25 March 2021 ~ H2 Photographic Society

25 March 2021

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H2 NEWSLETTER

A weekly update for members and friends of
H2 Photographic Society

Yellow Boots by Warren Martin

Welcome to H2

Hello to Members and Friends of H2

This week's talk is by professional photographer, David Davis. Here is David's description of his life as a pro photographer:

"My involvement in photography started on my thirteenth birthday when my Mum and Dad gave me a darkroom kit from Johnsons of Hendon. I then spent a lot of time shut in the Bathroom processing films and contacting prints and by the time I left school I had a good idea what I was going to do with my life.
I applied for a job at Marconi's in Chelmsford as a trainee in the photographic department and spent the next four years working in the darkrooms, going out on locations with one of the photographers and going to Regent Street Polytechnic on a one day a week training in photography. Near the end of the four years, I was let out as a photographer after I could produce good quality negs.
After some time in that role, I become the Department Manager with a staff of seven.
Fifteen years later the Department was closed, I purchased all the photographic equipment including cameras, lighting and wet processing. I left on Friday and was back on Monday, to continue to produce photography for Marconi until GEC Marconi closed. For the next fifteen years, I continued to produce Industrial photography."

David clearly has a wealth of experience and it sounds like we are on for a really interesting evening.

Covid Mosaic by Paul Major

The Zoom invitation for all our meetings is below, all are welcome to come along; members & non-members alike.

Zoom Invite

Topic: H2 Club Evening
Time: "Doors" open at 07:30 PM for 7:45 Start
Every week on a Thursday

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82906584413?pwd=dnFuRG9LUzBzU0hlSFZ3NDAzYkluQT09

Meeting ID: 829 0658 4413
Password: 927576

All Eyes on the Pole by Graham Woolmer

League competition 4

Last Thursday we had our season's fourth (and final) league competition. Below are the scores that the external judge, Roy Essery, gave on the night.

Roy was an excellent judge; fully and expertly evaluating each of the 54 images. At the end of the evening, he surprised us by sharing his screen and giving us a mini-workshop in Photoshop on how we can use adjustment layers and masks to improve images. Yet another advantage of virtual meetings on Zoom - many thanks, Roy.

Also below, we have given overall league winners for this season. So, in reverse order (to build the anticipation), in third place is Jo (Cleall), in second place is Heather (Clarke), and in first place (drum-roll, please) is Graham (Woolmer).

Well done and thank you to all our members for entering their work throughout the season, it is encouraging to see members (both new and, er, less-new to the club) improving their scores as the competitions unfold.

And very well done to the overall winners

H2 Photographic Society

Competition Results for League Round 4

Competition Date: 18/03/2021

Judge Roy Essery

Title	Author	Score
Yellow Boots	Warren Martin	20
Covid Mosaic	Paul Major	20
ALL EYES ON THE POLE	Graham Woolmer	20
EYES ON THE BALL	Graham Woolmer	20
TWO FEET AHEAD	MARIE KING	20
Fritillary Trio	Jo Cleall	19
Taking Stock of All He Owns	Alan Palmer	19
ANY ONE FOR TENNIS	John Morison	18
FADED MEMORIES OF SPRING	Heather Clarke	18
STARFISH	Maurice King	18
Red and Blue	Chris Shepherd	18
LEANING TO THE LEFT	Mautice King	18
Refreshing	Warren Martin	18
Red or Dead	Chris Shepherd	17
YOUNG MALE DEER'4'	Graham Woolmer	17
A Splash of Gold	Jeffrey Sinclair	17
The Time Queen	Chris Shepherd	17
FAIRFIELD CHURCH	John Morison	17
Morning Dew4	Dave Hobbs	17
Patch 4	Warren Martin	17
Two Sheep in a Field	Jeffrey Sinclair	17
THOMAS BECKET SHRINE CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL	John Morison	17
Smooth as Silk	Dave Hobbs	17
Astrantia Flower	Dave Hobbs	17
Natures Perfection	Warren Martin	17
ALL IN A ROW4	John Morison	17
Eurasian Eagle Owl	Paul Major	17
Winter Waterfall	Alan Palmer	16
HIGH AND DRY	Maurice King	16
Autumn On Buttermere	Jeffrey Sinclair	16
Fighting Kites 2	John thompson	16
Abstract Fountains4	Jo Cleall	16
BRIMSTONE IN FIELD OF PURPLE	Heather Clarke	16
Pussy Willow	Jo Cleall	16
Get Me To The Church on Time	Dave Hobbs	15
Rydal Water Triptych	Paul Major	15
MIST ON THE PIER	MARIE KING	15
X Marks the Spot	Chris Shepherd	15
ST Aldhemes Chapel	John Thompson	15
CANDLESNUFF FUNGUS	Heather Clarke	15
LOW TIDE 4	MARIE KING	15
SANDY TREELINE	Heather Clarke	15
Hoar Frost4	Paul Major	15
MOUNTAIN HUT	MARIE KING	15
Cheese and Onion	John Thompson	14
Sunset Over Dunnet Head	Alan Palmer	14
Stag In The Forest	Jo Cleall	14
PUFFIN (Fratercula arctica) WITH SAND EELS	Graham Woolmer	14
Mist in the Valley 4	Jeffrey Sinclair	14
The Tackle is Made 4	Alan Palmer	14
IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER	Geoff Yates	13
RGB	John Thompson	13

