Back to Basics
Derek Smith • 19 March 2022
Wine Glasses
Photo By: Derek Smith
Victorian Sewing Kit
Photo By: Derek Smith
Ninja
Photo By: Derek Smith
South Kyme
Photo By: Derek Smith
Within our Society we have photographers of all abilities, and whether you are a beginner, or an experienced photographer it’s sometimes good to review our photography skills.
Compositional Techniques – A photo should always tell a story, a narrative that conveys the subject, or point of interest of the image immediately to the viewer, so remember that lines pointing toward the subject can guide the eye. Having the subject brighter than the surrounding area is also a good technique, a shaft of light on a building can often be utilised when a break in the clouds allows. Very bright grey featureless skies can be the bane of landscape photography, try tilting the camera down to reduce the amount of sky in the final image, or try photographing the scene at a different time of day. The positioning of a subject within the photo frame is also important, if the subject can move, give it room to move into the frame, if the subject has eyes have the direction of gaze looking into the frame, or look at a point of interest within the frame, in portraiture perhaps the subject could look directly at the photographer. Decide from the outset what to include in the photo, or even more importantly what to leave out.
Focus Points – With modern digital cameras a photographer should be able to control the size, and positioning of the focus point. Leaving the focus on automatic, and wide runs the risk of the camera focus locking onto something other than your subject, or a point of interest, usually it’s the nearest thing to the camera, a blade of grass, or a tree!! Learn how to control the size, and position of the focus point on your camera thus ensuring the subject of the image is sharp.
Get Out of Auto – We use the auto exposure mode regularly on our mobile phones, and sometimes on our cameras, and there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with taking photos on Auto mode however, a photographer can be far more creative, and produce a more impactful image by selecting Aperture Priority on the camera.
Aperture Priority Explained – The aperture of a lens, the size of the iris, the hole that lets the light into the camera via the lens, is controlled by the aperture blades. Using Aperture Priority mode allows the photographer to control, and vary the aperture, to adjust for the scene, and the ambient light. The size of aperture is denoted by what’s known as an “f” number, with the lowest “f” number opening the widest, and therefore letting the most light into the camera. In Aperture Priority mode as the aperture is varied, the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to give the correct exposure. Learning the effects of the different apertures can be slightly daunting for someone new to photography, so as we now know that in Aperture Priority mode adjusting the aperture also adjusts the shutter speed I would like you to think of the aperture settings, in bands, related to the shutter speed.
Fast: f/1.0 – f/3.5, sometimes referred to as “wide open”, allows the most light into the camera, and therefore gives the highest shutter speeds. Useful for indoor low light situations, and portraits.
Medium: f/4 – f/7.1, allows less light into the camera, useful for photography of birds, small mammals, and portraits.
Slow: f/8 – f/16, often referred to as “stopped down”, this is an ideal setting for landscape, architecture, and portraits.
It is also useful to remember that most lenses produce the sharpest images between f/4 – f/8.
Practical Application – Learn how to locate, and be able to adjust the aperture, on your camera. Setting the Mode Dial to “A” or “Av” puts the camera into Aperture Priority mode, and usually a control wheel on the camera adjusts the aperture range. One other control to consider is ISO, which controls the sensitivity of the sensor. Locate, and be able to adjust the ISO on your particular model of camera, you may have to press a button on the back of the camera, to enable adjustment of the ISO.
Exercise – Having located the Aperture, and ISO controls on the camera, try this practical exercise; set the aperture to the “Fastest” aperture for your camera / lens combination, it may be f/2, or f/3.5. Set the ISO to 200, half press the shutter button and note the shutter speed, either in the viewfinder, or on the rear screen. Now, double the ISO to 400, and the shutter speed will double as well, repeat the experiment, at ISO settings of 800, 1600, and 3200, and observe the shutter speed double each time. You now have total control of your camera!!
It is useful to understand that a shutter speed of 1/60, and above, should enable a blur free handheld image of a static subject, (although image stabilisation, a tripod, or a convenient fence may help to steady the camera when using a slower shutter speed), and that a faster shutter speed of 1/250 will freeze action in a moving subject.
