controlling live subjects by chilling, anaesthetic or any other method of restricting natural movement for the purpose of a photograph is not allowed.
No modification that changes the truth of a Nature image is allowed. Images may be cropped but no other technique that removes, adds or moves any part of the image is allowed.
Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots, digital noise and lens flare are allowed.
Complete conversion of colour images to greyscale monochrome is allowed. Partial conversion, toning and infrared captures or conversions are not allowed.
Images of the same subject that are combined in camera or with software by focus stacking or exposure blending are allowed. Multiple images with overlapping fields of view that are taken consecutively and combined in camera or with software (image stitching) are allowed.
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
In addition to the restrictions on Nature photography, images in Wildlife sections of exhibitions must meet the following conditions:
- Zoological organisms must be living free and unrestrained in a natural or adopted habitat of their own choosing.
- Images of zoological organisms that have been removed from their natural habitat, are in any form of captivity or are being controlled by humans for the purpose of photography are not allowed.
- Botanical organisms may not be removed from their natural environment for the purpose of photography.
- Images that have been staged for the purpose of photography are not allowed.
For more information and guidelines please visit Roy Killen’s website https://www.roykillen.photography and look in the Nature Photography section where you will also find the official PSA Guide for Nature Photographers and judges which was written by Roy.
As well as our set subject we will have are usual colour and mono categories.
Please remember that for 2023 we can still only enter 3 images each in total.
Note: We can only put in 2 entries per section (Colour, Mono or Set Subject) per member.
We could choose 2 prints or 2 EDI’s or 1 Print and 1 EDI per section.
Remember, print and digital for each section is 1 category for the purposes of entering.
Our judge for March is Roy Killen.
Most of us know Roy quite well. Below is a little information about himself that Roy has supplied.
My main interest is nature photography.
I have been competing in international competitions since 2008 and have received more than 5700 acceptances and more than 400 awards. Through these competitions I have gained the following photographic distinctions:
- EFIAP (Excellence award, International Federation of Photographic Arts)
- GMPSA (Grand Masters award, Photographic Society of America)
- GMAPS (Grand Masters award, Australian Photographic Society)
- APSEM (Australian Photographic Society Exhibitors Medal)
In 2015 I was awarded the Nature Medallion by the Australian Photographic Society.
I regularly judge competitions at club, national and international levels.
I frequently present workshops for photography clubs on photographic techniques and image processing.
I am the Membership Vice President of the Photographic Society of America (PSA) and I am happy to assist you with any PSA related matters.
Good luck to everyone with your “Nature” Images.
If you have any questions please contact me on suewinsley@iinet.net.au
by Sue Winsley, February 13, 2024
Results for competitions in February 2024 – Print
There were 28 entries that were rated the highest by our judge(s).
Members can view all images and comment on them by following this link
View / Comment entries in February 2024 – Print
click here to see a pdf catalog of all competition results
Ground Elder Joy Thomas – Merit-Judges-Choice A Grade Open Colour Print |
Scream Benjamin Halse – Merit-Judges-Choice A Grade Open Mono Print |
Who Me_ Helen Oliver – Merit-Judges-Choice Open Grade Open Colour Print |
Woman in the Window David Price – Merit-Judges-Choice Advanced Open Colour Print |
Winter In Milan Elisabeth Fidler – Merit-Judges-Choice Advanced Open Mono Print |
Here Come The Girls Elisabeth Fidler – Merit-Judges-Choice Advanced Set Subject Print |
Hanging Bikes Nancy Morley – Merit A Grade Open Colour Print |
Ancient water cooling floor Jan Whittles – Merit A Grade Open Mono Print |
London Eye Joy Thomas – Merit A Grade Open Mono Print |
Big Job Window Cleaning David Vane – Merit A Grade Open Mono Print |
The girl in the bubble Tanya Heather – Merit Advanced Open Colour Print |
Early Bird 2 Mike Fidler – Merit Advanced Open Colour Print |
Steel Dandylions Brian Halse – Merit Advanced Open Colour Print |
The handmaids escape David Whyte – Merit Advanced Open Colour Print |
The piercing blue Brad Le Brocque – Merit Advanced Open Colour Print |
Whats to the Left of the future Brad Le Brocque – Merit Advanced Open Colour Print |
Under the Wave David Henderson – Merit Advanced Open Colour Print |
Top Pick Colleen Price – Merit Advanced Open Colour Print |
Cottage Tannery David Price – Merit Advanced Open Colour Print |
Feeling Small Rene Schipper – Merit Advanced Open Colour Print |
Wheels Links Steam David Price – Merit Advanced Open Mono Print |
Wild Ride David Henderson – Merit Advanced Open Mono Print |
Please Help Ian English – Merit Advanced Set Subject Print |
Mysterious Woman Tanya Heather – Merit Advanced Set Subject Print |
Take Off Mike Fidler – Merit Advanced Set Subject Print |
Devastation Brian Halse – Merit Advanced Set Subject Print |
Pastel Kiss Colleen Price – Merit Advanced Set Subject Print |
Tiny Dancer Sue Winsley – Merit Advanced Set Subject Print |
by Sue Winsley, February 12, 2024
Results for competitions in February 2024 – Digital
There were 16 entries that were rated the highest by our judge(s).
Members can view all images and comment on them by following this link
View / Comment entries in February 2024 – Digital
click here to see a pdf catalog of all competition results
Greetings my Friend 0433 Bob Carey – Merit-Judges-Choice A Grade Open Colour Digital |
Concentration Robert Kildey – Merit-Judges-Choice A Grade Open Mono Digital |
Jenny Latecia Ferris – Merit-Judges-Choice A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Ouch Glyn Atkinson – Merit-Judges-Choice Open Grade Open Colour Digital |
the Harbour Bridge from the Ferry Betty Moncrieff – Merit-Judges-Choice Open Grade Open Mono Digital |
Tosh beach Tim Kemp – Merit-Judges-Choice Advanced Open Colour Digital |
Portrait Tim Kemp – Merit-Judges-Choice Advanced Open Mono Digital |
Hurry on by Megan Willis – Merit-Judges-Choice Advanced Set Subject Digital |
The Flash John Payne – Merit A Grade Set Subject Digital |
Plovers in the mist Bettina Damme – Merit Advanced Open Colour Digital |
George Street Neville Thorogood – Merit Advanced Open Mono Digital |
Seedpods Toni Conquest – Merit Advanced Open Mono Digital |
My Tern for a bath Megan Willis – Merit Advanced Open Mono Digital |
Vivid Wendy Newbury – Merit Advanced Set Subject Digital |
Walk on the Beach Bettina Damme – Merit Advanced Set Subject Digital |
Unclear Tanya Heather – Merit Advanced Set Subject Digital |
by Sue Winsley, February 12, 2024
Important Reminder
Please bring along tonight, any images that you have to showcase your work, for the Newcastle Show. Your name and club on back and title on the front. 6-8 prints A3 matboards. Joy Thomas will collect these.
by Colleen Price, February 12, 2024