22nd August 2020

Shoot With Me.

We are all looking forward to the Showcase next Monday night (24th August).

We are taking on board a very challenging Zoom session, to replicate (via Zoom) what is usually very challenging to master in the real world. Please be patient as we get into the routine for each group. Please keep your mike turned off if not speaking and only turn it on as your group is about to start.

To join the Zoom meeting you will all receive a link in advance  of the date, as usual,  from Emily Gallagher who will be controlling the programme. Those presenting images will have received details of the programme from their group facilitator. 

Our facilitators will, in turn, present their projects and the members of each group will show the images that they have produced.   After each group has presented it’s results there will be a chance to view all of that group’s images and participate in an open session.   In order to keep the meeting running smoothly, club members wishing to comment or ask questions should indicate this to Emily through the “chat” facility or by message. 

The groups presenting include the following.

Tony Jobling – Forced Perspective

David Sisk – Memories

Andy Quinlan – HDR

Jean Clarke - Spring in Woodlands

John Brew – Name the Book

Mike Smith – Kenetic

Paul O'Brien - Astro

Our thanks, as always, are due to our facilitators and the team making the presentation possible. We hope that you all enjoy the event.

IPF Activity and Shield Competition.

We have circulated via email the latest newsletter from the IPF.

We are awaiting further details from the IPF of their intention to run the Shield Competition later this year.    We will circulate how to enter as soon as we can. There is also outline details of future distinction sessions.

Alert.

A recent version of the Lightroom app for the Ipad/iPhone  has a serious bug, which can cause the permanent loss of images.  It is fixed by the very latest version. The problem is related to  Apple mobile devices only. 

Weekly Flickr Theme: Animals/Birds

This week's theme will most likely take you outdoors, to the garden, the zoo, the local river or park, or the coast. You will need patience and your longest lens.

A fast shutter speed is necessary to freeze the action, somewhere between 1/500 second and 1/2000 second, depending on the level of activity of your subject. A wide aperture (eg f4) and high ISO may also be needed - Time or Shutter priority mode is a good choice.

Alternatively, you may choose to use a slow shutter speed and a panning action to intentionally include movement blur.

You may choose to photograph a much-loved pet in your family home. A long lens is not necessary here. As for photographing people indoors, natural light can be used very effectively. Placing the animal facing a window will result in nice catchlights in their eyes. Be aware of the background. A fairly wide aperture, e.g. f4 - f5.6, should ensure the background is not distracting, but give you a little leeway should the animal move. Shutter speed is also important - but not so much as in the outdoor situation. 1/250 second should be fine.

Happy shooting!  

See more about how the OffShoot Weekly Flickr Theme works at: https://tinyurl.com/flickrthem.

Upcoming themes will include the following:

28/08/2020      Bottles / Glass

04/09/2020      Sport / Action

Speakers and Outings

The main Committee and Outings Sub-Committee has been working very hard behind the scenes, constantly adapting their plans to try and keep pace with the changing rules associated with social distancing. It is especially satisfying to announce this schedule of events for July and August.

Here are the next scheduled meetings and events for the Society:

Members will be able to attend our outings by registering for specific outings. Keep up to date with the latest events at https://www.offshoot.ie/whats-on/.

Just a note for new members – if you want any of your pictures considered for the photo of the week, you just have to post them to the OffShoot Flickr group at:

https://www.flickr.com/groups/offshoot_society.

There’s also the latest images published on Flickr that are displayed on the OffShoot home page.

[Note. To join the Offshoot Flickr group, you must first be a Flickr member. Then send the email address used to join Flickr to webmaster@offshoot.ie. You will get an email when you have been added to the group. Please be patient as this is a manual process.]

Theme: Three Amigos by Katherine O'Boyle

Non Theme:   Golden Sunset by Dermot Staunton

If you come across one you want to share let us know at newsletter@offshoot.ie.

Mark Galer's Alpha Creative Skills: Lightroom Classic: 2-Hour Post Processing Masterclass

PHLEARN: How Many Exposures Do You Really Need for an HDR?

For this one, there is no theme for Levels 1, 2 and 3; please enter up to three of your favourite images.

There is also an Open section for everybody to enter. The Open section has the theme of Journeys and calls for members to enter a themed set of 3, 4 or 5 images. While feedback will be given on individual images, the competition judging will be of the set as a whole.

Feel free interpret the theme Journeys as broadly as you wish. These last few months have certainly seen some of us undertake journeys in how we view and interact with the world around us; some have become philosophical, some whimsical, some completely discombobulated. Some have embarked on journeys of discovery of new techniques or subject matters, some revisit memories of distant lands..... Let us see what journey you have been on.

Please upload your entries to

https://www.dropbox.com/request/gZl99Up3dp0kmSvk3bHU

How to name your entries:

either Level-Member Number-Image Title.jpg  (for example L1-999-TopTrumps.jpg)

or

Open-Member Number-Set Title- Image Title.jpg (for example Open-999-Home thoughts from abroad-My Old man.jpg)

Jpg quality is good enough for this competition, no need for Tifs.

Closing date is midnight Sunday 6th September so you have plenty of time to prepare a last-minute entry!

Remember, competitions are a great way to get constructive feedback and positive advice on your photography.

And maybe, just maybe, there will be a unique prize for some of our lucky (not to mention talented) winners! More on this later.

Irish Photographic Federation Web Site:

https://irishphoto.ie/

IPF Shield to take place in November. Details to follow.

Possible Distinctions Event before the end of the year.

Most recent news and articles posted:

https://irishphoto.ie/news/

Distinction Sittings and Availability:

https://irishphoto.ie/distinctions/assessment-dates/