Been a while.

Hi.

It's been a while since my last post primarily due to being too busy with other things. In 2016 I intended to rectify both that, and also get out there to take more photos.

Unfortunately things didn't start well and I am currently hampered as the results of hitting ice on my bike. Whilst my photography has taken, yet another, step back it has given me an opportunity to do more work on the club's website.

I'm pleased to announce that we now have our own online forum. This is open to everyone so feel free to have a look.

http://swinton-photographic-society.co.uk/Forum/

Solar Eclipse

Today in the UK we saw, or didn't see depending on cloud coverage, an eclipse of the Sun with up to 90% of the Sun being blotted out by the Moon. I was lucky(ish) and was able to view the spectacle through the thin cloud covering from my desk at work. Somewhat inconsiderately someone called me a little before it peaked however I was able to stick them on speakerphone whilst I pulled my compact camera from the desk drawer to grab a coule of shots.

In a way the cloud both helped and added to the effect as it meant you were able to view the eclipse without eye protection and photograph it without the need on additional filters, a thing I dont keep in said desk drawer.

It's certainly not the best image from the day but it is still a pleasant reminder of this wonderful universe in which we all live.

The UK is not due to see another eclipse till 2026, which again will only be partial. The next total eclipse in expected in 2090. 

The history of the world as we know it... well Swinton and District PS at least.

Last week some emails did the rounds of the club regarding the tremendous work being undertaken by a member of our club in creating a book following on from the 'Salford Then and Now' exhibition currently underway at Ordsall Hall.
This got me thinking. Our society celebrates its 70th anniversary this year but little of its history is recorded in any easily accessible way. Thus the thought came about to begin work on bringing together all the available information on the club and organising it in a manner suitable to post on Wikipedia.

So it begins.

First task is to troll through these records and build up a framework on which to hang the unwritten memories of members. This will not be an overnight task and only time will tell how much information is still available.

Anyway must stop blogging and get back to reading records.

Camera Exposure Guide

During his talk last Monday Dennis covered camera exposure and in particular the exposure triangle. For those of you who were unable to attend his talk or simply want to a quick refresher I found this in a Twitter feed today.

Camera Exposure Guide. Everything you need to know.

Ideas for a rainy day

You wake up in the morning and look out to see that it's grey, miserable and pouring down with rain. So much for your plans to go out and take that landscape shot you've been after.

Why not just stay indoors and have some fun trying to produce a characature portrait of yourself.

In this video the owner of a Stockport studio,  Ian M Butterfield, shows you how.

Episode 4 of the Lightroom Show by Scott Kelby and friends

Found this on Twitter earlier today and though you may find it useful. It's a 12 minute or so video giving some usefull Lightroom hints and tips.

http://lightroomkillertips.com/lightroom-show-episode-4-scott-rc/

Lightroom Iron Chef

On Monday evening we had a demonstration by one of our members of some of the features in Adobe Lightroom.

I though there that this video from when photographer Stu Maschwitz visited the Bay Area Lightroom User Group may interest you. During this 1 1/2 hour video Stu takes 29 audience submitted images and post processes them whilst giving a running commentary of what he is doing and why.

Whilst some of the comments of the video aren't complementary about the results it still gives a good idea about Lightroom's functionality

Lightroom Iron Chef