Sample Images
Wine glasses: This monochrome image taken at a “Fast” aperture of f/2, ISO 200, and shutter speed of 1/200 demonstrates a creative aspect of a “Fast” aperture, the foremost wine glass is sharp, but the wine glasses behind are blurred, and this type of image is not possible in Automatic Mode.
Victorian Sewing Kit: This image taken in a National Trust property which do not allow flash photography. Using a “Medium” aperture this time of f/4.5, ISO 6400, and shutter speed of 1/8, (utilising the camera stabilisation), I found the colours very pleasing.
Ninja: This image of a speeding motorcycle was taken at Cadwell circuit, the “Medium” aperture of f/5, ISO 64, and a shutter speed of 1/250. The camera settings coupled with a technique known as “panning”, which is locking the focus onto the motorcyclist and following the bike through its progress as it passes the photographer. The blurred background, together with the blurred wheels create a dynamic image of speed on the circuit.
South Kyme: Finally a landscape image, the deep blue spring sky, the chapel on the left balanced by the tree on the right. The “Slow” aperture of f/8, ISO 160, with a shutter speed of 1/850, I possibly could have stopped the aperture down to f/10, but generally pleased with the result, and the deep colours.
I hope that this post has inspired you, demystifies some photographic techniques, and helps you to enjoy photography.
Louth Photographic Society
Roger Hance Memorial Lecture 16th October
Last night Lee Dixon from Cleethorpes Camera Club gave his first ever presentation to a camera club, which we were privileged to view. His presentation consisted of portraiture, creative, and his genre of choice; wildlife. Lee is an extremely talented photographer, with a highly creative portfolio, his portraits are quite atmospheric, unusual, and capture the essence of the model, and scene. For Lee’s creative work, he buys props from charity shops, often very cheaply, reusing those props in various scenes. For his composite work he will often take one of his photos of a room, and blend it with a subject in Photoshop using “blend” modes. For wildlife he visited Lake Kerkini in Greece to photograph the Pelicans, if the sky is a little on the bland side, Lee will often over expose the image resulting in a striking white background to the subject. On safari in Africa Lee showed us some amazing images of the wildlife, the close-up images of elephants, the wildebeest migration, and this stunning image of a cheetah. Lee was ably assisted by Mike Bennett. More of Lee’s work can be found on his website: https://leedixonphoto.co.uk/ Lee his kindly given permission for his images to be used in this post. Many thanks to Lee, and Mike for an amazing evening.
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held our monthly PDI competition, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open", there was a very high-quality entry in both competitions and judge Mike Bennett had quite a job on his hands scoring the entries. Well, done to Dave Turner for first place in the Objects in the Air and Tony Gaskins for first place in the Open. All the results are on our website. This week, Wednesday 30th September, our speaker will be Lee Dixon from Cleethorpes Camera Club showing us his natural history, Creative and many other photographs he has taken. It will be the first time Lee has shown his photographs at our club. If anyone else wants to enter PDI's in the 2027 N&EMPF Exhibition, the deadline is this Wednesday at midnight. Harry is still taking entries for the PDI competition, with the categories of "Local Straight from Camera" (unedited .jpg), and "Open", to be held on Wednesday 7th October. Regards Graham
At the meeting last night Mike Bennett judged our competition with the categories of “Objects in the Air”, and “Open”. The standard of entries was excellent, and it gave Mike a tough task of judging the images, Mike gave some very good critique of the images displayed, the feedback helps members to develop compositional skills. Dave Turner was awarded first place for his image of the “Tiger Club Display Team” in the “Objects in the Air” category. Tony Gaskins was awarded first place for his image of the “Spectacular Rustgill” in the “Open” category.