2020-21 League Results

1^st	Graham woolmer
2^nd	Heather Clarke
3^rd	Jo Cleall

Full results can be download here.

Two Feet Ahead by Marie King

The Mono Challenge ...

...continues. And already we have images on the H2 Flickr page - do take a look.

This challenge is designed to stretch our creativity, our imagination and our skills at using the various photographic manipulation software.

We have chosen three colour images (RAW) which you can download here. And the only rule to this assignment is that the finished image must be in black & white.

With regard to interpretation, manipulation and the way each image is portrayed, the rules are: there are no rules !

Just remember: the final image must be in Mono

(Any difficulties with downloading the original images, please contact Chris (Shepherd))

Fritillary Trio by Jo Cleall

Interested in Joining Us in 2021?

We'd love you to.

Visitors are welcome to join our virtual meetings, just use the zoom links in this newsletter.

To contact H2PS click here

Coming Soon - Affinity Workshops

The Affinity Photo software is a relative newcomer to the photo-editing market first appearing in 2015. Since then, it has been attracting users who want to purchase an app that offers state-of-the-art professional photo-editing experience.

The interest in it has been bolstered by its main rival, Photoshop, becoming cloud-based and available only by a monthly subscription.

Here at H2 we are committed to giving members greater choice and opportunities to be creative and to that end we are organising weekly Affinity workshops.

These will commence in mid-April, starting with the basics and moving forward. The big advantage with them being on Zoom is that members can ask questions as they learn.

There will be more information in this Newsletter next week - watch this space.

Please note, this is for H2 members only

Taking stock of all he owns by Alan Palmer

Invitation from Hoddesdon CC

I'm pleased to advise that Hoddesdon Camera Club has managed to secure the services of Colin Harrison, based in Oxfordshire, who will bring us his "New Digital Adventure Talk" via Zoom on Monday 29th March 2021 at 7.45 for 8.00 start.

Hoddesdon would like to extend an invitation to all members of Ware, Hertford and H2 to join us for what promises to be an excellent evening's entertainment.

Talk details and Colin's biography are listed below

New Digital Adventure Zoom talk
By Colin Harrison MFIAP MPSA GPSA EFIAP/d3 FRPS MPAGB

The talk lasts around 80 minutes plus an optional half time break. I welcome questions at the end (via Zoom chat) or live. I will also provide notes on my talk.

My talk will show the creative side of my photography.

This is a light-hearted, fast-flowing talk and I will pass on some of my digital “secrets” and my enthusiasm for photography.

The talk will cover many sections including:

Images used in the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP) Diamond 3 Distinction
Sections you can enter in International Salons.
“Believe it or not” which will really make you think.
How to replace a sky on an image.
Golden Oldies, with some of my older award-winning UK images.
Images from my Photographic Society of America (PSA) Distinction Panels (and showing how they were produced)

My talk will refer mainly to Photoshop CC but many of the points raised can be applied in Affinity, PaintShop Pro and Elements.

Biography
Colin Harrison FRPS EFIAP/d3 MFIAP MPAGB APAGB FBPE MPSA GPSA FIPF AWPF

My creative style of photography gradually evolved as did my interest in entering photographic salons. Rather than just collecting letters after my name these qualifications stimulate/develop my work and have always given me goals to work for.

For the PAGB and the RPS I have sat on distinction panels and have helped run their advisory days. I still enjoy helping others develop their own photographic skills.

Despite Covid-19, I have been able to carry on judging online for camera clubs and National / International Salons.

I have spent hundreds of hours producing two new Zoom talks. My aim is to show these talks in as many countries as possible and at the same time raising money for cancer charities in the UK and abroad. I now have bookings in 11 countries.

My images will demonstrate my eclectic interest in photography.

Anyone for Tennis by John Morison

H2 Programme

Here is our programme for the next few weeks.

Programme as Google Calendar


25th Mar	External talk by pro-photographer David Davis
1st Apr	Internal talk on Layers & Masks
8th Apr	Andy Sands Talk
15th Apr	Critique of Members' Images Using Layers

Faded Memories of Spring by Heather Clarke

Starfish by Maurice King