Bokeh challenge and apologies

We had a great time at the Eastman Camera Club meeting December 20.   Good food, good friends, and great photos (view here).   Apologies for the poor quality the projector was turning out that night.   We tried something new and learned some things in the process.

A little background that is of interest to photographers.   Every display devices (monitor, projector, etc.) has a profile that defines how to display photos.   It includes information on brightness, saturation, and color temperature.  The monitor on your computer has a default profile that works most of the time.   You can use a monitor calibrator (available for rent through the Camera Club) to measure your monitor display and create a custom profile so that what is displayed is a true representation of the photo image.   This is important if you print your photos.   What you see on an uncalibrated monitor may not be what you get back from the printer.   I suggest you borrow the monitor calibrator and create profiles for all your computer monitors.

The club has a special calibration system for use with the projector we use in our meetings.   The projector was calibrated before the meeting.  Notice how good Jim's photos looked when he was reviewing photos from outings in 2012?   He had put his photos in a PowerPoint presentation and PowerPoint uses the profile when displaying photos.

When we used Microsoft Photo Viewer to display your best of 2012 photos they looked . . .   We'll let's just say they weren't displayed very well.   That's because Microsoft Photo Viewer does not use the display device profile.   If we had been able to view them in a web browser they would have looked right because most modern web browsers use the device profiles.

I have since installed another photo viewer on my laptop - jpegview.  It does use device profiles and the photos look great.   I recommend jpegview and a great alternative to Microsoft Photo Viewer.

We didn't mention the photo challenge for this month.  It is bokeh.   Go out and shoot photos with "good bokeh".  Don't know what bokeh means?   Check out Ken Rockwell's article.   The photo at the right is an example of bokeh.

I want to wish all my Camera Club Friends Merry Christmas.   May God bless you and your family at Christmas and through all of 2013.

Richard Siggins

New Rental Cameras and Lenses

Do you know the Eastman Camera Club rents cameras, lenses, lights, flashes, studio backdrops, training materials and books?   These items area available to any club member.   The listing is available on the club website

We have ordered two new DSLRs to replace the aging ones, plus two fast lenses

• Canon T3i
• Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens
• Nikon 5100
• Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lens

These new cameras will be available for rental from the front desk in the Eastman Employee Center after the first of the year.

Trip of a Lifetime -- African Photo Safari

On August 26, 2013, Richie Hayward will be leading a group to South Africa for a 10 day Photo Safari. This is a Trip of a Lifetime” and an adventure not soon forgotten. There will be ample opportunities to photograph the Big 5 in and around Kruger National Park as well as Sabi Sands-Land of the Leopard. This trip is all inclusive and is a full 10 day experience. Please contact Richie for further information.

Contact Richie Hayward

HM 423-753-4562

Cell 305-216-6666

e-mail alba1320@embarqmail.com

December 20 Camera Club Meeting

Our last meeting of the year is the annual Christmas Party December 20.   The club will provide coffee and hot chocolate.   Bring a small snack to share around.

The photo theme for the month is your favorite 4 - 5 photos from 2012.  They can be any subject but must have been taken in 2012.  We're hoping most people will share theirs so please limit your contribution to 5 or less.


You can upload your photos by following these steps:

1. Point your web browser to www.skydrive.com
2. Log in using r.siggins@charter.net as the account and shutter as the password.
3. Click on the December 2012 - Favorites of 2012  folder
4. Do not create your own folder.  We're going to put them all in one folder this time.   You might want to name your files so we know who they belong to.
5. Upload your files.

Try to keep the file size to 2 MB or less.  Bigger does not display better and slows down the sharing process.

If you have a favorite photography gadget bring it and we will do a "show and tell".  It may be a bit late to add things to your Christmas Wish List, but you may get some good ideas where to spend that Christmas cash.

We are going to be electing officers for 2013.   This is no longer limited to Eastman employees but is open to any club member.  If would like to join the Camera Club Leadership Team just let us know.  We're always looking for more.

The meeting is in the Eastman Bays Mountain Lodge at 6:00.   We'll see you there!

Don't Forget Camera Club Meeting Thursday 11/15

I've been talking with Jeff Stoner about his program on the history of fine art photography and I'm even more excited about what's in store for Thursday.  Jeff has done considerable research and has gotten permission to use some special photos in his presentation.

The meeting is 6:00 PM November 15 in the Eastman Bays Mountain Lodge.  We meet in Room A1/A2.  Jeff will be first on the agenda.  We'll then share and discuss our favorite fall photos from this year.  The meeting typically lasts 90 minutes.

You can upload your photos by following these steps:

1. Point your web browser to www.skydrive.com
2. Log in using r.siggins@charter.net as the account and shutter as the password.
3. Click on the November 2012 - Fall Colors folder
4. Click on the plus symbol to create your own folder and give it an appropriate name
5. Click on your new blank folder
6. Upload your files.

Please try to limit your photos to 6 or less.   Try to keep the file size to 2 MB or less.  Bigger does not display better and slows down the sharing process.individual 

What Time Is It?

By now most of us have turned our clocks back one hour.   Did you remember to change the time on your camera?  The date and time a picture is taken is stored in the image file.  If the time/date a picture was taken is important to you then you should go into your camera settings and make sure the date and time are correct.   Having the correct date and time is important if you organize your photos by date or sort by time, especially if you combine photos from two different cameras.

If you forget to set the time back you can adjust the date/time in a picture using Adobe Lightroom or other programs.

Special Program - Eastman Camera Club November 15

We will have a special program at the November 15 Camera Club Meeting.

Jeff Stoner

The Fine Art of Photography

The Evolution of Photography As A Fine Art Form

6:00 PM November 15, 2012

Eastman Bays Mountain Lodge

Kingsport

Jeff's program traces the evolution of photography as a fine art.  He is one of the top landscape / nature photographers in our area.  You'll want to be there from this one!