Good Morning All, Last week at the club we watched the N&EMPF PDI Exhibition for 2026, it was a very good evening viewing very high standard images from all over the East Midlands. Dave Turner and I did manage to get images accepted; there is a full report on our website. This week, Wednesday 23rd September, we will hold our monthly PDI competition, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open", please send entries to Harry by midnight tonight. Harry is also accepting images for the PDI competition, with the categories of "Local Straight out of the Camera (only resizing permitted)" and "Open". Regards Graham
Members were shown the 2026 N&EMPF PDI Exhibition video last night with all of the accepted PDI images in the first part, and after the break the awarded PDI images. There were some stunning images on view, and Louth was successful in having 3 PDI images accepted, Graham Harrison with his image of a Stonechat, and Dave Turner with his portrait of Paul Rudd, and his monochrome image of Kings Cross railway station "Going Down". Overall it was a good inspirational evening.
Good Morning All Last week at the club members had 15 minutes to show what they had done over the summer. It was a very interesting evening with eight members taking part. There were many locations on show and as usual some excellent photography. There is a full report on our blog. This week, Wednesday 16th September, we will be showing the N&EMPF exhibition, this is part one showing all the PDI's that were accepted. This is the highest standard of photography we as individuals take part in as a club. Members sent around 50 entries but only 3 were accepted. If you are inspired to enter the 2027 Exhibition after seeing the show, I send the clubs entries and I can give you more information. Closing date is the end of September. The Maximum size for N&EMPF is 1600 x 1200 3MB sRGB Harry is still taking entries for the monthly PDI competition, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open". Harry did ask about what can be accepted, and we couldn't really say as long as it's an object in the Air. The best way is to look up the definition of an object first. Harry is also accepting entries for the Local and Open competition in October. Robin is going to judge the Open competition, does anyone fancy judging the "Straight from the camera" category? Regards Graham
The Louth Photographic Society has returned after the summer break. It was an incredible return, with members providing us with some stunning images from over the summer break. A full, and varied smorgasbord of well executed photos, many of us visited Whitby, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and further north images from Staithes, and Sandbanks. Tony showed us his long exposure minimalist calming coastal scenes, from the Lincolnshire coast, and Whitby.. Chris brought us some beautiful photos taken of local churches, many of which many of us have never seen. Now I’ve never really seen the attraction of an expensive Leica camera, but when Mark showed his photos from his visit to the German Leica factory in Wetzlar, I now understand, camera bodies, and lenses milled from solid blocks of aluminium, hand polished, hand finished lens glass, and textured leather applied to the camera body, not a robot in sight, just craftsmen, and women making a superb photographic instrument. Sue brought us “pink” ladies driving tractors to raise money for cancer research. Last but definitely not least Richard showed his monochrome, and infrared images of trees, his compositions, and photographic eye bring these tree studies to life, we appreciate them even if some judges don’t understand. Many thanks to all of those members who contributed.
Good Morning All We spent last week on the Isle of Wight visiting many of the attractions. This week, Wednesday 9th September, we are back at the club with 15-minute PDI shows of what you did during the summer break, I have Derek Smith, Tony Gaskins, Harry Kerman, Chris Birchmore and Richard Hildred on the list, if I have missed you off, please let me know. I should be there but could be late as away playing golf. Harry is taking entries for the September PDI competition, with the categories of "Objects in the Air" and "Open". Harry will miss the October local competition but will sort the entries out for us, The competition categories will be "Local-Not Edited" and "Open". We judge this competition in house so could do with two volunteers to judge. The local competition is a .jpeg photograph taken and straight from the camera, no cropping, or post processing etc, like the old days taken no more than 25 miles from St James church. Regards Graham
On Bank Holiday Monday I visited the Props, and Pistons Event at the East Kirkby Aviation centre. The event was well attended, with a good selection of various vehicles on display. The Avro Lancaster “Just Jane” was on display and did a couple of taxiing runs, so great to hear the Rolls Royce Merlin engines roar into life, also taxiing was the DeHavilland Mosquito aircraft, the “wooden wonder”. The first flypast was from the Hawker Hurricane, and the Supermarine Spitfire, I didn’t manage to capture any acceptable photos of these iconic aircraft, as they were too small and fast for me. Later in the afternoon the second flypast aircraft was the American Martin B26 Marauder, as this was larger, and slower I did manage to take some photos as it flew overhead. The weather was kind, and I had a very enjoyable day out.
